The other night my son was crying endlessly. He was overtired and had an ear infection, he told me as I was soothing him, “Mommy! I just can’t stop crying. My body just wants to cry and cry.” I think every mother can identify with our own bodies, our own hearts, just wanting to cry and cry.
Today I am sad. I am grieving the loss of someone I love and my heart is broken. I cried while unloading and reloading the dishwasher, while making beds, folding the laundry, nursing my baby and even while mopping the pee off the bathroom floor (newly potty-trained boy…need I say more?). I just couldn’t make the tears stop flowing. Still trying to use my chipper and ever-so-happy mommy voice, and going about the normal daily tasks I assumed my kids were somehow not noticing. Around lunch the question was ask, “Mommy why are you crying?” Ugh. Don’t we hate this one moms? Lets see…should I be completely honest? No, that is way too much information. Do I make something up like, “I am sad Elmo is over?” No, blatant lying, can’t be the right answer. Call your dad? Yes! I could pass the buck on this one! No, no, be the adult. I have to deal with this. So I opt for the shortest, most simple, honest answer I could muster: “Mommy is sad.” Of course this statement begged a few more questions which I answered in the same manner. Short and sweet and before I knew it we were sitting at the lunch table discussing who would rather eat someone else’s chewed up pasta…the dog or the baby.
Today’s event will be a blurb on my kids radar that will more than likely not be remembered in any detail, yet I can’t help but feel some level of guilt for burdening them with my tears, for exposing them to my negative energy.
The pressure to always be “on” for your kids can be exhausting but more importantly it can be unhealthy. I have to constantly remind myself that it is okay for my children to see me be human. If our children never see us struggle how will they learn to overcome their own life challenges? More importantly, how will they ever get validation for their own feelings? We must use every experience as an opportunity to set an example for our children. Let them see you live, let them see you cry and let them see you prevail.
Today I will cry. Today I have loved my kids.
4thekids,
Amy
Monday, March 30, 2009
Mothering Through Our Tears
I am a free spirit, growing in my creative desires. I write, read, sew, knit, craft and garden. I am striving to live a more natural life everyday for Mother Earth but mostly for the health and well being of my children. I am above all committed to my family, my hilarious husband and life partner of 15 years makes sure I laugh every day. We cloth diaper, babywear, share sleep, and generally live a child led existence. I am strongly against the idea that children must be socialized but believe vehemently in the idea that children need their parents close and always - until. Until they are ready to leave and explore. Lest you think my life is too tranquil and nothing but sitting and reading books while children play with handmade toys; I spend the better part of my days wiping noses and butts, cooking, cleaning, cooking and cleaning some more, figuring out where that (insert any bizarre item you can think of here) came from, and explaining why Mama needs a TO and nap. Above all, I am human. I fail myself and family everyday and every day I am committed to give tomorrow another shot. Because after all, tomorrow will provide another opportunity to smile and laugh!
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