Cast of Alice in Wonderland Play

Tough decisions are just part of being a good parent.  Many times you are the only one that understands your reasoning for those decisions.  Most of the time you get no praise for making those tough decisions, but, as a good parent, you still have to make them!

Our Tough Decisions

Recently, Laura and I had to make one of those really tough decisions.

As a homeschooling family, we have to seek out sources for extracurricular activities to add some dimension to our children’s education.  We enrolled our children in a small performing arts class back in May and we really liked what we were hearing from the instructor/director.  The rehearsal schedules only required slight adjustments to our already packed calendar and I was able to make the necessary changes to my work schedule without too much impact on my fellow employees.

In the beginning, Laura and I mainly stayed out in the lobby during practice, in an attempt to start “letting go” until we started noticing slight changes in the environment. We decided to move into the actual practice room, but sat very quietly out of sight.  What we saw shocked us.  One of the adult helpers seemed to be picking our children out of the crowd of unruly teenagers.

We all have to deal with people like this throughout life and it was important our children learn how to handle it (to a certain point).  As the weekly classes continued, the situation seemed to get worse (even to the point of accusing Nick of stealing).  We started running interference because we wanted to teach our kids, you don’t quit just because the going gets tough!

Enough is Enough!

Finally, this “helper” called one of our children off of stage to have a “word” with him privately.  Laura went with him, just to listen in but said nothing.  When he returned to stage, she returned to the seat beside me and we thought that was the end of that conversation.  The helper felt the need to come over to Laura and have an angry word with her as well.  (The only thing that kept me in my seat was Laura asking me to let her handle it)

After rehearsals, I removed our children from the room while Laura went to have a “word” with the helper.  Everyone could hear the helper from outside the room screaming that Laura would just have to deal with it and making a derogatory remark about our children before storming out of the room.

That was the end of our association with these folks!

We had wanted our children to gain the rewards for being in this play, the self-confidence, the work ethic and the pride of a job well done.  But we made some tough decisions to protect our children from the mental abuse received from a stranger.  Based on her last comments about our children, the situation was not likely to improve and would probably get worse since she was not recognizing our authority over our own children any longer.

Being a Parent means Making Tough Decisions

We live in a world where everyone is supposed to get what they want no matter the consequences.  If your child says he wants, you must rush out and get it for him!  When your daughter asks for the credit card, a good daddy must give it to her.  Our children must have all of the newest toys, clothes, phones, and video games.  We must allow them to do whatever they want or cause self-esteem issues (well, that’s what we’re told by society).

We are just as disappointed as our children that they are not going to be in the play.  They are sad that they will not likely be around some of the friends they made at rehearsals.  I am disappoint they will not be in the play.  But Laura and I had to make the best decision we could, which was protecting them even when it hurt.

There will be other extracurricular activities.  There will be other plays.  New and Exciting projects will come. New friends will be made.  But I will never have more children and God has given me the responsibility to protect them (1 Timothy 5:8).  That is what I intend to do.