Monday, June 16, 2008

Motherhood Meme

Taken from Melissa.

I would never:
Hit my children. I would want to sometimes, like when I'm hit in the face, but I would never act on it. I would also never leave my children. Again with the want, but never with the act.

I always:
Forget how little they are. Sometimes when one or both of them are making me crazy, I picture them saying "help me, I'm just a little baby", because I forget. I used to spend my whole days with adults that needed me (I worked in computers, in support) and I forget that these little people that I now spend my days with need me and CAN'T do anything else. I also always cry. I used to be a crier but I am so, so much worse now. Today I hugged them both at the same time, which I've never done before, and I looked at both their faces and WAAH, started to cry.

I got an easy ride when it came to:
their health. I have two big, healthy children. They have never had ear infections, never more than a cold or a little teensy stomach bug. I also got an easy ride when it came to husbands because if I didn't have Todd's support I would be so, so hosed.

The part I dislike most about parenting is:
I dislike not knowing what to do a lot of the time. I dislike sleep training. I dislike shrieking. I dislike being so tired all the time. I dislike picking things up hundreds of time a day. I dislike how weak I am most of the time. I dislike feeling like I never get any better at this job.

The part I love most about parenting is:
Oh I do love them so, I love that part. I love bathing them and taking care of them. I love that they are people that came out of me and they are going to grow up and be my son and daughter forever. I love our family. I love that I truly love my work, that has never happened to me before and it never will again, I bet.

My terrible parenting secret is:
I don't keep many secrets, I bitch and moan a LOT. I sometimes think of how happy I was before I had kids. I'm ashamed of how mad and out of control I feel sometimes. I hate to feel so weak and helpless.

I would describe my approach to discipline as:
Hmm. Well let me say this and I don't want to offend anyone. I don't really respect my children. I mean, I respect them as human beings and, actually, as children of God (to be all religious) but I don't respect a three year old's opinion on things. And I really don't respect the five month old's opinion. I want them to know that I am in charge, a dictator, but a benevolent one. I love them and everything I do comes from that. So if I want them to go to bed, or take a nap when they're tired, or not hit me or their friends, I come from a loving place with that. I hope.

My worst parenting habit:
God, I don't know. Complaining. Not realizing how great I have it.

The one thing I am really proud of is:
That I have worked so well with Joseph. He is a very, very challenging person to be around for five minutes, let alone three years. He is my first and I knew nothing, I just thought that's maybe how all kids were. He is a special needs person and I am not a special needs educator, but I have had to become one very quickly and I think I am doing okay. I'm also proud that we didn't get all hung up on the label of 'special education' or 'autism' or whatever. We just want to help him, however that help comes.

I probably am too lenient when it comes to:
Food. I can't have fights over food.

I hope my kids inherit my:
husband's brains. I am smart but he is smarter. I hope they inherit my sense of humor, or rather the sense of humor that I used to have before I became such an old hag.

I hope my kids don’t inherit my:
horrible lack of patience. Struggles with weight. Tendency to be mean.

I love that my kids are:
so beautiful. I feel like it goes a long way with me. On days where everything is falling apart, I think at least they're so, so cute.

The thing I miss most about my pre-mom days is:
Sleeping. Being able to do whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted. Being able to think of the word for things whenever I wanted. Putting me and my husband first. Going out to dinner. Staying up later and knowing I could sleep in. Not feeling so much pressure all the time. Not thinking about sleep all the time.

Motherhood is:
Not for the weak.

1 comment:

Constance the 14,000th said...

this is cool! nice to know about you!