Just say No, or okay, a mild maybe?!?!?!
I am certainly hoping that many people have this problem and not just me. For most mothers that I know, and yes, even some fathers, they always consider themselves low priority in regards to doing activities or making appointments for themselves. I am guilty! Okay, extremely guilty of this one and I hope to be better at it this coming year. Wow, did I just make a New Year's resolution months ahead of schedule? Hmmm, have to ponder that one for a bit.
Anywhoooo, I find myself packed with activities and events that have me racing around town dropping off and picking up things, animals and people. Oh Lord, have I now become one of those POD people? You know, ummmm, those soccer moms that well live and breath their lives on the soccer field talking about missed kicks or failed blocks and how expensive the pictures are this year? Oh good grief people, did I really sign up for this? I used to be so carefree, slept in late on Saturday mornings, watched sappy movies in the afternoon, but that was before "THEY" came.
There are moments in my life when I feel like my husband and I are in the World Wrestling Federation, (or whatever the heck they call that redneck macho slamfest deal on TV), and before I get flamed....I can say the R word because well, the majority of my family qualify under that description. :-) Please let me explain here, I feel like my husband and I are on these side by side trains going in opposite directions. I wave to him as the train takes off with one of my delightful sons as he waves back with the other delightful son heading off in another direction. We do manage to see each other at night after homework and reading to the kids.
As some of you may remember in one of my earlier post, my husband's idea of romance....well it died. We had a funeral, he sent flowers. It was a sad death and one that I miss. I know, it is hard to be Mr. Romance when you are running around in soccer gear with a little whistle around your neck and two fighting and screaming kids always hanging around. I now realize romance didn't die...it was murdered. Two five year olds with jelly on their hands, dirt under their fingernails, mud on their pants and a gleam in their eye murdered my husband's romantic spirit. Okay, I take some of the blame. I used to be more romantic. I used to be the expressive and creative one when it came to a little romance, but my energy level has been zapped right out of me. What in the world am I going to do with another little one racing around? Ummm, that thought scares me to death at times, although I know I will enjoy every minute with her.
I guess the point to this post, and God knows after this rambling, there should be some type of point. I guess the point would be to use the word "NO" when you need to as a parent, a spouse, and as a friend. I need to practice what I preach here. I try really hard not to take on too much, but well, I get cornered or feel guilty. Yep, I definitely must have issues going on. :-) I say yes and then go home and try to figure out how to cram something else into my schedule.
The latest incident was my dear social worker called to ask a favor. Okay, how would I ever be able to say no to her? She requested that I read a story about adoption to some children during an adoption celebration. Now that doesn't sound too bad since I read to children every day and love it. Of course she picked out the story and I am not exactly sure about this story. There are a limited amount of stories concerning Ukraine adoption designed for children. There are plenty for the other countries but not many for Ukraine. She specifically wanted an Ukrainian adoption story. I am not entirely certain this story is an Ukrainian story, even though she suggest it is an Eastern European adoptions story. So what's the big deal? Well, my sons know enough about their culture to realize that Russia was not exactly kind to Ukraine and therefore to group them with Russia is more of an insult to them. There is nothing against Russia at all, but for some Ukrainians those wounds go very deep. Fortunately, or unfortunately enough, my sons are involved with a local Ukrainian group and have been aware of the history between the two countries. Our family celebrates Ukrainian Independence Day because for one thing it is part of my sons' culture and number two, the country has not been free for that many years and the joy of their freedom still haunts me. I haven't told my sons the stories of Ukraine, the Ukraine that suffered so deeply, and lost 25,000 people a day for years due to the Genocide Famine. I have talked to people that have survived this event and how they felt to know that food was being guarded in their own backyards as they watched their family members die all the hands of Mother Russia. There was even a famous American writer then that wrote that the Ukrainians were just dying from malnutrition. Hmmm, I guess if you starve to death it could cause malnutrition? He even won an award for his stories about Ukraine which has been widely protested. Anyhoo, I will read this story to these children and hope that the story about a little boy that burps makes them smile.
