Then I thought about my life and the prospect of me doing such a project and I came to the conclusion that....
Right now I'm really not sure I want to remember all the nitty-gritty details. I think I want to have a selective memory so that all that remains is a general sense of "Wasn't that so much fun when they were all little and you couldn't ever manage to get anything done and you felt like the most inadequate pathetic excuse for a person that ever walked on the face of the planet and the guilt of all the things good that you weren't doing and all of the things that you were doing badly ate at your insides and sometimes you wondered whose idea it was to have kids in the first place because surely it couldn't have been yours because really you just don't have any patience for the grubby little creatures at all and you wondered if you ever would reach some sort of peaceful state of being where you could feel put together enough to function at a semi-normal level and have your hair combed almost everyday, at least every other day? Oh yes, those were the good times." Yep, I surely would just rather remember the overall sense of warm fuzzy goodness and hazy happy memories than the stark reality of not being able to stand without stepping on something that isn't meant to be stepped on in my little home because it looks like this...

P.S. Just so no one worries too much. Really I do have good days. We managed to clean that up today. Mostly. And I was a little less irritable and impatient with my girls. Even if Cumorah is on a rampant ridiculous lieing streak that I'm frankly unprepared for and too inexperienced to know what to do with. Even if Rivers will continue to draw on everything but paper and contradict everything anyone says or suggests. The children really are cute and sweet and precious and if nothing else I spend a portion of everyday cuddling and kissing each of my three children. There are few things in life better than feeling tiny arms around your neck and little heads on your shoulder or tiny hands on your cheeks pulling you in for a slightly slobbery kiss. And they tell me things like...
C: "Mom, you look like a beautiful woman."
R: "Yea, you look like a woman in the shoe." (the old one who spanks her children all soundly because she has so many she doesn't know what to do)
R: Mama. Maaaaaaaahhhhm. Mommy. Mama, mama, mama.
M: What?
R: Mama, mama, mama, mama. Mom.
M: Is there something I can do for you?
R: Mommy. Mama, mama, Mommy.
M: Rivers, Rivers, Rivers, Rivers.
R: I love you, Mama.
M: I love you, too, Rivers.
And even if I am quoted as saying, 'My two year old is a brat and my three year old is a liar.',
I really do love them. And I really do think they are amazing individuals.
And someday my husband will come home and then I think I'll leave him with the children for a while.
10 comments:
So glad I'm not the only one who feels this way. I breathed a sigh of relief as I read. Although, you have much more of an excuse with three (younger) kids and an absent husband. But still glad to hear I'm not the only one feeling inadequate. And also...your kiddos are ADORABLE!!
Your house doesn't usually look like that.
Oh, Maryann, I just had a good laugh. Not a laugh at your expense, but a laugh of catharsis. I'm not the only one who feels that way!! Your description was completely apt. I love you, and you do such a great job with your three itty bitty kids! My hat's off to you! I only have one, and I can barely make it!
I think it's good to remember both the good and the bad times, because when they grow up and have kids of their own you will be able to prove to them that you really can relate...but of course, I think the emphasis should be on the good times.
Sometimes my space (don't really have my own house right now) looks worse than that picture, and I don't have the excuse of kids, or even a husband. You are a super mommy, there is no question about that. And your kids are super cute. I remember going through my lieing streak when I was little. I wonder what my Mom did to get me to stop...hmmm...
Duh. If you don't want to remember your dirty house. Don't take pictures of it. Take pictures of your children clean, and angle of your house that hide the mess piled up.
You don't have to have it all together, you just have to make it "look" that way on your blog.
BTW...
I remember when you whined about not being married with a hundred kids. Well now you're married and you have a hundred kids. So...?
I've tried leaving right when he got home. I got this really hurt look from Jared like "what? you want to leave ME when I just got back?" No, honey, not you, THE CHILDREN. So, I only did a quick pedicure. But, boy, did I have plans...
Amen!
I really miss you and the little liar and the brat.
:)
Maryann I feel like we are kindred spirits. :) I can't wait to move out in August and get to know you better--beyond just blog stalking you. Love your post and think you are a fantastic mother!
Your mom mentioned something about this entree so I wanted to check it out. First everything you are doing is so brave, little ones, little hubby help, little space (but wonderful) and second, Maryanne, you are a good writer!
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