Open Letter To My Kids

Dear Child,

I can’t even tell you how horrible that simple phrase made me feel.  “I know you can’t come on the field trip.”  It wasn’t stated in understanding; it was stated in sadness.  Yes, I signed your permission sheet, but you were right, I couldn’t check that box that said I would be able to chaperone your trip.  I told you I was sorry, but I could see the disappointment on your face.  I don’t know if you could see the disappointment on mine. 

I tried to explain that one of the reasons I couldn’t go was because I couldn’t bring your little brother along.  But of course, you knew the other reason…mom has a job.  Yes, I get to work from home, but I do have to work. 

We’ve had this talk before, about why I work.  We’ve had this talk when we talk about allowance too, about how there are always things we want, but we have to earn them.  Working for them (chores for you) makes you appreciate them and it also helps you decide how much you want (or don’t really want) something. 

In my ideal world, Dad would still be happily employed and be able to work from home like he used to.  In my ideal world, I wouldn’t HAVE to work, but rather could work if I wanted to.  In my ideal world, I could chaperone all of my kids’ fieldtrips and help out in your classrooms.  I could  sign you kids up for all of the activities that you want to, whether it be karate, gymnastics, horseback riding, etc., because I would have the time to take you to all of them and no worries about finances. 

In my ideal world, life would be fair.  Grandmas and uncles wouldn’t have cancer.  Teachers wouldn’t have brain tumors.  Everyone who wanted a baby could have one.  Wonderful people wouldn’t have incurable diseases.  However, this isn’t the world we live in.  We chose to come to Earth and we chose to be tested.  Otherwise, how would we grow? 

Dad and I try to be examples to you kids in the value of hard work.  I know how hard it is to have Dad gone so much for work and have me work too.  I get it.  I understand it.  Trust me, it’s hard on us too.  But we all make choices and it’s a good lesson in commitment and hard work.  We love you guys.  We love where we live.  We feel so strongly that it’s where we need to be at this point in time…for you kids and for us.  Because of those choices, we do what we have to do. 

So, I’m sorry that this time I can’t chaperone your field trip.  But I’m even more sorry that it makes you sad.  I’m not sorry, however, that we are setting good examples for you, in responsibility, accountability, and commitment.   Don’t ever forget that we do all these because we love you kids. 

With Love,
Mom