It's Inevitable...

...Disappointment, that is.  What can I say?  It's a part of life.  It's how we handle it that makes us stronger, better people.  It's a lesson I'm trying to teach my children at an early age. 

My daughter was disappointed and upset yesterday because two of her best friends were together all day shopping, having lunch (with their moms), and then a sleepover.  She was upset that she wasn't included.  Quite simply, she was in school and wouldn't have been able to go anyway.  The girls are all friends, and us moms are all friends.  We do things together all the time and we do things separately, it just so happens that I work and Bella was back in school so it wasn't happening for either of us. 

I am trying to teach Bella to see beyond the initial sting of disappointment and understand why she feels the way she feels.  Bottom line is that she felt left out and a little jealous.  I understand that all too well, my girlfriends spent many of their days at the pool when I was working.  I don't begrudge them for it.  Their work hours are different than mine, so I couldn't be part of those fun summer days.  So we picked other things that we could all do together at various times. 

Original artwork by Parada Creations
http://www.paradacreationblog.com/

Yesterday I read a Facebook post by one of my friends that said she overheard a group of mom's complaining about their childrens' teachers. They had requested specific ones. She went on to say that "this is why so many children aren't adaptable. Life can't always be manipulated. You can't choose your boss or your neighbors, etc. The earlier you learn to adapt, the better you can tackle life's challenges. Kindergarten seems a great place to start."  {Wow, well said, Jennie.  I couldn't agree more}.

Listen, it hurts to see your children hurt - I get that. I feel that pain, but what I don't want is to raise my children to expect everything to be easy and perfect.  Disappointments and struggles at a young age helped define my character and the person I have become.  Sure it would have been less painful, but the reality is 'that is not reality'.  Children need to learn to be adaptable and to not expect everything to be easy.  Dealing with disappointment is a part of life, it's meant to help us grow.  Our children will be better adults in the end.

“Disappointment to a noble soul is what cold water is to burning metal; it strengthens, tempers, intensifies, but never destroys it.” – Eliza Tabor

Just sayin',