What do you want to be when you grow up?
A mother.... a really good one.
I babysat 3 little kids today, 3 little kids I had never met before. I drew pictures of them on an etchosketch and watched as they attempted to draw pictures of me, listening to their descriptions of the scribbles that were supposed to be my eyes, nose and mouth. I played catch with a boy who can't throw a ball and certainly can't catch. I sat down on the couch, only to be jumped on by 2 kids and have my arm grabbed by another who wanted to be tickled. I gave them snacks and drinks and picked up the crumbs that created a trail following their play path through out the living room. I helped them brush their teeth, tucked them in bed, and listened nervously to the monitors set up in the kitchen.
The oldest girl had trouble falling asleep I told her, as best I could, the story of cinderella, and when she told me she missed her mommy and daddy I sat down next to her bed, and let her hold me hand, assuring her I wouldn't leave her side until she fell asleep. When she rolled over and closed her eyes, she put her free hand on my arm before removing the one already there. I sat in the dark and listened to her breathe for 20 minutes, just to be sure she was really asleep. I slipped my hand out of her hold and snuck down the stairs, thinking all the while about my little girl and what she'll someday be like.
I want a to be a mother; I want to be depended on, looked to for safety, loved and adored, I want to be called out for at night to scare away monsters and wipe away tears, I want to teach my kids how to ride a bike, and send them off for their first day of school with tears of fear and pride in my eyes, I want to take lots of pictures and remember every hug, I want to buy them a dog and even send them to timeout when its necesary. I want to be a mother because no matter how you say it; mum, ma, mommy, mother, madre, mama, or even just mom, a mother... for better or for worse, is unreplacable and undenialbly your own.
And as I lay on the ground with them crawling all over me, I felt more at ease with myself than ever before.
A mother.... a really good one.
I babysat 3 little kids today, 3 little kids I had never met before. I drew pictures of them on an etchosketch and watched as they attempted to draw pictures of me, listening to their descriptions of the scribbles that were supposed to be my eyes, nose and mouth. I played catch with a boy who can't throw a ball and certainly can't catch. I sat down on the couch, only to be jumped on by 2 kids and have my arm grabbed by another who wanted to be tickled. I gave them snacks and drinks and picked up the crumbs that created a trail following their play path through out the living room. I helped them brush their teeth, tucked them in bed, and listened nervously to the monitors set up in the kitchen.
The oldest girl had trouble falling asleep I told her, as best I could, the story of cinderella, and when she told me she missed her mommy and daddy I sat down next to her bed, and let her hold me hand, assuring her I wouldn't leave her side until she fell asleep. When she rolled over and closed her eyes, she put her free hand on my arm before removing the one already there. I sat in the dark and listened to her breathe for 20 minutes, just to be sure she was really asleep. I slipped my hand out of her hold and snuck down the stairs, thinking all the while about my little girl and what she'll someday be like.
I want a to be a mother; I want to be depended on, looked to for safety, loved and adored, I want to be called out for at night to scare away monsters and wipe away tears, I want to teach my kids how to ride a bike, and send them off for their first day of school with tears of fear and pride in my eyes, I want to take lots of pictures and remember every hug, I want to buy them a dog and even send them to timeout when its necesary. I want to be a mother because no matter how you say it; mum, ma, mommy, mother, madre, mama, or even just mom, a mother... for better or for worse, is unreplacable and undenialbly your own.
And as I lay on the ground with them crawling all over me, I felt more at ease with myself than ever before.
2 Comments:
you are going to be a wonderful mother someday... it is a profession that fits you to a T.... :-)
By
Katie, At
10:27 AM
We all know you already have plenty of practice in the "soccer mom" profession. :)
By
loo, At
12:18 PM
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