It's A Wonderful Life

 

 

I’m not a “Christmas person” for several reasons. But, growing up, I’ve always been a sucker for Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed in It’s a Wonderful Life.  I love the idea of how someone’s life could change completely based on one different choice made.

This past weekend, I went to a bachelorette party where, at one point during our dinner, the entire table drank to the maxim, “No kids forever! Yes!” As awkward as this was for me, I was once in these ladies’ stilettos. I get it. But, as I sat there nursing my wounds and my lemon drop, I thought about what these girls would be missing out on with a life sans children…

They will never fully experience the 2 am wake up call. Is this for the best? Probably. And their 2 am wake up call still happens, but is known as a different moniker- the “booty call”. But, there’s something pretty amazing about being totally responsible for another person’s happiness (no, not that.. get your head out of the gutter…I’m talking about parenting again). And at 2 am, being able to fulfill my son’s needs by bringing him a bottle or a hug feels good.

They won’t be walking their child up to his first day of preschool or kindergarten. There won’t be pictures or tears, or Nonni and Papa waiting in the wings, or driving back three or four times to look in the window to make sure he’s not the “weird kid” in the corner. What a terrible day to miss out on.

They most likely won’t be sipping on a cup of coffee at their child’s weekend soccer/ baseball/ basketball/ etc. games. They won’t be shouting nonsensical things from the sidelines in between plays like my mother did at my softball games, “Touchdown! Come on, you can do it! Field goal!” They won’t be there to help heal sore muscles, or provide needed encouragement.

They’ll miss bedtime stories. They won’t get to do the voices for each character, fully committing to whoever it is, and waiting to see how well it’s received.

Who is going to play the part of the train in The Little Engine that Could? Who’s going to be Eeyore? What about Goodnight Moon? Tragic.

They won’t see him off to his first junior high dance. They won’t help him pick out his dress shirt, slacks, tie, and help him with his hair. Remind him to have a good time, be respectful, and pray that no one breaks his heart.

What about 8^th grade graduation? First day of high school? First love? First break up? Who is going to be there like my parents were, when he makes a poor decision, goes to a party, and comes home after trying his first alcoholic beverages. And, like my parents did, I’ll get to fill him up on as much breakfast food as I can until the point of sickness to teach him a much needed lesson about peer pressure, drinking, and the effects of scrambled eggs on a full Jack Daniels stomach.

And college acceptance letters? What about those? They’ll never get to experience sending this person out into the world to make his own way, hoping and praying they’ve done enough to ensure he turns out halfway decent, kind, and able to find humour in all things.

There are times when I try to remember my life prior to my son. Some days feel like an eternity, and we are still dealing with temper tantrums, and mothers looking at me accusingly when my kid is the one at music class running around crazily while they are singing lullabies peacefully. Moments when I think about the freedoms I once had, but like George Bailey realized eventually, I’ll take this life any day.

Cheers to that, ladies.

Top Ten Ways Motherhood Changes Life

1.    Personal hygiene takes a beating.

The other day my husband left early, and it was just my son and myself. I honestly hadn’t showered in a good two days. I had tried the “camping technique” of ‘bathing’ with a wet rag, but that really only gets you so far, and since I was in the comfort of my own home, I felt ridiculous even attempting the wash rag shower. So, since my son and I had to be somewhere within an hour looking presentable, I did what I had to do. I stripped my son down to his diaper, hopped in an ice cold shower leaving the door wide open, lathered up for 1 minute, and rinsed for the second minute, all the while singing songs and dancing (neither of those a pretty sight) in hopes of keeping him entertained. This is a daily battle.

2.    Peace and quiet can be dangerous.

My son is, shall we say, an ‘adventurer.’ He enjoys taking things apart, checking to see if they are edible, and rearranging parts with other toys or household appliances. He is also, (shocker since he’s my son) incredibly vocal. He jabbers away, talking to himself, our dog, etc. Some parents find they can leave their children to play with a puzzle or coloring book for hours and they will quietly sit. With my son, quiet is not a good thing. Quiet means that he has quite possibly tied our dog up, called China with our cell phones, and/ or stuck an entire box of crayons down our printer. All true.

