From conversations I've had, I seem to be one of the few parents (at least among my friends) who is enamored with the newborn baby phase. Often, I hear, "I do better when they can communicate with me." I would argue that newborns communicate just fine, with eye contact, cries, snuggles, etc. There is something for me about feeling the weight of the incredible gift and responsibility bestowed upon me is more than enough.
As my kids have gotten older, they clearly prefer their daddy. And my heart hurts at little moments throughout the day because of it. I am the parent they see much less frequently due to my job, and while that is a contributing factor, I am also less fun. I have to remind myself that the laundry can wait, and it is okay if the house looks a mess. My husband is more carefree than I am, and he helps me keep things in perspective. Even still, there are lots of moments where I can't help but feel that I am the black sheep and my kids would not so much care if I was around or not. Then there are those moments that make my heart burst. Those times that something so beautiful happens that I can hardly contain my joy. Here are my top ten heart bursting moments.
10. I remain the go-to after injuries. It is heart-breaking that they are in pain, but it is heart-bursting that they turn to me for comfort.
9. The first voicemail I received after starting work back in the office this summer (I worked from home before that), where Bug said "Hi Ma," and Mister said "Love you. Miss you." It will be saved forever.
8. Bug's face lighting up when she sees us, even now every day when I get home from work. There is nothing more breathtaking than her face. She radiates light.
7. Mister being so thrilled to play in the snow that numerous times, he proclaims, "I'm excited!" Doesn't sound like much? The look on his face to match was more than I could handle. I would have given him anything he wanted in that moment.
6. Bug's sad face (particularly when she is embarrassed). In those moments, I think to myself, "how can I love a person this much?" I would do whatever it takes to make it better.
5. Mister singing Happy Birthday and giving you what he deems a cake (usually a toy of some sort). Daily. Sometimes numerous times a day.
4. Bug hitting Mister, me telling her to apologize and give him a hug, and Mister (while crying) leaning in for a hug and telling Bug "I love you so much." As if he did something wrong.
3. Bug's hugs around my leg. Usually accompanied by her saying "Aww, Mommy."
2. Their laughter. Every. Single. Time. It could be the secret to world peace.
1. Mister has a lovey called Blue Blanket. It is so loved that Santa brought him a new one this year. However, new Blue Blanket doesn't hold a candle to old Blue Blanket. Mister bumped his head yesterday, and old Blue Blanket was in the dryer (it was darn near standing on its own). This was, of course, a tragedy. The rest of the day was trying, to say the least. Then, at bedtime, Mister said to me, "Good job washing my Blue Blanket, Mommy. Thank you for washing my Blue Blanket." That'll last me awhile...
I would love to hear your heart-bursting moments!! Please feel free to leave a comment!
Monday, January 12, 2015
Wednesday, January 7, 2015
My due...
Anyone who was less than perfect as a child (and really, who was perfect as a child?) has heard from their parents that they will get their due when they have their own kids. My family likes to share all kinds of lovely stories about me: cracking my head on a metal door frame after climbing on an unsteady decorative table, drinking my sister's perfume, eating poison berries from a neighbor's plant, climbing up on the counter (using the drawers as stairs) to eat a cake my mom made for a baby shower, and lying. I mean, lying all the time as a young child. Lying to get my older sister in trouble and keep myself out of it. Telling my best friend's mom that my mom told me I could come over, only for my mom to call 2 minutes later, frantic, because she could not find me (they only lived next door). I was not an easy child, to say the least.
We have challenges with Bug, but they are very different. I didn't quite appreciate what my parents went through with me until Mister came along. He is in the full throes of the terrible twos, and oooh boy... This past Memorial Day weekend, the kids and I were getting ready to drive 5 hours for my best friend's wedding shower, but Jeremy (my husband) wasn't able to join us. He pulled the lawn mower out of the shed to mow after we left, and while we were loading the car, Mister managed to disconnect the gas hose. Bug loves liquids, so she was reveling in the gasoline puddle on the ground - I have no clue how that is appealing. After a very vigorous bath, a drink of water, crackers, and a call to poison control, I ran down to put their gas clothes in the washer. Upon returning to the living room, I see Jeremy pulling something out of Mister's mouth. Come to find out, while I was distracted with the gas clothes, Mister got into my purse, opened the childproof lid of the ibuprofen bottle (mind you he was not even 2), and ate a couple. Another call to poison control, I learned just how many ibuprofen my child could safely ingest before a trip to the ER was necessary. And when I laughingly asked if the nurse was going to call DCFS on me, she answered, "oh, honey - it's just one of those days." Amen, sister.
Fast forward to last week while visiting my in-laws for Christmas (we'll gloss over when he ate a poison berry this summer; who says there's no such thing as karma?). Mister has been much preferring Daddy lately, and when it was time for bed one night, he was in full-on tantrum mode. Lots of crying, screaming, and "I want Daddys" later, Daddy went in to try and calm him. I stood outside the room and listened to Mister say, "Mommy is mean to me. [Muddled words - wait for it...] Mommy doesn't want me to be happy." WHAT?? Who is this kid? So, Jeremy gets him to calm down, and he comes out of the room. The part I missed? The muddled words? "Mommy slapped me." Now if you know me well, you know I am of the non-spanking camp. There is literally zero chance I slapped Mister. This kid already has such a strong personality, and he knows how to get what he wants.
Oof, we are in for it! What can I say? It's my due! I turned out relatively normal, so I guess it could be worse. :)
We have challenges with Bug, but they are very different. I didn't quite appreciate what my parents went through with me until Mister came along. He is in the full throes of the terrible twos, and oooh boy... This past Memorial Day weekend, the kids and I were getting ready to drive 5 hours for my best friend's wedding shower, but Jeremy (my husband) wasn't able to join us. He pulled the lawn mower out of the shed to mow after we left, and while we were loading the car, Mister managed to disconnect the gas hose. Bug loves liquids, so she was reveling in the gasoline puddle on the ground - I have no clue how that is appealing. After a very vigorous bath, a drink of water, crackers, and a call to poison control, I ran down to put their gas clothes in the washer. Upon returning to the living room, I see Jeremy pulling something out of Mister's mouth. Come to find out, while I was distracted with the gas clothes, Mister got into my purse, opened the childproof lid of the ibuprofen bottle (mind you he was not even 2), and ate a couple. Another call to poison control, I learned just how many ibuprofen my child could safely ingest before a trip to the ER was necessary. And when I laughingly asked if the nurse was going to call DCFS on me, she answered, "oh, honey - it's just one of those days." Amen, sister.
Fast forward to last week while visiting my in-laws for Christmas (we'll gloss over when he ate a poison berry this summer; who says there's no such thing as karma?). Mister has been much preferring Daddy lately, and when it was time for bed one night, he was in full-on tantrum mode. Lots of crying, screaming, and "I want Daddys" later, Daddy went in to try and calm him. I stood outside the room and listened to Mister say, "Mommy is mean to me. [Muddled words - wait for it...] Mommy doesn't want me to be happy." WHAT?? Who is this kid? So, Jeremy gets him to calm down, and he comes out of the room. The part I missed? The muddled words? "Mommy slapped me." Now if you know me well, you know I am of the non-spanking camp. There is literally zero chance I slapped Mister. This kid already has such a strong personality, and he knows how to get what he wants.
Oof, we are in for it! What can I say? It's my due! I turned out relatively normal, so I guess it could be worse. :)
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