Sunday, June 21, 2009

Mommy Meme

We're on our college visit with Precious Youngest. Fortunately, Green Girl in Wisconsin posted this . Which made me remember the Hotfessional tagged me for the Mommy Meme too.

Admit that ONE thing you feel awful about involving being a mom. Get it off your shoulders. Once you’ve written it down, you are NO LONGER allowed to feel bad. It’s over with, it’s in the past. Remember, you’re a good mom!

Many years ago when Precious Oldest was in Kindergarten she was a Daisy Scout. Now when I was a girl, Girl Scouts started in first grade with Brownies. What ever time marches on, things change, so on and so forth.

ANYWAY. It was Girl Scout Sunday and Precious Oldest was part of the color guard that was processing up the aisle before Mass. I was her troop leader AND in charge of running to Girl Scout headquarters to pick up the official Girl Scout flag for the ceremony as our school troops had not yet purchased one. Precious Oldest had to be spiffed up, in uniform, and to church early.

As we do any Sunday morning, or did back then with a 3 and 5 year old, we were rushing around like the proverbial chicken with its head cut off and I barked at the Saint to get the flag to church STAT and the children too while he was at it. (Sweet baby jesus why do I have to do EVERYTHING!)

I finished getting dressed, hopped in the car, raced to church and slid into the pew beside the Saint. I knelt to say a quick prayer and with head bowed over folded hands made a sidelong glance and hissed to the Saint "WHERE is Precious Youngest". He blinked a few times and said through clenched teeth, "I thought YOU were bringing her".

I left my baby at home! Alone! Probably with the house going up in flames! I flew back home at warp speed running red lights and stop signs alike.

I went running through the house shouting her name like a crazed person. She was fine. She was playing in her room. She didn't even know she'd been left home alone.

I have a MILLION of these stories. Seriously. If you EVER feel bad about your parenting skills e-mail me. We'll talk. I'll buy the wine.

To remind yourself that you ARE a good mom, list SEVEN things you love about your kids, you love doing with your kids, or that your kids love about you. These are the things to remind yourself of EVERY DAY that you rock!

1. My girls are smart. I don't mean creepy smart, I mean top of their class, Dean's List, admitted to the J School as a freshman, academic scholarship smart. And they don't care WHO knows it.

2. They make me laugh. They have a finely honed wit and a sarcastic streak a mile wide. I have no idea where they get it.

3. They are kind and caring young women. They have friendships that stretch back years with wonderful young people who are like family to us. Their ex-boyfriends NEVER LEAVE. They don't have the heart to have "bad break ups" and so they remain friends.

4. Their were some rocky times in the 13 to 17 year old years, but they never went off the deep end. Between them they had two detentions in high school. Both for uniform violations. There is no smoking or drug use. Except for an occasional glass of wine at home they don't drink. (Well, if they're in a country where it's LEGAL for them to drink they may imbibe.) For those of you smugly sitting there thinking "That she KNOWS of", trust me. I know.

5. They enjoy each others company. They do things together. On purpose. Think back to when you were a teen and the relationship you had with your siblings. I'm just sayin'.

6. They hold hands with me and kiss me in PUBLIC. Like even when their friends are around.

7. They go their own way. As similar as my girls are in many ways, they have vastly different interests. They know they can love and support one another without being in the other's back pocket,

Send this to FIVE other Moms of the Year that deserve forgiveness and a reminder that they, too, are the best moms they can be! Remember to send them a note to let them know you’ve selected them, and add a link to the person who nominated you!


Jen - Whose young daughters remind me very much of my girls at that age.
Jenn - Who is my parenting doppelganger.
Leann - Our neighbor to the north who makes me smile.
Shelley - Who just moved to Denver and had to leave her precious oldest daughter behind so she could stay for her senior year of high school.
Vanessa - Whose children are canine but adorable.

8 comments:

Jenn @ Juggling Life said...

Home Alone was a hit movie for a reason--it could totally happen to anyone.

What a great list.

Leanne said...

Ack. I was tagged. Okay, I'll do it but gesh, which one to pick? :)

Ree said...

I love these. Will you please have your freshman-to-be channel some of those "brilliant, want-to-succeed" vibes to mine?

Jocelyn said...

This is a gorgeous meme; and I love that your worst parenting moment makes for a hecka funny story years later.

I also love a post that makes me laugh and get warm-hearted in the same read.

Mary~Momathon said...

I am looking forward to reading Jenn and Shelley's responses!

Shelley said...

I'm still working on this, but I will do it, I promise!

How did the college visit go?

Swirl Girl said...

how did I miss this one?

your kids are terrific and the apple doesn't fall far from the tree so they say!

Jen on the Edge said...

I know those mornings all too well!