Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Colorado Trip

We recently went to see my parents at the home in Woodland Park, CO. Everyone had a blast. The kids had so much fun with their Oma and Opa and really enjoyed all the fabulous new things we got do do while at their house. The kids got to pet horses and even got a ride from a miniature horse pulling a cart. We saw deer, rabbits and a fox. We also go to take the kids on a couple of hikes in the forest that neighbors my parents' property. By far Jackson's most favorite thing was building campfires in the back yard with his Opa. Looks like he'll be growing up to be quite the little boyscout. All in all the trip was a rousing success and we can't wait to go back next summer!

Monday, August 30, 2010

School

I'm a bit gloomy about the changes that are happening in the Freedman house right now. Aaron and I will be going to the Little School Orientation Meeting Thursday morning and then the kids first day of Nursery School will be next Wednesday. Sure I'm excited that the kids are starting school. I'm happy for lots of reasons, not the least of which is that I think they're really going to enjoy it. But I'm having trouble getting past my own feelings of nervousness and sadness about this next phase of our family life.

I have to admit I like it when people ask what I do and I get to say "I stay at home with my kids."  Well, I might have liked it a little better when I got to say "I stay at home with my babies," but over time I've gotten used to the sound of "my kids." I have enjoyed having the well defined role of "stay at home mom." But lately my answer of "I stay at home with my kids" has been followed by the question, "What are you going to do when they start school?"

What do they mean "What am I going to do?" Cry. Rejoice. Fall into a deep depression. Found a future Fortune 500 company.

"What are you going to do when the kids start school?" The snark in me wants to respond "Go to the grocery store by myself." Or maybe "Have a complete thought for the first time in 2 1/2 years." The defensive part of me wants to say "It's only going to be 9 hours a week, what do you suggest I do with ALL THAT TIME?"

But the the more mature part of me realizes it's a perfectly fair question, and one that occurs naturally to people who aren't stay at home moms, people who are out there "doing something." And when I really think about it that question is in fact NOT a thinly disguised insinuation that what I have been doing the past 2 1/2 years isn't "something." It's an acknowledgment that now I have the opportunity to "do something" else. What else will I chose to do? Who knows.

Right now just thinking about that question makes my chest tighten. I don't want to do anything but be The Mom. How can I think of doing anything else? I don't have time to do anything but take care of by babies! My babies need me!

Obviously thinking about "what I'm going to do" brings out the panic filled and less mature side of me. Thank goodness this school year is only going to provide me with 9 hours of free time. Any more than that and I might actually have to "find something to do."

Monday, August 2, 2010

The days are long...

The days are long but the years are short. I keep repeating that to myself.

Jackson has been very clingy lately. I feel like there is an invisible rope tying us together. When Jackson feels the space between us growing bigger and the rope being pulled tight he starts to panic. I hear "I need Mommy!" many many times a day. Jack will be playing with blocks or watching Mickey Mouse and it's seems like all of a sudden he feels that rope pull tight and he desperately needs me to hold him. He announces "I need Mommy!" and comes running to find me. This happens A LOT.

This attachment may sound sweet and cute but by the end of the day (or sometimes by the lunchtime, occasionally by mid-morning) it is exasperating. My patience grows short and my temper grows large and I find myself wishing Jackson would just leave me alone.

And of course there is the ever-present sibling wanting whatever the other child has. So once Jack has decided he must be held this instant Lola often comes running behind chanting "up up up up." Jack freaks out and begins crying "No Lola No Lola NO LOLA!" while she tries to climb my leg. I sit down so I can hold both children in my lap which satisfies neither and both cry passionately at the injustice of having to share my attention.

It is in this moment that I remind myself that the days may be long but the years are short. Soon they will be playing it far too cool to fight over space in my lap.