Well, not me, of course, but the boys did!
Alex, Jack, and Charlie headed down to Dothan, Alabama for an action packed three days with two other dads and their boys.
There was tent sleeping
gun shootin'
Weenie dog roastin'
S'more makin'
Fishin'
and fish fryin'
Sounds like the perfect weekend.
(Well, not to me, of course! Melody and I enjoyed some time together doing much more lady-like activies such as pedicures and sleepovers.)
Since it was up to Alex to take pictures, I hardly have any.
But....
Here's Charlie with a fish he caught all. by. himself. He is quite proud of the fisherman he has turned out to be.
A few weeks ago, this article was blowing up Facebook like crazy, generating comments of all kinds.
A friend brought it up again at a get together earlier this week, spurring a conversation about over achieving parents.
I know the parent they are referring to. You probably do to. Heck, maybe you are that parent!
Are you: the parent who volunteers not only to help but to organize every class party, the parent who swipes half the secret reader spots for the year in the first 5 minutes of parent orientation night, or the parent who has been a room mom every single year in every single of her children's classes?
Do people ask if you homeschool since you are constantly with your children?
If this is pointed out to the parent, responses are usually along the lines of
"well, I just really like to be involved"
or
"I have so much time, I just have to give back!"
or
"if I don't do it, who will?" (I always want to say, "well, if you don't do it, we'll never know.)
As I reflected back on this article and the conversation, a few new thoughts came to my mind.
It's not bad, perse, what these over achieving moms are doing. It's just too much. Seriously, we don't need to celebrate Ninja Day or Mole Day or Harry Potter Day.
But even celebration of holidays (St. Patty's day) or milestone days (100th Day of School) aren't too much overall, it's just too much concentrated in one area (namely, the overachieving parent's child and classmates).
If all this "help" could be despersed out a little, would that be such a welcome benefit to others in the community.
For example, a mom who has attended every party so far for the year, really wants to attend her son's Easter party. She has a great cookie receipe she'd love to make and a fun craft idea.
(So, she signs up, while the other parents are talking about her behind her back secretly thinking "ugh, seriously, she signed up again!?!)
Wouldn't it be great, though, if instead of signing up for her child's party, she gives the other parents a chance to sign up
and
then volunteers her baking talents at a local, undersprivleged school. I don't know of a single elementary school teacher, especially one in a Title 1 (as we call them in GA) school that would turn her down if she asked to bring cookies by for a class. Or offered to read to the class. Or offered prizes for an empty goodie box (instead of stuffing things into her child's already overflowing classroom goodie box).
(I promise you that, if you make cookies for someone other than your child and his/her classmates, your child will not suffer premanent damage. Believe me. Many, many times I have made things, with my children's help, and given them to others without even saving one for ourselves. My children have lived through it. They are even thriving. Shocking, I know.)
Volunteering is not limited to only your children's classrooms. Or even your children's schools. And the sad truth of the matter is that, for every school brimming with over-achieving parents, there are way more with parents who, for whatever reason, can't or aren't involved.
Our preschool is wonderful and we have so many parents who want to give their time and talents. How much better would our community be, if some of these were dispersed a little.
I know our preschool and school wouldn't suffer from lack of help.
In fact, some children probaby want a break from their parents.
And I think there's the potential for a lot of community benefit as well.
One of the reasons why I started this blog is to keep a record of all the things I want to remember about my children's childhoods.
Near the top of that list is all the funny, cute, adorable, hilarous, crazy things they say.
They've had some doozies lately...
Melody: My favorite donut is a chocolate blaze.
Jack: I think it's glaze.
Melody: Nope, it's blaze.
Charlie was helping me clean up the kitchen and I told him "thank you".
He responded: You're welcome. What would you do without me?
Me: Yep, what would I do without you?
Charlie: Probably just sit around and look at things.
Melody: Daddy, how big do you think a baby whale is.
Daddy: I'm not really sure but probably bigger than me.
Melody: Oh definitely.
(Alex enters the room wearing a Home Depot t-shirt)
Charlie: Why are you wearing a Walmart shirt?
Jack (yes, he is the child that keeps up all in line): It's a Home Depot shirt.
Charlie: Oh, why are you wearing a Home Depot shirt?
Daddy: Because I work there.
*silence while Charlie looks confused.*
Mommy: Charlie, did you think daddy worked at Walmart?
Charlie: Yes!
Melody, after falling out of her chair onto the floor: I'm ok! Good think I have my head to land on!
Charlie is currently in speech, and while I'm glad we are getting to the root of his speech problem, I am a little sad to see some of his cute word pronouncations go.
A few of my favorites are:
Mel-wee (for Melody, a slight improvement from his first word for his sister, Bubby, still not as cool as what Lauren's kids call her)
Grace-you (thank you)
And lastly:
Melody: Mom, I just love Jesus sooo much I can hardly stand it!
Charlie: I love Jesus more than anything in the world!
Jack (once again, keeping us in line): Please don't forget to pray for me today. I think it's very important for us always to pray.
In the past, I've posted many, many, many times about how adorable my little Melody is.
And I've posted a few of those no-so-adorable times.
This is one of those.
When was it? Just a mere month or so ago that this happened?
Today, as she's sitting oh-so-innocently on the couch I notice the hem of her dress looked frayed. Initially I thought may it had gotten worn, which would have been odd since she only wears it once a week on Chapel days.
using elements by Summer Driggs
