Having a little trouble sleeping tonight. It’s because I napped today. So, here I am in bed with my laptop in front of me as my husband is sound asleep beside me. Naps are worse than an afternoon coffee.
As I do the 2013 version of counting sheep (surfing blogs), I’m realizing that I’m subconsciously looking for a post tonight that simply does. not. exist. anywhere. And, for the life of me, I’m wondering why the heck not. I’m looking for a post…oh…somewhere along the lines of the-summer-disorganization-and-constantly-full-sink-is-giving-me-hives or I-really-wish-my-kids-would-sleep-in-longer-so-that-I-can-actually-taste-the-coffee-I-need-in-the-morning-rather-than-drink-it-like-it’s-a-shot-of-vodka or someone-please-remind-me-that-these-creatures-living-in-my-home-completely-dependent-on-me-are-a-blessing or yes-I-absolutely-did-give-my-children-free-license-on-wii-so-that-I-could-take-a-very-long-afternoon-nap.
Where are they? Instead, all I can find right now are posts about awesome looking recipes out of my budget or motivation to make, Pinteresting crafts that make me say “good for them,” and words that sound like they could be an autobiography from the Proverbs 31 woman (you know she would have been a blogger and had a massive Pinterest following had they been around in 900 B.C.).
Since all those Proverbs 31 women don’t seem to be writing with me in mind this week, I’ll write a few words for myself and the rest of us. They aren’t inspiring words really. And, this post won’t be one that is shared on facebook or tweeted out with the hashtag #mustread.
This mom stuff? It’s not easy. We may have some shining, proud Pinnable moments of fancy birthday cupcakes or clever road-trip games. But, the day after we share them, we’re just normal moms again with kids who never seem to get enough of us and hearts and schedules divided into too many slices of our blogworthy pie. We have moments of yeah-that-was-a-good-teachable-moment mixed in with seemingly more moments of I’m-glad-no-one-was-with-me-to-witness-that-mom-fail. We ask ourselves, “Is this normal?” But, we’re smart, you know; we know exactly where to turn with our questions—our iPhones—which leads us to think, “Maybe I am the only one because Suzyblogger and JillTweeter are posting about selecting wool and flax and bringing their food from afar while our dinner tonight is likely going to be from a box in my freezer if I can even find one. Does that count as from afar?”
If you’re up late reading this tonight because you gave your kids a little too much screen time so that you could escape for a nap today like me, well done. We’re a little more sane tonight than we would have been had we made another cup of coffee and muscled through painting and stringing wooden beads.
And, while I can’t tell you you’re normal because there’s simply not enough data out there to warrant the use of the term, what I can tell is you’re not alone (clearly, since I’m still up writing this silly post as self-therapy to ease my own conscience).
Tomorrow’s a new day full of hope of a new beginning and less than 105-degree heat in our unairconditioned home. I’ll likely need a second cup of coffee to compensate for this late night which may make me want to grab another nap while some of you are teaching your 4 year olds to read or cook or design cathedrals. Whatever. I’m good if my four brush their teeth without me reminding them more than once and I don’t look at my husband with those eyes that say seriously?-can-you-take-this-issue-on-because-we-may-have-a-REAL-problem-if-I-have-to-handle-this-one.
Good night, moms like me…wherever you are.
Why am I up? No nap, no caffeine. Just too much stress right now I think. Here are the posts I needed this week that I was lucky enough to find. Lately my sweet little M is just a strong-willed bundle of… I don’t know what. And many times when I try to explain it to other people, I get “oh it’s just normal toddler stuff” (no, it sure isn’t) or the eyeroll/eyebrow raise from those with perfect children who sit and read quietly and never put crayons (or markers or red paint or poop) on the walls. Glad that my pediatrician takes me seriously and doesn’t roll her eyes at me… But, anyway, it seems like the ladies below get it. And for that, my crazy frazzled mother heart is grateful.
http://www.neighborlies.com/1/post/2013/07/motheringthe-whirlwind-with-awill-of-steel.html
http://www.proverbs31.org/devotions/i-dont-want-to-raise-a-good-child-2012-03/
Summer solidarity, momma! We can do this and still come out loving our kids. Feeling the squeeze right there with you…
I so wish we lived closer so we could be IRL friends! This post proves we are kindred spirits!
Oh Kelly! I needed to read this post today! First of all…I thought I was the only one that handed my daughter the IPAD while the baby is sleeping so that I could dive under the covers of my own bed and take a snooze…almost every day! yikes! Thanks for keeping it real! We need more of us to chat about reality because the Proverbs 31 woman…she doesn’t exist!