18 June 2007

Did Horace have a back up plan?

This weekend, while we were at our cabin we took the kids over to the beach club on a nearby lake to swim (we were guests of my parents-in-law as my PIL retired to the area, along with most of my husband’s family). Swimming at the beach club is easier than swimming in the lake when you have little ones, although the seclusion of the lake is becoming more and more appealing.

I’m not sure how I should’ve handled the situation that presented itself. This mom thing is hard. Before kids, I was so decisive, so clear headed. Now, situations I never expected happen, the kids do things I could never have dreamed and I fumble through the situation badly. If my children do something wrong in public, I correct the behavior, but often times forget to apologize to the wronged party. Some situations just leave me speechless. There is no play book, no text with answers in the back; I am out of my league with no experience to draw from.

It was after dinner on Friday night and pretty quiet at the beach club since everyone from the city hadn’t yet arrived at their cabins or it was too late for them to head to the beach club. Our family pretty much had the pool to ourselves. The kids loved it and were having a great time. So were we, until another family arrived.

At first glance, I thought it was a grandmother, her son, two daughters and two grandchildren. Turns out it was a grandmother, her two daughters, one of the daughter’s children and the other daughter’s girlfriend. Yes, they were lesbians and everyone initially thought the girlfriend was a boy. Her hair was cut into the military “high and tight” buzz and she wore masculine clothes.

While my family swam around, these two proceeded to get very chummy in the pool. I was so caught off guard; I didn’t know what to do. Pack up and leave? Say something? What? I chose to stay and provide an example of what a family is. Granted, my children are quite small, too small to even notice and that pacified my anger a bit, but even if they had been a heterosexual couple, they were too close for my comfort.

What’s more is that grandma was so proud of her brood that she was taking pictures of her daughter and her girlfriend. Actually, she was only taking pictures of them, not any of her grandchildren. Odd, very odd. The sister had no problem letting her children interact with them, swim with them, etc. Her children were right at that age to know something was off.

The little girl, who must’ve been around nine, asked her aunt if she and her “friend” loved each other. “Of course,” she answered, “You love your mom, don’t you?” What a bunch of side-stepping BS. Loving your mom is nothing remotely like this. And, don’t be parading your “love” around so blatantly if you’re not willing to call a spade a spade. The kid isn’t stupid. What a cop out.

Such an affront to the rest of us. It’s hard to remember to love the sinner and hate the sin when they are rubbing the sin right in your face and before your children. At lunch today I had on EWTN where Father Corapi was talking about homosexuality and how it’s an attack on the family. What isn’t an attack on the family? There is nothing that society offers that buoys the family. Only from within the confines of the family and the Church are we sustained.

And I thought the woods of northern Wisconsin would be a place to find respite.

4 comments:

Shannon said...

Great post! I just popped by using the "Next" button on my blog. I too find it difficult to make the CORRECT decision at times with my children. Very nicely put!

swissmiss said...

Shannon:
You are certainly fast. I just posted this! Sometimes, the hardest thing to do is figure out what is best. If the kids are fussing when we are out at dinner, do we tell them they will encounter a later punishment or take them out of the restaurant immediately. Things I never dreamed I would have to consider are daily occurences!

Adoro said...

I'm so sorry you had to experience this. I wish I could offer advice, but I can't. Sadly, though, my only observation is this; in the outright pornographic society we inhabit, can you really expect any better? I've given up.

swissmiss said...

Adoro:
The sad thing is that what we thought we were once isolated from is coming into our homes and our lives despite our best efforts. All I know is that I can't do this myself. God gave me these kids and He will have to help me keep them safe...along with me being as vigilant as I can!