Category: It’s not the years, HONEY – it’s the mileage!

  • Why I’ll never forget to be very good at acting my age.

    Bleacherwarmer

    Last week, I wasn’t feeling very well and asked my oldest daughter
    (she’s 13) to stay home and sit her sisters, including Mini-me.

    "But, you said you’d bring her?"

    Whoopsie.

    "Um…well…you know, I’m old and guess I forgot."

    So, I allowed Mini-Me’s little friend play with my cell phone and I
    spent the next 2 hours, squirming on very hard bleachers and trying to
    stay warm with my vanilla chai, at my 8-year-old son to his baseball
    practice.

    "I don’t know what it is, really, besides the fact that I’m turning 43 and feeling, you know, very hormonal!"

    Okay, I’m not one of the youngest mothers, anymore, but I soon found out that I wasn’t the oldest, either.

    "Yeah, well, just wait until you hit 50!"

    Whoopsie.

    "Gosh, but you look great!"

    It’s true – I would have guessed her to be no more than, well, my age – but, am often told that I, you know, look much younger, too!

    "I’m only 35, but I hope I can look as good as you guys, when I’m your age."

    Oh, well – this would be one of those "younger" mothers, I was
    telling you about – although, she’s very cute, blonde and perky, I
    suddenly had a flashback and imagined her as a big old purple dinosaur,
    singing:

    "The more we get together, I hate her, can’t stand her…the closer I get to menopause…the grumpier I’ll be."

    What is it with some women?

    "What’s your secret?"

    [eyes go wide]

    "Uh…what do you mean?"

    She placed both hands on her hips, and even pouted her lips, a little, and I couldn’t believe that she actually looked, cuter!

    "You know…keeping up with four kids…finding the time…and still look happy and all?"

    Oh, that.

    "Oh, I’m not all that…just sorta…you know…a little brain dead from watching too much baseball!"

    No – I don’t think that I’m very funny, either – having kids has
    pretty much cured me of ever having to worry about how I look, to other
    people, at the moment.

    What with a letter, like this?

    Dear Mom,

    Happy 25th birthday. Haha! Can I ask for more of a mother? No!
    You are the greatest. I thank you for bringing me into this world, and
    for coming into this world yourself! Today is all about you, which it
    basically NEVER is! Today, just sit back…relax…and let your muffins
    do the talking. Feel free to have us spoil you…even though I might
    push you in the pool…just kidding, or am I? Well anyway, happy
    birthday Mom and even if you wake up to be a grumpy, cranky old woman,
    I’ll still love you. Be sure to keep away from Dad, because he is sure
    to give you (43) 25 whacks. Stay happy! For as long as you can!

    Love always and forever,

    Thing Two

    Not to mention, this:

    Dear Mommy,

    Happy Birthday!  43, huh!  Guess what, I got you a present.  It’s me, your son, Little Man!

    Oh, and this:

    Happy Birthday, Mom.  You are 43!

    Love, Mini-Me

    Finally, the one that made me cry:

    Time passes by,

    As quick as can be,

    Because all of a sudden,

    You’re 43!

    But, that doesn’t matter,

    At all to me,

    Because you’re my Mom,

    And that’s all I see.

    Love,

    Thing One

    See, I’m not in denial – not with four kids constantly reminding how
    old I "really" am – it’s just that I believe that women shouldn’t worry
    so much about our age and that you youngsters should trust me when I
    tell you that turning 43 sounds much worse, than it really is.

    Sort of.

  • Just when I thought I had seen my fair share of maternity wear and tear…

    Although, I am NOT pregnant (knocking on wood until my knuckles
    bleed) I expect I’m feeling a little bit of baby-envy, especially now
    that my bloggity-good friend, Mom-101 has given birth to a beautiful little girl (welcome aboard, Sage!) and  – not to mention being surrounded by newly and happily married
    – I can’t help but feel this terrible urge to kiss someone and signed
    nearly every end-of-the-year permission slip my children have brought
    home from school…xoxoxo!

    SIGH.

    Why, yes – I’m premenstrual, so what! – I had a very lovely weekend,
    all things considered, and was feeling pretty good, actually, as if I
    had a decent handle on, you know, things.

