Last Saturday, I was packing all five kids into the van after T's soccer game. I was tired, frustrated, and just done. S asked me, "What's wrong, Mom?" Usually, when one of my children says this (usually S, because she seems to notice my moods more than the others), I have a ready response.
"I'm so very tired of you guys whining all the time."
"Mom's just not feeling well today."
"Well, if you guys would stop fighting with each other like crazy people, I'd be a lot happier."
But this time, I paused before answering. What was my problem? Sure, I had just dragged five children to a soccer game, where the high temp was about 45 degrees. And yes, it's not especially fun to keep two babies entertained for an hour so they'll stay in the stroller, not to mention placating the older kids who are, of course, bored. And I was definitely not thrilled with the fact that I had gone to all of this work for the soccer boy himself, who after six games, still doesn't seem to really want to play the actual game. He'd rather run near the ball than kick it.
But really, was there anything really wrong this time? I told my daughter I was fine, and thought some more about patience, and the lack thereof that I seemed to be experiencing. Is it fun to take five kids to a freezing cold soccer game? Not really. But did it warrant me acting so very annoyed? Again, not really.
It was a good lesson for me. Sometimes life is crazy. But that doesn't mean that I need to go to the crazy place every time things get that way.
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
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3 comments:
memories of why I hated soccer . . . It was a great release for me when we could just say no--the boys were never into it (and it never developed) and CE just kind of outgrew her motivation. But until that blessed day, I had many Saturdays like you mentioned--alternating freezing temps with boiling temps (to keep things interesting), rock face "landscaping" to keep the the spectator children off of or steep inclines to keep them from pushing their stroller bound siblings down. And then someone would say, "did you see that [insert goal or fabulous defense]" and it would be all I could do to avoid screaming. Sometimes it's just hard to keep from going to the crazy place. And on those days, you just embrace the insanity and treat yourself to something decadent when all the people are finally in bed.
Ahh I know what you mean. I do the same thing and my oldest totally seems to pick up my moods too. I guess what I get afraid of is that they will look back on their childhoods and not remember the funny mom who let lose and laughed with them but only the mom that seemed tired and frustrated all the time.
All we can do is just breathe and try harder to really take in the joy.
I will say as annoying as having C have soccer games right now with all the house chaos, he actually loves it (he is our first to enjoy it!) and laughs and gets into so much that it has become something I almost look forward to as an escape from the house stuff. Very ironic!!
Well said.
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