Originally Posted By MomofPrincess Have I posted this here before? I hope not. It's one of my favorites, and every time I am feeling overwhelmed with parenthood, I stop and think about it and my eyes well up with tears. Plus, when my kids were very little and times were tougher, my mom used to say, "No matter how hard things are right now, someday you'll look back and realize these were the best times of your life." I already know she's right. ------------------------ NO MORE OATMEAL KISSES by Erma bombeck A young mother writes: "I know you've written before about the empty-nest syndrome, that lonely period after the children are grown and gone. Right now I'm up to my eyeballs in laundry and muddy boots. The baby is teething, the boys are fighting. My husband just called and said to eat without him, and I fell off my diet. Lay it on me again, will you?" Okay. One of these days, you'll shout, "Why don't you kids grow up and act your age!" And they will. Or, "you guys get outside and find yourselves something to do... and don't slam the door!" And they won't. You'll straighten up the boys' bedroom neat and tidy: bumper stickers discarded, bedspread tucked and smooth, toys displayed on their shelves. Hangers in the closet. Animals caged. And you'll say out loud, "Now I want it to stay this way." And it will. You'll prepare a perfect dinner with a salad that hasn't been picked to death and a cake with no finger traces in the icing, and you'll say, "Now, there's a meal for company." And you'll eat it alone. You'll say, "I want complete privacy on the phone. No dancing around. No demolition crews. Silence! Do you hear?" And you'll have it. No more plastic tablecloths stained with spaghetti. No more bedspreads to protect the sofa from damp bottoms. No more gates to stumble over at the top of the basement steps. No more clothespins under the sofa. No more playpens to arrange a room around. No more anxious nights under a vaporizer tent. No more sand in the sheets or Popeye movies in the bathroom. No more iron-on patches, rubber bands for ponytails, tight boots or wet knotted shoestrings. Imagine. A lipstick with a point on it. No baby-sitter for New Year's Eve. Washing only once a week. Seeing a steak that isn't ground. Having your teeth cleaned without a baby on your lap. No PTA meetings. No car pools. No blaring radios. No more washing her hair at 11 o'clock at night. Having your own roll of Scotch tape! Think about it. No more Christmas presents out of toothpicks and library paste. No more sloppy oatmeal kisses. No more tooth fairy. No giggles in the dark. No knees to heal, no responsibility. Only a voice crying, "Why don't you grow up?" and the silence echoing, "I did."
Originally Posted By ReadingMom Thanks for posting this MoP. This year was the first school year that I didn't make cupcakes for halloween, christmas or Valentine's Day for school since my youngest is out of elementary school now. There are also times that I miss being PTA president and on the swim team board of directors. Next month my youngest becomes and official teenager and in less than two years my oldest will be legal adult. The thought is scary and sad at the same time.
Originally Posted By MomofPrincess Gosh, that's hard. I mean, we WANT them to grow up, and become successful, independent adults and everything--that's our goal for them, of course--but the thought of my kids leaving just about tears my heart out. I don't know how I'll ever cope! ((HUGS)) to you, ReadingMom.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip <<I mean, we WANT them to grow up, and become successful, independent adults and everything--that's our goal for them, of course--but the thought of my kids leaving just about tears my heart out. I don't know how I'll ever cope!>> It is different, but the empty nest brings many joys too... Our daughter making the Dean's list at college... Our son getting a big promotion at work... Our daughter getting her first "real job" after college and moving into her new Condo... Our son buying us a Christmas present that we know was a stretch for him financially but was something he really wanted to give us... Our daughter calling us and asking if we would like to go out to dinner with her – no special occasion, just wanting to visit with us. So don't feel like your life will be empty. It is wonderful seeing that all of your hard work paid off. I couldn't handle running after a toddler or dealing with the traumas of a pre-teen at my age, but I sure love visiting with my adult children!!
Originally Posted By MomofPrincess That is really reassuring to hear! Thank you!! It does give me hope that my life is not over or empty once my kids leave home.
Originally Posted By sherrytodd I am enjoying every minute with my son, but nobody explained to me how fast it goes! I've been copying over home videos of past Disney trips. Here's DS's first ride on the Carrousel... <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mqMEvc7U3NI" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v =mqMEvc7U3NI</a> He turns 9 this week.
Originally Posted By triskybear Thanks for posting this MoP. I really needed it this week. I am up to my eyeballs in work, son's baseball practices and games, daughter's school annual fundraiser carnival, trying to take care of the house, etc.... I wonder what I did before I had children. I love Erma Bombeck, she is so wise. My favorite writing of hers is "If I had My Life to Live Over". If you have a chance check it out. I keep a copy of it on my desk at work.
Originally Posted By MomofPrincess triskybear: I love that one, too! More words of wisdom of hers -- so poignant and true. As funny as she was, she sure knew how to hit on the important things in life, as well. Sherry - I can't view YouTube at work but I'll be sure to check out your sweetie pie from home this weekend!
Originally Posted By lasvegasgirl <------- goes running for the Kleenex again....... and also goes to hug her babies .........
Originally Posted By Goofyernmost RoadTrip...no truer words have been spoken. It is different but you never stop being the parents if your lucky.
Originally Posted By LVBelle <--- watches with glee as her baby destroys the living room! Thanks for posting that lovely reminder that my baby won't be a baby forever....
Originally Posted By DVC_dad Post #1 is I think a large part of why we keep having babies. We truly are scared, no no, we are TERRIFIED of being alone someday. At this point in my life, I cannot bare the thought of it. I am sure, and right in line with how Mother Nature designs it, when the day comes I will be ready. But I have one hell of a long way to go to get to that point. For now, what's one more?
Originally Posted By sherrytodd We were the couple who was never going to have children. We had just gotten back from Florida from getting our Cave Diving Certification and were planning our assault on a cave system where no one had gotten past the fifth sump when no one was more surprised then me when DS made his presence known with unbearable morning sickness. It's the best thing that ever happened to me. I thought that having children would mean that I would have to give up our lifestyle. The reality was, I had so much to share with a child and I've enjoyed every minute of it. He's been backpacking with us since he was a baby, has been caving, canyoneering, rafting, sailing, etc, etc, etc... Having a mom who's a Disney nut isn't half bad either. I can definately see a day when DS goes off to college and DH and I are alone again. We still have plenty to do. We never did make it past that fifth sump. But as of yet no one else has either.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip <<We truly are scared, no no, we are TERRIFIED of being alone someday.>> If things work out well, you are never alone (especially with that brood you have!) We just got back from going to the Twins game with our daughter. She called us this afternoon and asked if she could go to the game with us. She bought her own ticket, so it wasn't like she was looking for something from the First Bank of Mom and Dad. She just enjoys our company and we enjoy hers. Hmmm... changing dirty diaper... going to the Twins game... changing dirty diaper... going to the Twins game... Tough choice! ;-)
Originally Posted By MomofPrincess DVC_Dad: I am so with you! I would've had a lot more kids if it were up to just me. I absolutely love having them around and can't imagine a house without the laughter and chaos. *sigh*
Originally Posted By DVC_dad Trippy, I do look forward to the day when my kids are adults and the father/ son-daughter relationship we now have becomes a friend/friend relationship. I lost my dad to a heart attack at the precise time that we began the eye to eye relationship and I hope that I can have that with my sons and daughter. yeah I would choose a Twins game over a dirty diaper too.