    Until.

    "Um…where are all the flowers and…uh…aren’t there any other mothers coming?"

    Mini-me and I had plans to plant flowers with her girl scout troop
    early Saturday morning and I actually was able to get us showered and
    out of the house on time, for once.

    "Well, it’s still sort of early."

    Me, and one other mother, showed up for 8:45 a.m. and I wouldn’t
    have been the least bit surprised if I had gotten the date, time or
    directions wrong, again.

    "Yep, you’re at the right park."

    We chatted for only a few more minutes – because, well….um….I
    can’t seem to be able to stand…or, sit…without having to talk to
    someone, or something, to the point where all the women blink and turn
    away in awkward silence; can you? – and a couple of mothers finally
    showed up.

    "I don’t know about you guys, but I’m thinking this thing’s been canceled."

    Silence.

    "And I’m trying really hard, NOT to be annoyed, right now."

    Blink, blink.

    "It’s not like we all didn’t have something better to do, on Mother’s Day weekend, yes?"

    Awkward silence.

    To make a long story short (I know, too late!) the flower planting
    was canceled and I, nor the other handful of mothers who DID show, did
    NOT get the email.

    "Well, at least we DID get an early start on our day, right?"

    Blink, blink.

    So, everyone grabbed their little diggers and went home. Except, me.
    Because…um…I forgot to bring our hand trowels…and stayed behind
    to chat and catch up with another mommy friend and the only other
    person to show up from our troop.

    "Why, yes…I write, for a living…um…sort of…but, it also allows me to work out a lot of, you know, personal issues."

    Blink, blink.

    Like, feeling as if I were, once again, kept out of the loop – yeah,
    I’m probably being paranoid, so what? – to the point that I am starting
    to believe that I am NOT worth the ten-cents-a-minute.

    Awkward silence.

    Don’t worry – I’m probably only being premenopausal, again! – it’s
    just that I always thought that motherhood was going to, you know,
    somehow supposed to get easier. Now, my kids are growing up (so fast,
    btw!) I seem to be worrying more, than when they were, you know, a lot
    more little-ish.

    What will they do? How will they live? Where are they going? Who’s
    going to teach them? What’s up with all the insanity and when will I be
    loved?

    Then, I woke up.

    Hollys_note_2
    Dear Mom,

    Happy Mother’s Day! I love you so much! I hope you have a great
    Day, and try not to work yourself extremely hard today! Relax! Love you
    so much!

    Thing One


    Heathers_note
    Dear Mom,

    On this day, I get so many memories of all you have done. When
    there is a bad time, you always pull through. That’s why today is all
    about you! I thank you for giving me life, the strength to move on.
    Whenever I was hurt, you would be there to heal the wound. Whenever I’m
    scared, you would be next to me, right there. I think of your love, and
    smile, and that feeling lasts a while! What I’m trying to say, is "I
    Love You Mom!" and I always will!

    Thing Two


    Hopeys_note
    XOX,

    I love you and have a Happy Mothers Day.

    Mini-Me [written with all the "y’s" facing backward]



    Glens_note
    Dear Mommy,

    I wish you a happy Mothers Day.  I am giving you a surprise.  Love ya!

    Your Son,

    Little Man

    Blink, blink.

    I reached into the bag, gently pulled out the package of tissue paper and unwrapped the pretty silver frame.

    "Teacher asked me to write it and, like, to describe my mother."

    Yes, my Mother’s Day was very lovely – thank you for asking – and
    don’t worry too much about being able to handle more than one kid, Liz.  Whenever in doubt, just think of me and the seven simple little words written by my Little Man…

    Kindhearted, beautiful, charming, shopping, cleaning, gorgeous, magnifico…

    …and, in the future, if anyone ever needs any help, from me, feel
    free to drop a line – especially, if you can’t make it and decide to
    CANCEL! – or, stop by This Full House of worn out maternity
    wear and mother guilt, anytime, and I’ll be more than happy to provide
    an example, in showing you exactly what NOT to do.

    Just don’t call me…MAGNIFICO…I mean it!