OK, fair warning. I have been cooking up this post for a LONG time.
You see, I am a mom of three lovely children.
I homeschool them and also have a work gig that I run mostly online. I run my kids around to a variety of activities and events. I am a wife. And a daughter. And a sister. And a friend. I run myself around trying to juggle our household and make sure my gray roots don’t get too out of hand. You get the picture.
I want the world for my kids.
You get that, right? You may feel the very same way.
I want my kids to get a great education. I want them to have a relationship with God and walk with Him. I want them to love and be kind to their siblings. I want them to be well-rounded and have lots of experiences. I would love for them to see parts of the world and have their horizons opened before them. I want them to know scripture. I want them to have enthusiasm and optimism and a thirst for life. I want them to learn a good work ethic and be a team player. I want them to think outside the box and know how to work inside of it too. I want them to try soccer, and ballet, and piano. I want them to have some time on their hands, from time to time. I want them to experience boredom and for them to creatively work their way out of it.
But I do NOT care if they have a dozen cookies at their next concert gathering.
And, I do not care if they have a 3 course snack at every. single. soccer. practice.
And, I do not care if they have a fully painted, life-like backdrop for their class presentation.
And, I do not care if they have yet another ‘successful’ fund raiser, taking up 38 hours out of our week.
And, I do not care if they make it to state champs at age 7 after 98 hours of practice this week alone, not including the 10 summer camps they had to do to qualify.
And I do not care if they build the Roman Colosseum using only egg noodles and ear wax.
And, I do not care if my young ballerina has a required 40 piece makeup set, curated with exact specifications.
This drowning-of-mothers….
has GOT. TO. STOP.
Why is it that ‘participation’ has become a life sentence down the Snack-Sign-Up-Rabbit-Hole? When… How did this happen? I GET that ‘it takes a village,’ but WHY is the village trying to build the Taj Mahal with 9-year-olds and their moms?
PLEASE, please do not ask me for a dozen cookies.
Because, my tween just back-talked me and I need to have time to sit with him and teach him about life and respect and how I love him no matter what.
PLEASE, please do not ask me for a dozen cookies.
Because my middle child is sensitive, and he needs time to walk with me in the back yard, at a slow pace.
PLEASE, please do not ask me for a dozen cookies.
Because my three year old wants braids and braids take time, and I really want to say yes while she is still asking me.
PLEASE, please do not ask me for a dozen cookies.
Because my family needs home cooked meals and slow moments and bedtime stories. And cookies.
Do not ask me for a dozen cookies. Because I am a mother. And a wife. And a daughter. And that “loving well” thing??? Well, that takes time…
This article originally appeared at fieldstonehilldesign.com
Follow Darlene on Instagram at @fieldstonehill