Modern Day Mama

This mom thing is much harder than it looked before Bailey Noelle was born.  If the crazy parents in the school parking lot don't do you in (good grief, just go around the loop in one direction it is not that hard, folks!), the complete lunacy at their extra curricular events will push you toward to institution.  We enroll them in activities to give them a chance to be with other kids (we do live in the boonies, you know, well away from their school), and the hypercompetitive parents seem to remove all possibility of teaching teamwork and responsibility.

Charlie and I often talk about how different it used to be, but I remember those stage moms of my ballet days.  The ones who gave their girls stage names and drove them to buy the most expensive toe shoes whether they actually fit better or not.  Who paid tutors to do the school work and schmmozed the dance master.

I imagine that as Charlie and I discuss personal responsibility and what kind of people we want Bailey and Wyatt Clay to grow up to be, that we idealize the times of the past.  I am sure that we can easily ignore the problems that existed in the previous generations.  We have been so very fortunate to be able to provide them with a good school, despite that we have to drive so far.  They are able to raise livestock and compete in 4H, Wyatt plays football, Bailey is in the school play.  And they both do much more than that.  Despite raising them in a military family in such uncertain times, we are tremendously blessed to be able to make so much possible.

I suppose that I hope that anyone who reads this will stop to think what they really want their child to garner from their activities.  Is winning really everything?  What do we want them to learn in the journey, what qualities do we want them to posess when they lead the next generation?  As much as I despise having to explain so often that sometimes adults forget to be adults and emulate positive qualities, I hope that in telling them that they are the company they keep, that they will choose those associations wisely.

As much as I hope to give them every opportunity in life, I hope to foster in them the ability and drive to open the doors for themselves, and to close them and open new ones when needed.  I won't take Bailey and Wyatt away from their activities unless the situation is unsafe.  I will expect them to follow through on their committments.  I will hope that when they see me correct my wrongs they remember to do so too.  But it is so hard when I have to sit back and watch the volatility.

Remember when we were young and our parents looked to have it so easy?  Funny, looking back now!  At least, I think so.  I will continue to lay the groundwork for my children, continue to work with Charlie to reinforce the ideals that we feel matter most.  To make sure they know they are truly loved, no matter what.  And hopefully emulate the kind of people we want to raise with my own behavior.  Wish me luck.  And hey, let's all hang in there together.  Maybe if we show the kids what teamwork means, we will truly lay the groundwork for a better tomorrow- raising barns, helping those who need it, and no expecting anything in return.  A girl can dream, right?