DINOSAURS IN THE SINK…
(And other things this Mommy is grateful for)
By Rebecca “Franticmommy” Flansburg
Something happens to us humans when we become parents. Mommy’s especially.
Our world becomes narrow and completely focused on our squirmy pink bundles of joy. Not that we mind. It’s just a wonderful part of parenthood.
It doesn’t change much as they grow either. Everything they do is exquisite, monumental, and absolutely the coolest thing we’ve ever seen. As parents, we have so many things to be grateful for, but sometimes it’s hard to remember that when your 2-year old defies keeping her clothes on, and your five-year old mouths off for the 567th time that day.
Is it all butterflies and rainbows? Heck NO. But as parents you take the good with the bad and always remember that parenthood may be the hardest work you ever do, but it is for sure the most rewarding.
So when things get a little hairy in my house, these are the thoughts/moments I try to focus on. These are just a few of the things I am grateful for:
1. The honor of frantically racking my brain at 5 a.m., trying to think of something we have in the house that starts with “Q” that our daughter can take to show-n-tell that day.
2. The car seat seatbelt strap that never seems loose enough, and has enough twists in it to double as phone cord, and that makes me mutter under my breath? I am thankful I at least I have a kid to put in that car seat.
3. On the nights when my Little People are restless or sick, I remind myself that no one ever died from lack of sleep and I would gladly go without sleep for the rest of my life as long as I never have to feel the empty ache of childlessness again.
4. As I face-plant on the living room floor in the middle of the night, I remind myself how empty my house would be without that plastic Lego piece I just busted my foot on.
5. As we rewind Scooby Doo Safari for the 6th time, I remind myself there is nothing good on TV anyway, and these days of snuggling on the couch with the kids while watching a talking cartoon dog will too soon be gone.
6. As my seven-year old hangs on me, whines and basically becomes my third leg, I try to remember that, though she wants and NEEDS my attention me now, there will come a day when she will be “too cool” to hang with Mom and Dad.
7. Though part of me silently groans at the price of kids jeans, I am just grateful I have little butts to put in them.
8. Although there are times we get might sick of getting “notes from the teacher,” our hearts always burst with pride as we relish the school-made art projects and tissue paper snowmen.
9. Every time I take one of my children to the Doctor, only to be told; “it’s only a virus. It just needs to run its course,” I feel a moment of irritation, only to be replaced by a silent “THANK YOU” that it isn’t a diagnosis that involves a specialist, biopsy, or surgeon.
Not to get all ooshey-goshey on you, but in light of what happened in Newtown, CT, I think we all should/could take a step back and look at our rugrats with new appreciation. Kids are magical little people and should be the center of our world, not living on the outskirts of it.
Live, laugh, Love.
Rebecca Flansburg
Bio: Hardcore Mommy Blogger, WAHM, & Virtual Assistant. Being a mom is The.Best.Thing.Ever & Team Family is #1.
I love social media, naps,and anything with cheese on it. Rebecca is a veteran blogger who writes for 5 blogs as well as 3 of her own. Rebecca’s main blog is www.franticmommy.com where she share the trials of and tribulations of parenthood with a healthy dose of humor. You can contact Rebecca at [email protected].
