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

Saturday, February 6, 2010

What they meant to say…

I couldn’t leave that last post up for too long.  Wallowing in paralyzing frustration is only allowed for one day!

So on the brighter side…

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This is how Simon says “Thank you, dear Mother, for changing another messy diaper.  And for faithfully applying rash protection.  I know it can’t be much fun for you.”  The more violent the tantrum, the more sincere he is in his gratitude.

When my kids whine about having to put away their clean clothes, what they’re trying to say is “Thanks Mom, for buying our clothes, and then washing them and folding them neatly.”

The gagging noises at the dinner table were a special way of saying “Thank you for making sure we never go hungry, and that we eat healthy meals together as a family.”

And when someone, who did not want to re-do his chores until they were done right, yelled “This is the worst day of my life!”  I heard “I’ve had a pretty great life so far!  Thanks, Mom.”

It’s a good thing I speak their language.

3 comments:

  1. You are right mom....I am so glad you speak their language. You crack me up....doug and I had a good chuckle...

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  2. Yay for seeing the bright side! Hahahaha! I'll have to remember that gagging noises at the dinner table one - in 18 years of
    parenting I hadn't figured that out yet~ :)

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  3. Loved this post Christi! Thanks for the great perspective! :) gotta love the kiddos and all their gratitude ;) sounds very familiar!

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