Schedule Confusion

I find Saturdays crowded, what with needing to clean the house, gather supplies, fill the larder, attend Drew's soccer games, do the laundry, prepare for Sunday, etc. It didn't help this week that the coach told everyone to be at the other school's field at 9:30 for a 10:30 game, when in fact the game was at 1:30 and we didn't need to be there until after noon. I had the dubious joy of driving 4 boys there.

We wondered that there was no one else about. Then when we were informed that the game was in the afternoon, we had to decide whether to just stay there (and go out to eat) or whether to go home (half hour drive) and come back. But I needed to run errands and the bank closes at 1, so I made them all go home. It doesn't help my ranking in the car pool, let me tell you!

I got them back an hour before game time, and set out my camp chair, took out my knitting and settled in for some serious quiet time. Alas! It began to pour, and I didn't have an umbrella on me. It had been so gorgeous in the morning, I hadn't thought it necessary. I used to carry one in the car, but it had broken and I tossed it.

I packed up my stuff, and headed for the nearest store to get an umbrella, preferably one I could clip to my chair so I could keep on knitting! By the time I returned, there was no parking left anywhere on the school grounds. I grumbled as I parked a half mile away and walked through mud to get back to the field, lugging my chair, my new handy dandy weather channel huge sports umbrella, my bag of knitting, and my jacket.

It had rained just enough to make it humid and sticky and bring out the gnats. I finally managed to make my way to where the car pool Moms sat, missing the kick off and the first 2 scores of the game. Still not making any brownie points. They are not happy with my knitting during the game, but I don't care. Drew only plays about ten minutes, and I watch him. Otherwise, I knit and keep abreast of things as best I can. I suppose I am rather rude.

I was quiet and concentrating, but I couldn't help overhearing the conversations going on between the car pool Moms. Oh, my goodness. Grumbling and complaining and whining like I haven't heard in a long time. I have forgotten what it is to be a stay at home Mom, and even then I was busy home schooling and trying to keep bread on the table.

I am beginning to see that even if I were perfect (which of course I am not) these women would not be happy with me. They are unhappy about many things, most of which they can do nothing about. I am glad I have not tried to placate them at the expense of acting like a phony.

I can't imagine how they would have felt if they had driven all the way to the other side of the city only to be told that the game time had been changed. Funny they didn't seem to notice that I had experienced that. Nor did they care. They were just grumpy that they had had plans to leave town to go to their weekend cabin, and now they would have to get there late.

I make a note. Count your blessings. Be happy that you have a car that works well and time to make a change in plans and money to buy a new umbrella. AND you don't have to clean a weekend cabin, deal with the dog, or take the boat out of the water for the season. How lucky can you get?