I guess I should mention my sons can burp on command and have added that they will give sound effects if I need some help. Oh good grief, Calgon better take me away after this one.
Anywhoooo, I find myself packed with activities and events that have me racing around town dropping off and picking up things, animals and people. Oh Lord, have I now become one of those POD people? You know, ummmm, those soccer moms that well live and breath their lives on the soccer field talking about missed kicks or failed blocks and how expensive the pictures are this year? Oh good grief people, did I really sign up for this? I used to be so carefree, slept in late on Saturday mornings, watched sappy movies in the afternoon, but that was before "THEY" came.
There are moments in my life when I feel like my husband and I are in the World Wrestling Federation, (or whatever the heck they call that redneck macho slamfest deal on TV), and before I get flamed....I can say the R word because well, the majority of my family qualify under that description. :-) Please let me explain here, I feel like my husband and I are on these side by side trains going in opposite directions. I wave to him as the train takes off with one of my delightful sons as he waves back with the other delightful son heading off in another direction. We do manage to see each other at night after homework and reading to the kids.
As some of you may remember in one of my earlier post, my husband's idea of romance....well it died. We had a funeral, he sent flowers. It was a sad death and one that I miss. I know, it is hard to be Mr. Romance when you are running around in soccer gear with a little whistle around your neck and two fighting and screaming kids always hanging around. I now realize romance didn't die...it was murdered. Two five year olds with jelly on their hands, dirt under their fingernails, mud on their pants and a gleam in their eye murdered my husband's romantic spirit. Okay, I take some of the blame. I used to be more romantic. I used to be the expressive and creative one when it came to a little romance, but my energy level has been zapped right out of me. What in the world am I going to do with another little one racing around? Ummm, that thought scares me to death at times, although I know I will enjoy every minute with her.
I guess the point to this post, and God knows after this rambling, there should be some type of point. I guess the point would be to use the word "NO" when you need to as a parent, a spouse, and as a friend. I need to practice what I preach here. I try really hard not to take on too much, but well, I get cornered or feel guilty. Yep, I definitely must have issues going on. :-) I say yes and then go home and try to figure out how to cram something else into my schedule.
The latest incident was my dear social worker called to ask a favor. Okay, how would I ever be able to say no to her? She requested that I read a story about adoption to some children during an adoption celebration. Now that doesn't sound too bad since I read to children every day and love it. Of course she picked out the story and I am not exactly sure about this story. There are a limited amount of stories concerning Ukraine adoption designed for children. There are plenty for the other countries but not many for Ukraine. She specifically wanted an Ukrainian adoption story. I am not entirely certain this story is an Ukrainian story, even though she suggest it is an Eastern European adoptions story. So what's the big deal? Well, my sons know enough about their culture to realize that Russia was not exactly kind to Ukraine and therefore to group them with Russia is more of an insult to them. There is nothing against Russia at all, but for some Ukrainians those wounds go very deep. Fortunately, or unfortunately enough, my sons are involved with a local Ukrainian group and have been aware of the history between the two countries. Our family celebrates Ukrainian Independence Day because for one thing it is part of my sons' culture and number two, the country has not been free for that many years and the joy of their freedom still haunts me. I haven't told my sons the stories of Ukraine, the Ukraine that suffered so deeply, and lost 25,000 people a day for years due to the Genocide Famine. I have talked to people that have survived this event and how they felt to know that food was being guarded in their own backyards as they watched their family members die all the hands of Mother Russia. There was even a famous American writer then that wrote that the Ukrainians were just dying from malnutrition. Hmmm, I guess if you starve to death it could cause malnutrition? He even won an award for his stories about Ukraine which has been widely protested. Anyhoo, I will read this story to these children and hope that the story about a little boy that burps makes them smile.
I guess I should mention my sons can burp on command and have added that they will give sound effects if I need some help. Oh good grief, Calgon better take me away after this one.
posted by Hopeful Mommy @ 7:26 AM
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