If you are a parent......

Are you always finding a way not to be with your child? Telling your child you will be back as soon as you can, but really you are lying to them? Putting them to bed right after you get home with them? Leaving them in church nursery/or the like, so you can talk with your friends 15 more minutes without the little buggers around?

What are you teaching them, that they are a burden, not valued, not loved?
How can a parent be their child's role model if every time you turn around you aren't their when you CAN be. Do you Really know what others are doing to influence your child? Whether they are 1 day old or 25 years old they will always look to you. What will they really see? Will they see someone who valued their time, their family, or someone who was looking for a way out, minimal time spent with family?? The choice is yours. Will your child turn to others for love, comfort, advice, guidance OR will they turn to you??

Grandparents, aunts, uncles etc. are great but they are not mom and dad. It isn't their job to spend more time with your littles than you do. Sure have support, help etc. know where your boundaries are. Make a log see who your child sees most? Should be interesting.

This is no way is saying you shouldn't work or provide for your child/family just don't go over board. A child isn't going to say my mom or dad loved me so much that they always made sure someone else was watching me. I would rather have my child say, remember that time when...we raced our cart after grocery shopping, or we played Candy-land after school, or you left work early and we went to the park, or you had vacation days and let me play hooky with you, or we got a movie, made popcorn and snuggled on the couch, or you read the precious word of God to me.

Saturday School (kindergarten prep event)

Ok, this may not sound pretty, but it is truly how I feel. The good, the bad and the ugly.

So in preparation to take our 3 year old to practice for kindergarten, I realized she isn't going to know anyone and neither are we. It's a good and bad feeling.

We arrived promptly (10 minutes early), checked her in and went to the gym to have a seat.
That's where it all started. I am watching these other parents dressed to the nines (for me Saturday is my dress down day, the ONLY day of the week I can wear my jeans and hoody), they are conversing with others they know saying things like "I hope our kids get the same teacher", I am saying in my head you are so fake and BTW there are 6 yes 6 kindergarten classrooms give me a break, they are saying in a valley girl voice "it's so good to see you", "it's been a long time", gagging at the fake conversation and their need to appear to fit in, draw attention to themselves and be cool.

I really feeling bad for my eye rolls, my internal laughter, and what I may have to "deal" with. I don't do fake, I can talk to anyone, it isn't important for me to fit in but it is important to me for our child to feel comfortable. I don't want to have to say things like "I totally haven't seen you in awhile", "did your kid do this cuz my kid did" etc.

I hate the feeling that there is a good ole boys club, and I am excluded because I don't know the right people. It is so high school and youth group ALL over again. I hate having people tell me what a great girls night they had with a group of people I know, am I suppose to be happy for you? Ugh!

People wonder why I am a guarded person, well I can't stand fake, I am not going to pretend you are God's gift to earth, if you are my friend I am loyal, honest, forgiving, and truthful. I don't need to name drop, brown nose, or feel obligated to do something for you if in your life you can't bring yourself to say hi when you see me on a weekly basis until you need something from me.

I know I have an entire year and 5 months before she stars kindergarten, I just don't want to be fake, dress like I am 16, compare my child to others, and wonder if she is being excluded because I didn't kiss the right rear end.

My dad always says "it's not what you know , it's who you know". I just don't understand why people treat others as if they are some kind of god. I feel I see this once a week and that is bad enough. I don't want to add it to 6 days a week. I spend Saturdays with my family :)

I already feel this way at another place I take her, and other things i participate in, I don't want to add one more thing.

Although my perspective could be wrong, Saturday School was just 2 hours, just have this over all feeling.

Any advice or suggestions would be appreciated. :)