Okay, so let’s talk about guilt and your kids…Oh, do we have to?
Yesterday we went to my middle daughter’s track meet. I dropped her off with a friend and ran an errand. When I got back to the school, my husband who came from work met me in the parking lot and told me that “the parking sucks,” which my youngest must have repeated 3 times. He told me that I could go home and he’d stay and watch our daughter. Inside my head, I smiled. Hubby and I talked for a few minutes and decided I’d go home. (after I looked for 15 more mins for any parking space I could squeeze into.)
And that’s when it hit me! What mother leaves her daughter because she couldn’t find a parking space? In my mind, I saw the faces of the thousands of moms and dads that have attended their kid’s sport’s events. Would they leave their child? Well, this one did. And daily I have to redefine my picture of the imp3rfect mom.
What makes you feel guilty about your kids? Share with me.
Oh my! Let it go. Let it go. Let it go!
We all have things we wish we would have done differently. Yet, in the moment, we did what we did. We aren't perfect, and nobody gave us a handbook or user's guide when these children came along. (If you got one, let me know where, so I can tell my girls who are not moms!) I think we are all imperfect moms, yet at the same time, because we are their mom, we are the perfect mom.
If something we did doesn't feel right in the end, just tell them so! Then next time try to get there early enough to get a spot, or have time to get there from the next city if that's where you had to park.
Both of my boys are in soccer now. One has practice on Mondays at 5:30 on one field, the other has his games at the same time on another field. Its the first time I've had to alternate who's game or practice I attend and its been really hard. Luckily I have family that can attend which ever I don't make so that don't feel unsupported…but I never imagined I would be so conflicted over the entire situation. I'm sure it'll only get worse as they get older, huh?
Hi Heather, Yes, you are blessed to have family near you. All of our family live far away so I always look longingly at grandparents that come to sports games. And I tell them how important and nice it is that their grandchild sees them at their game. Maybe I could blog about this very subject.
Thanks, Heather.