This was a hard blog to put together because I had this vision of how I thought the school year would go and the fun and exciting things that my kids would get to experience, but it hasn’t been that easy. In fact, I always feel like when we finally get to take one step forward we get pushed five steps backwards. And that feeling really hit me this week.
This week is the marching band trip and we couldn’t afford to send our kids. Seeing the pictures of the kids and chaperones having a great time, hearing my kids talk about the pictures they are seeing on social media and wishing they were there…well it’s killing me. Especially for my oldest since he’ll be graduating. I know that they have had great experiences, that this is only one of many, and there will be more in the future, but it still stings. In some ways, it feels like a parent fail. So much has happened that was out of our control, but nonetheless, still leaves me feeling sad, frustrated, jealous, and insufficient.
I don’t know how many of you reading this can relate – and this is by no means a cry for help, we are managing, but I just needed to vent a little. We manage by making sacrifices and cuts where we need to, but I guess I had hoped that we didn’t have to make the kids sacrifice. And, as much as we would like to be able to give them everything, sometimes we just can’t. It is a valuable lesson, to be sure, but it still stinks.
So, to all the other parents out there going through something similar…YOU ARE NOT ALONE NOR ARE YOU A FAILURE!
God Bless!