Okay, so sometimes I admit that I am a slacker Mom. I guess I am no longer in the denial phase. I've moved on to acceptance. What comes next? I can' t remember what's after acceptance. Is it learning and becoming better or is it depression? Oh well, I guess I 'll let you know, if I ever move past this phase. Right now I'm feeling pretty comfortable in the let it be phase.
I guess I have come to realize gradually and sometimes very obviously that I am a slacker Mom. How did I become this way? When Benson was little I used to spend almost every waking moment playing with him, reading to him, singing silly songs with him. I rarely let him watch TV. And heaven forbid him having dairy or chocolate before he was 1 (okay, I probably ignored the chocolate thing a couple of times). Now my children ask for a Popsicle while they are out playing and I say something like, "haven't you already had 3 today?" But then I let them have it. Why? It's easy? Sugar keeps them happy? It gives me a few minutes to myself? The last is probably the right one. Popsicles are forbidden inside the house. So if they want to eat one they have to go outside. This allows me to have a quiet house. What do I do while it is peaceful and quiet? Do I clean? Do I make beds? Fold laundry? Start dinner? Oh no, you see these are the things that a healthy, committed Mom would do. Remember, I am a 'Slacker Mom'. I often spend that time on the internet or reading a book or who knows what else, but always something self centered and glutinous. (sometimes I like to sneak ice cream or chocolate from the secret stash!...)
Today's confession is simply this: Today I slept in until 9:00. Meanwhile the boys were running the house. Luckily when I woke up there was no cereal trail down the hall, or milk covered kitchen floor. Just 3 happy children watching TV! Maybe they are getting used to the appropriate behavior while Mom is sleeping. Sad, but true.
My name is Mindy West, and I am a slacker Mom!
4 comments:
You expressed yourself so eloquently. Nice work. I'm don't know what the next step is, and I can't wait for you to tell us.
Welcome to the club. Nice to meet ya. I like to think of slacking off in terms of the "filling my cup" theory. You can only give what you've got. I am curious as well about the next step!
Yes, definitely welcome to the club. My parenting has followed the exact same pattern as yours. I wonder if anyone who has more than 3 kids still consistently does what they did when they had one??
I don't know what it is with being named Jennifer and commenting on this blog but now I feel like I have to. Hi, I'm Jennifer Knight, another slacker mom. I saw your blog linked off of Jennie Gifford's. And I don't even really know Jennie except that her brother is serving in my ward right now and we are from the same hometown. Anyway, acceptance of slacker mom-ism is wonderful and I too like to think of it as filling my cup.
Post a Comment