Mostly I think I’m pretty good at this parenting thing. But there are days where “pretty good” seems like a thin cover for a lot of territory.
Today, one day after discovering that Link has been not doing work and hiding the fact, I discovered that Kiki has not been enjoying her art lessons for months now. That wouldn’t be so bad except that she was taking out her frustrations by being rude and unco-operative with her teachers. Today they pulled me aside to tell me that either something needed to change or they needed Kiki out of the class so they could give space and attention to someone who actually wanted to be there.
And then on the way home from that lovely meeting Patches told me “Owie Stinky”. Smell confirmed his diagnosis and I promised to change him when we got home. I got distracted and didn’t. 40 minutes later when poor Patches was standing in the front room crying because the rash hurt so bad, I finally changed the diaper and treated the rash. He was snuggly grateful when it was done and I was horribly guilty.
I’m writing all of this in a public entry, not because I’m seeking reassurance of my parenting skills, but because there should be public evidence that even parents who do stuff mostly right can mess up big time. Now I just need to fail Gleek and the set will be complete.
No offense, but I am so glad you posted, ’cause it’s nice to know that I’m not alone. The last few weeks have been insane, finals, projects, etc and when I get home, the last thing I have wanted to do is be with my kids and to top it all off, they are so hyper because of Christmas, they can hardly stand it and I’m so anti-Christmas it’s totally getting on my nerves. I think all parents go through phases, it’s not that we don’t love our kids, it’s just that sometimes coping is all we can do, and sometimes it’s not much. Good luck!
phew.
We have been in “survival mode” since the week of Thanksgiving!
Yesterday, husband takes half the day off and then has until Jan. 3rd off! Yesterday we finally felt we could heave a big sigh of relief and felt the end of family survival time. We are finally feeling a “nothing scheduled, let’s sleep in and play and cook good food” kind of feeling.
Yay! And we are pretty excited about Christmas. Lightning Boy woke up this morning and checked his day check off chart and yelled “Tomorrow is the 25th!” I’m looking forward to a weekend and a week of quiet do whatever we want family time!
Have a very Merry Christmas Sandra!