A Family Divided (by four)

Growing up, we went to the county fair every summer.

I loved it! There were rides, and food. Games, and food. Prizes, and food.

Mmmm. Fair food. I don't know about you, but despite my begging, I could not convince my Mom to make me funnel cakes for breakfast. It just wasn't happening!

And it just wasn't FAIR!

Speaking of that, I feel we've been friends long enough now that I'd like to share something with you. There's a battle going on at our house.

And I, for one, am ready to tear the white pillowcase off of my bed and wave it on a broom handle in surrender.

I cannot do this anymore, you see. It's worn me to a frazzle over the past 13 years and I simply don't have the strength or the math skills, to be honest. I'm tired.

What's the problem, you ask?

There are four people in my home. Four folks who eat together each day. And...each day I have to make sure that the amount of food I cook is divisible by four. You know, so that everyone gets the same amount.

I count olives...and pork steaks...and lettuce leaves. I count brats, and pizza slices, and tacos. Thankfully, no one's questioned my peas or corn distribution! However, just to be on the safe side, I don't purchase raisins or Oreos. It's just too painful!

Do you do this in your home? I am sure I am not alone on this. And I don't really understand why it's such as isssue, as my children are constantly told over and over again that Life Is Not Fair.

I was constantly told that Life Is Not Fair while growing up.

Were you told this? How do you handle it? Because I try, I really try...to make things fair. But the fact of the matter is: hot dogs come in packages of 10, hot dog buns come in packages of 8. The odds are stacked against me. I'm not always going to be able to divide by 4. I cannot guarantee that fairness is always an option.

So what do you do when you feel you've been unfairly treated? When you've been shorted a hot dog bun? Do you get angry? Do you feel sorry for yourself? It's difficult, isn't it, when it appears that everyone else has things going for them and we don't. It's not fair that I work as hard as her and she's promoted. It's not fair that my neighbor has a new car and I still drive this old one. It's not fair that he's well and I'm sick.

My friends, the only consolation I can offer is this: there is ONE fair thing going on in this world. We all experience 'unfairness' in our lives. WE ALL EXPERIENCE IT.

There isn't one person around that hasn't felt they've been unfairly treated at least once or twice or twenty bajillion times. That's the good news. The tricky thing is trying to remember that the next time we want a hot dog...or a funnel cake for breakfast.

Think about that the next time you find yourself faced with 10 brats for 4 people. Who packaged these things?? Thanks for reading!