Catharsis
Laughter fills the room where children are playing oblivious to my exasperation. Lessons have ended far from complete. I clear the table. Distracted, detached or otherwise completely uninterested in either content or purpose they have moved on. Wooden puzzle pieces clank to the floor as they are dropped from their formed cutout containers. Crayons and colored pencils are scattered around the room as they would rather toss undesired hues than set them aside. Crumpled scraps of paper dot the floor, artwork in various stages of completion. A trail of books leads to the shelves from which they were housed, a trail that most assuredly will remain as the need to re shelve is clearly not a priority. Squabbles escalate. Declarations of "Mine!" become shouts then screams. Eventually tears. "I'm sorrys" and "that's OKs" are exchanged. Hugs. The cycle repeats itself. Typical.
Unable to see the importance, to grasp the implications they move carelessly and thoughtlessly from task to task without ever really applying themselves. I attempt to draw focus, to rein them in, to pinpoint a purpose eventually conceding the effort's futility. At least for tonight. Why do I bother investing of myself, my time, my energy, my heart? Why do I care if they refuse to do so? No epiphany. Quite simply, it's my job as a parent.
The lessons will be there tomorrow, and kids will be kids. Tomorrow, though, I'll be rested.
Unable to see the importance, to grasp the implications they move carelessly and thoughtlessly from task to task without ever really applying themselves. I attempt to draw focus, to rein them in, to pinpoint a purpose eventually conceding the effort's futility. At least for tonight. Why do I bother investing of myself, my time, my energy, my heart? Why do I care if they refuse to do so? No epiphany. Quite simply, it's my job as a parent.
The lessons will be there tomorrow, and kids will be kids. Tomorrow, though, I'll be rested.
Posted by Zoe's Dad at Tuesday, April 01, 2008 12:01 AM and is filed under I feel better now,kids will be kids,Parenting 101 
Pretty much sums it up. Very poetic.
I gotta admit--the days do seem to go much better when I've had a proper rest.
Well, at there ARE "I'm sorrys" involved. Those are rare around my house.
Oh, they're there. Sometimes I wonder about the actual intent or feeling behind them, but at least they are there.
I have discovered, through the years, I have to pick my battles. And looking back, the losses are minuscule in comparison to the time spent together instead.
I knew there was a more concise way of putting this lesson---pick your battles. I need to work on this.