Will they ever be happy?

No matter what I do with Isabel's hair, it's always in her face.
Just another expression of her personality.

Through out this summer I heard over and over from my children that I NEVER say "yes" to anything. That I am SO unfair and NEVER let them play with friends. Which isn't true, I might add. Families are busy and don't always have the same schedule as we do. When my children asked to play today I said "yes" without hesitation. Every single one of my children went to play at a friend's house. Even Beckham. They all went before lunch, so they were all sent home for lunch. When Annika walked in I asked her if she had fun. With tears of disappointment she said, "No. Katelynn is always rude to me. I don't have any friends in this neighborhood. I want to move." Okay, where did that come from. I tried to console her and ask her about all her friends trying to explain that they all aren't rude. But every single one of them was rude to her. Is this some how my fault? Should I have encouraged her to play more with her friends? To invite more to come to our home? Something tells me that this might be inherit to her personality. Might Annika be a little over sensitive and take things to "personal"? Where in the world would she have gotten that from? Moi? No!!!!

Isabel snuck back into the house while I had put Grace down for a nap. I asked her if she had fun. Her reply was, "No. I didn't get to play with anything." I said back, " Well, that's not my fault." Isabel's quick reply, " YES it is!!". Whoa, hold on there. When did that become my fault? I have no control over what happens at a friend's house. As Annika probed her about her time at Katelynn McE.'s we discover that she only got to play with the baby dolls and not the polly pockets or little pet shop's. I was to irritated to try and speak with Isabel.

When are children truly happy? It seems the harder I try and maybe give in a little, they still aren't happy. Was I like this as a child? I remember running to my room upset about things. This happened to me more then just once. Every time I waited for my Mom to come in and console or comfort me, most times she didn't. But she too, was upset. As a mother I understand where she was coming from. But I also understand where my children are coming from as well.

What should I have said to Isabel? I was to angry about her blaming me for her unhappiness that I didn't even want to talk. Hello, I am the bigger person here!!! Right? I shouldn't let a 7 year old dictate my emotions so much. I shouldn't take what she says so personal. I should have followed Annika's lead and kept asking about her experience and the good things that happened.

I hope I will remember this for next time. There will be lots and lots of next times.