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Topic: What did you do today?----great for parents (Read 341 times) |
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Tara Ann
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What did you do today?----great for parents
« on: Feb 27th, 2005, 1:21pm » |
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My husband came home today and saw me sitting on the couch, toddler on one knee, and baby nursing on the opposite breast. I was trying to turn the pages of a book with the hand not attached to the infant, while listening to the sound of the stove buzzer, which would indicate that tonight's steaks were at the stage between "well done" and "the dog gets tonight's entree." My husband looked at me innocently and asked "So, did you do anything today?" It's a good thing that most of my appendages were otherwise engaged, as I was unable to jump up and throttle him to death. This was probably for the best, as I assume that asking a stupid question is not grounds for murder in this country.
Let me back up a bit and explain what led me to this point in my life. I was not always bordering on the brink of insanity. On the contrary, a mere four years ago, I had a good job, steady income, and a vehicle that could not seat a professional sports team comfortably. I watched television shows that were not hosted by singing puppets. I went to bed later than nine o'clock at night. I preferred sex to sleeping in. I laughed at those people who drove halfway across the country hauling a tent trailer, three screaming kids, and a drooling dog and called it a holiday. Now I have become one of them! What happened? The stick turned blue. I have traded in my Victoria's Secret lingerie for cotton briefs and a firm support nursing bra. Good Bye Bruce Springsteen hello Barney and Big Bird. My idea of privacy is getting to use the bathroom without a 2 yr. old banging on the door and the baby spinning the toilet paper roll from my lap. And I finally understand that the term "Stay at home Mom" does not refer to a parent who no longer works outside the house, but rather to one who never seems to get out of the front door.
So, here I sit, children in hand, wondering, how to answer my beloved husband. DID I DO ANYTHING TODAY? Well, I think I did, although not much seems to have gotten accomplished. I shared breakfast in bed with a handsome young man. Of course the breakfast consisted of a bowl of Lucky Charms and leftover cookie crumbs found between the sheets. The handsome young man is about 34 inches tall and only gets excited at the sight of purple dinosaurs, toy trucks and French fries. I got to take a relaxing stroll in the woods. Of course I had to look for frogs and lizards, and had to stop and smell the dandelions along the way. I successfully washed one load of laundry, moved the load that was in the washer into the dryer, and the dryer load into the basket. The load that was in the basket is now spread out on the bed, awaiting my bedtime decision to actually put the clothes away or merely move them to the top of the dresser. I read two or three classics. Of course Dickens and Shakespeare cannot take credit for these works, as we have moved on to the works of Seuss and Boynton. I don't think I will be making any trips to the adult section of my local library anytime soon. In between I dusted, wiped, organized, and rearranged. I kissed away the owies and washed away the tears. I scolded, praised, hugged, and tested my patience, all before noon. Did I do anything today?? You betcha! I will now understand what people mean when they say that parenting is the hardest job they will ever have. In my LBD (life before diapers) I was able to teach young minds how to divide fractions, write complex sentences, but I am unable to teach a strong willed 2 yr. old how to use the toilet. I was once able to navigate urban streets while talking on the car phone and looking for a decent radio station, but now I can't get the wheels on my stroller to all go in the same direction at the same time. I've graduated from a university, written newspaper articles, and won awards, but can't figure out how to get carrot stains out of the carpet. I used to debate with my friends about politics, but now we discuss the merits of cloth versus disposable. And when did I stop talking in sentences that had more than 5 words? So in response to my husbands inquiry, yes I did do something today.
In fact, I am one step closer to one of life's greatest accomplishments. No, I did not find a cure for cancer or forge world peace, but I did hold a miracle in my arms. Two in fact. My children are my greatest accomplishment and the opportunity to raise them is my greatest challenge. I don't know if my children will grow up to be great leaders or world class brain surgeons. Frankly, I don't care, as long as they grow up to be good people. They are my greatest joys, even though I sometimes cry myself to sleep at night in frustration. The point is that today I got to watch my children take another step on the great journey of life, and I even got to point out some of the sites along the way. As challenging as parenthood is, it is also equally rewarding because we are using all our wisdom, our talent and skills to help forge a new person. It is this person, these people, who in turn will use their gifts to create our future. So every nursery rhyme I recite, every swing I push every little hand I hold is something.
