The grand essentials of happiness are: something to do, something to love, and something to hope for. 
— Allan K. Chalmers
Filed under: life
I was sick a couple days ago…vomiting, dizziness, etc. All I could think about was getting E sick. How is it even possible that he wouldn’t get ill if I were?? We are so close, all day long, we are bound to share each and every germ.
A stayed home a bit yesterday morning so I could sleep in and hopefully sleep off this illness. He poked his head in our room with E to say good morning. E started crying (admittedly it stopped once he moved onto the kitchen and thoughts of food entered E’s mind) as I lay there thinking how to protect him from getting sick.
What am I supposed to do? Just accept that when I am sick, E is sick and when E is sick, I am sick?
Filed under: life | Tags: judging, Naptime is the New Happy Hour, Stefanie Wilder Taylor
“This self-loathing moment has been brought to you by your local Smug Mama; those moms who will look you straight in the eye and say, ‘Oh, my child doesn’t watch TV.’” Stefanie Wilder Taylor, Naptime is the New Happy Hour
Admittedly E has not watched television (well, it has been on, but the Food Network doesn’t really seem to hold his attention) for a few months now. When we lived in our old apartment, one of the few peaceful times during the day was when E was in his exersaucer and PBS was on. Yea yea, only for about 10/15 minutes a day, that was all I could bring myself to do. But when I read this quote, it struck such a chord.
The author goes on to say that the more the parent claims the children abstain from said activity, the more the children actually partake in it. HA! Damn parents. Don’t we have enough to worry about without feeling judged with every decision we make (am I the only one?)!?
I also judge, more than I should, but not as much as I used to. Parenting has brought a new aspect on people into my life. Whatever that parent is doing with the child, by letting her scream, or him eat a donut, makes perfect sense at that moment. The child will not fail out of college because of this choice (however, putting your 2 year old to bed, every night, at midnight is utterly unacceptable and may be why he runs all over the house, demanding things of you-see previous post).
And I used to be a Smug Mama (partially at least), or felt like one. As time has passed, I am hoping the smugness has as well.
