Today I was going to be "fun mommy". I'm the first to admit that I'm not usually super fun. I'd like to be, but honestly sometimes playing the same toddler games over and over makes me feel like I'm going out of my mind. But today was going to be different. I was caught up on all my chores, ok, my critical chores (I haven't done the uncritical chores since before KK was born), so I thought I'd spend today focusing on the weenuts.
I actually started last night. I had to soak beans for tonight's dinner anyway, so I stayed up after everyone was in bed to do as much dinner prep as possible. You know, get twice as much done in half the time. That way I'd have more attention for the kids, right?
For some reason I kept waking up all night panicked that JJ wasn't breathing (he was). KK was up earlier than usual and even though I'd had a rough night, and not nearly enough sleep, I decided I was going to be "fun mommy" so I hopped out of bed to go play with her. She must have been surprised because most mornings, I just hand her my iPod touch which often gets me 15-30 mins more dozing time.
She wanted to play with bubbles, so we each donned our housecoats and headed out to the balcony to blow bubbles. At 2.5 years, she can do an activity much longer than I can, so I planned ahead and brought out my coffee and scissors to trim my "garden". (Stop laughing Peanut-lover!) I also brought out my camera because I'm a little obsessed with taking pictures of my kids and the lighting was perfect. That's where the bad momma jeans come in. I didn't realize until much later in the day that instead of playing with her, I was playing with my camera. Got some cute pictures, but I'm not sure that was the point.
All day, I kept thinking I was going to play with the kids right after I finished _____. But I kept finding more things to do. By mid-afternoon, after a too-short nap, both kids were fussy and demanding of my attention. And still I hadn't started being "fun mommy".
I started dinner late after finding out that Peanut-lover was going to be home late. I'd forgotten that "I'll be home early" is code for "don't wait up". JJ had been a little fussy all afternoon, but seemed content when I popped him in his jumperoo so I could focus on the chicken broiling in the oven. The thought crossed my mind that maybe I shouldn't let him jump right after nursing him, but I dismissed it because it had never been an issue before. Oh yeah, I forgot that he normally doesn't drink three boobs at a time (yes, three)...I came out to check on him, only to find him happily jumping in his own barf. Lots of it. Bad momma jeans back on.
As I set our dinner on the table, I noticed that KK had set her own table with her tea party dishes. Feeling guilty for being so absorbed in my own stuff today, I sat down on the floor with my babies and enjoyed a pretend meal of "chicken and flies", which KK had lovingly prepared for us on her home-made cardboard stove. She was so proud. She is so forgiving.
Ok, so nothing really bad. But this was the day I was going to be "fun mommy"...I guess all I can do is try again tomorrow and leave my barf covered bad momma jeans in the wash!
What do you do when you're being "fun mommy or daddy"? Does anyone else out there find the same game over and over a little mind-numbing? How do you get around that?
I actually started last night. I had to soak beans for tonight's dinner anyway, so I stayed up after everyone was in bed to do as much dinner prep as possible. You know, get twice as much done in half the time. That way I'd have more attention for the kids, right?
For some reason I kept waking up all night panicked that JJ wasn't breathing (he was). KK was up earlier than usual and even though I'd had a rough night, and not nearly enough sleep, I decided I was going to be "fun mommy" so I hopped out of bed to go play with her. She must have been surprised because most mornings, I just hand her my iPod touch which often gets me 15-30 mins more dozing time.
She wanted to play with bubbles, so we each donned our housecoats and headed out to the balcony to blow bubbles. At 2.5 years, she can do an activity much longer than I can, so I planned ahead and brought out my coffee and scissors to trim my "garden". (Stop laughing Peanut-lover!) I also brought out my camera because I'm a little obsessed with taking pictures of my kids and the lighting was perfect. That's where the bad momma jeans come in. I didn't realize until much later in the day that instead of playing with her, I was playing with my camera. Got some cute pictures, but I'm not sure that was the point.
