(I started this before Lucy Lou was born)
The phrase: "Why me and why now?" came to mind once or twice as I struggled through the last week and a half before and during our big move. Moving is no easy task. Moving with three kids, no husband at home, and almost 9 months pregnant in hot, nasty weather is darn near impossible. As I was moving things kept going wrong with the house. First the a/c damaging the office floor. Fixed it and replaced the floor. Then, the water heater sprung a leak and damaged the office floor. Replaced the water heater (ouch) and fixed the floor again. Sent the husband out the door to get up to the new house and go to job orientation. Then, termites.... REALLY?!?!?! When I found out we had an unwanted party underneath our porch and how much it would cost to fix it all I sat down and had a good cry. A looooong cry. A headache producing cry. Then, I went through what we needed to do to fix it. I really didn't have time for the pity party to last so I gave the go ahead for the work and we agree to pay them out of escrow. Isn't it amazing how things change? The next day the exterminator brings over paperwork and tells me they can't be paid out of escrow. Nice. The day people are coming to load up the truck with our belongings I am scraping up money to pay for the house to be tented and repaired. We had to pay out of pocket or the escrow could have fallen through or been rejected because of the discovery. Ahhh, get everything into the truck already so I don't have to deal with this house any more!
It is interesting as we go through life we identify ourselves differently.
When we were in high school it was "I'm in ASB, I'm in band, I am a football, basketball, baseball player." By identifying yourself you naturally fell in with a certain group of people. If you were involved with many things you could move from one group to another and still have something in common with your peers.
When you move to college you identify yourself with your major. The classes of majors are usually grouped close together. You run into those people over and over again. Same teachers. etc. You have stuff to talk about because you all are going through the same thing.
When you get married you start to identify yourself, in a woman's case, with a new last name. This new last name and joining the ranks of the married folk can be difficult for young women. Some older women do not know how to relate to the younger set. What are they to talk about? They all have kids. What are you to talk about? Many don't have an outside job. Their kids are their job. Talk about the men ladies. Ya'll got one of those.
When you get pregnant you identify yourself by how far along you are. People will open up and share horror stories with you if you are in your third trimester. Watch out! Then the child comes and you start to identify yourself by your child's age. "Oh, I have a 13 month old and a 3 year old."
As mothers, we naturally identify ourselves by our children. I have gone through all these stages and found none of them to be surprising or weird.... until PTA.
Oh, PTA is a different beast my friends and they identify themselves in a whole different way. At the first PTA meeting we had to stand up and say our names, what committee we were on (I had yet to join one) and what grades our children were in/how many children we had. Seriously, it is hard enough to keep track of how old my kids are now I have to announce their grade? I sat there, waiting for my turn, rehearsing what I was going to say. Oop! I'm next: "Hi, I'm Rachel Wattson and I am not yet on a committee but I am here to help whoever needs it. My children are in second grade and kindergarten." I sit down. Did you see my first fail? I forgot to include that I had a third child! Way to go me. Anyway, it was over. I wouldn't have to announce that again and if anyone remembered what I said and saw me with my 15 month old they could figure it out. Fast forward a month later at the Book Fair I am helping with. First off, I was not acknowledged by anyone in casual conversation. Most likely because I did not have the chance to introduce myself when I got there. The second day I came to help was not as crazy and during a lull I say "By the way, I'm Rachel."
"Oh, hi, Sandy 5th." In my head I am thinking excuse me? Then I realize she is identifying herself by name and her student's grade. Okayyyyy. So I guess this is a regular thing then huh?
He's one! I have come to the conclusion that the more children I have the faster that first year flies past. It feels like only yesterday that I was nursing him and praying for more than 4 hours of sleep. So, here is to year number one my little Charlie man! I love your smile, your laugh, and your budding personality. Your sweet chubby feet and thighs make me smile. I love how you walk around the house quacking like a duck and think it will get you out of trouble when you are suppose to be sleeping. It usually does. Happy birthday son:)!
Remember learning the greek tragedy in school? About a king and a queen that have a baby. An oracle or something tells that in the baby's future it will kill it's father and marry its mother. So the king and queen do what any parent would do. Send the baby out to die and to be sure it doesn't go anywhere they nail it's feet together at the ankles. OUCH. Long story short: baby found. Grows up strong, happens to slay the king (his real dad) and marry the queen (his real mom). I could tell the tragic part of the story, as if this first part isn't tragic enough, but the point is there is now a complex named after this greek character.
The Oedipus Complex is when a son is attracted to his mother. Every boy goes through it.
"I am going to marry mommy!"
"Mommy, you are the prettiest girl in the world!"
And so it goes. Usually kids grow out of this around 6 or 7. My son Ollie is still in it, pretty bad too.
We were playing the game life tonight and Ollie and I were a team. The first thing Ollie says is "We are going to get MARRIED!" He was super excited about it. We got to the space and got hitched. After which my 5 year old was as handsy as a horny first date. He kept kissing me, hugging me, patting my back, and touching me in anyway he could the whole game. At one point he laid his hand on my knee. Hey there boy, gettin' fresh. I must say, by the end of the game I was almost uncomfortable. I kept telling him to cool it but he kept coming. This makes me worry about his dating future.
I hope he learns to take no for an answer and he needs to learn that it's only a game not for realziez! HAhaha! I love my sweet affectionate boy but I am going to be on Frank's team next time.
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