I'm officially a chauffeur

Most of the parents out there will readily agree that driving the kids

around is part of the job of parenting, and before today, I would have said, "Yeah, I chauffeur my kids all the time." But for some reason, the driving today reached another level of 'chauffeur-ship.'

My oldest son, Aidan, is in a soccer tournament tomorrow (his first ever) and my friend had picked him and some others up for practice this morning. I went to do the return run, but on the way back Aidan asked if he could play at Nicola's for a while. So I dropped them off, then the others, and came back home the same way I left...alone.

And that was the kicker for me, I guess...I didn't go with kids to take them somewhere, or pick kids up to bring them home, I just went out and moved them from one location to another, and then came back home.

And that's when the realization hit me...I am officially a chauffeur! The driver!

But you know what's funny? I didn't mind! I actually liked being able to do that for Aidan. That may be because I don't have to do it nearly as much as a mom in the Western world. Here in Arua, Aidan goes to school on the back of the nightwatchman's bicycle. We walk Noah and Keziah two blocks down the road to the pre-school.

There are no ballet classes to rush to, or softball teams or drama clubs. There are no youth group overnights or Boy Scout meetings. All of the social activities around here are either within walking distance, or we all go as a family, so there's very little toing and froing in the car, dropping and picking up kids, etc.

Yes, it's a bit sad that my kids miss all those other activities, but I have to admit that I prefer this pace of life. It's a little less manic, which means that when I do have to run the kids around, I get to enjoy it!