Other People's Children

Fun Night 2011.

I stood next to a large obstacle course inflatable in the West Elementary School gym for 1 1/2 hours tonight.   My job was to supervise an endless line of children and make sure they climbed up the inflatable one at a time.

To be honest with you, I didn't start out being too happy about it, mainly because my two crabby butt children decided at the last minute that they didn't even want to go.  You may be asking why I didn't force them to go, and I might have pushed harder had we not been out almost all day shopping and running errands.  They were tired and crabby and I didn't feel much like buying $8 wristbands for two kids that were going to give me an attitude. I guess I lack conviction, but tonight I couldn't care less.

I did, however, feel obligated to show up and help since I said I would.  Oh sure, no biggie, probably 20 other people would have stepped in, but I kind of wanted to get out of the house for awhile anyway.  So, I went...and guess what?  I totally had a great time.

I love kids that talk (both of mine have selective mutism) and these kids had plenty to ask or tell me.

"Are you Mrs. Pryor?"  Yes I am, dear heart, and I love how you're so stinkin' sweet and polite.  (Being called "Mrs. Pryor" makes me giggle, I don't know why).

"You're Jordan's mom!  Jordan is in my class.  Mrs. Gordon is our teacher."  Oh I know, right?

"Did you know that my cousin and I go to the same school?"  No.  No I didn't.  I don't know you, or your cousin, but I think that's super great, sweetness.

"Will you hold my punch card/head band/plastic ring while I go down?"  Um, okay.  Sure, hon. 

"Look at the necklace/sticker/dinosaur/tatoo what I won in the prize room!"  Cool! That is SO totally awesome!

So... what are my conclusions about "Other People's Children?"

• They're sweet. 
• They're respectful.
• They listen to adults (only one kid went totally rogue, and the parents quickly swooped in to stop it)
• They're helpful to one another.
• They're a fun way to spend an hour and a half.

Mrs. Pryor  is really glad she went.

Conversations with God

I left the office this afternoon and was driving to a home visit in Northeast Wichita. 

Two of my favorite things are driving and listening to music.  Usually I'm rocking the Pearl Jam, Pink, Katy Perry or a Glee CD, but for some reason I didn't even turn the music on.  It was just starting to rain and I just drove along silently, listening to the rain hit the windshield and the rhythmatic thump of the windshield wipers.  There was also a great deal of road construction as I headed toward the area of 21st and Broadway, so it was taking twice as long to get to my client's home.
I don't let it get that quiet very often.  Like I said, usually there are some awesome tunes or else I have two kids in the back who are either singing, arguing, or trying to talk to me at the same time. 

As I sat there in traffic, alone with my thoughts, someone that I don't have a good relationship with suddenly popped into my head and it didn't take long for some negative thoughts about this person to set in.  I found myself feeling irritable, negative, self-righteous and even a little sad about my interactions with this person. However, as I remained in silence (like I rarely do) I began having thoughts that countered ever negative thought I came up with.  I think God was trying to tell me something.  The conversation basically went like this:

Me:  It's so unfair!  Why must I put up with this?
God: You know why.
Me:  I don't understand why I have to even be around this person.
God:  I want you to think of 1000 nice things that you could do to show love to this person.  You don't know the whole story.
Me: Do I really have to do this?
God:  Yes.
Me:  But it's really not fair.
God:  I didn't say it was fair.  Or easy.  Not only are you going to do nice things for this person, you're going to like it.
Me:  I have to do it AND like it?!?!
God: You got it.
Me:  What if I just--
God: No.
Me: But what about--
God:  No.
Me:  They won't appreciate it or care.
God: Do it anyway.  Are we done here?
Me:  Okay.
God:  Good.  End of discussion.

That was pretty much it, and then I was finally at the home visit.  It's a slightly rough neighborhood, but I've been there countless times, and I felt like someone had my back.  I got out of the car and got on with it.

My point? I listened and I started to adjust my attitude and thought process.  ***sigh***  Not that I had a choice.

Arguing with God is pretty pointless.