Yes, I am that mom.
My life is perfect.
Every day, I get up an hour before my kids to read the bible and exercise. My house is always clean, and always smells of freshly-baked bread. That’s because I make all of our meals from scratch, using fresh and organic ingredients. Penelope never disobeys. And my baby? He never cries. Casey and I always get along. I have never, ever yelled at him. Or my babies, for that matter. I am never behind on laundry. Each night I read or craft instead of watching television. I look amazing when Casey gets home from work, and dinner is always ready on time.
I am never overwhelmed.
But you see, I have this friend. She tells me the craziest stories. I can hardly believe them, being that I’m so put together and all.
Here’s one of her favorites:
She hears her fusspot of a little boy crying in his bed. Well, in her bed actually, since he doesn’t have a bed yet. But that’s neither here nor there.
So she hears him crying, and sees that her little girl is happy and occupied with a few books.
My friend sneaks into the next room to comfort her crying baby. He’s been crying a lot lately, so this is hardly unusual. After not more than a couple of minutes, she emerges from the room. She doesn’t remember what she noticed first– her daughter no longer sitting on the couch, or the distinctive snap-crackle-pop of a crunch coming from underfoot.
She looks down to notice a small sprinkling of Rice Krispies.
“Hmm. That’s strange. Nobody ate cereal today.”
Around the corner she discovered her mischevious toddler sitting on the ground, mashing handfulls of cereal into her mouth, straight from the bag.
“Hi Mama! Mmmmmm, cereal!”
Then she explored further, and found that e v e r y s q u a r e i n c h of her apartment was covered with a fine layer of cereal. More cereal than she’d imagine could fit in just one box.
Can you believe my friend?!
Today my *friend*’s daughter dumped over a cooler full of melted ice (from a week ago) that not only soaked the carpet but was water that had molded severely because it was in the cooler. That was right when her other daughter started screaming non-stop and right when dinner was needing to be cooked.
You need to get new friends. ;)
ha ha… I found myself getting angry at you for being so perfect. ha ha… :) These are the things that seem funny and lighthearted when they happen to other moms. I can imagine that they won’t be so funny and lighthearted when they happen to me.
Does your friend’s daughter pat her brother’s head right on his soft spot or try to knock him over when he’s in his exersaucer? Does she throw fits at least five times a day (usually related to not being able to watch Little Einsteins for the umpteenth time or because she has to come sit at the table for a meal)? Does your friend feel like all she does is discipline her daughter all day, but still she gets dirty looks from other relatives (who do not have kids) who think her daughter is spoiled because daughter doesn’t obey all the time (and often screams, “No!”)? Oh, the joys of being a mom :). I wouldn’t trade it for anything, but God give us grace!
That’s it, I’m getting on a plane soon!
I love you, Alicia Theule.
Do you think that perhaps your friend’s daughter is my daughter’s long lost twin? I swear some of these stories are straight from our house.
Ah you bring back “fond” memories of 50+ years ago!!!! I so wanted to be Mrs Cleaver!! Grandma
Jeez…can you believe your friend?! ;) Aren’t you glad YOU don’t have the same problems?! :) ehheh
Love the photography, btw! :)