My distaste for activities that keep me (and the children) out late is not a secret. I am a sleep nazi and I go to bed early. And my children go to bed early. Period.
However, as they are starting to get a little older and have found interest in certain activities, I have had to start letting go. Start letting a few things slide.
It started with baseball in the spring. One day per week my 8 year old had an evening practice that went much later than I enjoyed. But he loved it, so I tolerated it.
In the summer both kids had swim meets to attend. Again, one night per week for 5 or 6 weeks there was an evening meet that went much later than I enjoyed. But they loved it, so I tolerated it. Ish. I also made deals with my husband so that I could leave early as often as possible.
This fall it’s my daughter’s softball schedule, with 2 nights per week keeping us all out later than I enjoy. But she loves it. So I tolerate it. Mostly. I’m still making deals with my husband AND I’ve got a carpool going with a friend that helps keep me sane.
My son just took a belt test for TaeKwonDo and he’s moved up to a different class. With a different schedule. And now he ALSO has a late night practice (in addition to the two my daughter has). And it keeps him (and ME) out later than I enjoy. But he loves it. So I tolerate it. And yes, I’m making more deals with my husband and trying to keep my sanity.
Halloween has just passed, and while I realize it is one night out of the whole year (not a weekly event), it is also my least favorite holiday. Not simply becuase the kids will be out late (and I will be out late), but for a host of factors. There is an entire year of hype and excitement built up in my children as their favorite holiday approaches. There are class parties and a parade at school and multiple neighborhood parties and a costume party at TaeKwonDo. And there is sugar. ALL the sugar. Usually all of these things happen on the same day and it just turns into chaos and madness. And it’s exhausting. But they love it. And I tolerate it. Kind of.
But this year I am grateful. I am grateful that it happened to fall on a weekend and NONE of the aforementioned events happened all in one day. They were spread out over the span of a week. And I am grateful that the celebrations this year are *almost* back to pre-covid shenanigans. Last year there was no in person school for class parties or a parade. Last year we did not attend neighborhood parties. Last year we did not trick or treat. We went on a quick trip a few hours from home. Stayed in an Air B&B. Watched a Halloween movie. And it was a little sad, even for me. But the kids are resilient. And they tolerated it.
And so, as Halloween has come and gone and the month of November is upon us (and with it the 30 days of gratitude challenge), I am trying to find ways to change my perspective. I am trying to be grateful. Grateful for the small bits of joy that can be found in each of these activities. A beautiful fall day when I am sitting at a softball game. 40 minutes of quiet in the car, and time for my brain to rest, while I wait for TaeKwonDo class to dismiss. How lucky I am that my husband has a flexible schedule, can and does help with the tetris of our kids’ schedules, and understands why sometimes I need to leave early from an event. Grateful for resilient children, who 20 months into this pandemic, can finally celebrate their favorite holiday with some sense of normalcy.
AND if I can be grateful for these little things, maybe I can change my perspective (and possibly my bad attitude).
Perhaps I can even begin to ENJOY these things, not simply tolerate and survive them.
