Conflicted…

How do I find the happy medium between creating family memories and not letting down other people??

At the beginning of this year I got out my wall planner out and began filling it in with the events for the year. School terms, holidays, events, etc. As the year has progressed I have added more, school events, dance workshops, after school activities, rehearsals, appointments…its filling up so fast!

As I sit and look at it I am desperately trying to fit in some family adventure time. I feel compelled to fit in as much as I can as my son only has a couple of years left of high school and then who knows what direction he will head in and is he really going to want to come on family trips anymore (I secretly hope so, but it’s probably so uncool!).

We have never been on an overseas trip and took the plunge earlier in the year to organize our passports, so now we are all set, but when, when can I fit in time that the kids can have off, hubby can have time off and blend that with off-peak travel fares??

I guess I’m having this little rant as I have planned a quick 2 night trip up to Sydney to see “Vivid” something I have been wanting to get up to see for the last few years. So I checked all the dates and it looked like it would work. Booked the accommodation (cheap price no refund) and thought we were all set! Now the kids come home with their musical rehearsals schedule and of course the two full days of rehearsals are on the two days I have booked!!

Well too bad we are still going and we will let the teachers know straight away, but why do I feel guilty for taking them out of school when they are now going to miss something?

I believe making family memories and taking the kids to see new things is important, but the constant juggling is difficult. At their last school I actually had to get permission from the principal to take the kids out for more than a day! Aren’t I the parent, aren’t I the one that makes decisions for my children.

At this school it is a little easier and I always let the school know in advance when the kids are going to be absent, but I always feel guilty that I’m disrupting the teachers and their lesson plans.

Does anyone else feel this way? Does anyone have any opinions or advice?