Parenting and Family Life: December 2004 Archives

"why did you draw pictures on Nana and Boompa's walls? You know you are not supposed to do that?"
"Oh, I'm so sorry...I...I...I..."
"Yes?"
"Well, I had to use the walls because nobody got me some paper!"

I wake up each morning to see my kids dressed, the place clean, to prepare breakfast in a timely fashion and to an uneventful school day-not.
In reality I am seriously stressing out because I cannot seem to get anything done at all. Baby Fredegar likes to be held. I can't blame him, he is so small and needs me, and frankly I like holding him. But it's like I get 2 minutes here and 2 minutes there to get breakfast done, to cook, to clean the bathroom, to feed the cats, etc. Polo is working long Christmas hours which adds to the problem. The two older kids help, but they do it in that kid way. I don't want to say "half assed" because they do their best, but it is never how I would do it. The other thing that drives me nuts is the older kids use the fact that stuff needs to be done as an opportunity to order the younger ones around. I spend a lot of time wondering if I put too much on their shoulders, which in reflection, I don't think so. I know a major part of my problem is I am kind of OCD and I'm a little more stressed about the state of my home than I really should be considering how old Baby Fredegar. But also, since we had the new baby, I was so blase"oh sure, another baby, I can handle that..." like it was no big deal, being this Catholic, open to life, cooking from scratch, attachment parenting, homeschooling Supermom and all that I like to envision myself as, I never stopped to think how much of an illusion that is without at least bit of practice with each new addition. I need to reformulate my new routines and I really need to reformulate the kids routines before I throw them all out.

Then I need to take a break somehow-this weekend, get a grip, and eat more chocolate.

I'm also stressing because I'm seeing my grandmother for Christmas-which I'm looking forward to, but she is starting on about how I am small and I need to make sure I control my weight. Gosh, can't I wait until after Christmas because I needmy chocolate? I'll let you in on a secret, my mother gave me a bag of mini-Twix bars for my birthday and I'm not sharing them with the kids.

Pansy: Rosey Posey, why are your feet naked?
Rosey Posey:They are not naked, they are simply uncovered.
Pansy: Well, where aare your socks?
Pansy was wondering because a. it's cold and b. if her socks are not on her feet, then they are probably strewn about somewhere...
Rosey Posey: Oh, they got wet, so they are on the stove getting warm.
Pansy: Oh, but aren't your feet cold?
Rosey Posey: Well, no! They are just...unwarm!