Momma Day

In our house we have "Saturday chores".  We have six jobs that the kids split up between each other. A few Saturdays ago my 9 year old son was complaining about how much work it was- seriously it would take 30, 45 min tops to finish their jobs if there was less complaining and more working.  I am a serious task master!  After much thought (and a lot of grumbling) he says to me, "you just want us to do jobs so you don't have to do anything"....  ahhhh yes, he found me out.  Those six little jobs are all that needs to be done around our house. 

I thought it over and that comment earned him a Momma Day.  A day where he gets to follow me around and help do all the jobs and things that I do in a day. I chose yesterday to be that day, of course it was a laundry day : ).  

 

His day entailed doing laundry, putting clothes in the washer, dryer and even had to fold them.   He helped clean the kitchen, pick up, dust, I even had him get me a drink just as he was sitting down to eat... if I had a nickel for every time that happens to me.  I also made sure he understood how many times I start something and get interrupted by kids, a dog, husband or other things.  

 

 

 I have to say my son was pretty good about the whole thing, didn't complain really at all- even when he had to do some multitasking.  I was hoping to get some profound thoughts or words from him at the end of the day but he didn't have much to say .  When I fired a bunch of open ended questions at him he requested that I stick to asking questions that require a yes or no response. So YES, he says mom does a lot.  YES he was wrong in what he said.  NO he will never say it again.  Fingers crossed, that YES he has learned a lesson!  I might add that on the most part YES it was helpful to me (bonus!).

 

PS- I don't want to give you the wrong impression, I am not this overly productive person.  Of course I love to sneak in a good show/s to watch, some crafts to do, a trip to my favorite store- Hobby Lobby, a book to read or the best take a good nap (or as my husband said when I told him about the Momma Day "oh so you're going to make him nap for 2 hours", hardeeharhar).

And then it hits you...

Growing up my dad was always a little on the eccentric side, not in a cool way, more on the embarrassing side.  He always had a project, nothing like build a new bookcase or mantel, more like let's see if I can build a man powered airplane, helicopter or build a flying car.  He spent hours and hours in our garage doing it, hours and hours of us kids helping, but again, not in a I am learning something cool and new kind of way".   We felt more like he was taking us away from something better, pure child labor in our little minds.   Another weirdish thing my dad would do is video tape us walking to school.  He would park down the street in our baby blue with wood paneling station wagon, get out our big old video camera (which was a two piece camera at that time), zoom in and video as we strolled to school.   I was in elementary school, so I didn't care much...I do feel bad for my siblings who walked with their friends to Junior high and High school.  I just chalked that up to another one of the goofing weirdish things my dad did. 

My dad working on his helicopter.

Today is the last day of school for my kids.  My daughter will be attending middle school next year (sniff sniff).  As we were walking to the bus stop for the last time this morning I whipped out my camera and took video of her walking  I wanted to video our street, her with her friends at the bus stop, capture this moment...then it hit me- I'm doing one of those weirdish things my dad did.  My dad never was one to really bond with any of us kids-even with those hours spent in the garage helping him.  I honestly don't think he knew how and he did the best he could.  Like me, he wanted to capture moments on video.  I think those moment were his way to do something with us and create a memory for him.  He wasn't going to have memories of us laughing, talking or having fun together but he was going to have captured memories of us being kids. 

When I realized I was doing a "dad" thing, I got kind of scared.  Am I clueless to who I really am, am I this weirdish person... (don't answer that).  Then it hit me, I don't care if I am weird.  I care if I have moments and memories beyond a video camera with my kids.  It's moments like playing speed before school with the kids, listening to Aaron give 1000 details about his playdates, listening to Janie get excited about a book she is reading, cuddling with the kids, talking to them and answering their questions.  My dad just didn't have the skill set to even know how to do this.  I think most of the time (like all of us) he tried his hardest.  For good or bad I can learn from my dad in trying my best, not only to bond with my kids, but to make sure they feel that bond.

We'll see in 20 years if my son or daughter is writing a blog about their weirdish mom.  Here is the video I took this morning:



 

 

Turning 40

Well folks I did it, I turned 40 (whether I liked it or not).  I swear the wrinkles around my eyes seemed to have tripled on my birthday..how nice.  This is a doll some of my friends gave to me to welcome me into the new decade of my life.

 I had the goal to do a pull-up by the time I was 40.  It didn't happen.  I have been training and working out to get there, but my trainer did remind me that my time frame was too short (seeing as I waited until 6 weeks before my birthday to really start training).  I have a plan and will continue working on it throughout the summer and maybe I'll be able to do a pull-up by then.  If not I better have some nice guns to show for all this hard work. : ) 

On my actual birthday I had some time by myself.  My husband was traveling in South America, kids were in school- so I took myself to breakfast, read a book and took time to think about being 40- not a pity party at all...   I was proud of myself for not crying because I swear it was just yesterday I was in college and can't believe I am the big 4-0.  Besides trying to believe I am younger than I actually am I thought about what this past decade has meant to me.  It was in my 30s that I:

• Had 2 of our 3 kids
• Moved 2 different times (Folsom and Minnesota) and met some of my best friends for life.
•  I got my degree to be a Medical Assistant.
•  I ran my first 10K.
•  I played soccer for the first time (LOVED IT)
• Traveled a lot (we love traveling).
• Saw a bunch of "firsts" for my kids.
• Got our first family pet- Willis! Well I guess he wasn't the first, we had a hermit grab and a few fish before his arrival.

Some of the hardest times of my life happened in my 30s.  I can't figure out how to articulate how much my heart hurt during these times, but maybe I don't need to except to say that I have learned from this time.  One of the most important lessons I have learned is how important it is pick up and try to more forward every day no matter what has happened to you in life.   Some days are good and others just suck.  It's okay to have days that sucks.  Have the day, then keep going.  I also believe we feel pain sometimes (whether physical or emotional) to help us to slow down in life and be present for ourselves and those around us.  Forcing us to recognize the great things we have in life and directing our focus to what is most important.

I know I will continue to have life lessons and that great things and hard things will happen in my 40s.   Cheers to being 40, happy, healthy and blessed!