My granddaughters' schedules did not leave me smiling and basking in the care the schools show children. I took care of them for five days, and it is a matter of diplomacy to balance their education, extracurricular activities, and family events. Oh. Let's not neglect their health and well-being. A prime factor in our family.
My eldest granddaughter so far is thriving. Her grades have suffered. This all-A, Gifted and Talented child will probably get some of the first Bs of her life next report card. Her parents like her to get 8-9 hours of sleep a day. Band and tennis sometimes cut into that. Sometimes the schedule is so tight, she misses meals. Last week, on their away game, they had to eat "supper" at 4 pm before they donned their band uniforms because they are not allowed to eat in them. Might smear. Might get dirty. They got home after the game and half-time show at 1 am.
They had to be back at 10 am for competition. It was cold, and they got home at 6 something pm. Still, my granddaughter ate, did homework, watched a little tv and slept 13 hours.
Today is a national holiday and schools are out. Oldest granddaughter was supposed to be at band practice,anyway, 6-9 pm. Her mother, who came in on the train, arrived at 5:22. I insisted granddaughter come to the station to hug her mother before going to practice. Her Mom had been gone 5 days, unusual for our family.
I thought I could get her to band on time but she was a minute late. If she is chastised for this, If she is chastised...
The tennis coach has called another tourney tomorrow after school. Another deferred guitar lesson. IF she gets through by 7:30, their family may get to eat together the birthday
meal I left today for the grandchildren and their parents, who both had recent birthdays.
You hear all the time about how families so seldom eat together anymore. The blame always is on the parents.
You never hear about the activities eating into the family.
Families cannot be close if they do not be together, especially eat together, spend time.
I once had a divorce for no better reason than that we both were too busy to spend the time we needed to spend.
I guess that leaves me with a bee in my bonnet.
Be careful. I may sting.
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2 comments:
We promised ourselves that we wouldn't over-schedule our kids and moved out into the country so they could live a "Tom Sawyer" kind of childhood. In spite of our best intentions, it was a constant battle to keep their calendars open. One child playing a single sport makes things crazy; more than one child playing sports and you're off to the races. Even though we lived across the road from the playing fields there were always away games...
I'm glad to report, though, that they have happy memories of their time in that little country town.
Mine will, too, I think. And after two 10-hour nights of sleep, I also felt quite frisky.
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