NOT SOON ENOUGH FOR BOTH SIDES
As the summer drones on into August the signs of restlessness are becoming
apparent on both sides. Which sides you ask? Well, on one side are the parents
of all their children that are out of school. They are growing tired of forking
out money and driving the little darlings all over creation to keep them amused
until school starts again.
On the other are the children who are getting tired of having to nag their
parents for money every day to find something to do. The days at the beach are
becoming monotonous and although they won't admit it they are looking forward to
going back to school as much as their parents are.
Our kids are spoiled compared to when we were young and we are the blame for
it. It seems as if every parent strives to give their kids all the things that
they did not have growing up. There is baseball leagues, soccer leagues, hockey,
track, beach clubs, cruising Red Bank for the teens and sub teens, etc., etc.
All of these past times take money, transportation and patience on the part of
the adults who are pulling their hair out handing out money and having no time
for themselves.
Maybe we have forgotten that the very things in life that we were denied or
had to work our butts off for were the character builders that made us the
parents we are today. Maybe we have lost the realization that having to work
hard for something you don't have teaches you how to achieve those very goals.
It will be interesting to see how our kids raise our grandchildren.
In the mean time I can see the strained faces of Moms at the limit of their
endurance with the constant needs of our little darlings that are home
constantly. I can see the frustration of the kids who have to stay home with Mom
and Dad when they would rather be back at school. I guess it is a waiting game
on both sides as we crawl through August and pray there is no teacher's strike.
