I’ve got a couple of whines if you are bringing out more cheese. First- I HATE packing. I do it for my kids to the most part because I also HATE HATE the chaotic scramble that is allowing my kids to do their own packing. They are sloppy and forget stuff which ultimately creates more work for me on our vacation. I don’t care if it’s a great learning experience for them, I want a vacation too, dang it so I pack for them which ensures a moment of peace at our destination. It feels like a very brief moment, though until we have to come home and unpack.
My second whine is like your Girls scout mom whine- parents who don’t or can’t think of anything but themselves. I lead a girls’ crafting group at our church. It’s free for girls and their guardian. FREE! No fees for supplies to make jewelry; learn knitting and embroidery, making soap, natural body scrubs and lotions. The only requirement I make is that they bring a snack twice per year. And I’m not picky! It can be a pitcher of water and bag of chips- I don’t care. It’s totally up to them. One mom served chili for breakfast. I was just thrilled that she brought food because I think it’s the least the moms/girls can do to contribute to a free group. But wouldn’t you know there is one mom who hasn’t brought a snack, has signed up for events and then doesn’t show up, didn’t text me (so I purchased crafting a supplies for her daughter and could have used them for someone else if she had told me she couldn’t make it but nope-not a word. Just didn’t show.). She makes great speeches like, “oh we are so excited for the upcoming meeting!” But then doesn’t show and doesn’t communicate. I let it go and just try to cheer her on when she does come (because who really knows what she is facing in her messy life and of course it’s not her daughter’s fault her mom’s a flake), but I don’t rely on her or expect her to ever show. Sigh. Whatever. Thanks for letting me vent.
" I object to violence because when it appears to do good, the good is only temporary; the evil it does is permanent." Mahatma Gandhi
"This is the ultimate weakness of violence: It multiplies evil and violence in the universe. It doesn't solve any problems." Martin Luther King, Jr.