This Thursday is the 8-year old’s
last day of school until next year. It sounds
drastic, doesn’t it? Next year. To be precise, and I am always precise here
at The Mess as you’ve seen in my deep research on previous posts, it is just
over two weeks. Fifteen days. And, I swear, it feels as if they just
started school. Do they really deserve
two weeks of vacation already? I don’t
get two weeks. Ever. They get student holidays throughout the
year. I don’t receive student holidays. Nor do I get those teacher in-service days
that educators receive in order to catch up on their plans and grading of
papers. I have to deal with people every
day whether I am prepared or not. There
is no such thing as a break.
That alone is bad enough, but it
gets worse. The three days prior to the
little rug rats being forced back upon their parents, Dyl’s school has early
dismissal. They can’t even go a whole
day all the way up to the end! Whereas
before I was dutifully in the pickup lane at 2:30, now I have to be ready at
1:15 for giggles and twenty million questions.
Why the earlier hour and fifteen minutes is necessary when they are
about to have two whole weeks of freedom, I am confused about. I mean, parents have their children all
evening. Surely, the teachers can hold
out for seventy-five more minutes to truly deserve the mini-vacation they are
about to get. Isn’t this a violation of
some contract we signed?
We’re lucky, however. My position as fulltime smart ass allows me
to be available for the varying times and to take care of her on those
non-school days that seem to keep cropping up.
Not every family is so lucky.
Children walk home to empty houses, the expensive cost of daycare is
thrust upon other families, and some are left at school in aftercare programs
until someone can get off work to retrieve their loved one, which is ironic
since they would have been there anyway.
Now, however, they have to pay for this little extra. For many families, it’s a time of juggling
that adds stress to an already chaotic time.
Just because school lets out, it doesn’t mean someone can be there for
the children.
The holidays come with an
abundance of stress. The economy
sucks. There’s pressure to buy gifts you
can’t afford and send cards to relatives you barely know. Furthermore, depression hits many as they
think of loved ones no longer with them or family in other states or countries
they won’t be able to see. Add to that
the social events you feel obligated to attend, plus those you want to actually
participate in. Shopping. Baking.
Cooking. Decorating. And for many parents, on top of all of that,
is the problem of who is going to be able to take care of little Johnnie and
Suzy during the winter break. Soon,
their Christmas vacation is not feeling like a vacation.
Perhaps, that’s the gift you can
give this year, and it won’t cost you anything but a little peace and
quiet. Look around your family and
friends. Who could use some daycare
assistance this Christmas holiday? If you
can help, then I challenge you to reach out and be the safe haven a child may
need and relieve some of the pressure from a burdened family. “It takes a village to raise a child.” Be a willing member of that village. You’ll not only be aiding a family in the
present, you could very well be shaping someone’s future. That alone is a priceless gift.
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For Further Reading ~ Passing the Greeting Card Torch
A Parent with No Regrets
For Further Reading ~ Passing the Greeting Card Torch
A Parent with No Regrets
Thanks for visiting The Mess!
I wondered where you were going with your post and started to think...well...we had these children, of course we need to be available to care for them. School and daycare is a problem for so many. Some say the answer is year-round school. No way. That would suck for the kids, IMHO. I loved the ending of your rant. Seriously, best advice anyone could give.
ReplyDeleteGive of yourself and your time. Be unselfish. Let others rejuvenate. LOVE THIS ROBBIE!
Thank you, Melissa. One of my editors-in-residence said my post was two in one and confusing lol. The best gift we can give is ourselves and I truly believe we need to help those around us, especially young parents struggling to make it. Thank you for your encouraging words. And Merry Christmas!
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