Awful, awful, awful?
There’s a very memorable line in a very not-memorable movie that Q and I saw a few months ago. In The Back-Up Plan, a young father is describing parenthood to someone without kids. “It’s awful, awful, awful, awful,” he said. “Then a small moment happens that’s so magical – that makes it all worthwhile.”
Why has this line stuck with me? Because it’s so true. Okay, I don’t agree that parenting is awful, but it does have its moments – like when Zoe gets so angry that she calls one of us names, when Avery throws a fit and tosses food on the floor at dinner, or when both girls are grumpy/whiny/extra clingy at the same time. (All of these things have happened within the last week.) The other day I got so frustrated that I announced to Q that I had had it – “I’m just going to get in the car and drive away,” I told him. (Of course I didn’t.)
And those “magical” moments? I get those, too – like one recent, brilliant afternoon when the girls and I were listening to music and doing art projects together (and I felt like I didn’t have a care in the world), when Zoe one day told me – out of the blue – that she was going to love me forever, and when I opened my eyes this morning to Avery’s round little face about two inches from mine. (“Ma-ma!” she said excitedly.) It’s times like these, as the guy said, that make the bad stuff worth it.
-M
April 28th, 2011 04:52
Well, my love, you are a typical mother with typical frustrations. We all had them and it sounds (still) very familiar. That should pass too!!!!