I’ve got oodles of Mama stories this week. I looked at the blog and realized I had not blogged ONCE yet this month! Ack! Y’all, it has been a month. But Mama Drama, I’ve got that.
I love to write about working and parenting because I have so much material.
You probably do too.
So every once in a while I’ll get going on my next book and write another installment of Mama Drama. Send in your favorite mama drama story for the blog if you dare!
This one is hot off the press.
I’m currently working on a project I love, and I give the kids updates about wins and losses along the way so they understand what I do.
Last week, every day when I got home, the kids would ask about a particular work issue on which I was awaiting a result. Anxiously. They don’t know any of the particulars, but they get the highlights of what I’d consider a “win” or a “loss.” So I’d walk in the door, and this would happen:
Monday. Kids: “Mom, did you get the result?”
Me: “Nope, not yet, probably tomorrow.”
Tuesday. Kids: “Mom, did you get the result?”
Me: “Nope, not yet, I really hope it’s tomorrow.”
Wednesday. Kids: “Mom, did you get the result?”
Me: Sigh. “Yes. I lost. I’m working on what’s next.”
(Sidebar: I think it’s super important our kids know when we face losses. Every day has its ups and downs. They need to understand it’s not all trophies and ice cream at work.)
Kids (very seriously): “Are you going to get fired?”
Me: “No. I’m not going to get fired. Sometimes we have big wins and other times we have setbacks. You just make the best of it.”
The eldest: “Well, you really should have done a better job.”
Hahahahahaha.
Thanks a lot kid.
If people don’t understand how you stay humble, introduce them to your kids.
For me, it’s especially that kid. I adore him. But he pulls no punches. He’s direct. It will serve him well in life. And it keeps me humble.
Hot on the heels of that exchange, I was driving him to meet potential foster dogs. We’re on foster dog number 2 (more on that tomorrow). He somehow got on the topic of weight. There’s been a lot of discussion of weight this year and I’m really trying to tamp that down. I had an eating disorder in college and know how focusing on weight can mess with your mind for years. We talk about eating healthy as well as minimizing sugar which makes all triplets REALLY hyper!
Nonetheless, there was all this talk of “skinny” coming from my backseat. I responded, “I used to be skinny.”
His eyes, in the rearview mirror, widened. “Really?” he inquired incredulously.
“Um, yeah, thanks. In college and law school. I mean, I’m not exactly huge…”
Pause. “Yeah,” he responds, “I know people bigger than you.”
Thanks dude. Thanks a lot.
So there you have today’s installment of Mama Drama. What truths are your kids telling you?
My brother is a corporate attorney for Xcel Energy in Minneapolis. I can relate to th.e wins and losses in the energy world, but I can relate even more to the kid commments even though my nest is empty. It’s good to write them down so you won’t forget.