"It's not fair!" As you read that statement, imagine it said over and over in the whiniest of voices. Never happens in your home, right? Sometimes being a parent can be an exhausting job. Especially when children are at a stage where they compare everything. And fair to them means everything needs to be equal, despite time, age, or gender. And I never imagined hearing myself say the same words I heard countless times from my own parents, "Well, sometimes life just isn't fair." Ugh. Tell me I am not alone in having muttered these words to my children? It is so important to teach them that adversity is part of life and that it builds character. But this happens over time and through many lessons where they learn that this adversity will help build coping skills for later in life. Being a parent can be difficult as we teach them various lessons, but this doesn't happen in the moments when your daughter is over tired and feels that it isn't fair that she didn't get as much ice cream as her brother. And this is not the time that you can try to rationalize all the things they should be grateful for. So rather, we just comfort them and assure them that we understand the feelings they are having until they drift off to sleep.
Despite the previous episode happening late one night in Calgary this past weekend, we had a wonderful weekend. We stayed with my Aunt Lee (who was very gracious to Kirra's meltdown late at night). The kids were excited to spend time with her and her puppy dog, Mighty. Both of the kids even took Mighty for a walk a few times in the frigid cold. However, I am hoping they don't get any ideas that they are old enough for a puppy of their own. Jaret and Kirra also enjoyed meeting a new friend named Anderson who is a three year old boy that my aunt babysits regularly. They had quite the rambunctious time playing with him. Over the course of the weekend, we visited the school and Kirra had her Kindergarten observation. We are excited that she has been accepted for the fall but are still waiting to hear positive news for Jaret for Grade 3. It was wonderful to see so many friendly faces and catch up with friends while at the school. On Saturday we were able to visit the show home to make some decisions regarding our new home. Both Jaret and Kirra were excited to tour the house and we also got to see the progress on our build with the framing underway. Despite being at the show home for two hours, the kids were so well behaved and I was pleased when both ladies at the show home complimented their behaviour at the end of the afternoon. And for any of you who have taken your kids to long meetings like that, you know that it can go well or not so well. Saturday evening we enjoyed a wonderful church service at Foothills and then spent the evening visiting the Schulz Family. We felt like we were home again. We are looking forward to moving back and having time to catch up with so many friends we have missed.
Some days seem to float by seamlessly while others seem like more of a struggle. The weather recently has meant a lot of pent up energy which also doesn't help some of the negative behaviour as the kids just want to be outside playing. However, we know that Spring is on it's way, eventually. Tonight the kids finished supper and then after some play time, which went well. It was cute when Jaret measured Kirra's wrist so he could make her a bracelet. It didn't take him long as he is getting quite good at it and often prefers to do it without using the loom. He came down and gave it to Kirra and she was so thrilled with this gift.
Kirra has recently been into making gifts for people too. She has been doing some colouring/stickering (that should be a word, shouldn't it?). Yesterday she presented Jaret with one of her creations and I was concerned that he might make fun of it and just toss it aside but he got his little grin on his face (the one he gets when something pleases him or when he is a little embarrassed) and he gratefully accepted this gift which is now on display in his room. It makes you feel like you have done something right as a parent when your child shows such gratitude and empowers his little sister. Jaret stated today that he loves having a little sister. When I asked him why, he replied it was because she was going to practice his recorder for him. Yeah right - not quite buddy. So it was upstairs for him to practice and while he did, Kirra got her recorder out and tried to play along.
Today Kirra presented two of her friends from pre-school with one of her art creations and they were quite excited to receive the little gift. In fact, Kirra and her friend Linnea, seem to be exchanging regular notes or artwork on a weekly basis. It is really quite cute how these two kindred spirits interact with each other. It warms my heart. And then tonight my heart melted. Jaret and Kirra changed into pj's and were ready for their bedtime snack. As they were eating their apple slices, they were talking and laughing and Kirra said with such endearment, "Jaret, you make me laugh." It was so adorable the way she said it and Jaret just smiled a big smile and then did something goofy to try to make her laugh again. It is these moments as a parent that you are so grateful and it makes the difficult moments of each day fade from memory a little more easily. It is also when you hear awful news of a death of someone's child that you cherish what you have even more. After a car crash in Saskatoon this weekend, an eight year old girl was killed. It turns out that she played on the same soccer team as Presley (my girlfriend, Kelli's little girl). When a death like this impacts others so close, it brings a clearer picture of what is important in life into view. And despite the difficult moments of parenting, you are grateful for even the difficult moments of parenting because you are a parent. And these moments are a gift - the ups and downs - and can pass in but a moment's time. Grateful tonight for the fact that I get to experience the wonder of childhood with my children and praying for many families who no longer have this opportunity.
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