Cohesive Thoughts on Mommyhood...Or Not

One of the benefits of being the second oldest of eight kids is that sometimes this mommy thing feels like an old hat. I'm comfortable being a mom. There are times when I get complacent and I think all is right in the world. Then...BAM! Life says "Not!".

I have to recoup, recharge, re-evaluate and change. My vigilance has paid off, in that my children have escaped most things unscathed. There has been one incidence with James that made my heart break for him. The occurrence taught me that even children aren't safe and can harm my child in ways that take months to fix. I rejoice in the fact that it was only months, not years.

I watch other moms and I grab things from their parenting that I like...Things like "a sense of humor". Because let's face it, we parents were put here to provide fodder for our children to tease and laugh at. Nothing like hearing your child giggle about your big butt.

Then there are moms who force their belief's on their children. I want to say to them..."It's not all about you, it is actually all about them.". Sometimes parents forget to celebrate the individuality of the child in their quest to "parent" the child. To mold them in their own image...Why can't they be who they are? Why not just allow them to be, facilitate their comfort level, their identity?

Then you can thump them on the head or bust their butt for being a kid. :D

Yesterday, I picked up my children from their childcare...my Mother-In-Laws house. Sitting on the couch was my son and when I walked in the door he ran SCREAMING from the room. Yelling, "I don't want to go home!!!!!!!". Door kicking and general mayhem ensued from the back bedroom and instead of getting upset I looked at the other two parents sitting there with my MIL and said, "Guess I get to beat some butts today!".

The parents laughed and I went on my way. They have a little boy, he's oh, 8/9 months old and my MIL watches him a few days a week. Ever had a baby look at you and you felt as if he/she saw something beyond the you that was standing there? As if the baby could see the dark or light shadows that follow you, or maybe he was seeing something just beyond what you were presenting? That was this baby. My kids rarely did this, or I didn't notice because they are my kids. But this baby was like many babies I've met through the years. He was fascinated by something that was just beyond me. Something that follows me. I wish I could see through his eyes.

Anyway, parenting is a fail-fail proposition. I got nothing to judge. I just wish more for people. To step out of themselves and their goals and just for a small amount of time focus on raising the beautiful self-sufficient children they were given. Then when it is all said and done the reward is that you don't get to claim a bit of their success. I'm telling you it's a fail-fail but the kid wins-wins.

Peace and Wednesdays' Got Nothing For You But Ramblings!!!