I'm not sure, but I think I might qualify as a super-mom. Once in a while. I mean, I didn't have either one of my kids in "reading for babies" or "baby gym" programs, or anything, but every now and then I find a boon of bonding time in the strangest places.
In the large stack of evidence against my being a super-mom, I live for bedtime. The kid's bedtime. About 3 pm I start counting the minutes. Unplanned deviations from the expectation that bedtime is 8 pm and I will then be "off duty" do not play well in my reality. But if somebody wakes up from a nightmare, or with a nosebleed, or just because, I do alright.
Today the Princess went down for a "nap" at 4:30. She went down HARD. Full nasal whistling, cover tossing, sleep-through-an-earthquake hard. She showed all signs of sleeping straight through 'til morning. I was optimistic enough that I did not wake her for dinner. But the little tyke woke up about 9 pm asking for cartoons and curious about the odd sound outside the house (freezing rain hitting the windows).
She "helped" me fold two loads of laundry, cheerfully helped me put them away, ate a PB&J, and then we went to her room. Just me and her, Brother was asleep in his room, Daddy in ours. Me and the Princess read some books, listened to Beethoven's 9th, and snuggled with two dogs and a cat. We had a good time. Much to my surprise.
Maybe I have a latent mom superpower I didn't know about. Maybe I really am "Supermom." My kids seem to think so. At any rate, the Princess is back to somnolent nasal whistling after feeling really special for a couple of hours. Not a bad return on my investment. My kids might need therapy, but I hope to give their therapist cause to tell them they didn't really have it all that bad.
My kids love the 9th. Older son prefers the 2nd movement before a soccer game to pump him up, and younger son prefers the 4th movement (the official Ode to Joy). They both laugh in then 4th movement when the singing starts because "that man sounds so fat!"
ReplyDeleteIn its entirety, I think Beethoven's 9th may be my favorite piece of music, followed very closely by the overture to Mozart's marriage of Figaro, which is the classical equivalent of speed metal.
I love the secret snatches of time that glue us to our children. Way to go, Supermom!!
ReplyDeleteI remember being like four years old and staying up late one night and watching "What's My Line?" with my Mom. No idea why, but I do remember my brother being in bed.
ReplyDeleteSo yes, the Princess will remember, and the more you write of these times and what they mean to you, the more your children will have to treasure.
Aw, thanks, MC! I remember my dad teaching me to play chess at midnight when I was eight. My sister remembers Dad checking her out of school to take her fishing when she was the same age. That one-on-one time stands out.
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