Tuesday, April 12, 2011

At Rainbow's End



Sometimes, I find that I do so much that I don't do anything well. Today, I was convinced that I was a failure as a mom. My 5 year old has been talking for weeks about his concert/play at school. It's been on the calendar. We changed other plans so we could go see it. It was tonight at 6:30. Or so I thought.


We arrived at 6:20 PM, just as it was ending; apparently, it started at 6:00. When we walked in the door to see the kids getting their final applause and I looked down at my little guy, all dressed up in his finery with a crestfallen look on his face, my heart broke. I held it together until another mom told me, "It's an honest mistake; it could have happened to anyone." But it didn't. Donald said, "Why did you make us late, Mom? No one else was late." and I couldn't help but cry as he walked off to find his teacher. I called my husband to tell him not to bother coming with Jason; we had missed it and it was my fault.


The other mom took pity on me, found the music teacher and got me the CD of music that the kids used so at least Donald could sing the songs to us at home, and we drove home. As I drove, feeling like the worst mom in the world, we came over the last hill before our house, and this is what we saw -


they say that there's gold at the end of the rainbow, but they are wrong - my house is at the end of the rainbow. My family is the gold.


Little did I know. I walked into the house and noticed that the furniture was missing from the kitchen. When I got into the computer room, I saw why. When my 8-year-old, Jason, heard that we had missed the program, he recreated the stage and seating so Donald could perform it for us at home; he didn't want his brother to be sad for missing the program. I couldn't help but to cry once again - how did such a befuddled mother end up with such wonderful children?

We put the CD in the player and Donald sang every song to us as I watched through a veil of tears, holding hands with his thoughtful big brother.

17 comments:

Rachel said...

That is such a heartwarming story! What lovely children you have - you must be doing something right ;)

Becky said...

Oh honey, I'm so sorry. But please don't dwell on it too much. It looks like Jason pulled it together and supported Donald.....this was a great thing. Your children are precious....a reflection of the love and devotion you and your husband have showered upon them. Love you!

Char said...

Sitting here with tears in my eyes, I have to say you are a wonderful Mom and you have two wonderful boys to prove it.

Judi said...

Tears in my eyes. Your story shows what a GREAT Mom you are and I see Dad watching Donald perform. It was your pot of gold.

The Cozy Quilter said...

Obviously, you children have learned from their parents how to handle adversity--when life gives you lemons, make lemonade. This will take them a long way in life. So, in reality, you are a great Mom!

Nancy said...

Oh Erin, I know you will beat yourself up over missing the program for some time to come, but hopefully you will remember the ending to - the music teacher sharing the CD, the rainbow, Jason fixing up the stage, and the show that Donald put on for you all. It is such a hard thing for us to face as parents that we sometimes don't live up to our own standards, and aren't the "perfect' parents that we think we should be, but I truly think it helps our kids when they see us fail sometimes, and they see how we recover from that.

DD Lindsey said...

I must've needed a good cry today...thank you for that.

Shay said...

Oh Erin, what a lovely story. Maybe in some way the universe had ahand in all of this and helped you create the wonderful memory of this day. Not only did you get to hear all the songs Donald sang , you got to see Jason being a fabulous older brother.

Hon, this was one of life's hiccups. You're a fantastic mother. A crappy mother wouldnt have shed buckets of tears over something like this. Love you!

Wilma Lee said...

Sweet!! The rainbow was an omen.

Stray Stitches (Linda G) said...

Okay, I'm blubbering. Your family is amazing and they are lead by a super amazing mom - YOU!

birgit said...

What a wonderful story!!!Made you so human - so normally to me! And YES to all this wonderful comments - they are so right!

Anonymous said...

Your whole family ROCKS! But you shouldn't make me cry at work!

Pamela in SOMD

Lane said...

Parents make mistakes. Parents make mistakes. Repeat that as often as required. How you deal with your mistakes influences how your children will deal with theirs. That is proven by how you AND Jason handled your mistake. Hey, you don't want them to think you never make mistakes or they won't know what to do when they make one. Lane

Julie Fukuda said...

I wish that every helicopter parent I deal with could read your post! Saving kids from failure and hiding your own teaches nothing. Facing the glitches in life and recovering is a lesson your boys have learned by example. The nut has not fallen far from the tree.

Chris said...

Ok, that is easily one of the sweetest stories I have ever read! Congratulations to you on your wonderful family! ANYBODY can show up on time for a program, but it takes a GREAT MOM to have kids who care enough to put on the show at home for you! Good job, Mom!

Kim said...

I agree with Lane. We all make mistakes and kids need to know that too. Learning to roll with them, learn from them, forgive ourselves, and move on is the best lesson the boys can learn from this. Everyone tries to do their best, but life is not always perfect.

Happy Easter and Happy Sewing

Unknown said...

Oh, BTA! I think everyone else has already expressed this in one way or another on your blog, but you are a *fantastic* mom, and the proof is that you had the heart to write such a loving account of the whole darned "OMG" moment! I, too, had tears in my eyes and a pang in my heart as I read your story and saw Donald singing his heart out. What amazing kids you and Adam have and continue to raise. :) And thank you for sharing this experience. I'm sure every parent can relate to trying their best and still (seemingly) disappointing their kids. Between your ability to see the rainbow despite the clouds, Jason's inspiration and brotherly devotion, Donald's stick-to-it-iveness and courage, and Adam's support, your family surpasses any definition of "wicked awesome"! I love and admire, you, sister! - Alex