And I did it today!
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LeLimey
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Re: What did you do today?----great for parents
« Reply #1 on: Feb 27th, 2005, 1:39pm » |
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 Thank you for sharing that, it was GREAT!!!
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The arsehole I'm divorcing needs to get a life and stop stalking mine
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Grandma_Sweet_Boy
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Re: What did you do today?----great for parents
« Reply #2 on: Feb 27th, 2005, 2:31pm » |
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Makes me want to print it out, frame it, and give it to each of the mothers of our grandbabies.
What a beautiful sentiment and the older I get, the harder it is to remember just what a tough job it truly is to be the "stay at home Mom".
Thanks so much for sharing this.
Hugs
Carol
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sandie99
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Re: What did you do today?----great for parents
« Reply #3 on: Feb 28th, 2005, 3:46am » |
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CH happends, Live anyway! PF days to us all!
"Do what you can and let God take care of the rest. Leave your heart wide open and always wish for the best" (Sanna Hillu)
"No matter how far out your dreams are, it's possible" (Marketa Irglova)
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cherylc
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Re: What did you do today?----great for parents
« Reply #4 on: Mar 3rd, 2005, 11:43am » |
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Thanks for those beautiful words. You made me laugh, smile, sniffle and nod in understanding. I needed to be reminded of how important our "job" is. We have to remember to live in the moment and enjoy those little ones and the time we get to spend with them.
cheryl
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Biker
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Re: What did you do today?----great for parents
« Reply #5 on: Mar 4th, 2005, 9:42pm » |
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Take them kiddos out to the farm. Let them learn to grow food. Allow them to enjoy life.
city life kinda sucks.
Im sure ya dont want your kiddos to run around in circles chasing the dollar, when they can spend the seasons enjoying life.
City words----"It use to be wine, women and song. Now, its Beer, the ole lady, and T.V. "
Farmers words---- Ya reep what ya plant. Guess them city folk are gonna be hungy, Kinda wonder what them high dollar "poor folk" are eating today? Have to wonder how the traffic in town is? What are they paying for fuel these days? I just cannot understand how the bank can produce more fake money. Wonder if that SUV can make it up the holler? Geeze O Pete--- did ya get to see her paint her face on???? I aint sellin the farm----let them build highrises to enable them to stack themselves on top of each other. We cannot feed them if they keep raising the prices. Next thief I catch, Im gonna shoot. Urban sprawl is eating up our lands. We cannot grow food without land. Money does not grow on trees, its our land they are after---and eventually, they will get it. Within 200 years, all the trees will be gone, the planet filled with concrete, parking garages, and highrises. Then the city folk with all them high dollars will turn to the ocean for food, only to find they have killed the oceans with our trash.
You have invested so much time and energy to them babies. Dont let them become like my babies just to make more kiddos and chase the mighty dollar. The dollar is always been good---and I am happy that most folks have many. Debt over their ears. I only hear from my kiddos when the are in a finicial bind. I tell my very own---"Come to the farm. We can grow a larger garden. " They would prefer the bright lights, outrages taxes, working their lives away and borrowing money they will pay massive interest upon.
Apartment dwelling is kinda fun---rental property is kinda fun. Ownership is EXTREMLY nice. There is a reason "Daddy wont sell the farm". Daddy works hard, and grows food. Daddy can sell the food to them populated areas for much less than the middleman in the grocery store makes, and daddy comes out ahead in the long run. Farmers aint stupid!!!!! Just poor.
Take them babies to art shows, give them a good education, and let them play in the dirt. Love them, then turn them out into the world. They will learn their own ways--become their own. Then you will have to remind them of yourself, family, and the good ways to live. As my Mother, you will eventually complete your role, and your children will bury you as I buried my mother. Love, respect, and many tears. Life shall contiune. Aint nobody getting out of this alive.
Ride life like ya stole it.
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Ride it like ya stole it.
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