Perfect Mom
Wow, what a day. It all started last night. I purposely went to the gym with my husband in hopes that he would sleep in so I could sleep past 4:30 am. I was up late working until well after midnight trying to complete a project so I could free up today. It is such a balancing act between family and work. I often have the see saw hit me in the face but I have no choice but to muddle on. Today was no different from any normal day. The constant pull between family, work, self and sleep.
The plan I had crafted to sleep until 6:15 was thwarted at 3:45 when a certain child came in saying he needed me. Why can’t they need their dad? I told him to come into bed that resulted in an arm in my face and a leg on my side. I became the breathing version of the body pillow. I had my husband sound asleep on one side and my son on the other. I was hopelessly awake. I tried to move but that would awake him and a day without him sleeping would equal “meltdown city” for me. I am now convinced that there are 568 leaves on the tree that I can see from my bedroom. I am also able to predict when the heat will turn on and my son will gasp for breathe and then snore.
It was finally time to get up which was pretty easy for me. I sent the kids to pack their lunch and snack. Then I got to work. I am not sure how it happens but I have a packed email box and another project. I begin to tackle that the Christmas cards, the dance teacher’s gift, and the social media work that is due in 2 hours. I am interrupted no less than 1,000 times with issues, matches of opinions, hair that needs to be brushed, teeth flossing reminders, lunch packing instructions, warnings about violence to siblings, reminders about what to bring to school and what to leave home. Then two of them depart with daddy and one is left home to drive cars over my computer, bang on my shower, and insist that now is time to have cookies. We accomplished the task of building a geo track in no less than 15 minutes that I hoped would buy me 40 minutes to complete my project. I had to still shower, eat, prepare lesson plans, and attack tarter.
I finally got my work done and dropped my son off at dance. I had my social media consultation ended up with several action items. Then I went to watch our son dance. I was without a charged phone because I had forgotten to charge it while this morning flew by. I took my son to lunch where I turned on my computer. I had to check my business and figure out why my phone didn’t have enough storage. I will say my phone is my business. I get paid to be on social media and I was also miffed that I couldn’t get the pictures I wanted while at the dance recital. I was awaiting our meal when a guy got up and told me to close my computer and pay attention to my son. He then went to tell me I should not ignore my child and I should close my computer. He said, “I know this isn’t my business but you aren’t being a good mom not paying attention to your son and working.” This is what I have to say to you nosy man. I had 15 minuted in between dance and lunch where I do turn off my computer. I had 15 minutes to check on my business which employs people and pays for those kids to have what they not only need but what they want. I had fifteen minutes to get a head of the work that will keep me up tonight.
Why? Well after lunch I run to my children’s school to volunteer and teach technology and then I take them to the pool. Yes, perfect stranger my son had to color and amuse himself for 15 minutes while looking at fish and hanging out. It is good for kids to have to amuse themselves and learn to wait. The next time you feel the need to criticize someone make sure you get the full story. Sir, I am a kick ass take no prisoner kind of mom. My children are happy, healthy, well adjusted, the are generous, kind, thoughtful, courageous, and have respect and they didn’t get there because I call in my duty as a parent. I am pretty sure you do not accomplish half of what I do in one hour. So next time you seek to judge a stranger go ahead and sit back down and work on your own issues.
