So the night has gone like this--dance class for me--my husband supervising shower/bath for the kids, Booster asleep in bed--dance class over for me--walk Thumper two rounds around the neighborhood until she falls asleep--come home to quiet house because my husband doesn't feel well and is asleep. Wow, everyone is asleep. Because my husband is a bit of a night owl, and Thumper sleeps in the car on our oh-so-long trek to pick Booster up from school, I almost never have a quiet moment in the house to myself. So what to do? (I guess I've chosen blogging for the moment.) I feel stress to choose the perfect way to relax. Should I choose a quiet activity like reading knowing that there will be no one to interrupt me, watch girly shows on the computer since my husband won't be there to make fun of me, eat mounds of ice cream since I don't have to worry about being a good example to my kids?
This is something I never had before having kids. I didn't feel anxious about my choice of relaxation, because I had a lot of time to myself. Frankly, I enjoyed that. On a Saturday I could easily pass from running errands, to going on a short hike, to reading, to taking a nap, to working on some little craft project, to meeting friends at a local eatery. I had many of those days when I could just do whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted.
Those kinds of days are not a part of my life right now, and sometimes I do miss them. In fact, there are occasions when I chafe against the reality of my kid-saturated days. But I know that these days with my two little ones, 2 and 6, are numbered. These days when they really want to do activities with me, to lean against me, to read with me, to draw pictures together will seem unbelievably precious when they are older and occupied with their own interests and friends.
But even so, now I'm going to eat some cake, drink some tea and watch some girly TV just because I have these few quiet moments right now, and I can get away with it.
Showing posts with label motherhood. Show all posts
Showing posts with label motherhood. Show all posts
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
5 Things
Inspired by WhyMommy, here are five things that I love about being a mom. Of course, I could write more, but here are five simple reasons that I love it.
I love to share something with my daughters that they’ve never done, seen, or tasted before. The first time to see an artist’s painting, a mummy, a new fruit like a rambutan. It can be anything. I like to see their first reaction. It’s the teacher in me. I love to set up environments and situations where children are learning about the world.
I love to see my daughters rolling around like puppies together. They make me laugh with their sheer exuberance. Booster took to her younger sister and, in physical ways, I could say that we have raised Thumper like a puppy. She had to like all of the holding, tussling, kissing, and rolling around. It’s all she’s ever known.
I love seeing my husband interacting with our daughters. My father, while an intelligent and talented man, was never going to win any fatherhood contests. It is so heartwarming to know that that my daughters, who deserve the best as all children do, have an engaged, fun, and protective father.
Of course, I love that heartwarming time when one or both of my daughters sleeps cuddled up next to me—or on me. It’s hard to beat that for just wonderful, warm fuzziness.
I also love the contradictory feeling that comes after they have fallen asleep. Usually I am so intent on wanting them to fall asleep. I am tired. I am ready for a quieter, more self-centered time of day. But so many times after they are finally BOTH asleep. I will see a toy, a photo, or just have a thought of them—their smiles, their laughs, their curiosity, their expressions of their understanding of the world—and I will have a flash of wishing that they were awake again so that we could continue the fun. Then I remember how hard it can be to get them both asleep and I try to enjoy the quiet time, but I do it while missing them. Strange.
I love to share something with my daughters that they’ve never done, seen, or tasted before. The first time to see an artist’s painting, a mummy, a new fruit like a rambutan. It can be anything. I like to see their first reaction. It’s the teacher in me. I love to set up environments and situations where children are learning about the world.
I love to see my daughters rolling around like puppies together. They make me laugh with their sheer exuberance. Booster took to her younger sister and, in physical ways, I could say that we have raised Thumper like a puppy. She had to like all of the holding, tussling, kissing, and rolling around. It’s all she’s ever known.
I love seeing my husband interacting with our daughters. My father, while an intelligent and talented man, was never going to win any fatherhood contests. It is so heartwarming to know that that my daughters, who deserve the best as all children do, have an engaged, fun, and protective father.
Of course, I love that heartwarming time when one or both of my daughters sleeps cuddled up next to me—or on me. It’s hard to beat that for just wonderful, warm fuzziness.
I also love the contradictory feeling that comes after they have fallen asleep. Usually I am so intent on wanting them to fall asleep. I am tired. I am ready for a quieter, more self-centered time of day. But so many times after they are finally BOTH asleep. I will see a toy, a photo, or just have a thought of them—their smiles, their laughs, their curiosity, their expressions of their understanding of the world—and I will have a flash of wishing that they were awake again so that we could continue the fun. Then I remember how hard it can be to get them both asleep and I try to enjoy the quiet time, but I do it while missing them. Strange.
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