Comments on: Is it Fun Being a Mommy?

By: thepranamama

thepranamama — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 17:25:18 +0000

Donna – I totally agree!

Just yesterday a few of mommy friends and I took the kids to the zoo. We had a great time, but not without our fair share of tears, runaway toddlers and little kid indecision about whether or not to go on each of the rides (sometimes after the ride had already started!). At one point, it occurred to me that none of our husbands would be up for that kind of challenge. 7 kids under the age of 5 in one crowded place all running in different directions – it was like we brought our own zoo to the zoo! At the same time, I felt lucky to be able to be there, in the sunshine with good friends, watching our kids play and be totally free to enjoy childhood.

Yes, while my husband gets his alone time in his office, drinking coffee and spending all day with other adults, my once-adored 5×5-ft. cubicle on the 15th floor of a high-rise office building has been replaced by playgrounds, libraries, and the comfort of my own and others’ homes. Although this at-home-mom thing is a ton of work, membership has its privileges!

By: Donna

Donna — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 11:57:34 +0000

Love how you describe the work of being a mom while you make such wonderful memories. My friend’s husband always resented ‘the fun’ she and the kids had by going on outings and being at home all day. He never saw the HUGE effort that is involved. I recently listened to a speech which said “Some things are worth doing, even if you do them poorly.” Meaning that it is worth it to read to your children even if you don’t read outloud well. It is worth it to encourage your kids to help in the kitchen even if it takes an hour to clean up the mess afterwards. It is worth it to haul all the stuff needed to take kids out and about, even if you all return frazzled. That’s the hallmark of a great mom. Someone who knows what is worth doing, even if she doesn’t YET do it really well.

By: Lisa Flynn

Lisa Flynn — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 00:29:46 +0000

Ha ha! How wonderful to see one of our little yoga songs from the ChildLight Yoga program and “I Grow with Yoga: Yoga Songs for Children” (www.childlightyoga.com) mentioned here along with such an inspiring post! Sometimes, I read your blogs and think that it’s me writing as it’s SO familiar and my thoughts are the same. But then I rememeber that I’m not nearly as gifted a writer as you. Thanks again, as always, for a great blog!

By: thepranamama

thepranamama — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 03:17:25 +0000

Summer – that’s great! I do a similar little song, it’s actually from my days with ChildLight Yoga. The Walking, Walking Song is sung to the tune of Frere Jacques, with instructions on how to move. So it goes “walking, walking, walking, walking, hop, hop, hop-hop, hop, hop…tippy, tippy tip-toe, tippy,tippy tip-toe, now let’s stop, now let’s stop.” They never know what I’m going to say so it’s a game for them to listen and follow the steps. Seems to work, although it’s not a quick way to get to the destination! Many thanks to ChildLight Yoga (childlightyoga.com) for this great mommy song!

By: Summer

Summer — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 02:07:53 +0000

After many difficult trips through such hallways with my arms full of stuff and unable to hold my kids hands, I came up with something that worked for us. I’m sure I looked like an idiot, but it got us from point A to B. I’d start quacking and waddling, and I’d say, “follow the Mama duck!” and both Maria and Robbie would start to quack and follow along. This worked out great when I had my arms full of food from consession stands or something and I couldn’t keep a hold of them in a crowded place. Sometimes I still joke with them and tell them to follow the Mama duck, but I don’t quack and waddle any more

By: thepranamama

thepranamama — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 05:02:08 +0000

You’re right Lisa! But, I think there is a big distinction here, for what we’ll miss. I find myself annoyed when someone says something similar to me, right after trying to vent my frustration, exhaustion or difficulties at home with two little ones. This question, coming from my own child, was a better reminder than a mere acquaintance telling me “Enjoy it….it goes by SO fast.” I can’t tell you how many times that phrase, although well-intentioned, infuriated me as a mom – because all I wanted was for someone to say, “I know, you are so right. You must be having a tough time with those temper tantrums!”

My daughter’s very serious questioning of what it’s like to be a Mom hit hard for me, and made me feel it was okay to be totally honest. I am enjoying it, and I know it goes fast (it already has), but I still have the right to vent about the many challenges of it all. People need to be a little more sympathetic and supportive, verses saying things that basically translate to, “Get over it. ”

The point is, someday when the house IS quiet, I will miss the kids for the joy and happiness they brought to our home. But surely, I will not miss hard parts – like the tantrums, the door slamming, the bickering, the mess, the exhaustion, etc.

By: Lisa J

Lisa J — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 01:31:13 +0000

So true!! A woman at work with grown kids was listening to me complain about Sophie’s temper tantrums and sighed and said, “My house is so quiet, someday you’ll miss all this.” It was a great reminder to not let things go by too fast.

By: aunt susan

aunt susan — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 21:26:36 +0000

So funny and sweet and true….. beautifully put! The toughest job you’ll ever love…..xo