The Miss Elaine-ous Life

random acts of life, family and photos

I’ll Take the Good and the Bad

by

Some days I have time with my children where I want to cry “UNCLE!!!” really loudly and put a sign out in the front yard that says FREE KID(S) (you know, depending on how many are bugging me at the time).

Some days I have time with my children where I am overwhelmed at how much I love them and how much joy and laughter they bring into my life and my breath is literally taken away at the fact that “these are my children” while my heart bursts out of my chest.
(nice run-on, huh?)

Most days…

I have a smattering of both.

On Wednesday Little G LOST IT because I was trying to get him to help me clean up the box of markers he just spilled all over the floor and he continually refused. He kept telling me that he didn’t know “how” to clean up (that’s his new thing now whenever we ask him to help clean up toys, etc.) and I finally sent him to his room. Of course once I did that his meltdown escalated into SUPER TODDLER THREE YEAR OLD CRAZY TANTRUM. Also known as a “sign-out-in-the-front-yard” moment.

But then later that morning (after the ‘storm’ had passed…) I was helping Little G change from his p.j.s into his clothes for the day and I started to think about how his now little-boy-body was once inside mine. All of it. His 10 fingers and his 10 toes and his big noggin’ and his arms and legs. And his VERY tickle-able belly -the one I was currently tickling while his laughter echoed into our big, tiled living room and landed on my heart.

As he laid his bare chest across my knees I touched the freckle birthmark on his back, remembering that it’s always been there, since the day he was put into my arms. And it has always sort of reminded me that he is mine.

This is also known as a “heart bursts out of my chest” moment.
I know that parenting is much like anything else in this life, whereas there are things we wish were not a part of it and then there are things that make us want to reproduce until we hit menopause.

And some may say that the not so good moments should go away completely but I’m gonna have to go with ‘no’ on that one because even those have something to teach and give us. (although many times I’m not sure what. pick up the d.a.m.n. markers for gosh sakes!!!)

(I do not cuss in front of my children. usually.)
So bring it on my kid-lets! All or your “sign in the front yard” and “heart-bursting” moments.

I’m Ready For ‘Em!!!

(i think…) (especially since pre-school starts soon…)

elaine

Comments

  2. Sign in the front yard moment- this morning when the toddler refused to get with the program to get him ready for his first day of Mother’s Day Out

    Heartwarming moment- when I walked into his classroom to pick him up, he squealed with such delight that my heart literally burst in my chest.

    I’ll keep him (and his brother and sister, too)

  4. Thanks. Just had the latest ultrasound yesterday, and seeing little Sesame Seed in there waving arms and legs around made me go, “Oh my gosh! That’s a real little person in there!” and then I thought of all the messes and breakdowns and colic and no sleep and diaper changing that everybody always talks about and maybe had a little teeny heart attack. So it’s nice to know there are moments when your heart bursts out of your chest. I can’t wait for those.

  8. Elaine,

    I love not only that you have these moments (like every other mom on the planet) but that you bring them to life, to the surface, and share them with us so we know we’re okay, and that we’re not alone. I can relate all too well to the trying moments, but the heart busting out of my chest happens a lot, too…such is mommyhood!

  12. That. Was. Beautiful.

    I have been looking at my guys lately and just marveling at how grown up they are and how completely amazing they are.

    It’s pretty fantastic being a mom!