Monday, January 23, 2012

Still Cherishing

I wrote this nearly four years ago.  I decided to re-post it after reading this in the Huffington Post.  I guess some things never change.

We act as if it's in the official mom job description. "Wake up every morning totally blissed out and grateful to be THE MOM." "Cherish each and every moment." "EACH AND EVERY MOMENT!" Are you cherishing? Are you? You better be!

"It goes so fast . . ."
Soft focus / warm and fuzzy . . .

Who needs that kind of pressure? Not me. And, definitely, not my daughter.

Motherhood is not one long montage of precious moments. There are days when my gratitude for my daughter gets buried beneath huge piles of exasperation, irritation, and 14 loads of laundry. I admit that I have days when I forget that I'm supposed to be "cherishing." But, even on the very worse days, deep down, I'm always grateful for my child because . . .

She's real life. Right in front of me.
She's real love. The kind you're willing to die for.
She's the best part of me. Mine, and, yet, her own.
My heart.

37 comments:

Brian Miller said...

well worth the repost...its real life...and in the end even those tough times, we can cherish those...they add texture to our relationships...14 loads, omg...i did 4 the other day and thought it might break me...

G-Man said...

All parents feel the very same way

....Petty Witter said...

Thanks for the opportunity to read this, some things really are worth the repost.

Christine said...

nicely said, now I need to go and wake a child that refuses to get up, even with frootloops dangling in front of her

Lynn said...

That's a lovely thing you wrote about your daughter.

Liz @ A Nut in a Nutshell said...

You described it so perfectly. Just perfectly.

Pat Hatt said...

So true, way more real life than all that fluff puffed but those huffing about.

Fireblossom said...

What, a repost? Lady, you should cherish blogging each and every day. You should write a NEW post, because, before you know it, ...

OUCH!

Why'd ya do THAT?

TexWisGirl said...

beautiful.

Sylvia K said...

Well written and so very true. Thanks for re-posting it. I felt/feel this way about all four of mine even though they're grown now -- they can still frustrate me, but each one is a treasure and they've brought so joy and laughter and love and, yes, even wisdom into my life! Enjoy your day, MZ!

Sylvia

happygirl said...

Thanks for reposting. It was new to me. I think you got it just right, here. btw, I never read the huffington post. Not my cup of tea.

Akelamalu said...

Lovely post. :)

ab said...

I'm glad you reposted this. I was thinking something similar having had a "smooth" morning after a few rough days. The last 4 lines sum up being a parent beautifully.

Denise said...

Loved reading this and I am applauding, so glad you reposted.

Sallie (FullTime-Life.com said...

Definitely worth the repeat and I went to the link which I enjoyed very much. But honestly have you considered writing for the Huffington Post? ;>) And I'm an old lady and those old ladies who tell young moms "I cherished every single moment blah blah" are lying through their teeth! We raised four good kids and I can't imagine life without having had them, but to say every moment was perfect is beyond ridiculous! (But of course every moment with our grandchildren IS perfect ;>)

Belinda said...

Yes. Each and every moment POSSIBLE, I would add. Maybe when I'm older and out of the woods, the "each and every moment" perspective will work, but not when I'm in the think of it.

anthonynorth said...

Definitely worth reading again.

Daydreamertoo said...

Ain't that the truth!
My 15 y/o is such a little know it all. Been there, done that, you're too old, what would you know. So exhasperating I sometimes want to bang my head against a wall and ask myself what the heck was I thinking, in thinking that raising a kid was so easy.... then, she smiles, cracks a joke, tells me she loves me, aces and exam, and I think... that's why.
Keep on keep on MZ, just as we all do. My sister told me: 'She's going to be a monster until she's about 21, then, she'll tell you she realises just how much you did for her and how much she loves you. Then she'll be human again.' OMgoodness..LOL Keep smiling :)

Daydreamertoo said...

One other thing, I tell my teen, she can wear her jeans more than once, IF they don't stink or, aren't dirty. I recently told her if she insisted on keep making me 2 X daily laundry loads of washing that she is going to start washing all of clothes herself.... by hand. It seems to have calmed down a bit more LOL It won't last though.

JenLive! said...

There are too many days that I just want to scream, "I DON'T WANT TO BE THE MOMMY ANYMORE!" Some days, I actually do.

And don't you love it when someone tells you to appreciate the stage they are in now, because it gets worse when they're older? Grrr.

ExtraO said...

amen

LL Cool Joe said...

I didn't read it the first time, so I'm glad I got a second chance to enjoy your words. :)

Alice Audrey said...

Yeah, it's soooo easy to say it after the fact, or if you never did it yourself. Seriously, how many harried moms do you see saying it?

Carver said...

Great post. I doubt there are any Mom's that aren't delusional who can't relate to this. I know I can, although my child is an adult now so it's easy to remember the fun parts of being a mom to a growing child and forget the difficult times. However, since I don't have alzheimer's yet I do remember that it wasn't all playing together and rosy moments.

Two Normal Moms said...

Definitely worth the repost. Well said. Loved that Huff article, too.

Leovi said...

Yes, definitely more sense to give our lives are the children, both physically and psychologically because we are made to have children and most of our emotions are channeled toward that end.

Kelly said...

This was new for me, too, so I'm glad you reposted it. Very well said.

Leenie said...

Being THE MOM is a huge job. Just surviving is a challenge. But the love goes deep. Thanks for the reminder.

eileeninmd said...

I am so happy you did a repost. I missed it the first time and it is really lovely. I am sure you both cherish each other. I heard on the radio last week that a job being a full time mom and housewife would make about 94,000. I guess it is not always about the money your doing it just because you love and cherish your family.

Al said...

Fatherhood is very similar to what you're describing, and I wouldn't change it for the world.

A Lady's Life said...

You are cherishing girl.
You are a true Mom.
You are love.

missing moments said...

Stunning ... glad you reposted!

Pat Tillett said...

that was very good and very touching! It's not an easy thing, raising kids, sometimes we get distracted by that....

Stranger said...

Amen. I needed this after the night I had with my very stubborn son who drives me crazy and yet owns my heart

AudreyO said...

What a very sweet poem. I just did 9 loads of laundry on Sunday so I think many of us can relate.

Margaret said...

:) Smiles all the way! SIX kids makes a pretty big laundry pile ... but guess what!? I just learned (after how many years) that even a third grader can do her own laundry. I only do mine, my husbands and my four year old son's laundry.

Just loved this! Just like childbirth, the teenager years will be forgotten too (ha ha)

Lance said...

reads new to me

How intense and real...loved it