We have been reading through the Little House on the Prairie series with the kids for the past few months. It makes my heart so happy because it was my favourite book series when I was little. I had the whole set and as soon as I was done the last book, I'd just start back with the first one and read through the whole thing again. I must have read it 10 times.
The kids are so fascinated about life back in the day and it's pretty amazing to read about how different things were back then.
But here's my problem. They live in a one room house in the middle of the forest... or a covered wagon for weeks at a time... or a dugout beside a creek. They go for months at a time without ever seeing anyone that is not one of the five of them.
Why is there no chapter titled, "Ma loses it"?
Sunday, April 7, 2013
Conversations with JJ: his turn?
Yesterday, as we were getting ready for JJ's first t-ball practice, we had this conversation, which just proves how little I know about parenting this child...
JJ: Mommy, I don't know if I'll like t-ball. Last year, all the other boys kept running to get the ball before me.
Mommy: Oh sweetie, you got the ball sometimes. I remember! But you know what? This year, you will be one of the bigger boys. You are five now, but there will be lots of little boys who are four.
JJ: There will?
Mommy: Yes, and you remember how it felt to be one of the little ones, right?
JJ: Yes
Mommy: (trying for some empathy) So this time, do you think you should be like those big boys, trying to get the ball and not letting the littler kids get it?
JJ: (face lights up and relief washes over him) OH! Yes, I guess I should! (as if to say, now it's MY turn)
See? No clue. God help me :)
JJ: Mommy, I don't know if I'll like t-ball. Last year, all the other boys kept running to get the ball before me.
Mommy: Oh sweetie, you got the ball sometimes. I remember! But you know what? This year, you will be one of the bigger boys. You are five now, but there will be lots of little boys who are four.
JJ: There will?
Mommy: Yes, and you remember how it felt to be one of the little ones, right?
JJ: Yes
Mommy: (trying for some empathy) So this time, do you think you should be like those big boys, trying to get the ball and not letting the littler kids get it?
JJ: (face lights up and relief washes over him) OH! Yes, I guess I should! (as if to say, now it's MY turn)
See? No clue. God help me :)
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
True confessions: holidays
In the interest of keeping it real here, I have a confession to make: I suck at spring break. Or really, any deviation from our regular routines.
As much as I'd like to be one of those moms that loves holidays for all the extra time they get with their kids, let's be honest here, I'm not. I'm cranky and irritable and constantly feeling like I'm running behind. Running behind at what? I don't even know. Running behind at catching up maybe.
This is not me complaining, really. I'm just writing to process how I'm feeling, so I can make this work better next time. Or maybe eventomorrow Thursday.
In a normal week, I barely feel as though I'm balancing everything. On a holiday week, I still have to balance almost all the same stuff, but I alsohave to get to entertain kids who are used to having their time pretty much scheduled and full. And by someone who does it professionally.
The answer is the same as for almost any other mommy problem I have faced: I have to get ahead and stay ahead of them. I have to parent proactively instead of reactively. I know it's the answer, but how do I do it? And where do I find the energy to do it?
I guess by the time I get it all figured out, it won't be necessary anymore. They will be busy with their own lives and I will have plenty of time to catch up on my stuff. Right now, I just don't have the foresight or the energy to always stay ahead and keep ahead of them. Again, I face the fact that I just can't do this perfectly.
And so, I have to be ok with just muddling through it. I need to give myself grace to have baddays weeks.
(While I'm being honest here, I might as well say that I just can't find the right way to end this one. My heart is still raw from frustration at yet another day of not getting it right. This mommy thing is hard and I just want so badly to do it well. If it feels like I left it just hanging, it's because that's how it feels to me...)
As much as I'd like to be one of those moms that loves holidays for all the extra time they get with their kids, let's be honest here, I'm not. I'm cranky and irritable and constantly feeling like I'm running behind. Running behind at what? I don't even know. Running behind at catching up maybe.
This is not me complaining, really. I'm just writing to process how I'm feeling, so I can make this work better next time. Or maybe even
In a normal week, I barely feel as though I'm balancing everything. On a holiday week, I still have to balance almost all the same stuff, but I also
The answer is the same as for almost any other mommy problem I have faced: I have to get ahead and stay ahead of them. I have to parent proactively instead of reactively. I know it's the answer, but how do I do it? And where do I find the energy to do it?
I guess by the time I get it all figured out, it won't be necessary anymore. They will be busy with their own lives and I will have plenty of time to catch up on my stuff. Right now, I just don't have the foresight or the energy to always stay ahead and keep ahead of them. Again, I face the fact that I just can't do this perfectly.
And so, I have to be ok with just muddling through it. I need to give myself grace to have bad
(While I'm being honest here, I might as well say that I just can't find the right way to end this one. My heart is still raw from frustration at yet another day of not getting it right. This mommy thing is hard and I just want so badly to do it well. If it feels like I left it just hanging, it's because that's how it feels to me...)
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