Okay, so I am feeling a little bit of self pity this weekend. My husband has left me alone with my two children for the first time since my son was born. On the weekend of Mother's Day, no doubt. It is not his fault. He had commitments. I could have gone with him to Ottawa and visited my cousin, or driven down to south to visit my parents, but I decided to stay at home. There were things I wanted to do here. Visit le Salon du Livres, and there was also a Carmen Campagne concert I wanted my daughter to see.
I have such an appreciation of single moms right now. I don't have much of a support system nearby. I have some friends, but they are often busy, and you can only spend so much time at your friends' home. My parents and my inlaws don't live close enough for me to just drop the kids off. (If your parents live nearby, and watch your kids, you are so lucky!)
Imagine if you never had anyone to relieve you. I spend my whole day with my children (whom I love dearly), but I look forward to the time when my husband comes home from work to alleviate some of the stress. He gives me some breathing room at the end of the day.
This afternoon, I had to deal with yet another tantrum of my 2 and a half year old daughter. She is becoming her own woman. Oh joy! She had a complete meltdown at Salon du Livres. The whole arena, undoubtedly, could hear her screams. Mean mommy wouldn't let her have the pretty, shiny grab bag (strategically?) placed at toddler level. (Evil vendors!) Trying to explain to her that mommy had already bought her stickers didn't work. I just left her on the floor (thankfully, carpeted) as I paid, and saleswomen came up to try to make her happy. They too were unsuccessfully.
We left, and went home immediately after this incident. How do moms go out with more than two children? There are times when I just want to put my kids in a padded room (so they are safe), and curl under the covers with earplugs until they cry out their frustrations. The tag team crying has to be the worst. Or, when one makes the other cry and they go at it together.
In October, I had a two month old crying in his car seat, and my 2 year old on the sidewalk, outside a store, on the ground, wailing, refusing to move. A store clerk took my son's car seat from me, and walked to my van, so I could pick up my daughter, and get them home. She recounted her experience of being alone on a city bus with her three children. We've all been there. (By the way, I was subsequently locked out of my parents' home by my 2 year old shortly after I brought them home from this incident. Never leave your house without keys. 2 year olds can work deadbolt locks!)
Except, perhaps, those celebrity moms. This rant started because I was drowning my stress in ice cream and gossip, checking out the MSN's top 10 yummy mummys. Gorgeous, skinny, perfect women who probably have an entourage for their children, let alone themselves.
Seriously, how in awe of Angelina Joli do we have to be? She has six kids! Yes, and probably six nannies too! Certainly, no financial issues. Her house probably does have a padded room where she can put the kids, and her home is probably big enough she doesn't need earplugs, but instead heads to the other wing.
We should be celebrating the regular moms out there. The ones who go at it alone because their husbands are off in another province or country working right now. With the strike in its 10th month, a lot of moms are getting used to having dad at home with them. However, there are also a lot of fathers who had to take work outside of Ontario to be able to support their families. We all work hard to raise our children. I am sure Angelina love her kids as much as the rest of us, but I am just having pity party right now. Remember, give your mom a hug. Being a parent is the hardest job you'll ever love. Next month we get to honour our dads.
Oh, and to clarify things for the fathers, Mother's day is when dads take the children and let mom have a nice relaxing day on her own. Maybe she'll get to sleep in or have a spa day. Father's day is when dads take the children and spend time with them, bonding, playing outside, getting to know them. Uh, yes, you take the kids on BOTH days : ). We love you!!
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