So, it is Mother's Day and while I relished in my omelet that my three men provided for me, in bed this morning, I couldn't help but think of how much of a rookie mom I am. Yesterday was an extremely busy day for us and we were constantly surrounded by parents with children around the same ages as ours. It is so funny to be in the midst of these situations and watch how many different parenting styles there are. I mean, it varied from oblivion, to micromanagement. Who am I to say how to do this thing right? I am a rookie. I've been at this for a little over 3 years now and it seems to get easier and harder all at the same time. I can not admire more, the work my mom put into being the best homemaker to ever walk the planet. She set a tremendous example but sometimes I wish she would have had just one boy, so that she would have advice for me in certain situations.
For instance, yesterday, while at a state park for a crawfish boil/going away party for some of our friends, my oldest child was playing in the sand with three girls. I looked over every few minutes to make sure he was still there and playing nicely. Well, at one point, I look over and there are three little girls between the ages of 4 and 6 sitting in the sand watching as Parker (3 years old) pulls down his pants and is working on his underwear, facing them, nonetheless. I of course start running over and screaming, "Parker pull your pants up" while all the ladies I was standing with are doubled over laughing. I had to explain to him that, not only do you not pee in public, you definitely don't pull your pants down in front of three little girls. I think the conversation included "pee pee sand is no fun to play in". The irony in this story is that I did not take my child to the restroom, I pulled him behind a tree. I know, I know, that is not the ideal process in which to teach your child not to pee in public but, the bathroom was not immediately accessible and I was really scared that since I cut him off right before the act, he wouldn't be able to make it. My husband, who was not reared in the backwoods of Mississippi, says to me and the onlookers, "that's what happens when you teach your child that the backyard is their toilet". Ahhh, the joys of parenting boys! This would have ended with much less embarrassment had all of these people been from the south but since we are military dwellers, they are from all over and most of them see this as totally appalling behavior!
To all of you seasoned parents out there, please feel free to give me advice, especially on the raising of these rowdy boys because I feel like I need every possible resource to make this job turn out the way its supposed to.
Happy Mama's Day to all of you who sometimes feel that going to the dentist is a nice, quiet break from the day to day craziness of parenting!
"Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it" Proverbs 22:6
