Call it Stubborn, Independent or Whatever You Want...

Today is picture day at daycare.  The staff requested that all the children wear denim and white---jeans, skirts, overalls, whatever.  I guess they are going with a Western theme.  They told the parents this approximately 16 hours prior to photos, which I'm a little put out by, but that's for another story.

 

Today, this is about our children.  Our stubborn, hard-headed, independent, do-it-myself kids.  I've waited years for these kids to be able to dress themselves and lighten my load a little, so you'd think there's really  nothing to complain about here.  But the thing is, we are in that stage where they want to choose what to wear (no matter the practicality or comfort level) and they want to dress themselves (and put shoes on the wrong foot).

 

So, I put together some clothes this morning and they weren't having it.  So for western day, my kids wore rain boots and nothing denim.  Yee haw!  And you know what?  I don't really care.  It's exhausting to fight about it when it doesn't really even matter.  The photographer will slap a toy cowboy hat and bandanna on them, and they will look ridiculous, and it still won't matter.  I'm not going to buy the damn pictures anyway because the school insists on taking photos every 3 months and it totally irritates me.  Why is this necessary?

 

Today's drama also got me thinking about a text conversation I had with a good childhood friend a few months back. I saved the text because I knew it would somehow end up on this blog.  It's a gem.  She's got a daughter who is the same age as Big Sis, so we often compare notes on phases, attitude, kindergarten and general 6-year-old smartassedness.  That is a word, no?  Here's the basic convo:

So, why am I sharing this?  Because it makes me feel better.  Because I  know that other moms are having the same issues with their stubborn, independent children, too.  It's OK to laugh, because this was funny.  But it's also OK to shake your head and say "yep," because you've been there.  And you get it.  No matter how much we think we are teaching our kids, or helping our kids or whatever.  The bottom line is they will still occasionally leave the house without underwear on.  Or, in our case, Spiderman rain boots on western day.  And really, it doesn't matter.

The Day I Was Brave

Dressing room playtime!

 

 

If you've been anywhere near my Facebook page over the past couple of months, you know by now that I was selected to be a part of the 2013 cast of the Listen to Your Mother show in Northwest Arkansas.  The whole process actually started back at the end of February, when I submitted an essay to be considered for audition.  Then, I was called in to read my essay in front of judges.  I just thought that was scary!

 

Listen to Your Mother is a national series of shows about motherhood.  Simply put, it's women (and men) sharing their own stories and experiences about being a mother, having a mother or what we have learned from other mothers.  This year the show has happened in 24 cities in the US.  I am a part of something that's kind of a big deal, y'all!  I don't think I really realized it until the last minute.

 

As you  know, I'm not much for being the center of attention.  I was totally out of my element, but I pushed through it.  There is something so exhilarating about being terrified, when you know it's going to have a good ending.  So what made me get this crazy idea to audition to begin with?  I'm not sure.   I think, more than anything, I saw it as a creative challenge.  I am a writer and a storyteller---wow, my ARWB friends, I SAID IT. 

 

Through the process, I made some great new friends and got to share the stage with 15 amazing storytellers.  Being backstage in our dressing room was something fun that I'll never forget.  Some of us were nervous (me!), some were excited and some couldn't wait to get on the stage.   

 

I did it! I survived being in the spotlight. And I'm so glad I did.  Motherhood is a tricky thing.  I'm not perfect at it.  I stumble often (pun), and I constantly doubt my abilities.  And I also realize that everyone else does, too.  Motherhood is a wonderful sisterhood and I wouldn't want to give that up for anything.

 

All of our readings will be posted on You Tube sometime later this summer. I'll make sure I link up to it.  I will also post my essay for you to read later this week.

 

My turn on the stage.

Pre-show encouragement texted to me by my friend Keisha.

Party of Five Exposed: Live on Stage

I have some exciting news to share with you all.  I am happy, nervous, scared and shocked all at once.  You may remember THIS POST from last year, when I submitted an essay to audition for the inaugural Listen to Your Mother show in Northwest Arkansas.  You might also remember that I didn't get chosen to share my story, so I shared it in the post on the blog.  The show went on to be a big success and featured many ladies whom I've since gotten to know through my blogging network.

SOOOO...this year I decided to give it a try again.  The concept is to celebrate motherhood, or to share your feelings about being a mother.  Well, you know I've got material for years on that.  In my usual fashion, I waited until the day before the deadline to submit my essay.  Not because I was afraid, but just because I procrastinate.  

About a week later, I got an email to notify me that I'd made it to the "live read" round of the audition process.  I had to go in and read my essay in front of three judges, which is scary enough.  But here's how my morning went prior to the reading:  up early to go to the Family Fun Walk at Big Sister's school, which we also WALKED to and WALKED home.  I rushed in the house for a quick shower, with only a half hour to get ready and leave with wet hair.  I made it to my audition (with stuffy nose, mind you) and had to rush across town to meet hubby for a kid exchange, because he was taking Big Sis to the Razorback game right after my audition.  Then I took a breath.

To make a long story longer, I got chosen to be in the cast of the 2013 Listen to Your Mother Show in Northwest AR! On May 30, I will be joining about a dozen other cool women and one brave dude, to read our essays.  Out loud. On a stage.  In front of a couple hundred people.  Seriously, what was I thinking??  And, I have two months to fret about it.

