One Mom's Blog to the World

This will probably end up being one mother's rant but since its coming up on Mother's Day it seems interesting to me how mother's can do what they do. The plate that we fill is never big enough to encompass everything that we try to pile on it. From typical cooking, cleaning and child rearing to things we add like kitchen remodels, birthday parties (Happy Birthday Kenton!), keeping my Mom's group going and now this blog it seems like a 24 hour day should at least need 27 hours in it. I got to sleep, right?

So if this commentary ends up being more of a rant than a commantary you'll have to excuse me, but I will probably feel better.

While the ability to ruminate on motherhood is a particular interest now with mother's day decending (what are you doing for your mother?)I will be spending it working. I'll be the one smiling and selling flowers for other moms at the Zeeland Family Fare. Come visit me! lol I love my job but I want to be pampered for my day a year too, oh well.

Back to Motherhood.

There has yet to be found anything I won't do for my kids.

ok.

I have to take that back. I did refuse my daughter's request to kiss her tounge to make it better when she bit it the other day. Does that make me a bad mom? But in reality we are living in the middle of the current Main Street construction zone and let me tell you, cranky kids make for crazy moms. Its been about 2 weeks since my children (ages 1 and 3) have been able to nap properly. But let's step back to about the end of January when we decided to do a remodel of our kitchen (it SO needed it, you have no idea!). The help that we were foing to have was no where to be found and we were stuck doing it ourselves. Every moment not spent working or doing other general things was spent in that kitchen. We still have some odds and ends to finish but about the time we were done with the big stuff the construction started.

Just imagine 2 full time working parents taking on a remodel by themselves then when they're done and exhausted construction starts and now we have two exhausted, cranky children. Phew. I think we have about another month to go, by then I'm sure I will have gone mad.

But we've slightly wandered off track.

The lack of proper napping comes out in some small and not so small ways. My (almost) 3 year old daughter can wander to the dark side when lack of sleep and her personality combine. She is creative, smart and has an imagination that staggers understanding. Hence everything she does is much more than it seems. With her what I tool for over exhuberance and stubborness was pointed out to me a few weeks ago as "passion." My friend was right. When she said it it was plain to see no matter what she is doing, drawing collecting a myraid of pebbles (like she is right now) or stealing her brother's toys, she throws every ounce of passion, self and spirit behind it. I've never seen anyone with such enthusiastic abandon for even the smallest things as my daughter.

She looks at you with a grin and a glint of mayhem in her eyes and goes about the activity that is currently consuming her. Right now as I watch her play nothing else exists in the world but rocks. Not some dirty, hard lumps on the ground. These rocks slide and hide, carry on a funny conversation and fly. I have to discourage this last activity for the sake of everyone in the vacinity. But its still amazing.

My son on the other hand is a different breed entirely. He is in a race with time and himself. He strives to be bigger and older than he is. Rolled over at 2 months, crawled by 4 months and walked by 11 months. He can, in his own way, say a handful of words. He's in a constant struggle to explore. We call him "Biggie Smalls" because he is so big yet so small.

The other night at dinner we were having spaghetti pie. My son is trying with every ounce of skill to spear some noodles with his small gerber fork. My husband and I were applauding every effort and cheering every noodle that made it to his mouth. I look from him to see my 3 year old using her fingers to daintinly put each noodle into her mouth. I pointed this out to my husband and we both thought it was funny that our 1 year old was using his fork while our fork-proficient 3 year old was not.

Motherhood, along with the cleaning and cooking, teaching them right from wrong, is to see these difference, celebrate them and encourage them. As much as her passion can get her into trouble (flying rocks anyone?), I don't ever want to see her without it. My son's need to strive and explore could take him far.

Motherhood, while a term describing you, is really all about them. Sure, I don't get a day off with my husband (ever) and my painting, drawing and scrapbooking sits neglected but at least I know I'm doing as right by my kids as I know how. My kids don't have to go to daycare and are provided for and loved.

Mother's Day is the day that we celebrate all this sacrific and hardwork. The day when we show our apprecition. But I know when I come home from work and get stampeeded by my kids with hugs and kisses and glad cries of "Momma!" I know I'm loved and appreciated.

I'm going to try to keep up this blog in admist everything else and yes, some days will be like "AAAAAAHHHHH!!! They're driving me crazy!" but maybe venting and writing will help. Help who? Me definately, them anyoneelse tha may look at this and he able to say "that is so me." I'll try for weekly but who know. My schedule is far from my own.