My daughter throws Oscar-winning hissy fits. It's a new thing, actually. Not sure where it came from, but rarely a day goes by without my sweet, beautiful daughter throwing herself on the floor and moaning "MAMA!" at the top of her lungs.
The other day, I was feeding Carson's new-found addiction to popsicles. It was a beautiful Saturday afternoon, and my husband was doing some projects outside (see previous post), so I decided to let Carson have a popsicle, and I grabbed one for myself. I gave Carson hers, and as I started to unwrap mine, her other little hand reaches towards my popsicle and she starts her usual "Uh! Uh! Uh!" which is baby-code for "GIVE ME THAT."
In my sweet, soft, patient voice I responded, "You've got your own popsicle, Carson. See?" (as I point to her freshly unwrapped frozen treat).
"Uh! Uh! Uh!"
At little more sternly, "No ma'am Carson, here is yours."
(Carson's face is starting to get red) "UH! UH! UH!"
"Carson, NO!"
Knees hit the floor, arms flair out and hit the ground as if she's praying to Buddha. Full on tears and desperate moans of "MAMA! MAMA!" Wide open mouth and droopy eyes. One of the most dramatic performances I've ever seen.
Now, the test of true parenting is whether you give in and give the other popsicle, or ignore the come-apart. Luckily, sarcasm is a second language to me, and I have a heart of stone, so what do I do? Try not to laugh hysterically as I leave the room. Mama -1 Carson-0. Yet, I've got to keep my game face on, for I know that was only one battle in the ongoing war.
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
The Great Divide
I need to preface this post by mentioning that my husband is a completely awesome, wonderful, helpful dad, and I wouldn't have survived those first, terribly hard months of a new baby without him. Ok. Disclaimer has been posted. Oh - and high five to all you single parents out there - I seriously have no idea how you do it. At all.
I am amazed by the status quo "jobs" that fall to the mother and the father after a baby is born. I mean, I'm not completely naive to the fact that many of the child rearing responsibilities (nursing, cuddling, nurturing) fall upon the mother, but it's not 19 freakin' 50! I mean it's 2010! So much is just "expected" of the mom. I remember my husband saying, "But you're the mom!" Huh? Oh wait, let me adjust my pearls while I get the vacuum.
For example, I always (and I do mean ALWAYS) got up with Carson in the middle of the night when she woke up. My theory behind this was that Bill was working, and I wasn't, so he needed the sleep more than I did. Yet, when I went back to work after 6 months, I was STILL the one getting up with Carson! Also, if Bill wants to spend the day fishing, hunting, or hanging out, it's a simple, "Court, I'm going to fish with _______ and _______." Now, if I want to just take a shower, or pee, I have to ask Bill to watch Carson! Or, if I have a PTA meeting, or faculty meeting, I have to "pre-schedule" my husband to watch Carson.
Lately I've also noticed that Bill doesn't want Carson around when he's doing some of his projects or chores around the house (i.e. cleaning the garage, mowing the lawn, wiring something, cleaning dead ducks, fish, birds, etc. You know, the usual...) which is completely understandable. Yet, why is it I have a 24 pound ball and chain stuck to my leg screaming "Mama!" as I'm trying to mop? Or who closes the dishwasher door every time I open it (after grabbing the sharpest steak knife out first, of course!), or pulls wet clothes out of the dryer as I put them in, and who pulls an entire roll of toilet paper off the roll as you try to blow-dry your hair!
I swear I'm not bitter! I will end this post by once again emphasizing the point that I have a wonderful, supportive husband, and I am very lucky. I have friends whose husbands don't lift a finger when it comes to child-rearing. I guess I was just shocked at the amount of particular "responsibilities" fall under the job of Mama. Just one more thing about motherhood that I've found surprising, and I'm sure it's not the last!
I am amazed by the status quo "jobs" that fall to the mother and the father after a baby is born. I mean, I'm not completely naive to the fact that many of the child rearing responsibilities (nursing, cuddling, nurturing) fall upon the mother, but it's not 19 freakin' 50! I mean it's 2010! So much is just "expected" of the mom. I remember my husband saying, "But you're the mom!" Huh? Oh wait, let me adjust my pearls while I get the vacuum.
For example, I always (and I do mean ALWAYS) got up with Carson in the middle of the night when she woke up. My theory behind this was that Bill was working, and I wasn't, so he needed the sleep more than I did. Yet, when I went back to work after 6 months, I was STILL the one getting up with Carson! Also, if Bill wants to spend the day fishing, hunting, or hanging out, it's a simple, "Court, I'm going to fish with _______ and _______." Now, if I want to just take a shower, or pee, I have to ask Bill to watch Carson! Or, if I have a PTA meeting, or faculty meeting, I have to "pre-schedule" my husband to watch Carson.
Lately I've also noticed that Bill doesn't want Carson around when he's doing some of his projects or chores around the house (i.e. cleaning the garage, mowing the lawn, wiring something, cleaning dead ducks, fish, birds, etc. You know, the usual...) which is completely understandable. Yet, why is it I have a 24 pound ball and chain stuck to my leg screaming "Mama!" as I'm trying to mop? Or who closes the dishwasher door every time I open it (after grabbing the sharpest steak knife out first, of course!), or pulls wet clothes out of the dryer as I put them in, and who pulls an entire roll of toilet paper off the roll as you try to blow-dry your hair!
I swear I'm not bitter! I will end this post by once again emphasizing the point that I have a wonderful, supportive husband, and I am very lucky. I have friends whose husbands don't lift a finger when it comes to child-rearing. I guess I was just shocked at the amount of particular "responsibilities" fall under the job of Mama. Just one more thing about motherhood that I've found surprising, and I'm sure it's not the last!
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