I was searching for my keys. They were no where to be found. Aaron had driven last. "Are you kidding me??" I said to myself, standing by the car, boys ready to go. As I started to walk back into the house to continue looking, I hear Aiden's little voice behind me. "Are you kidding me? Are you sew-ious, Aaron?" As much as I wanted to laugh in that moment (and I have to admit, I did) I also felt a little guilty. Do I really say that that often?
The time has come, or rather has been for awhile, that I really need to be careful what I say. I say and do a lot of things I don't want my kids to say and do. At least not yet. Child-proofing my house? Easy. Child-proofing me? Not so easy. I've already cut out the swearing (and luckily he hasn't caught my slip ups yet), but it's so much more than that really. Aiden gets this attitude some times, so sour, so very not cute. I watch my precious little boy in horror, thinking, Where did he get that from? And then Aaron says something like, "Wow, he sounds just like you." Ouch. So of course I slap Aaron in the arm. Then Aiden slaps him. Then, "Oh no, no, Aiden, we don't slap! Mommy was just playing, I shouldn't have done that..." Poor confused child.
Sometimes it's really hard to live as a role model 24/7. It's hard more than just sometimes. It's draining and at times down right frustrating. It's usually around 10:00 p.m. before I finally get to relax, to just sit and be a little selfish, to even notice that my shoulders have crept up to my ears in an almost permanent state. I usually have to get into a little tiff with Aaron just to get rid of my internal tension. He's usually a good sport and has learned if he just lets me get it out of my system, we can laugh and move on. He's learned to say "I'm sorry" (and mean it). He's learned to take my name-calling as endearment (as it's intended, of course). He's even learned to keep a grin as I run around like a crazy woman complaining about god knows what before crashing on the couch with him. With him running a business and me a household, we both have to keep a lot in through out the day. I have to keep my cool with the kids, and he has to keep his cool with adults who act like kids. It's nice with such different lives to be able to join each other on the couch each night and relate. It helps me feel a little less crazy and a little more capable. And by the end of the day (especially lately), I really need that.
About Me
- Faith
- It's interesting to look at your life, past to present, and think: "It has all led up to this...." And then wonder where it will lead to next.
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3 comments:
Have I told you lately how much I love your insights on parenting and marriage. Superb, lady, you are just superb. :)
Caitlin
I say the same things all the time. Find a grass covered stroller on top of the clean jackets in the back seat of the car "are you kidding me" or maybe I go to the freezer to get that last scoop of ice cream I've been looking forward too "seriously". Luckily in a recent discussion I learned that Zach says the same things in reference to what I've done several times a day. I guess it's bad and good. Haley is twice as likely to start parroting the phrases, but maybe I can at least share a little of the blame/ guilt. Hopefully it wont take too many slip ups before I learn to start filtering my attitudes, not just my words.
Thanks Caitlin! I wish I could think as light hearted and sarcastic in the moment as I do when I write about it! And Vanessa thank you, its always good to hear I am not alone. :)
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