I kid you not when I say that I love being home with my children. Shun me if you must, but I sometimes, when I am away from them (as I was for 2.5 hours yesterday for jury duty), ache for their company. (But trust me, I don't ache for it when I'm with them.) There is actually nothing (and I do mean nothing), that I would rather do than take care of them.
However. (Some anxious throat clearing here.) And this is not an indictment. But.
There is something truly LAME about being home with kids. It's called isolation and lack of community. I love my community, my neighbors and my friends. Unfortunately, a disease has inflicted this country called I AM TOO BUSY. The other part of that equation is I CAN'T ASK FOR HELP. Here is the translation: we are too busy to help one another and we are unable to ask for help when we need it. Instead of babysitting one another's children, we pay strangers to take care of them. (Because we are too busy and because we would never put our friends out by relying upon them. Geez! Friends aren't meant to be relied upon....)
Oh, woe is me. I did have a friend watch my two the other day. I felt so guilty I wanted to buy her a BMW or something. It was just an hour and a half.
Mamas, this is no way to live. This is not the way we were meant to live. This is LAME-O. Big time-o. It's a shame-o. I have friends who won't even ACCEPT my help. Because, like I said, what are friends for? Why do we feel so put out when we need help? I think the ME-ism has gone to far. I want someone to call and ask me to watch their kids. That's what I'm here for! And no. No. No. No. I am not too busy BLOGGING to help someone out. Now that would be truly Lame-O.
Yes please, whenever you can, come and watch the Goobs.
ReplyDeleteWhat do you mean, cross-country friends don't count?!
;)
I will admit that my friends and i watch each others' kids so we can shag our husbands in the privacy of our own homes and scream as loud as we want.
ReplyDeleteThat's helpful, right? And not so lame?
But I do agree that SAHM can be very, very lame indeed. Struggling with this myself these days...
Mindful Mama, you are very funny and I wish I was your neighbor although I might prefer a sleep to a shag.
ReplyDeleteSam,
ReplyDeleteI am local and in fact we've met so you are practically an auntie anyways. come over any time.
Sara
I'm a lousy anutie if I am one! But we do have those same age (last) children. We should all get together and play. I saw you all the time last summer, but the winter has been long.
ReplyDeleteI hate asking for help! When I have to do something and I can't take Peanut with me I will ask my mom to watch her but I feel bad about it. I am worn out and would love a few baby-free hours but I wouldn't ask anyone, not even my husband, to watch her just so I can get a break.
ReplyDeleteI know EXACTLY how you feel. Don't forget that someone, even Daddy would probably be BLESSED to watch your doll.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, you are getting something tremendous. I felt a great deal of pride about all the time I spent with my son. It wore me out completely but like a survivor show--it made me into more of what I am.