Here is THE LINK to 2013 show information. You can see the complete cast list and even buy tickets online, if you'd like to come support me. 

The Day I Wet My Pants

Kind of, but not what you think.  I just wanted to get your attention. Did it work?

So, I just realized earlier this week that I've never blogged about the day Big Sister was born, and what excitement that created.  Sure, Lee and I were excited and so were our parents....but I'm talking about the other excitement.  When my water broke at work!!

Granted, this was almost six years ago and my memory is generally pretty bad....but this is something I can remember every single detail about.  It was May 22, which was my due date, and we were scheduled for a staff meeting at work after lunch.  I spent all morning feeling pretty fat and miserable, and just out of sorts. I think I was trying to will that baby to come on out.  I was at the end of my rope; I even called HR that morning to tell them I wanted to go ahead and start my medical leave the next day.  I just couldn't handle being pregnant any longer.

My office mates were all planning to go out for lunch together.  I confided in one of my co-workers that I just wasn't hungry and didn't want to go.  After much protesting, she finally spilled the beans and told me they were planning a surprise baby shower for me over lunch.  Dammit.  So, off I went with them to Fuddruckers with a tortured smile.  I ordered a salad and just barely touched it; I just wasn't feeling well.  They showered me with gifts and we talked about my plans and my due date, and all those other baby things.

I suffered through lunch and we headed back to the office. I was riding with Autumn, in the car that she'd just got back from the upholstery shop.  Want to know why this is an important piece of info?  Oh, because the car seats were getting replaced due to water damage from getting flooded during a storm.  Yep, you know where this story is going.  I opened the car door to get out and.....oops...water broke.  Right there, in her car.  Now, at this point I wasn't sure if it was "my water" or if I peed myself, which wouldn't have been a shock either.  I was just thankful her poor car wasn't flooded again!

I went straight to the bathroom to assess the situation.  Luckily, I was fully padded (if you know what I mean), as I had been for several months due to the unpleasant effects of sneezing while pregnant. So really there was no mess; it was quite discreet.  I calmly told my office mates what had happened, they laughed about what could have happened in Autumn's car and.....HOVERED.  Seriously, I sat down at my desk to call Lee and all six of them stood in my doorway just watching me.  I felt like I was a zoo animal in a cage.  Did I look different? 

The best part of this story?  While everyone was hovering around and asking me questions, the (shall remain nameless) LONE MALE in the office was hiding.  Literally.  He went into the room next to my office and continued to talk to me through the wall.  He wouldn't even look at me!  The girls were enjoying his discomfort a little too much, I'm sure.  This young, single guy was visibly uncomfortable.  I finally had to explain to him that I was still fully clothed and that I wasn't contagious.  I think he was truly afraid I'd have that baby right there on my desk.  And every single staff meeting I was at with that guy for the next five years, he made sure to tell this story!

Lee was working that day about a half hour away from me.  He panicked and said he needed to go home to get the camera, if I could wait for him to come get me.  Sure, sure....I wasn't in any pain and I had people to watch me, errr....keep me company.  I went on about my work and there never was a staff meeting.  Either it was a cover up for the covert baby shower or I ruined everyone's productivity for the day.  Or both.

I finally got to the clinic, where they had to give me a stupid test to confirm that my water broke---REALLY? Apparently, evidence wasn't convincing enough.  They sent me immediately downstairs to check in.  The rest of the story gets a little more blurry.  I watched the American Idol finale while I labored for a few hours and  Lee went home to shower, since the doc said it would be a while.  I got the worst scare of my life when the monitor beeped and everyone on the floor ran into my room. They put me on oxygen and sent in the doctor on call.  Baby wasn't doing so great, so I had to have an emergency c-section.  Little bundle was born at 9:29 p.m., as my mom was just getting to the hospital.  And it took me two days to finally ask who won American Idol.


It was Jordin Sparks, if you must know.

May 22, 2007 or when I was still sane.

What Does Motherhood Mean?

Accountability. That's what I need right now.  I am going to put this out there in Internetland so that I have to follow through with it.

 

The 2013 Listen to Your Mother Show auditions have been announced. I am going to submit an essay for it, as I did last year.  Reject, shmeject. You may remember this post. In a nutshell, people are asked to submit an essay about motherhood or anything about moms; being one or having one.  After submissions come in, the organizers will select some entrants to come to a live audition to read their essays out loud to judges.  Last year, they chose about 15 women to present at the LTYM show at the Walton Arts Center. It's kind of a big deal; they sell tickets and everything.  If you want to know more about it, here is the link to the show's site.

 

The deadline to enter is next week, which means I better hop to it.  I am a procrastinator, I can't deny it. So, I've been thinking of what I should write.  I have a lot of ideas, but cannot seem to settle on one topic.  I mean, how do you really express what being a mother means?  And besides, look at the material I have to work with---how do I turn all that nutty, exhausting, cursing madness into some sensitive, compelling, "hey, I'm a good mom," feel-good essay? 

In my brainstorming process, I realized that I've never shared (on this blog) my crazy story of going into labor when Big Sister was born.  I mean, doesn't everyone enjoy a good water-breaking- in -public story?  Keep watching for that insane story later this week (maybe tomorrow, if I don't procrastinate).  I promise, you won't be disappointed.