All day, I kept thinking I was going to play with the kids right after I finished _____. But I kept finding more things to do. By mid-afternoon, after a too-short nap, both kids were fussy and demanding of my attention. And still I hadn't started being "fun mommy".I started dinner late after finding out that Peanut-lover was going to be home late. I'd forgotten that "I'll be home early" is code for "don't wait up". JJ had been a little fussy all afternoon, but seemed content when I popped him in his jumperoo so I could focus on the chicken broiling in the oven. The thought crossed my mind that maybe I shouldn't let him jump right after nursing him, but I dismissed it because it had never been an issue before. Oh yeah, I forgot that he normally doesn't drink three boobs at a time (yes, three)...I came out to check on him, only to find him happily jumping in his own barf. Lots of it. Bad momma jeans back on.
As I set our dinner on the table, I noticed that KK had set her own table with her tea party dishes. Feeling guilty for being so absorbed in my own stuff today, I sat down on the floor with my babies and enjoyed a pretend meal of "chicken and flies", which KK had lovingly prepared for us on her home-made cardboard stove. She was so proud. She is so forgiving.Ok, so nothing really bad. But this was the day I was going to be "fun mommy"...I guess all I can do is try again tomorrow and leave my barf covered bad momma jeans in the wash!
What do you do when you're being "fun mommy or daddy"? Does anyone else out there find the same game over and over a little mind-numbing? How do you get around that?
Ronee, I love your blog!!! You have figured out more then me, it looks great. I love your title and your header! I always thought you'd be a great blogger but I was hesitant to suggest it since you are so busy right now. Your facebook status' are always so funny so I thought you'd be great at translating it into a blog! Any help you need, linking and so, just ask!
ReplyDeleteEvery mom has some bad mommy attire...mine was my housecoat. Whoa . . . just thinking of my housecoat brought back a flood of memories. There were days I put on my housecoat in the morning, took it off to slip into bed at night and right back on the next day. I am; however, pretty sure I changed my underwear on a regular basis. My housecoat was my favourite attire for raising my two little kidlits. My sleeves could absorb most of their messes. It was long enough to provide the perfect hiding place when one of them was being chased, which seemed to typically happen when I was preparing a meal. I also loved it because it took care of some of the simple things such as keeping the floor dusted which did cut down on the time I needed to spend on house work so I could be the 'fun mommy' and play with the little 'lits'. Sometimes I was way too hard on myself for thinking I wasn't spending enough time doing the 'play' things. The ‘lits’ didn't seem to suffer at all. In fact, when I see both my adult 'kidlits' parenting their own weenuts I realize that it didn't matter what I wore, what I served, whether the house was in surprise visit mode or what I looked like - the most important thing was the needs of my precious babes were met – I loved them more than I could have ever imagined and they knew it. I had happy, grounded, playful 'lits'. I only wish there were more months to every year so they wouldn't have grown up so fast.
ReplyDeleteHey Peanut! I'm still learning this blogging thing too, I just wanted to let you know that I responded to your comment with a comment from me, on my blog. Is that how it works, or should I have responded here? Not sure! Anyway, still can't figure out how to get a picture on the header like you did but I'll keep trying! Miss you!
ReplyDeletehaha Lovebug...I can just see you in that housecoat, trying to remember if you'd changed your underwear that day! You must have been a great mom because I know your kidlets and they are AWESOME!!! (love you mom)
ReplyDeleteYou kids were always so smart! Remember the time we went camping with your little brother and I took a wooden spoon with us to use in case it was needed for corrective measures? Oh yeah, the little one did something to that handle and as you know, you both waited until such a time you deserved a good paddy whack without giving the poor dog his bone and the spoon split in two and we all did too! Yep, kids were smarter at your age than at mine ~ I never would have thought that kind of stuff up to do to my dear, wonderful and gentle parents!
ReplyDelete