Taking One Away from the Team

“When I’m a parent, I will never do that!”

We all have those certain things that we swore we would never do as parents. I swore I wouldn't raise a picky eater. But for a couple of years, my daughter would only eat three foods; chicken nuggets, scrambled eggs, and pancakes.

I sometimes wonder if we’re challenged by the things we swore we would never do just to earn our stripes as parents.

I also swore that I would never ever, no way on earth, not even if I was tortured let my kids be overwhelmed with commitments. Why, oh why, did I think I could handle limiting their commitments when I can barely handle my own?

Somehow over the years we've gotten our kids joined up in so many activities that I sometimes feel like we are drowning. I swear I don’t know how it happened. It kind of snuck up on us.

First we signed my daughter up for ballet because she needed help with large motor skills. Then there were swim classes because kids have to know how to swim. Right? Then preschool started and with it came a chance to play soccer. Since she needed the exercise, that seemed like a great idea too. Then we found out that her school had a wonderful satellite program of the Centenary Suzuki strings. How could we not take advantage of that? So we started violin. And let’s not forget t-ball. Softball is my most favorite thing in the world. How could I not give her a chance to play?

Then my son was old enough for his own activities. Wow. Who would have thought that my second kid would want to do all of these things too?

Now we’re faced with having to weed out some activity to make room for the longer time commitments of more accomplishment. Besides, when you’re facing a deployment, you have to prioritize or you won’t make it through with your sanity intact.

How are we ever to choose? They love it all. It is the one thing that is on my mind all the time now. We spend so much time wanting to give to our kids. It is so very hard to take away.

I've learned my lesson, though. I will never again look at some other parent and exclaim, “I would never do that!” Such a declaration will only come back to bite me in the butt.