Friday, June 10, 2011

Is it over yet?

It is the end of the school year and we're in full scale celebration mode where we parents gather and heap loads of adoration on our offspring for participating in the events that we made them go to, for completing the projects that we badgered them into, for practicing and presenting the activities that we paid a gazillion dollars to send them through. You did it! Whoo hoo.

Seriously? I did it.

And I don't even have it half as bad as some of my friends do.

I've had a little guilt over the fact that we didn't put Girlie through piano this year. The facts are that we don't have a piano, that it was going to be a hassle to keep Little Guy from interrupting the practice, and adding another thing to the calendar while Hubs is traveling so much wasn't my cup o'joe. Not to mention that the monthly lessons cost more than a family gym membership or two really nice dinners out, wine and babysitting included. Of course, we said it was because we didn't want to overwhelm her. New school, the move, catching up to the Massachusetts system. All true, but really I just wasn't ready to do it.

So this year, Girlie only had one after school activity - gymnastics, and we are the only ones. Everyone seems to be hell bent on exposing these kids to art, music, dance, sports, language, you name it, flattening out ourselves to raise well-rounded children.

I'm almost forty. I want to write. I have precious little time to do this and yet I'll be schlepping up to the school countless times over the next few weeks for the play, the concert, the end of year party.

As for the piano thing next year, I am still on the fence. She can start an instrument at school in fourth grade. And I'm thinking about the time and money we'll invest. I'm weighing what it will cost me.

I'm thinking about how well rounded I am, and that honestly, my life is half over.

I'm a little cranky.

Maybe I need to throw myself a party.

1 comment:

Allison Kruskamp said...

Here's your party:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0anIVqYYyM

"The Dog Days are Over" is so inspiring to me. Believe: I deserve to live my dreams!