You’ve got to be kidding me

One hour after I wrote this last entry (below) I was going through the kids’ school bags when I found a note that said that my youngest son’s class will be putting on a show next Tuesday morning. That’s 10.15 am. On a Tuesday. I give up.

Waiting for Tarek to come home from work so he can show me the sports day photos he took today.

Yet another working mother’s dilemma

Well this sucks. I can’t take two days off work in the same week so I have to choose between going to sports day tomorrow or seeing my eldest son in his first school play since he started second grade. He’s playing the role of the school principal and is worried that the real principal will get mad when he sees him. I’ve decided to go to the play on Thursday.

I’m mad at the school for scheduling these two events in the same week and during working hours…are they not aware that some mothers aren’t just sitting around, painting their toenails and waiting for the next school event to go to?

I know…it’s not the school’s fault…and I’m sure mothers who stay at home sometimes do more than just paint their toenails, but it helps to blame someone else for the way I’m feeling.

My question for you is this: As working mothers, are we really getting the best of both worlds or are our kids and our jobs suffering because we aren’t able to give our full attention to both?

Growing up is hard to do

Got this in my inbox today. I can’t believe the level of childishness this situation has reached.

One of the things my husband and I are trying to teach our children these days is that if one of them hurts or annoys the other, then the best thing to do — rather than annoy or hurt back — is to come to us so that we can help them work it out in a way that does not end with the two of them pinching each other while screaming at the top of their voices. Usually, all it takes is a calm explanation that some actions are just not acceptable and they’re both off, happy as can be.

As a Moslem, I am totally against the violent reactions to the Danish cartoons that have been taking place around the world. I am, however, all for using a little judgement before doing or saying something that may offend others. Nobody said that showing a little consideration meant giving up what you stand for. That’s what being an adult is all about.

And if you feel that you have been offended, then hitting back is usually not the best solution. If you don’t believe me, go ask your mother.

Graveyard Serenade

Conversation with my four-and-a-half year old:

“Mama, can a dead man play the violin?”
“No.”
“Yes, it’s true.”
“No, it’s not.”
“YES IT IS!!! My music teacher said so.”
“What are you talking about?”
“He showed me a picture of a man holding a violin and said he was famous and that he was dead.”