Why do kids usually feel they have the right to question their parents? I am often taken aback when anyone of my children take me to task over my actions. Take this morning for instance; I was all dressed and ready to go out. I called the younger ones for a bye- bye hug and I got a shocker from Voke, "my quiet one".
He looked at me balefully and said in a very accusatory tone, "you always going out"! As I watched fat teardrops gather and roll down his face, I did a double take. The guilt hit me hard and I was speechless for a few seconds- just a few, mind you, then I let him 'have it'.
He was being so unfair! I had been staying home more than usual for me in the past six months.Partly because I was working as much as possible from home and partly because, well, because!
Anyhow, they had gotten used to seeing me home more often and I guess for him, life' s best when both parents sit at home all day! But my work as a travel consultant does require me to move around quite a bit and I had just come home from a two week adventure trip which took me to four countries in our region- see ajalatravel.blogspot.com- I also had an old friend from out of town and I needed to cram a lot of movement into the two days she would be around.
I'd been out all day the day before and here I was all dressed up and ready to go again! He started weeping and my hard heart melted. He is only nine, what does he know of the neccessity of going out? What does he care that mummy's work requires her to travel and go out again and again and again? All he knows that is that mummy has done more than her fair share of going out and it is time to stay home!
I am forced to think back to my days as a child and how much I missed my mum when she had to go out. I looked at his tears and almost cried a few of mine because I know by the time I will finally sit at home with nothing to do he will be in too much of a hurry to go out. Then the tables would have turned full circle and I can't help but wonder if I'll wish then I had stayed home more!
Shalom!
