Fantasy: Look at my sweet baby eating sweet potatoes for the very first time while we all sit at the dinner table together talking and smiling!
Reality: At the very moment that I took this photo, Miles was pooping on the living room floor. With a speed that surprised even me, I put the dog outside (because what if – ???) and swooped Miles into the bathroom to finish on the toilet. Then cleaned everything up CHEERFULLY OH SO HAPPILY BECAUSE ACCIDENTS HAPPEN WHEEE!
Fantasy: We went to the library this morning because Spot the Dog was coming to storytime! Miles loves people in character suits so this was going to be great.
Reality: We were 10 minutes early so I followed him around as he lapped the library (walking, not running) 10,000 times. When storytime finally started I led him over and as soon as they started singing “If You’re Happy and You Know It,” he started screaming and slapping me. He was terrified of the kids singing (?!?!)… but even so it made me super angry to get slapped in the face. Followed by humiliated as I dragged him out of the library, and depressed as I stalked back to the car in defeat.
Do you ever read people’s blogs or Facebook statuses and feel like they are just so much happier and more successful than you, having more fun, being better parents? I was listening to a podcast about that phenomenon recently. I’m still not entirely sure how I feel about it. To some degree I think envy is something that comes from within. As someone who blogs about parenting (and Facebooks about it plenty), it’s hard to know where to place things sometimes. On any given day I could tell you about something cute, funny, or exciting (is this bragging?) or something dreadful, annoying, or difficult (is this complaining?)
There are good days and bad days. Obviously. Consider this a non-bragging day…. Lately this is just kicking my BUTT in a huge way. I am tired beyond my wildest imagination. Last week after his day off Mike waved the white flag and told me I have the harder job, by far, between the two of us. I’m doing my best but some days it just doesn’t seem good enough. Luckily tomorrow I get to try again.
HA! I assume anyone who puts everything out there like life is perfect and their kids are perfect is keeping the real stuff under wraps. I know people don’t blog about arguments with their husbands or crap going down at their job or the challenges of being a SAHM because they don’t want to come off as negative or petty–or cause more trouble for themselves. I guess I’m lucky in that most of my facebook friends are complainers, or I know them well enough that they just keep their complaints offline, and most of the bloggers I follow are like you–honest about life. Good days, bad days, it’s all part of life, and it’s nice for me at least to see families who operate like mine.
I love that you said you are lucky your friends are complainers! Haha… maybe it takes one to know/like one but I enjoy reading my friends’ parenting woes – not that I want anyone to be having a hard time but always nice to know we’re kind of in the same boat.
Just had to say that this post was refreshing to read. I especially agree with the part that any given day I could share something sweet (like this morning when my two-year old sweetly held her two-week old baby sister) or difficult (when I’m *this* close to losing my temper from big sister whining for 20 minutes straight, thank goodness for daddy to the rescue). Anyway, I am right there with ya and like you said, tomorrow is another chance to try again.
Thanks Serena!
Really love this. Word. To ALL OF IT.