3.    Eating is done while standing up, quickly.

I have never eaten so much so fast in my life. Growing up I always found it strange that I never saw my mother sit while eating. Never. Now I know it’s because if you sit, your children feel you are ‘off duty’ and the shit show begins…

4.    Work is a vacation

I had a coworker tell me when I went back to work part time that this would be true. He mentioned that driving home post having kids, he didn’t necessarily hustle through those yellows anymore. He reasoned that his wife and children needed him, so he should drive more cautiously, but I reasoned that he’s incredibly intelligent and soaking up the final seconds sans children. Since I am a teacher, I get “summers off”, that being said, when you have a kid, going home over the summer is like coming home on break from college for the first time. You still want to live by your own college rules, but your parents are telling you that you have curfew again and you now have to pay rent since you’re over 18. It’s rough…

5.    You are guilted into going to children’s classes, the park, play dates, etc.

My least favorite question women with children ask one another is, “What new tricks does ‘so and so’ have these days?” What the hell are you talking about?! My son is 22 months old, he’s reading Hawthorne and currently into an Impressionist phase with his painting. What am I supposed to say here?!? If he is enrolled in gym class or music, and I reiterate this to said woman, I at least get a smiling nod of approval, whether or not I feel like I’m dying inside when I'm at my son's music class dancing around a circle with other adults and their children while flying scarves over our heads.

6.    Injuries have changed; they used to be bruises from going out, now they are bruises from toys.

I remember when I used to wake up on a Saturday morning, stumble out of bed, make it to the shower and notice awkwardly placed bruises on my legs. Then, smiling to myself, I’d remember the shenanigans of the previous night out with friends and have a good laugh. The other day I went to work with a black eye because my son felt the need to try out his throwing arm by hurling my iPhone at my face. A month ago, he tried out a new bat his Nonni got him and put a welt on my forehead that was so grotesque, I got bangs.

7.    Surprises used to be roses and cards, now it’s poop in a bathtub.

When my husband and I started dating, I would find flowers in my car in the morning, or love notes left in my lunch. Now, I get surprises of a different kind. The other day, after an outing to the park near our home, my son was due for a bath. His favorite thing to do at this park is play in their giant sandbox. As I’m bathing him, I realize he must’ve taken more sand home in his diaper than we’re used to as I pulled a clump out of the tub and into the trash. As I did this, my son silently watched me until I realized as he had already, that he had pooped in the tub. And color me surprised…

8.    You go into hiding.

Time to yourself happens while your kids are sleeping. However, if my husband is home, we have taken to “hiding” where we can while the other is on duty; this includes but is not limited to: the bathroom, our patio, our bedroom, the gym- and I don’t even like working out, our puppy’s crate- and nobody’s proud of that folks. You do what you have to do for a moment to yourself. It’s survival.

9.     Friendships change.

People who do not have kids (most of my friends) cannot totally appreciate what this journey entails. It is difficult to fully describe how insane life is after you have children until you’ve been there. I have several friends who will call me on the weekend and tell me where they will be going out that evening to revel. Then, when I remind them that I have a child and how critical people get about babies in bars, they seem miffed. However, these friends also came to my baby shower with wine in hand, which was so much more inviting than the 1000s of ‘burpee cloths’ I’d been given, so I keep these people close.

And the 10^th way motherhood has changed my life…

10. Life finally has some semblance of meaning.

When I wake up in the morning I have a selfless purpose to fulfill. It is daunting, but everything rewarding is in some way. Yesterday, my son came into my room around 6am, hopped up on my bed, and gave me a kiss to wake me up a la Sleeping Beauty. And, I realized that I wouldn’t trade this life for my old one for anything.

How has your life changed since having kids?

How Honest is Too Honest?

 

When I was in the fifth grade I decided to try out for the talent show at my middle school as part of a dance act. Would this inevitably be a failure? Absolutely. Did my mother sugarcoat that for me? Not at all.

While “perfecting” my routine in our living room, my mother came in and innocently asked if I was okay. When I told her my plan to be a part of the talent show, she shuddered (and rightly so) and then told me that I had not passed her try-out, so I would not be allowed to go on to the ‘big one,’ the audition at my school. At the time, I felt she was being hypercritical and overprotective, but looking back on this brief episode I am grateful to her for saving me from unneeded embarrassment (which would rule my life for years to come).

And now I’m wondering, as a parent, when is tough love too tough? When do you need to stop being honest with your kids and just hope for the best? My son is almost two. When I look at the young boys in the world, I cringe at the thought of watching my child run the opposite way during AYSO soccer games in a complete cluster bomb, enduring watching him play hours of games like dungeons and dragons, and overall, doing things I might consider ridiculous. I understand that as a mother, part of my job description is to be loving and supportive, but I am also human - how much of this am I going to have to take?

A while back there was a hilarious Curb Your Enthusiasm episode where Jerry Seinfeld and Larry David were discussing hurt feelings.  They agreed that you could speak the utter truth and get away with it – no matter how hurtful – if you use the phrase “having said that” immediately after.  For example, you could say, “Parents who let their kids go batshit crazy in nice restaurants should be jailed. Having said that, I think it’s nice that kids are able to experience the finer things in life.” No harm no foul. Will I be able to use this same approach with my son?

