A few years back I was completely immersed in volunteering at school. I held leadership roles on our PFA (PTA, PFC, has many names, same thing)Board, I was room parent, organized the school carnival, the list goes on. I had good reasons for doing it, and I enjoyed it, but I had a lot going on, and I felt like I was keeping myself so busy that I wasn't able to focus on my family and my own spiritual growth the way I wanted to. So I stepped back. I took the break I needed. Organizations like school volunteer groups can get a little political, and the many personalities can be challenging to deal with at times. I found myself a little exhausted maneuvering around all of the silliness. Ok, so fast forward a year or so. I miss the involvement. I miss feeling connected to what is going on in the school environment. I miss connecting in person with other Moms on a regular basis. My house isn't immaculate, the laundry isn't always done, I haven't morphed into Helen homemaker like I had hoped I would (by spending more time at home). I have grown a lot, and I hope I will continue to do so. Sooo, I am dipping my toe back into the water next year. I volunteered to be on the board next year at my son's elementary school. I also volunteered to do some writing/web stuff at El Camino Real High School (maybe I'll have a clue what is going on now, since my son tells me zip) I will likely have 4 kids in 4 different schools next year I believe (still trying to narrow it down to 3 schools, but awaiting permit approvals), so my days of not being out in the world are over for sure. I realise this sounds a bit more like diving into the deep end, than dipping my toe in the water, but that is how I roll. (In case you have been following my posts on using your gifts, this is part of my own self-challenge. My spiritual gifts include communication and problem solving, time to start working out those muscles)
I enter this new week a little tired, but smiling. Why? No drama this weekend. We had sunshine, and sports, and cuddle time--- less the drama. Most families don't experience the intense level of emotions that the Rhodes clan does. Sure, they have the hectic life of families, perhaps some fighting, the normal mess--- perhaps a little teen hormone induced drama....but we have drama of a different kind in our house. The kind of drama caused by a brain that is shooting off crazy chemicals induced by years of trauma. When our son Victor is home, the whole world is a great big land mine. Saying the wrong thing, calling him out on behavior, or even suggesting that he not eat a 4th serving of ice cream can cause the the peace to recede, and for chaos to ensue. He is now in a boarding school for kids with emotional issues. As sad as it is that our family isn't all together--- I must admit that the peace in our household is a welcome blessing. We are learning more and more
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