Showin' Daddy ALL The Love

It's always a joke between Mike and I about how the kids always fight over who gets to sit next to him when we go out to eat, to the movies, etc... I've gotten used to it and try not to take it personally, but I HAVE to share 2 statements Robbie made the past week that really show where Mom ranks.

1. There's a Father-Daught Dinner at church next weekend. Ashley was SO excited when Mike gave her the invitation this week and immediately picked out a beautiful dress to wear and has mentioned it at least once a day since she found out about it. That doesn't bother me at all, I LOVE that she will get to have these memories with her Daddy. However, the next morning Robbie came up and asked me if there was only a Father-Daughter Dinner being planned and I said yes, expecting that he would follow up with a statement along the lines of wishing there was a Mother-Son Dinner. WRONG!!! Instead, he asked if they would be having the Father-Son Campout again this year? Yes, my heart sunk immediately but I'm used to it so I chuckled to myself and told Mike.

2. Today after church we went to lucnh. I noticed as I came to the table that Ashley was sitting next to Mike for a change. Robbie very sweetly looked at me and said that he let Ashley sit by Dad and again, I was expecting it to be followed up with something along the lines of him wanting to sit by me. WRONG AGAIN!!! He said it was because he always sits by Dad with no mention whatsoever of him wanting to actually sit by me. Even the dog chooses Mike over me if given a choice!

I know I shouldn't take their comments personally and honestly, no one could be happier than I am that they have such a wonderfully close relationship with their Daddy. Regardless of that, how do I shake the feeling of being totally unappreciated when everything I do is for and about them? Granted, Robbie has told me recently that Daddy tucking him in at night isn't as good as when Mommy does it, but that's probably just because I give him extra time on the tv. In reality, I know they love me just as much as they love Mike and I'm not a mother just to hear that they want to sit by me here or there. I know that when they're sick, it's me that they want. I know that Mommy hugs and kisses at bedtime are of the utmost importance in order to fall asleep. I also know that if they're sick in the middle of the night, it's me who gets woken up with a poke in the face...but that one, I would really rather share with Daddy!

Where's My Silver Lining?

I have to say, I have done a VERY good job so far at staying on top of my New Year's Resolutions. That includes always looking at the cup 1/2 full...until this week. It's just been one of those weeks with snow days, sickness, school conferences that didn't go quite as well as I had hoped and a little drama thrown in for good measure too. Sitting in a Parent-Teacher Conference and crying because I just didn't feel like I could take one more thing this week definitely wasn't on my To Do List and I ended up asking Mike last night what possible silver lining I could find in one of our current struggles? Being the wise man that he is (after all, he did marry me!) he pointed out that we don't always see the silver lining right away but God will show it to us when he's ready. I'm hoping that he'll show me this particular silver lining sooner rather than later. It WAS nice to have a teacher tell me yesterday that if she could have a classroom full of parents who care as much as we do and are as involved in their children's lives as much as we are then her job would be much easier. If there's one thing that I'm proud of, it's how involved Mike and I are with the kids. If my kids can grow up able to say that they know they are loved and have many happy memories of their childhood and time spent with their family then I will consider my life successful. However, I've also learned this week that no matter how hard we try as parents, we simply cannot always have the control and influence that we would like over some of the decisions that they make and this is ultimately why I'll keep looking for that silver lining this week...