Finn and I made a Friday night appearance at a friend's soiree at her home. He had been feverish and clingy all week so I thought it would be better to take him with me rather than foisting him on to daddy, thereby ruining both of their evenings. When my babies are sick it is mommy or nobody. So, Finn came to party with the adults for a bit and ran rampant through their unchildproofed lovely home. He attacked the flat screen with every chance he got and ran circles around the stone fireplace. He stopped a few times to give hearty high fives to the birthday girl and only once to give a single finger touch to her husband's awaiting high five hand. We left early when Finn started chanting "nah, naht" to bid everyone goodnight as he was ready for bed.
Saturday brought the delivery of the Ariel cake and my cousin's daughter's 4th birthday party. I made the cake for her that was under the sea themed. It seemed to go over quite well. Lily and Finn both played nicely at the party and Mark got to keep an eye on the Penn State game.
By Sunday, we were all starting to feel the effects of being out of our little comfort zone home. We composed ourselves anyway and drove to a lovely church service with a dual baptism of my cousin's two children. Both kids were so well-behaved and though we left early, it was very nice to attend.
Grandparent parade took us to Woodbury just after the baptism where we visited with Mark's family for his dad's birthday. The highlight was the all-girl shopping trip that Lily, Grandma and I took. We loaded up at Carter's. We sniffed and smelled at Bath and Body Works. Lily proclaimed some scents to have taken her by surprise and some she deemed heavenly.
Monday morning came with a quickness and several other factors led me to this realization and subsequent blog post. I was born to be a great mom. I know this may seem odd or inconsequential to some of you career minded humans browsing here now. But hear me out. Some moms I know have a difficult time staying home. They are better suited among other adults. Facts and figures, deadlines and working lunches suit them better than quelling tantrums and nursing sickies. I have literally no problem with that. I do, however, feel strongly that you should reciprocate the support and respect to those of us who stay home with our kids.
My and my husband's decision for me to stay at home is not up for mockery, eye-rolling, debate or question. It isn't yours to deem one way or the other. I know I am a wonderful mom because of the way my children behave and the way they interact. I know deep down that this was what I was meant to do. I never succeeded so well at anything like I do at parenting. There are amazing working parents as well. That is not even remotely my point. Mark is a working dad and he is the greatest father I could ever ask for my children to have.
Lately there has been a trend toward sneering at people who are proud parents. We are a nuisance. Our children bother you and our bags and strollers are cumbersome. Our photos and updates are too many and too invasive on your social media news feeds. Our minivans and playdates elicit sighs and snide looks.
It is my opinion that not everyone is cut out to do everything well. We all have a niche. My life is being a mom. And while you may not share the passion or the title, you should look deep within and consider what bothers you so much about that.
I will continue to be a stained clothes wearing, pony tailed, coffee guzzling, photo littering, status bombing, home cooking, goofy voiced, song singing, bag laden, stroller pushing, hand holding, laundry folding, cake baking, silly dancing, lunch packing, walk taking, park playing, full to the brim with love mommy.
If you don't like it *click click* unfriend me, buddy.
homebodies
You go girl!!!! I am so proud of your kids as well as mine I will be right with you for the second time around as a grandma stained clothes wearing, pony tailed, diet coke guzzling, photo littering, status bombing, home cooking, goofy voiced, song singing, bag laden, stroller pushing, hand holding, laundry folding, cake baking, silly dancing, lunch packing, walk taking, park playing, full to the brim with love mommy and grandma.
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