Just Say NO!!!

I did something absolutely extraordinary today: Someone asked if I could do something, and I said No!!! What a liberating feeling! It was the most random thing, too! Josh's school called and asked if I could teach their Art classes tomorrow. What?? I would be there from 10am until 3pm. What??? Why in the world did they ask ME to teach an Art class?? It's not me they want, it's my mom!! But I was kind of shocked at the request, I must admit. It made me think of church--if I'm not able to be there to teach my class, I call one of the other parents of the kids in the class to see if they can teach for me. But, ummm, I think this is different! Maybe not. I kind of have the feeling that they were just going through the phone directory for all the parents of all the kids. I guess they don't have a regime of substitute teachers just hanging around waiting for the phone call, "Can you substitute for .... class today?" I have to admit, I did feel bad for saying no, but I am in no way, shape or form qualified or prepared to teach art classes. Yes, it would be elementary school kids and middle school kids, but still, what would I teach?? And besides, I'm not prepared to be gone from home all day long. I'm not up to that kind of stress and change at this moment. Besides, I already teach a Spanish class in the morning and I volunteer in the Kindergarten class for a little while. What can I say? But at least I can speak Spanish--I can barely draw a stick figure! I can come up with fun projects for preschoolers to do in art, but, this is something out of my league. Funny thing, though, after I said no and hung up the phone (and went through my little guilty feelings), I jumped up and down and shouted, "I said NO!!!"

I can say no, and it's ok.