When I tried out for the basketball team my freshman year of high school, I was 5’4” 190 lbs, unable to dribble or run without coming up with an excuse. “Err, my doctor says I should take it easy, err no running…ever” I didn’t make the team. When I relayed the news to my dad, he simply looked me up and down and nodded in agreement. There was no “softening the blow.”

My parents are famous for “one-upping” my siblings and my complaints:

 “Hey mom, gosh, long day today… I’ve really got a lot on my plate right now, what with working full time and raising a son, it’s been a bit rough.”

My loving mother: “Yeah, I did it with four of you, while working full time, rarely sleeping, cooking everything from scratch, taking you on vacations, and helping all of you with your homework and personal needs. But, I can see how it would be difficult, what with your frozen meals and one child.” Gotta' love her realistic approach to life.

I hope I am able to find a balance with my own kids. Somehow, my parents were able to prepare their children for life’s more challenging moments without annihilating our self-esteem in the process. I abhor the thought of more “Mommy and Me” music, gym, art, etc. classes where my child is the one running around crazily while other parents are wondering whose kid that is and I’m right there with them…

Having said that, it could quite possibly be as entertaining as it was for my parents who look back on those times with only the fondest memories.

                                                                                                                   

5 Lessons I’d Like to Teach My Son…

Tonight, I taught my son how to “cheers”.

It’s been a long weekend for the both of us, and we had just settled in for a nightcap- my son with his bottle of milk, and me with my bottle of Chianti…I thought, there’s no time like the present, so I lectured my 2-year old on how one should always “salute” when having drinks and toast to something for luck. So, I offered up a drink to health and happiness, while he offered up his own toast to his new Elmo cell phone.

It got me to thinking about the lessons I’d like to instill in my son one day… I’m new at this, so I condensed that to five- lazy parenting? Maybe.

1.     I’d like him to learn to have a sense of humor. Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher) said it best, “If my life wasn’t funny, it would just be true and that is unacceptable.” I fully believe that any humorous or interesting person has had a ridiculously embarrassing past. Growing up, I was ugly. I’d like to think I’m a solid 6 on a good day now, but I hit a rough patch for about 25 years. My father mentioned that he was actually a bit concerned for me for the better part of my youth (love that honesty, Dad). But, that awkward ‘phase’ (still ongoing…) made me who I am- it gave me a personality.

2.    I hope he finds what he is passionate about in life, and is able to make a living doing it. The worst thing that could happen to him is that he finds himself in a profession he doesn’t love doing. My job is tough and by no means would I consider myself proficient. But, I work hard at it. And, at the end of most days, I’m fulfilled. It’ll never be lucrative, but I like what I do, and I like the people I work with. It’s not the easiest thing I could’ve done (the trophy wife gig didn’t work out…) but I can’t imagine doing something else.

3.    I want him to know how to fight his own battles. When I was in high school I came home after practice one day and was upset that another girl was getting more playing time than I was. So, I told my dad he’d have to call my coach to “fix” this situation. My father calmly told me that if I were the best, I’d be playing, and to never expect him to call someone on my behalf. I think more parents need to tell their kids that. You need to work hard. I’m not going to call your teacher/ coach/ boss/ etc. If you want this, go do it. My dad came home exhausted from work, and when I finished my school practice he stayed an extra hour every day with me at the field because I asked him to. He instructed me that I had to work hard, but also showed me he believed that I could.

4.    That this too shall pass. I hope he is able to take failure and defeat with a sense of grace and humility. I hope he realizes that he may not be good at everything- he may not even be good at most things, but that he needs to try and to take risks. I want him to be able to accept blame, not pass the buck, and grow from his experiences. I hope he never stops trying, and doesn’t listen to the naysayers. I had two very realistic parents (more on that to come), but it was refreshing hearing that I wasn’t the best at everything, and it’s helped me in my job in the long run.

5.    That no one will ever love him as much as  I do. I don’t care who my son ends up loving as long as they are good to him. If he is gay, I secretly hope that I will never have to pay for a designer/ interior decorator/ stylist, and if he is straight I hope that his wife knows she will never replace me. While my son learns how to sleep in his toddler bed, some of the most frustrating/ amusing moments are when he sneaks out to run and hug me. I know I should be reprimanding him, but I also know that these moments are fleeting, and I am thankful for every one of them.

What lessons do you think  parents should teach their kids?