From Deseret News archives:

In summertime, try your best to make the living easy

Published: Monday, May 12, 2008 12:05 a.m. MDT
 |  E-MAIL | PRINT | FONT + - 
As we brace ourselves for summer (after the last snow, likely in June), I'm reminded of the need to NOT cart our children here and there like we are a combination of UTA and NASCAR.

Years ago, I signed my two toddlers up for a lovely music class. The same class, the same hour. It looked lovely. The teacher was lovely and the curriculum was lovely, too. I thought, what an ideal setup.

Later I thought, what an ideal migraine. While the other moms sat quietly, I bobbed up and down like a kangaroo, not to the music but in chasing my children. (I didn't know they had to stay in the circle.)

Others languidly watched their children clap, hop, dig and even lunge in time to the music. I felt as if was I wearing a neon sticker that said: "Major mother loser who can't get her children to dance on cue because she gave them cereal for dinner during the entire summer of 2000."

As I sat there, confidently smiling while trying to prevent myself from duct taping my child to the piano, I felt my self-esteem start to shake, then rattle and finally roll over and play dead.

Thankfully, a bonk on the head with a flying xylophone mallet brought me to my senses. I thanked the talented teacher, swept up my kids and said, "Park!"

Off we went to a nearby park with blazing sun, blue sky and wide-open running spaces.

Story continues below
In "Ten Things I Wish I'd Known before I Went Out into the Real World," Maria Shriver states, "Kids teach you things about yourself you couldn't learn on your own — lessons about patience and selflessness ... my children have taught me to let things roll off my back. ..."

Learning is not an official class. We buzz children to soccer, piano, swimming and T-ball, certain we must give them every opportunity available. And indeed there are more opportunities available today than ever before. But more does not always signify better.

One tired girl involved in many afterschool functions told her principal she was so busy because her mom didn't want her around. The principal knew her parents and that this wasn't so, but somehow this little girl didn't know.

I have heard women bemoan their budget, anxious about not providing all they feel — or that the neighbors feel — they should. One woman considered an at-home job just to pay for additional lessons. When guilt comes to shove and anxiety prevails, perhaps spending unstructured "teaching" time just dancing/singing/playing may be more ideal.

And know that the time, although not penciled in the planner, has meaning that cannot be choreographed.

Comments

You can be the first to comment on this story.

previousnext

Latest comments

Jared Quayle is a stud. He plays like a beast every time he touches the...

No Phx is not a majority LDS city Mesa is. As far as Tom's comment about...

BYU would like friendlier rivalry

Lest my Utah friends think I was just going to bang on my own, I think UteFan...

You can read the official declaration online via a photo of the original....

"McFeatters states that what Palin is doing, and doing brilliantly, is being...

BYU would like friendlier rivalry

don't mean to pick on you but fans from both sides make it easy to despise...

Boys basketball rankings

Nick Paulos is a great shooter, and Connor Brady's decent. But Provo and Kyle...

Explain this to me. He claims a utah fan ran on the field and threw a CUP of...

The International Center for Religion and Diplomacy mentioned in this article...

BYU doesn't have to make the U sound anti-Mormon, it's a fact; there is a...

Advertisements