"I'm a mother, I'm a lover, a chef, a referee. I'm a doctor, and a chauffeur seven days a week. I ain't asking for a medal, yeah I know you work too. I'd just like a little credit where credit is due. It's the hardest gig I've ever known. I work my fingers to the bone. Yeah the dishes and the diapers never stop. Lousy pay, there ain't no 401K. I know this may come as a shock, but this here's a full time job!"--Full Time Job sung by Gretchen Wilson

Saturday, January 3, 2009

The Mom's Fault

I know that parenting is a joint thing. At least it is in this house, I know not every family consists of 2 parents, but for my purposes it does. I am not demeaning single parents, they are awesome and do both Eric and my jobs. God bless them. Anyways, in OUR house, it is a joint thing. People watch our girls and we hear "oh they are so cute" or "They are SO well behaved" and along with that "You two have done such a great job with them." I love those comments. Don't get me wrong, I do. I'm glad that other people think our children our well behaved. Today however, I wish I had a video camera and could have filmed them for proof for my mom and dad who never believe me on this. Neither one was behaved...AT ALL! Now, I get to my title...why is this the MOM'S fault. I feel like people assume that since I am at home with the girls all day that it is MY fault if they do not behaved. But if they are angels, then WE are credited. I am not at all trying to lessen Eric's hand in their raising and I am sure that that is how this is coming out. He is a wonderful daddy, but it just gets frustrating. I guess I just wish that someone would say, "Hey Theresa, you are doing a great job. Your girls behave when they should. They are little girls, you know? You are a great mom!" Is that too much to ask? Is it awful that I want that? It probably is, but I guess sometimes I get tired of the thanklessness of this job and sometimes want some credit. OK, done feeling sorry for myself.

I went to the library yesterday and got several books. I got one knitting mystery (I love them, guilty pleasure), 2 Chick Lit books, and Pride & Prejudice and The Joy Luck Club. So, I will get started on my wanting to expand my reading. The cool thing is that at the library, they had a list of the Library Journal's Top 150 20Th Century Fiction Titles. I think I am going to attempt to read as many as I can instead of picking random classics. This at least gives me a list to go by. I won't necessarily get them all read this year, but as many as I can get. I have read some of them. If they have an * by the title, I plan to read them again because it has been awhile since I last read them; if not, I have read them in the past 5 years or so. Let's see To Kill a Mockingbird*, Lord of the Rings, Gone With the Wind, 1984*, Animal Farm*, Charlotte's Web*, The Great Gatsby*, Native Son*, A Farewell to Arms*, All Quiet On The Western Front*, The Sun Also Rises*, The Sound and the Fury*, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, The Lion The Witch and the Wardrobe, The Call of the Wild*, The Wind in the Willows*, and The Yearling*. Huh, I just realized that there are only 149 because they have A Farewell to Arms twice. Guess the library needs to do a better job proofing their pamphlets!

Well, I hope that you have all had a great first Saturday of 2009. God Bless.
Love,
Theresa

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Being a Mom to little children is probably the toughest job in the world, especially for stay-at-home moms. You ARE doing a great job, Theresa. Did you know as a parent, as much as you offer rewards and "consequences," that you are still incapable of controlling your child? It's true. If she wants to have a melt-down in the middle of the store, she will do it. Don't feel bad, it happens.

Wow, this is a long comment. Wanted to say your reading list is impressive. I haven't read most of those books, although I've probably read "To Kill a Mockingbird" four or five times. Guess everyone loves that book. You'll have to let us know how you like the others.