My Time as a Mom

Last Sunday we all went to Great America. We had a really good time, especially because the park was practically empty. It was great being able to get on the rides with almost no waiting; my kids are going to think that's the way it always is and are going to be shocked later in the season!

Anyway, it's been five years since my last visit to an amusement park and I've definitely changed. Last time we went, Bear was a baby and we visited Disneyland. While I was tired from recently having a baby, I still wanted to ride the rides, and even the ones the kids couldn't go on were on my list. I enjoyed watching my kids ride, but I wanted to ride just as much.

This time, I was mostly there for my kids. I still wanted to ride, but I did it more to enjoy Julianne's reaction to the thrill. I had more fun standing by watching the boys ride the little rides, laughing as they laughed in pleasure. I didn't care if I missed out on a ride because the boys were getting tired and it was time to go home. We were there to have fun with the kids. That was the priority.

In short, I've truly become a mom.

I think I truly got sucked into it after Carter was born and Erik and I were outnumbered. Gradually, I stopped being able to stay awake late enough to watch my tv shows, and my main source of entertainment became Nick Jr. My living room went from being tastefully decorated to haphazard disaster. Even our meals went from being quiet times over lovingly prepared, thoughtfully selected recipes, to a variation of chicken, broccoli and pasta and loud conversation punctuated by things like "sit DOWN,  Bear", or "get your hands OUT of your food, Carter."

It is chaos. And most of the time I love it. It won't last forever. One day I'll look back and miss it terribly. One day our kids will want to go to Great America with their friends, and Erik and I will be wandering the park alone while the kids keep in touch by phone until it's time to go home. One day the kids will be gone all day and the house will be quiet most of the time, the rooms staying neat and tidy. And one day they'll be all grown, and we'll have adult conversations around adult meals.

But those days are far in the future. So for now I enjoy the days at Great America, ignore the messy rooms, and try to find new ways to dress up chicken. I accept the fact that I know more about what goes on in the cartoon world than in the real world. I focus on teaching my children my values so I raise competent, responsible adults. And I remember that my job as a mother is one of the most important jobs in the world.