Mommies - More Power to 'Em
Yesterday, I briefly mentioned the woman's traditional role as homemaker and primary caregiver. I had intended to say more, but as with everything else in my life these days I ran out of time.
Simply put, having now been my son's primary caregiver for the last eight and a half months, I am far more appreciative of my mother and, in fact, of all mothers and grandmothers everywhere. Did I say "appreciative?" I meant in awe of. I simply have no clue how they managed (and continue to manage) to take care of several children at once and get dinner on the table, all while doing all of the cleaning, laundry, etc. And single mothers? Forget it. They clearly have supernatural powers.
A woman I met at the local playground a week ago is a good example. More on the playground later; I simply don't have time right now to discuss all of my lovely experiences as the only man in sight. Believe me, I'll get to it. Anyway, this woman. She and I got to talking while we were both looking at the bulletin board for special events, classes, etc. Ethan was very excited about being right next to her four and a half month old son. Unlike myself, she was smart enough to be carrying her son in one of those baby carriers that straps on over your shoulders. Ethan has me trained to carry him around in my arms the whole time. In fact, I pretty much have to keep moving at all times. If I stop to talk, or show him other children playing, or God forbid actually sit for two minutes, he will very quickly make it clear that this is unacceptable behavior on my part. He will typically do this by rolling to one side and then attempting to jump out of my arms all in one motion. Again, anyway.....it turned out that she was also watching her two and a half year old daughter and her four year old son. More power to her. I can barely keep up with one.
She and I actually spoke for a while (numerous short conversations thanks to Ethan's contortions), because we had similar senses of humor - why do I suspect that's largely how she gets through the day? - and were in somewhat similar circumstances. She had a Master of Fine Arts degree and was a classically-trained singer. She was also putting her excellent education to use everyday in her home. Presumably by singing lullabies. As an interesting aside, and appropos of absolutely nothing, she had become a piano tuner because she got tired of trying to sing with pianos that were poorly tuned.
She also told me an amusing story regarding her daughter's potty training. Once again, it's very good she can laugh at it. Apparently, her daughter had come over to her the other day all excited and told her "Look Mommy, I made a poopy!" Unfortunately, it was in the middle of the kitchen floor. I then felt compelled to share my own story of how Ethan somehow managed to remove his diaper even though he was wearing a shirt and a pair of overalls. Twice. He is no longer dressed in shirts, but only in "onesies" which go down over the diaper and have snaps in the crotch. For now, this seems to have done the trick.
Tomorrow, I promise to discuss something (anything) unrelated to any of my son's bodily functions. Permalink
Simply put, having now been my son's primary caregiver for the last eight and a half months, I am far more appreciative of my mother and, in fact, of all mothers and grandmothers everywhere. Did I say "appreciative?" I meant in awe of. I simply have no clue how they managed (and continue to manage) to take care of several children at once and get dinner on the table, all while doing all of the cleaning, laundry, etc. And single mothers? Forget it. They clearly have supernatural powers.
A woman I met at the local playground a week ago is a good example. More on the playground later; I simply don't have time right now to discuss all of my lovely experiences as the only man in sight. Believe me, I'll get to it. Anyway, this woman. She and I got to talking while we were both looking at the bulletin board for special events, classes, etc. Ethan was very excited about being right next to her four and a half month old son. Unlike myself, she was smart enough to be carrying her son in one of those baby carriers that straps on over your shoulders. Ethan has me trained to carry him around in my arms the whole time. In fact, I pretty much have to keep moving at all times. If I stop to talk, or show him other children playing, or God forbid actually sit for two minutes, he will very quickly make it clear that this is unacceptable behavior on my part. He will typically do this by rolling to one side and then attempting to jump out of my arms all in one motion. Again, anyway.....it turned out that she was also watching her two and a half year old daughter and her four year old son. More power to her. I can barely keep up with one.
She and I actually spoke for a while (numerous short conversations thanks to Ethan's contortions), because we had similar senses of humor - why do I suspect that's largely how she gets through the day? - and were in somewhat similar circumstances. She had a Master of Fine Arts degree and was a classically-trained singer. She was also putting her excellent education to use everyday in her home. Presumably by singing lullabies. As an interesting aside, and appropos of absolutely nothing, she had become a piano tuner because she got tired of trying to sing with pianos that were poorly tuned.
She also told me an amusing story regarding her daughter's potty training. Once again, it's very good she can laugh at it. Apparently, her daughter had come over to her the other day all excited and told her "Look Mommy, I made a poopy!" Unfortunately, it was in the middle of the kitchen floor. I then felt compelled to share my own story of how Ethan somehow managed to remove his diaper even though he was wearing a shirt and a pair of overalls. Twice. He is no longer dressed in shirts, but only in "onesies" which go down over the diaper and have snaps in the crotch. For now, this seems to have done the trick.
Tomorrow, I promise to discuss something (anything) unrelated to any of my son's bodily functions. Permalink
posted by Rob | 8:40 PM
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