My kids’ social life is far superior to mine.
And am I a bad parent for getting tired of it?
It’s not that I’m upset that they have friends or participate in activities, but I’m starting to think I need a cruise director to point my ship in the right direction.
Take Saturday, for example. Here’s the timeline:
9:30 a.m. – Be at Little Mountain Fields for oldest child’s soccer game.
10:45 a.m. – Leave that field with twins in tow to get to youngest daughter’s game at the Jackson field for the 11 a.m. start. (Fortunately relying on the kindness of a friend to bring oldest daughter back down to Jackson field after her game finishes at 11 a.m.)
11 a.m. – Start of the youngest daughter’s Go-Go Green Goblin’s soccer game.
Noon – Start of son’s soccer game, while simultaneously needing to drive the Green Goblin to Ranchero for a birthday party with a noon start time.
12:15-ish – Drive back to Jackson field to watch end of son’s game, which winds up on the hour.
1 p.m. – Soccer ends, haul two out of three kids home and feed them… something... before needing to make a potluck dish.
2:30 p.m. – Drop son off at the home of son’s friend who is having a gymnastics birthday party at 3 p.m, so they can drive him to the party.
2:50 p.m. – Go pick up youngest daughter in Ranchero, turn around and take the (hopefully now made) potluck dish to Canoe Beach for the oldest daughter’s Salmon Arm Ice Breakers Speed Skating Club picnic and awards.
3:30 p.m. – Pass out in lawn chair, while hoping to ingest some food myself.
4:45 p.m. – Drive to gymnastics party to pick up son for 5 p.m. end time.
Thankfully, I have kind friends who are willing to pitch in by juggling start times and driving, or my best-laid plans would fall to pieces.
Add to this the list of items I need to bring for the day which includes water bottles, sunscreen, hats, shin guards, bathing suits, multiple clothing changes, snacks, lawn chairs, blankets, presents for the two birthday children, some kind of potluck dish – which may well turn out to be an Askew’s fruit tray – soccer cleats, running shoes, a sun umbrella, towels. I’m sure I’m forgetting something.
The mini-van may collapse under the strain.
Instead of a yes-man, I’m part of another tribe – the yes-mom. Sometimes I feel so caught up in giving my kids everything that I end up frazzled, stressed and prone to bouts of snappishness. Why do modern moms feel so compelled to agree to everything?
Maybe its time to learn to use a different word – no.