Great Expectations?

If there’s one thing that is starting to bother me as a parent, it’s broken promises. Having had two parents who were always there, for track meets, spelling bees, etc., I guess I must have gotten spoiled. I guess my expectations of friends, and family in particular, are what I consider realistic, but others may consider unreasonable or great expectations?

When someone, whether family of friend, tells one of my children they will be somewhere, I expect them to be there. If they are not, I feel the person is disappointing my child. Am I being ridiculous? I don’t believe so. Just as in any other situation, I would prefer someone to say, “I’ll try to be there” and honestly make an effort. Or, “You know what? I don’t think I’ll be able to make it.” Please don’t give my child(ren) false hope. Don’t have them asking for you or looking for you in the audience. That’s not fair to them, or me, as their mom, who has to explain that so-and-so couldn’t be there because something came up, or he/she “is not feeling good” almost all the time.

I’d rather you late for a ball game you promised you’ll be attending than not show when you’ve told him/her you’ll be there. I think it’s becoming more and more of a pet-peeve of mine recently, being that we’ve been focusing on accountability at church. We have been encouraged to let our “yay” be “yay” and our “nay” be “nay”. It’s better to say you can’t do something or be somewhere and actually end up finding time to do it or be there than say you will and not.

I’ve been doing a lot of growing in my personal and spiritual life of late, and I’m realizing I’ve been at fault for the above as well. It’s amazing how spending more and more time with my children is changing my outlook on a lot of things and helping better understand, to an extent, God as our Father.