12-11-2006, 04:29 PM
My mom is coming over at the end of the month for a 6 week visit, and while I am thrilled to see her again for such a long time, I am starting to feel apprehensive too. Although my mom is really great, and it is lovely to have her around, her help, assistance and companionship comes at a price. As I am getting older and finding my own way in life, I am finding it more and more difficult to accept it and go with the flow when my mother comes back and, assuming I am still the dozy kid of fifteen years ago, will try get me to give my kids less sugar, or make the kids play outdoors more, or to help me be less wasteful in the kitchen or whatever good mothers do.
My daughter told me a few months ago she loves my roast potatoes. That made me feel really good, as I am finally starting to realise I am not still doing the best I can and hoping people won't realise I'm just an amateur at all this - parenting... housekeeping - wifeing - etc etc. I've been an adult for 15 years now and finally I'm starting to feel like one. I've been cooking meals for ages now, and have finally got the hang of cooking rice without burning it, roasting potatoes to just the way I like it, baking banana bread with bananas just this side of the rubbish bin, and having the confidence to argue the point with the traffic warden when I arrive 5 minutes later than my ticket expires.
I'm continually fighting to get my kids to eat more vegetables, do their homework on time, to take care of their appearance, and sometimes I feel I am hopelessly falling short of the mark, but when I overhear my children discusing their parents with their friends, it reminds me of how I viewed my parents at their age, and I am encouraged that I can't be doing too bad a job.
So, here's to many more years of being a grownup for a change; perhaps not too grumpy, but rather like a fun person to be around, but finally coming into my own. And probably when my mom arrives, I'd like to be able to deal with any contentious issues with the tact and wisdom that these situations deserve - After all, my she's been a grown-up so much longer than me ... :cheeky:
My daughter told me a few months ago she loves my roast potatoes. That made me feel really good, as I am finally starting to realise I am not still doing the best I can and hoping people won't realise I'm just an amateur at all this - parenting... housekeeping - wifeing - etc etc. I've been an adult for 15 years now and finally I'm starting to feel like one. I've been cooking meals for ages now, and have finally got the hang of cooking rice without burning it, roasting potatoes to just the way I like it, baking banana bread with bananas just this side of the rubbish bin, and having the confidence to argue the point with the traffic warden when I arrive 5 minutes later than my ticket expires.
I'm continually fighting to get my kids to eat more vegetables, do their homework on time, to take care of their appearance, and sometimes I feel I am hopelessly falling short of the mark, but when I overhear my children discusing their parents with their friends, it reminds me of how I viewed my parents at their age, and I am encouraged that I can't be doing too bad a job.
So, here's to many more years of being a grownup for a change; perhaps not too grumpy, but rather like a fun person to be around, but finally coming into my own. And probably when my mom arrives, I'd like to be able to deal with any contentious issues with the tact and wisdom that these situations deserve - After all, my she's been a grown-up so much longer than me ... :cheeky: