Dear school,
One second grade child does not need four different reading programs each with a log for me to track. Yes I know that minutes-read can count for all four programs, but I still have to write it down four times and make sure that my son turns in four pieces of paper. Seems a bit like overkill, particularly when none of it actually increases the amount of time my son reads.
Dear church,
I understand the valuable social purposes of all the various auxiliaries and activities. We currently have a family member in every single one, which means that we often have weeks when our family routine is disrupted 3-5 times. Please understand that when we skip some of these activities it is for sanity’s sake.
Dear History teacher,
Your humanitarian project, history chapter review, reading assignment, and movie watching assignments are all simultaneous. My daughter has other classes, some of which also have time consuming assignments. I am really tired of her feeling overwhelmed. Can we pick and choose please?
Dear house,
I know you are messy. I’m sorry about that. Someday I will clean you up and make you pretty with paint and decorations. Right now I have neither the time nor creative energy to spare. It would help if you could just perk up a little and stop looking so distressed.
Dear New Gas Range,
I’m not grouchy at you at all. I like you lots and I’m so glad that I have you. Please continue to be wonderful.
Dear book project,
I know I haven’t spent time with you in almost two weeks. I know that you are supposed to be an important priority, but somehow I always do other things first. I’m trying to find my balance again. Hang on.
Dear Son’s Birthday Party,
Yes I know I need to reschedule you. Not this week please? Or next week? Do I really have to? (Yes I know I have to, because you matter to my son and he matters to me. Sigh.)
Dear Social Media,
You are full of things. I may have to ignore you for awhile so I can clear my head.
Dear Daylight Savings Time,
It has been brought to my attention that you will be arriving next week. That timing is not convenient for me. I much prefer being able to get my kids to bed at night after dark has fallen. They complain less that way. Also I don’t want to lose an hour. I’m already behind schedule on just about everything. I need every hour I can get.
Dear Food in My Fridge,
I wish you were different food.
Dear Monday,
I’m about done with you today. When I see you again next week I expect to find that I have re-established a normal schedule, that no one is sick in my family, and that I’ve caught up on all the work which fell behind while I was sick.
Best regards to you all, and please understand that while I’m grouchy I’ll get over it. Small grouchiness is like that.
–Sandra
“Dear Laundry,
I know that you end up piling up but I don’t have enough places to put you when you are clean. I’m working on that but in the meantime understand that I will get to you as needs permit.
Dear School,
I’m glad that you are finally happy with my 2nd grader’s reading proficiency. She finally decided that she wanted to learn what you wanted to teach. No, I’m still not filling out your reading calendar. Expecting me to keep track of one single piece of paper for a month among the plethora that you feel is important for me to see is unreasonable. Just be grateful she is the ‘normal’ one and that consequently we will have to butt heads over her far less than we have over her brothers and sister.”
Dear Sandra.
I chuckled, I laughed, I growled. Thank you for that refreshingly realistic viewpoint of our lives as mothers. I’m glad you all are finally better, best regards.
-Debbie-
Glad to know that I’m not the only mother out there who rebels against the omnipresent reading charts. I am feeling better. Now I just need to become super-human long enough to catch up on everything.