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Did You Do Anything
Today?
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My husband came home today and saw me
sitting on the couch, toddler on one knee, and baby nursing on the opposite
breast. I was trying to turn the pages of a book with the hand not attached to
the infant, while listening for the sound of the stove buzzer, which would
indicate that tonight's pork chops were at the stage between "well-done" and
"the dog gets tonight's entree."
My husband looked at me innocently, and
asked, "So, did you do anything today?"
It's a good thing that most of my
appendages were otherwise engaged, as I was unable to jump up and throttle him
to death. This was probably for the best, as I assume that asking a stupid
question is not grounds for murder in this country.
Let me back up a bit,
and explain what led me to this point in my life. I was not always bordering on
the brink of insanity. On the contrary, a mere four years ago, I had a good job,
steady income, and a vehicle that could NOT seat a professional sports team, and
me, comfortably. I watched television shows that were not hosted by singing
puppets. I went to bed later than nine o'clock at night. I preferred sex to
sleeping in. I laughed at those people who drove halfway across the country
hauling a tent trailer, three screaming kids, a drooling dog, and called it a
holiday. Now I have become one of them.
What happened? The stick turned
blue. I have traded in my Victoria's Secrets lingerie for cotton briefs and a
firm support nursing bra. Good-bye, Garth Brooks. Hello, Sharon, Lois and
Bram.
My idea of privacy is getting to use the bathroom without a
two-year old banging on the door, and the baby spinning the toilet paper roll
from my lap.
And I finally understand that the term "Stay At Home Mom"
does not refer to a parent who no longer works outside the house, but rather to
one who never seems to get out the front door. So here I sit children in hand,
wondering how to answer my beloved husband. DID I DO ANYTHING
TODAY!
Well, I think I did, although not much seems to have gotten
accomplished.
I shared breakfast in bed with a handsome young man. Of
course, the breakfast consisted of a bowl of porridge and leftover cookie crumbs
found between the sheets. The handsome young man is about thirty-four inches
tall and only gets really excited at the sight of purple dinosaurs, toy trucks
and French fries. I got to take a relaxing stroll in the woods. Of course I was
on the lookout for frogs and lizards, and had to stop to smell the dandelions
along the way. I successfully washed one load of laundry, moved the load that
was in the washer into the dryer, and the dryer load into the basket. The load
that was in the basket is now spread out on the bed, awaiting my bedtime
decision to actually put the clothes away or merely move them to the top of the
dresser. I read two or three classics. Out loud. Of course, Dickens or
Shakespeare cannot take credit for these works, as we have moved on to the works
of Seuss and Munsch. I don't think I will be making any trips to the Adult
Section of my local library anytime soon. In between, I dusted, wiped, organized
and rearranged. I kissed away the owies and washed away the tears. I scolded,
praised, hugged and tested my patience, all before noon.
DID I DO
ANYTHING TODAY?
You Betcha.
I now understand what people mean when
they say that parenthood is the hardest job they will ever have. In my LBD (life
before diapers) I was able to teach young minds how to divide fractions and
write complex sentences, but I am unable of teaching a strong-willed
two-year-old how to use the toilet. I was once able to navigate urban streets
while talking on the car phone and looking for a decent radio station, but now I
can't get the wheels on my stroller to all go in the same direction. I've
graduated from university, written newspaper articles, and won awards, but I
can't figure out how to get carrot stains out of the carpet. I used to debate
with my friends about politics, but now we discuss the merits of cloth versus
disposable. And when did I stop talking in sentences that had more than five
words? So in response to my husband's inquiry, yes, I did do something today. In
fact, I am one step closer to one of life's greatest accomplishments. No, I did
not cure AIDS or forge World Peace, but I did hold a miracle in my
arms.
Two, in fact. My children are my great accomplishment, and the
opportunity to raise them in my greatest challenge. I don't know if my children
will grow up to be great leaders or world-class brain surgeons.
Frankly,
I don't care, as long as they grow up to be happy and fulfilled. They are my
greatest joys, even though I sometimes cry myself to sleep at night in
frustration. The point is, that today I got to watch my children take another
step on the great journey of Life, and I even got to point out some of the sites
along the way. As challenging as parenthood is, it is also equally rewarding,
because we are using all our wisdom, our talent and skills to help forge a new
person.
It is this person, these people, who in turn will use their gifts
to create our future. So every nursery rhyme I recite, every swing I push, very
little hand I hold is Something. And I did it today.
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