My inspiration for this record of my days:

“The biggest mistake I made [as a parent] is the one that most of us make. . . . I did not live in the moment enough. This is particularly clear now that the moment is gone, captured only in photographs. There is one picture of [my three children] sitting in the grass on a quilt in the shadow of the swing set on a summer day, ages six, four, and one. And I wish I could remember what we ate, and what we talked about, and how they sounded, and how they looked when they slept that night. I wish I had not been in such a hurry to get on to the next thing: dinner, bath, book, bed. I wish I had treasured the doing a little more and the getting it done a little less” -Anna Quindlen

Sunday, November 29, 2009

Envy

 

I don’t feel jealous of other people, because that would be petty and immature.   But if I did ever feel tempted…

I might feel a slight twinge of envy when I see one of those people at the grocery store in cute, well put together outfits.  You know… the ones that are leisurely browsing the aisles with a little basket dangling from their arm.  The basket usually contains a sampling of several fresh fruits and veggies, some expensive health-conscious cereal, and a very small but luxurious treat.

I try not to glare at them when they smile at me over my heaping basket of bulk items.  I, too have something dangling from my arm.  It’s Simon, who has grown tired of riding in the cart, and is busy throwing up crackers into my shoe.  While I smear that around with a rag, Jonah manages to get the cart moving, and is off down the aisle, trailing items that have fallen off the top of the pile.  The only way for him to stop it is to ram it into something. 

I’m really not jealous when we get to the checkout counter.  “You saved $50 today!”  I’m quite sure that is the lady in the cute outfit’s grocery bill for a week.  My total is usually closer to one million dollars.   The clerk will usually ask me something along the lines of “are you stocking up?”

Unfortunately I will be back in a few days…

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3 comments:

  1. LeahNovember 29, 2009 at 8:33 PM

    Sigh....you are blessed. It is hard keeping up with feeding a growing family...love your take on it! Wish we were closer and you could bring the boys by while you shopped.

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  2. Cara @ Gardenview CottageDecember 3, 2009 at 8:07 AM

    haha - funny! Don't feel bad - that lady is all lonely and bored and doesn't have any hobbies or a husband and wishes there was a box of brownie mix and some marshmallows in her little cart even though she bought the health cereal that tastes like cardboard!

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  3. KristineDecember 8, 2009 at 9:32 PM

    I hear you loud and clear...I have to count my blessings that I CAN buy groceries for 9 of us...and that I have a place to keep it, and a way to get it home from the store. Otherwise I just don't really like grocery shopping at all...it's WORK!

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