How Rude?!?!

Most schools systems finished up last week or this past week. We've been under clouds and clouds of rain. That combined with two small children makes for early bedtimes and one too many glasses of wine for me! HA HA

Last week my friend invited the kids and me to a great indoor playhouse. She's in a playgroup, and some of those moms and kids were there in addition to a few other moms and kids. Not crowded. Not busy. Not loud. Fun. Fun. Fun.

Well, this week we tired again. Crowded. Busy. Loud. No fun. No fun. No fun (for me anyways). Apparently this is the place to be in the summer when it's too hot or raining outside. Granted, this is a play area for kids of all ages. We got there right as it was opening and the parking lot was filling up. There was a group of moms meeting with their preschool aged to school aged kids.

Now, I'm not that protective of a parent. I do make my kids wash their hands and try and teach manners and so forth. Also, outside of going to the park, M and C haven't been about large groups of kids in confined places. But, I was floored at the behavior of other kids and more importantly, the parents of those kids!

M hung with some kids her age and followed some older ones around. She struggled some going up the little steps to the top of the slide. The older school age kids bulled her over every time! With some parents watching and some too busy socializing with their girlfriends. HOW RUDE!?!?!

Other kids were climbing up the slide while kids were trying to go down, while moms watched. HOW RUDE!?!?!

All adults and kids must wear socks for sanitary reasons. Some kids took off their socks for better traction climbing, while moms watched. HOW RUDE!?!?!

And finally, the thing that got me the most...They have a toddler section with small toys for little ones to enjoy the fun too. Right beside it is a inflatable jumper with a BIG sign that says 4 and Under on it. Also, these two areas are right beside the row of chairs that all the moms hovered over. These were the two safe areas that C could play and not get hurt. Yeah right!!! Big kids were all over the place! I was afraid to put him down for the fear of an older child trampling over him. All the while moms watching and talking to each other. HOW RUDE!?!?!

I talked to the same girlfriend who had invited us the week before and we both asked the same question: What is the capacity for this place? I felt it was too full and the kids were too wild. I will be that mom who keeps (at least tries to keep) their children under control in environments like that!

All I can say to those parents is, HOW RUDE!?!?! Get your kids under control!

Do you juggle?

Stock Photography - Businesswoman Juggling Clocks
BU009751 Photodisc Royalty Free Photograph

Do you juggle? I do and know that others do too. I was reading a blog over at simplemom.net, and really identified with what she had to say. She was talking about how moms tend to juggle many things at once. She gave a few tips on how to handle the many things that we juggle. Although I do agree with what she has to say, I don't think it is as simple as just following a few rules. At least it isn't for me anyways. I would still consider myself a novice (even though I have 2 kids) and know that I still have some things to improve on.

I hope I am improving but fear that sometimes I am not. I often ask myself the question is there a balance between being a mom and a professional. I don't know the answer. My problem lies first, from the fact that I demand so much from myself. I'm nearly 28 years old, so there's no turning that off. I realize that I put too much pressure on myself, but I don't know how to stop. Secondly, I can't do anything less than 100%. 100% to my family and 100% to my job. Well since 200% doesn't exist someone, be it my family or my job, always seem to be on the loosing end because I can't always give it my all.

It is an understatement to say that teachers are underestimated and underpaid. If teachers were given the credit they deserve and paid by the hour, many teachers would be able to retire at 45 instead of 60! Only we truly dedicated teachers know how true that is. There are those teachers who really live by the 7:30-3:30 time schedule or whatever their daily hours are, but for me, that doesn't work. I could work 12 hours a day and still bring stuff home. In fact, I do work 9-10 hours a couple days a week and still leave stuff to work on or bring it home for it to sit in the corner and stare at me with that glowing evil eye. I find myself waking up to still see it sitting in the same spot, arms crossed, wondering when I will pick it up and work. So I still bring it home, but the bag usually stays in the car. No more evil eye in the middle of the night!

Maybe it comes from disorganization or lack of time management, but I just can't seem to get everything done in a day that I want to. So what I don't get done today gets put off for tomorrow. So what happens? Yep, my scroll just keeps going an going! Does anyone else feel that way? Just curious. I try really hard to stay optimistic, but sometimes I just like to throw a pity party as Chad calls it and sulk for a moment about the many stresses of my life. Yes, I know that in the whole scheme of things, what I stress about is not that important. But they are to me, so just let me worry if you would.

So to wrap up this Friday Night Vent, if I could make my life what I wanted, I would be a jeanie. Then would I be happy? Probably not! Gez, I am a woman in case you forgot. LOL

Anyways, thanks for listening! I do feel better now that I got that off my chest!