ENJOYMENT AND UNGRATEFULNESS!

Ugh. Jean2 here typing this post for the second time because I apparentley didn't "save it as a draft." OOPS! I think it was actually better the first time but oh well. Remember-I struggle with technology. I tried to call Jean1 to FIX IT FOR ME but she was not availabe. Anyway, I am going to do a little venting. Isn't that what this blogging is all about? Remember I am a stepmom of 2 daughters, H & B, ages 11 and 13. And bio mom of 1 daughter, J, age 12. Yes they are at that PRECIOUS age. People love my children. Teachers brag about them and compliment my parenting skills. No I am not bragging about myself as you will soon find out. Just letting you inside my reality. Our children all live with us. Some call us the modern day Brady Bunch. WHERE IS MY ALICE?? They go to their other parents every other weekend. That leaves a weekend for FAMILY things (I often view family things as overrated) and a weekend for DH and I to ourselves. I love those weekends when it is just the two of us. DH and I try to provide a good life for the children. We take them to the mall, movies, vacations and out to eat. As we all want our children to have the things that we didn't have. DH LOVES FAMILY TIME. I do the mom thing well. I cook, clean, and do laundry. I TRY to BE NICE and BE FAIR. Yet this family still struggles with ungratefulness, me being the leader of that as DH, Jean1 and many of my other friends can attest to. Our children have a pool, computer, and cell phones ( we don't pay for those-the OTHER parents do) and many of the other conveniences that children have today. I feel they are spoiled and often ungrateful-after all, I lead by example-right? They are not however allowed to be bored. Only boring people get bored I say to them. I am just trying to get to the point where I ENJOY my children rather than see them as WORK! I am required to love them but I am required to always like and ENJOY them. I love ME time as I have selfish tendencies. I like for them to entertain themselves so I can take care of things that I need to take care of-those things often pertaining to them. Or it could just be I want to read a book or blog! While on our weekly outing the other day, I asked Jean1 if she was ready for school to start. Since she is a SAHM(stay at home mom) she has a different perspective. I am a teacher so my answer is obvioulsy NO. Her answer impressed and amazed me. She said NO. "Why have children if you don't want to be around them?"WOW! She wasn't saying this TO ME! She was just making a valid point. I did say that I didn't plan on my bio daughter although I am most happy and blessed to have her and nobody DREAMS of becoming a stepmom when they grow up. The bottom line is...I need to learn to ENJOY my children rather than see them as work. We do have laughs and good times-don't get me wrong. But if I were a SAHM and I am going to be completely honest here-I would be ready for school to start at this point in my life. Don't call Social Services. These children are in good hands I can assure you. Just selfish ones. Enough said.