The point where it gets easier

'They' say that being a parent gets easier.  That it's a phase, an age, that you get used to things and develop the tools to cope/deal/not lose your mind.

'They' are full of it.

'They' also don't have two wildly different children.

I was forcibly reminded of this tonight as I clutched the toddler, trying desperately to catch vomit in my hand and screeching for the 8 year old to bring me a bucket.

The 8 year old who stood there and said, "I don't know where they are!"

'They' can deal with the seemingly never ending round of sickness I have creeping through the apartment.  'They' could also pay for the carpet cleaning I am now going to have to do to get the scent of sour milk out of my carpet.



Seriously, can I just fast forward to the part where it DOES get easier? Are you there? What's it like?

It said kick me please

It began, seemingly innocent, in kindergarten. One girl teased me about my lunch. She got poptarts, I didn't.  The teacher sent a note home.

Grade one, my dressy was too frilly, too pink.

It didn't stop there.  One thing after another, my hair, my glasses, my sisters, my mom, my clothes.

By grade 7, I was calling goodbye, closing the door in front of me and hiding in the laundry room.  Kids are cruel and thoughtless. I wanted nothing to do with any of them.

High school had the worst and best example. Sitting in a circle in drama class, we were saying what elementary school we attended.  A, A, A, A, B, B, B, B, C.

I was alone. In a sea of kids that all knew each other.  No friends, no buddies.  After staying at one elementary school, being a school surrounded by people I didn't know.  Teenagers who I had met either moments or hours ago.

Once again, it began. The teasing followed me through high school and out the door with graduation.  Sure, it decreased by grade twelve, but it was still there. It still bothered me.

Now I watch when I take Turtle to school. I listen to her talk about her day. I feel her pain when she tells her dad "she won't let me be part of her club."

Twenty years later, I see myself in my loving, happy daughter and I want to hold her tight and never let her leave home again.  I won't. I know I can't.  I know that this is another life lesson she has needs to learn.

I can't help wishing that she didn't have to.

No Time to Nap

Having children has taught me one very important lesson about life.  Naps in particular.


The thing about naps is that you either have no time to nap because you are too busy or you are too busy and it is no time to nap!


Did you get that?