Can't we all just get along? .......

....and other things I learned from taking my kids to the playground.

So last Thursday I (well I should probably say we) got into a fight with another mom while at the playground with my kids.

I had planned on writing this scathing blog entry about the gall of this women. I was going to pick her apart and say all the things I hadn't thought to say as she was yelling, and embarrassing me in front of my children and my friends.

I have now had some time to really think about what happened. It has actually helped me to see things that I am sure the Lord wants me to see.

I greatly influence my children.

All. The. Time.

I don't think I realized how much of an influence I am on them. How I act, and react in this world my kids will learn, in large part, from me.

This Sucks!

This is the reason the Lord has blessed me with children. He wanted to give me a big mirror so I can see all the areas I am doing ok in, and especially, all the areas I could stand to do a bit of work....ok maybe a lot of work.

At the time of the "Playground Showdown of 2008", I didn't see a learning experience. I just saw a rude and partially irrational woman standing in front of me. I am now grateful for said showdown. I will work harder to be a better example.

Did you know that Ellie is the youngest person, to date, with a documented case of road rage! She can't even drive yet! Ok so there is not a "documented case" but she does have road rage. I know for a fact she has gotten this from me. How sad is that?

So today I vow to work harder at being a better example to my kids. I need to work harder with my Father in Heaven at becoming what he knows I can become. I want my kids to have a fighting chance in this world.

(get it? fighting chance?...it all started with a fight....oh I crack myself up!)

I know I will still make mistakes but like G.I. Joe says:

"Knowing is half the battle"

So I will go forth now with this knowledge, and try to do better.

Ok, so only because I am assuming people will wonder what happened on the fateful day of "Playground Showdown 2008" I will share a brief synopsis:

A friend of mine and a few of her friends meet at a park every so often. We take a lunch and eat and chat while the kiddo's play. It is great. This particular meeting we were all just happily chit chatting and one of the moms in our group told me that my son and another group of kids were fighting with one another. She said she thought she had broken it up. I went to check on Ro and make sure all was ok. Come to find out one of the kids had hit Ro in the chest because Ro had cut in line in front of his friend/sister/cousin (not sure which). Ro did not know he was cutting because the little girl had "walked over to talk to her cousin" (her words) so Ro didn't know she was in line. I told the kids involved that we need to be kind to one another and we need to keep our hands to ourselves. No more hitting. I did not see any other parent around, so I just left it at that. They left and apparently went and told their mom that a mean lady at the park had yelled at them. So she came to the park, all angry and up in arms, to let me know she was not ok with me yelling at her kids. I tried to explain what happened and my good friend tried to calm her down. To no avail. In fact she told my friend to "Shut your mouth!" twice! I figure that her kids jumped to the conclusion that Ro was a horrible no good line jumper, just like their mom jumped to the conclusion that I was a horrible no good kid yell-er at-er. Nothing was going to be resolved. That was not what she was looking for. She just wanted to yell. I guess she got what she wanted. Thank you Winnie for helping me out. You are a true friend.