Tuesday, May 20, 2008

I am heartless

After Pamela's confirmation, we attended a party that we "jointly" threw with another family whose daughter was also being confirmed. Following that, we attended a party thrown by another family whose child was also being confirmed, but Pamela and this child do not get along...this is all a rather long explanation for my current issue of heartlessness.

A mother at the second party kind of hit me at a bad time. She told me how adorable my two year old is and how she so very much wished that her son was still two.

I'm VERY tired of being told how I will miss this time in my children's lives. How my two year old is adorable and how it sucks to have a teenager. I really tire of this because I DO have a teenager and even though most people don't see her, because she can stay home, she does exist.

I remember when she was little like the boys. I remember when we made cookies for Daddy who was deployed. I remember playing dolls and tools and playing on the playground. Putting her on the back of my bike and trekking across Germany. I remember those sweet times.

But apparently, something that others forget, are the less than sweet times. The times when after the spinning ride at the carnival, they vomit on you. The times when they dump an entire cup of Sprite on your silk blouse and the couch of the person whose home you're visiting. When they pee, poop, or spit on you. When you leave the playground covered in mud, chocolate, dirt, or blood (or on a particularly bad day, all of the above).

They are still sweet times, and I have four children, so it's not like I don't like children, but I doubt I will wish, when my boys are all teenagers, that they were back to being those little creatures that didn't listen to me AND covered me in every imaginable substance. For now, I will enjoy the time I have AND try to teach them to be responsible, polite, engaging human beings that, I assure you, I will enjoy being around when they are teenagers.

I may be heartless. But my goal is to raise good people that will grow up and leave me...not necessarily because I want them to, but because that's what they need to do. And that's what being a parent is all about.

5 comments:

  1. Right on Kylie!!! Now get down off your soapbox and go check on your two year old, because who knows what he is into! lol I agree with you my kids are grown kinda (19 and 20). But they still come to me when they're sick or in need. But, they also can start to become your friends and you can have adult conversation with them, they care about politics and the future of our country. I think we are raising an exceptional generation of people who have seen out country under attack and want to try and change the world! My 20 year old is in Ecuador right now for a "Maymester" of school, getting credit while living and learning a whole new culture of life.

    Sorry for the long comment, but you hit a nerve with me, too. I know exactly how you feel. I had my 4 year old nephew outside playing, and a neighbor commented "don't you wish you had little ones again". She was trying to keep up with a 2 and 3 year old. I said NO WAY his Momma's going to be here shortly and I can give him back! You can always borrow a little one.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Oh, by the way, I did buy the chipboard mini album, but it only cost about 6 bucks, well worth the price because it would be difficult to cut out. The "waves" on the back page where stamped with flourish acrylic stamps in two different colors of blue...I liked that part too!

    ReplyDelete
  3. I agree with you Kylie. I hate it when people ask me when I am going to have another. First, I have a hard enough time getting pregnant and don't want to go through that heartache again. I love my Addie now and love watching her grow and can't wait to watch her grow up into a young lady and an adult.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Do I hear an AMEN sista?

    AAAAMMMMMEEEEENNNNNNNN*!*

    I just love you!
    ;)

    (any mail yet?)

    ReplyDelete
  5. btw...

    you sound just like my MIL.
    She always says that she was never sad when her kids hit milestones~that's what they were SUPPOSED to do! (God forbid they didn't)

    ReplyDelete

Comments are much appreciated! I love to hear the nice and clever things you have to say.

Anonymous comments will be deleted. Think of this as 1st grade and always put your name on your work:).