This is another dissertation I wrote. It goes with this week's theme...MOTHER'S DAY! So, if you've read this before, clearly, it's important info and you need to review.
Well, I've finally made a name for myself. I've had two people ask me if I'm going to do my Mother's Day dissertation, and far be it from me to let you all down. Aside from my random rants, it is my obligation to give you the annual update of my status as a mom so far. There's been no big event this year, and after last year, that's okay!
This mother's day is interesting, somewhat somber. This year, it should be noted that Ricardo and I's moms are celebrating their first mother's day without their moms. Both of our grandmothers passed away this year. That's an interesting observation: We haven't ALWAYS been moms all of our lives, but we HAVE been daughters (or sons)...our entire lives. So now, Mom and Mom-in-Law, please enjoy being a mom. You've both been fine daughters. And the mom's you remember from when you were little girls, are resting on your shoulders as angels....good sweet angels.
I hope I get my wings someday. But I spent most of my Mother's Day weekend, saying "No!" in a bad tone. I was spoiled rotten for mother's day: I got a fabulous pedicure (Thank you!), jammies...if you know me, you know how I fully appreciate a good comfy, and yet obnoxious looking pair of jammies, gel bras to reshape those saggy A's (who knew even the A's could sag....oy vey) into something more presentable, and some new running shoes. I splurged on running shoes.
I was reading a book recommended by an spare mom of mine. It's called "When did I stop being Barbie and become Mrs. Potato Head?". It's very enlightening content. I got stuck on a chapter though. I'm still trying to get over it. It talks about how, as women, we are so worried about fad diets and the shapes of our bodies. Then it asks, what's the shape of our prayer, or our spiritual body? And if we put in half the effort that we put into JUST worrying about our physical appearance for our spiritual life....what if we did that? Wow! So, I'm trying to scale back on the vanity (I do well, until I get to the gym with all of those mirrors) and just be healthier for my children. I've worked in running 5 times a week. Cardio will help, right? I have yet to compromise my need for chocolate, sweets, and take-out. One step at a time, right? So, I'll commit to running and being healthy, accept this body God traded me for healthy kids (best trade ever), and pray more. I'll let you know next year how it goes.
Okay, so while visiting Fabulous parents-in-law for Mother's day weekend, I did my "Go give thanks for being a mom at church" thing. Max and Lucy are no longer strapped in car seats at church. They are no longer sweet little snugglers while we sit. Oh, they are curious, adventure seekers. I keep telling them, there's no adventure to seek in church. And yet, they still seek. They did fairly well through the scripture readings. They must have realized at some point that the real serious part was coming up, and proceeded to crawl under pews, and then eventually, wail and scream when asked to sit still. I know....why even pose the request to sit still for a 2 1/2 year old? What was I thinking?
While holding Max, who was wailing, I get the young couple a few rows up both start to subtly turn their heads in my direction...then as if their turning heads was going to quiet Max, they turned more and stared. So, who's more in the wrong in that situation: me for not taking my kid out sooner, or them for allowing themselves to be distracted, annnnnd judge with the glares IN CHURCH? I smiled back. They continued to stare. I had HALF a mind to pinch Max so he'd scream louder. But I didn't. Calm down, I DIDN'T do it! I simply smiled bigger and waved. They were mift. So was I. Morons...Childless morons.
Max continued, and so I took him out for a while. And when we returned, I prayed for that young childless couple to be fertile little love birds. I should have lit a candle for them too. Somewhere in all of this, we get through church. And go to eat supper. If they thought there was adventure in church....they KNEW there would be adventure in dinnertime.
Man, where does my rage come from? I get so mad. They really are cute kids. But just as they are cute, they are getting more sassy. And Mom, I blame this on you. You wished two of me on me, and I got it. Take your hex off me now, witch doctor. PLEASE! Sigh. This morning, I woke up tired (long night with Max flopping around) but eager to get up and enjoy my day today because Ricardo woke me with fabulous cards, and breakfast in bed, complete with a dish my mom used to make me on special occasions. Sooo thoughtful...and yummy! It's a bullseye egg...fried egg in the toast. Anyways, it was perfect. The kids had a blast with Grandma and Bean-Bean this weekend, and we opted to not fight them on naptime, and let them nap in the car on the way home. So, after a fabulous lunch, we left. They screamed and taunted each other for about 15-20 minutes, and then just passed out.
At some point, I had to go potty and needed a sugar fix: milk duds and starburst. So, I stopped. When I got back in the car, a lady was letting her kids out of her car, screaming at them that she wasn't buying them anything and also to stop, because one of the kids was out of the car and running inside without her. At first I didn't like it. I didn't like the tone she took with the kids. And then I realized I take that very same tone with my kids. I'm getting better about it. Usually I'm distracted with stuff like laundry or dishes that don't HAVE to be done, and the kids want something, mostly just attention. But mostly, it's this amazing sense of urgency that I need to fix that behavioral problem immediately. And when they don't fix it, that's failure on my part....oh Lord...does anyone feel the urge to turn me in to Dr. Phil yet?
So, on the car ride home I had a little talk with myself. And Mother's Day for me right now, and for my kids is this: It's, for one day, letting my kids do whatever they want to do. It's me on a break, not having to discipline, and spoiling them rotten. So I told Ricardo when we got home, I wanted to let the kids do whatever they wanted. I let them eat their dinner in the living room. I let Max take another 2 hour nap on the naughty couch, I repainted Lucy's nails, I cleaned up poo without lecturing, I let Lucy splash all over the tub...and mostly all the water splashed out of the tub, I let Lucy pick any movie she wanted (Princess Bride), and I let Max have alllll the juice he wanted without making him have water instead. It was fabulous! I think the problem with my discipline at this point it's too much. I'm cutting way back. Sort of.
I guess what I'm getting at this year is that I'm right on target with my progression as a mother. I've hit the, Hard ass mom stage, and I really suck at it. So, I give up and will go back to fun silly mom with just a few rules. Max and Lucy are hillarious and at times, way further progressed than their age bracket. So, I expect too much from them. This year, I resolve to just relax. So there it is, I'm still loving the motherhood gig. I need to relax and enjoy my kids. No funny mishaps this year...but then, the day is not COMPLETELY over, I suppose. Max and Lucy are talking and growing up so fast. I've attached a picture of us today. Happy Mother's Day to you all! Mom, I still go through everyday thinking to myself, "She did this for me, she had a day like this....for me."
Call your mother.
And that's how I roll.
