Friday, January 30, 2009

Life with a toddler...




It never ceases to amaze me - the amount of work a mother does in a day. How do women have a career/job and do all the untold, tiny, little, things they do in a day? I was blessed, in some ways, some ways not, to be able to stay home with my children. My daughter has a career, a very busy fourteen-month-old, who keeps her up all night. Plus she is busy planning a make-over of her kitchen. I honestly think, with the enormous amount she has on her plate, I would just let that kitchen go. But that's not how we do things when we are young mothers. We stack our plates high...

I spend about an hour each night after they go to bed putting the house in order. I'll bet the grandmothers out there remember that time of day. They are down, they are in bed, finally. The house is quiet, you begin to pick up from the day and it takes a while... You sit down and watch something on TV - uninterrupted for the first time that day. But your mind is already moving on to the next day, what needs to be done, what doesn't need to be forgotten. I have a new respect for myself, watching my daughter. I think she sees me differently now. I know she appreciates my helping hand, even if she is the only one he wants right now. He greets her with an expression of pure adoration, complete with pucker kisses, learned just this week. His grandparents have been treated to them, as well. Those greetings of "Hi!", and puckered kisses make everything okay - even the sleepless nights, and complete and utter chaos in the home. It is going to be quiet, when they leave. Very tidy and very quiet. Sigh.

3 comments:

Unknown said...

Oh but you'll miss them! Looks like you're having fun, mess usually indicates fun.

Jo-Mama said...

Bugga is truly a beautiful child. I do remember the feeling of utter exhaustion by the end of a day when finally the family is in bed and the quiet seems ordered especially for you. Ends get tied up & things get done as your mind unreels the events of the day, the parts you missed and the areas you want to be more attentive to tomorrow. It is special quiet that is really screaming with activity in your brain sorting out the events of the day like a centrifuge while outwardly, you look calm and resolved to complete the daily chores. Busy hands, speeding thoughts, all done to some little humm or tune filed away in your heard sometime during the day. What a hour. A time for a fine tuscan red before bed. I always found this the most packed part of my day, when I was most in touch with what I was feeling and able to think more clearly than in the heat of the days activities. We are wonders of timing aren't we?

Lindz said...

I am hoping that someday, when I have children of my own, Jen's amazing mothering skills will rub off on me. Booga is such a charmer - and a true mommy/daddy's boy right now. I'll get one of those kisses soon, I swear! Hey did hand-feed me crackers last time I saw him, I thought that was a pretty big deal!!! XOXO