For the 19th time in a row we attended Elementary School open house. I was quite tempted to try to get out of going. I mean how many times can you go and see the same reading corner and be excited about it? While getting ready to leave it occurred to me…we have to go to 8 more of these! 27 years of elementary school…WOW! That’s insane!
It was interesting to notice the different teachers’ attitudes toward us. One teacher we’ve had many many times through the years. She seemed to blow us off with almost a…you know the drill…attitude. She acknowledged us as we walked in and then concentrated on all the other families. Walking up to them and shaking their hands, explaining different areas in the room…different topics they’d be covering, etc. It was only when I saw her standing alone and approached her, asking a specific question did she talk in full sentences to me. Oh well her loss. It made me really appreciate the teachers who seem to relish visiting with us each year. To be amazed at how the littlest one has grown. To visit with old students and catch up. To ask…How are things going with you Mrs X?
I can be either of those teachers at times. It’s a work at times to keep the freshness in my attitude. To try to be as excited to do something like open house with #9 and 10 as I was with #1 and 2. To be just as creative with Eileen’s 4th grade solar system project last weekend as I was with Michelle’s in 1995. To not give up in all areas of parenting…fun or not.
How easy it would be to just not bother. To let someone else do it, like an older sibling. To not get off my butt and do things with these kids. After all my body isn’t the same one I had when I only had 2 kids. It likes to complain and LOUDLY! I’m slower and creakier. I have every reason to slow down and beg out of things. Except for the fact that these kids NEED me! They need me to be energetic and fun loving…not some old fuddy duddy. They need me to be adventurous and explore the world with them. They need me to relish each opportunity to do something with them. And yes, they even need me to follow through with whatever consequences I put forth in a situation. Even if it’s the last thing I want to do. So what if I’m sick of being the “bad guy”. So what if it seems like I’ve said something a thousand times about this already. I need to deal with it as though they were the first and only!
It amazes me how many people expect me to go to work once Sean is in Kindergarten. Like once I stop chasing kids out of the toilet ten times a day, I’m slacking or useless in society’s eyes. Since when does kids being in school mean they don’t need me home anymore. It’s when they are in school that they need me the most!! The daily dilemmas and peer pressure they experience can be amazing. To come home and not find me there to talk to….just because I don’t have someone home ALL day…doesn’t make sense. There’s still stuff to do here. There’s still times when they’ll be home during the day.
Besides many corporate workers are eligible to retire after they have 25yrs under their belts. Why can’t I semi-retire with 23yrs of chasing toddlers under mine?
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Kim is a mom to 12 kids ages 24 to 1yo. She can also be found blogging at her personal site Musing Rambling and All Around Blathering or her slightly neglected food site Growlies for the Gang
