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Wednesday, January 04, 2006
If this were my first time here...
You know how sometimes you go into a restaurant that you normally really like, and they're just having an off day? The service might be sullen, or the food a little less perfect? When T and I have that experience we usually say (almost in unison) as we're heading to the car -- "Well, if this were our first time there, I wouldn't go back."
Which implies, correctly, that we do go back. We know that things aren't usually that way, and we have a fair level of confidence that next time everything will be back to normal and we'll have a fantastic time.
Sometimes motherhood is like that. Today motherhood is like that, for me. I have a six-year-old who has basically spent the past five hours forgetting to clean her room. (I wonder if a propensity for being easily sidetracked is genetically inherited?). I have had to take away her three very favorite toys for a week, because I told her I would take them away -- one at a time -- if she didn't get down to business and do the jobs I'd told her to do. I am now sitting here quietly relaxing, letting the kids play. This is the second day we're supposed to be back from vacation into school, and it's the second day we've not done a thing that's scholarly. (well. Yesterday evening they did their chapter summaries, and now that C is finally done with that bedroom, she's playing an educational computer game. Um... LT swept the floor and shifted the laundry? Life training? I really hope my inlaws don't read this journal.) I'm calling today a mental health day for myself. I even called off our nearly-weekly pre-Bible-study dinner with my parents.
Anyway. I digress. What I started out to say was that if this was my first experience with motherhood, I would most likely be seeking other employment. It's a good thing that I know about the ordinary good days -- the snuggles in bed in the mornings -- the spontaneous kisses on the cheek from the antikiss that is my 9-year-old son -- the notes like this one that I found on C's bedroom door (spelling original, made by C when she and LT both had friends over):
RULeS To Come IN
1 KNocK
2 STATe YouR BuisNess
3 SAY THe PAsswoRD
4 If we TELL You T CoMe iN THeN COM iN
5 i we TELL You To Go AWAY fRm THe RooM THeN Do AS YouR TOLD
6 SAY WHO YOU WANT
THe PAsswoRD iS CAT
Yeah, it's worth sticking around. Especially now that the kids made me lunch (pb&j, two chocolate caramels, and a diet cherry Coke).
Comments
That note is priceless. "State Your Business"...awesome.
I like the lunch. :)
Posted by: Kristen at January 4, 2006 07:42 PM
That's really sweet, but how can you drink Diet Cherry Coke with something sweet? I cannot drink any soda with a sweet thing. Only protein and carbs. I guess I'm weird. I save milk or water for the sweet things.
Posted by: jenn at January 4, 2006 08:59 PM
Ah...yes! I know exactly what you are saying!! I was thinking today that I am a complete failure at schooling and was actaully tempted to call Woodland. Tomorrow will be a better day! I promise, and if it is not, there is always a diet coke waiting to make it better! =)
Posted by: debi at January 4, 2006 09:37 PM
How is your day so far today? I am praying it is better!!
Posted by: debi at January 5, 2006 09:04 AM
Ah - I had one of those days as well. Laura was sent to bed early, without a bath, for knocking her sister down and banging her head for the umpteenth time today.
Posted by: Carol at January 5, 2006 11:31 AM
I believe that the tendency to be easily distracted IS genetically inherited. If it were taught then wouldn't all of my kids have it? My eldest daughter is mini-me, while my other kids are like their dad.
I could get lost finding my way out of a paper bag, whereas my son has an internal compass that is never off--inherited from his father.
So there you have my compelling scientific argument! :-)
Posted by: Denise at January 6, 2006 12:43 PM
