This is my version of their 8 point list. I've included a link to the original post at the bottom of this entry.
1. Potty Time
No longer a solitary activity, Potty Time is now a spectator sport. Or at least, it's a new place to field arguments from.
Hey, at least you can make faces without them knowing. Unless they peek under the door. Children and pets have this weird obsession with closed doors.
2. Getting My Nom On
I now hide KitKat bars in the uppermost shelves in the refrigerator (hee hee) and can't open a soda without my son running across the house to ask "was that a soda I heard?".
Yet, he never hears me calling him for dinner or to bring out his dirty laundry.
3. Entertainment Options
Not sure how long it's been since I watched a "normal" (i.e. not totally kid safe) movie. Ironically, I don't really want to. I started thinking about how if I wouldn't want to my child to see the "bad" stuff, hear the "bad" stuff, etc. then why would I?
The thing I miss the most is dancing. I love just going out and dancing. Maybe that's why I do the "dance like no one is watching" thing. It's my way to let loose and be a little crazy.
4. Cursing *gasp*
If I say anything worse than "pickle sticks" I feel absolutely horrible. Sadly, I sometimes say harder things like "fudge" and "drat".
Eh, who am I kidding? I sometime let a real one loose and flinch when I hear my son saying it in agreement. Quick lesson time. Son, we BOTH have to not say words like that ...
5. What's A Bath?
My life has been diluted to 5 minute showers. Sometimes I'm lucky and I take a long one. 10 minutes of sweet, sweet bliss.
Bath salts and bubble baths may be out but the latest body wash craze helps make up for that.
6. Mental
I've developed "trying to do it all" ADD and (unfortunately) forget stuff. If it wasn't for the Good Lord Himself, the Pomodoro Technique, the FlyLady and -uh-
What was I saying?
Another weird thing is that I *swear* every child that says "mom" is mine. Even though they don't sound ANYTHING like CJ. I'm so well trained that I'm instantly on alert and trying to figure out what the need/want/problem is.
Have you ever automatically reached out to catch a slipping child? Stopped to help a child reach something their little fingers can't quite stretch to? Swoop down, mid-walk and return a baby's dropped toy without pausing?
Heck, sometimes I even auto-respond to the child that keeps whining "mom, mom, mom" at the store. I've actually growled "What?!" and realized, THAT WASN'T MY CHILD!
Not sure who was more surprised: that child, my child, that mom or me. I sputtered, "OMG CJ I thought that was you!" and rushed away.
7. Wild and Free
No matter howhttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif responsible we all try to be, there's still that little kid inside. The one that wants to do something wild and crazy just because we're alive, happy and want to shake off the heavy mantle of adulthood every now and then.
Confession: I used to street race. Now, I'm hyper vigilant and use my street skills to drive defensively. I'd die inside if something ever happened to my son (God forbid!) because I was reckless.
Confession: I used to hike in the woods a lot. Now, I'm terrified of all the potential risks. How would I save my son from a mountain lion, bear or shark attack? (We're in rural South Texas. On a homestead. In the land of the rattlesnake and Capybara. LOL)
Yeah, my "Wild and Free" side is majorly repressed. Most of the time, I'm okay with it. It's only when someone says parents are fuddy duddies or I see other parents leaving their kids all over creation to go be crazy (get drunk, high, etc.) that it bugs me.
That's why family adventure is so important to me. We're whole people. We want to have fun too. We just have an extra munchkin or two to consider and share it with. =)
8. Mommy Guilt/Amazement
I know I suffer from "can't be away from my child" mommy guilt but I'm not sure how to treat it. I kinda think there'd be something wrong with me if I didn't notice my child wasn't around.
Don't get me wrong, I know both my child and I need space to be individual people. That's healthy, normal and will help both of us be happier and more fulfilled in the long run.
Thing is, I really like my son's personality. I like having him around. He's smart, he's funny, he's really nice, respectful and very observant (which can be both a good and bad thing LOL). I love to adventure and experience the world through his eyes. He thinks of things I didn't consider or maybe overlooked.
It's amazing to think this handsome and super delightful mini-person was once in my tummy!
9. What Is Sleep?
The original list had 8 points but I just *had* to add this one!
You see, I used to sleep like a log. I literally once slept through a fire call in a condo complex in Austin that made normal walking sound like a herd of elephants on a drum set.
Now? Any little thing wakes me up instantly.
Ironically, MY mom now sleeps like a log. I lay there in the dark, staring at the exposed rafters a lot more than I'd like to.
I'm sure there's more but I've developed "trying to do it all" ADD and (unfortunately) forget stuff. Or did I already mention that?
If this has resonated at all with you, you've got to read the original 8 Things You Can't Do Once You Have A Kid post. Better yet, join the conversation! =)
Have fun, stay safe, and G-d bless,
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