The Life of A Mommy

This was how MY life went just a few short years ago! The time flies so fast...cherish every moment you have with your children and take time to do....SOMETHING! :)
The Life of A Mommy

My husband came home today and saw me sitting on the couch, preschooler on one knee and baby in the other arm. I was trying to turn the pages of a book with the hand that wasnt attached to the baby, while listening to the stove buzzer, which indicated tonights dinner was at the stage between "well done" and "the dog's entree".

My husband looked at me innocently and asked "So did you do anything today?" Its 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 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 and me comfortably. I watched television shows that were not hosted by singing muppets. I went to bed later than nine o'clock at night. I preferred sex to sleeping in. I laughed at those people that drove half way across the country hauling a tent trailer, screaming kids and a drooling dog and called it a vacation. Now I have become one of them!

What happened? The stick turned BLUE...thats what happened! I traded my Victoria's Secret lingerie for cotton briefs and a firm support bra. Goodbye Garth Brooks and Hello Barney and Big Bird! My idea of privacy is getting to use the bathroom without a preschooler banging on the bathroom door and the baby spinning the toilet paper from my lap. And I finally understand the term "Stay At Home Mom" does not refer to a parent who no longer works outside the house, but to one who never seems to get out 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 with a beautiful little girl. Of course, the breakfast consisted of a bowl of Cocoa Puffs and leftover cookie crumbs found between the sheets. This beautiful girl is about 34 inches tall and only gets excited at the site of purple dinosaurs, baby dolls and french fries. I got to take a long relaxing stroll outside. Of course we had to look at the pretty flowers blooming and pick a few dandelions along the way.

I successfully washed one load of laundry, moved the load that was in the washer to the dryer and the dryer to the basket. The load that was in the basket is now spread out across out bed, awaiting my bedtime decision to fold them and put them away or merely move them to another basket.

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 Munsch. I dont 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 owies and washed away tears. I scolded, praised, hugged and tested my patience all before noon.

Did I do anything today? YOU BETCHA! I 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 and write complex sentences but Im unable to figure out how to occupy a preschooler for more than 15 minutes. I was once able to navigate urban streets while talking on the cell phone and looking for a decent radio station but now I cant get the wheels on the stroller to all go in the same direction.

I've graduated from a university, written newspaper articles and won awards but I cant figure out how to get carrot stains out of the carpet. I used to debate with 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 fins a cure for cancer or forge world peace but I did hold a miracle in my arms...TWO of them! My children are my greatest accomplishments and the opportunity to raise them is my greatest challenge! I dont know if my children will grow up to be great leaders or world class brain surgeons. Frankly I dont care, as long as they grow up to be good people. The are my greatest joys, even though I sometimes cry myself to sleep 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 our wisdom, our talent and skills to help forge a new person. It is this person, these people, who in turn will use their gift 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!

~Anon