Never, ever become a smug parent. The day after I wrote about winning at parenting (I mean, it was the perfect day, I even said to Bart, “Don’t bother with the 8th of May, today was mother’s day for me”), Cappers broke her fingers.
Just when you thought you were out, they pull you back in.
I see the Tuesday / Wednesday combo of last week as a microcosm of life. The minute you feel like you’re doing it all right, you get punched in the face by reality. Tuesday I’m having the best day ever, Wednesday the absolute worst.
See, we don’t get to win. We start feeling like we’re winning and things start breaking.
So, it’s been a solid week of hospital / doctor / x-ray visits, nurse duties, worry and sleepless nights for us. All slotted neatly into the chaos of everyday working and school holiday / back to school life. Then last night I fronted up for my fourth consecutive year as overnight Band Camp mum and as I reluctantly drove there I just thought, “Being a parent sux balls.”*
Then I thought my usual thinks when things get broken:
- This is all too much
- We do too much
- We have too much stuff
- I hate Sydney traffic
Then I start searching for properties in the Hawkesbury / Dandenong Ranges / Pilbarra and tell Bart to pack his bags, we’re moving. We’re going to grow Sorghum some place nice. Mainly because I like the word sorghum and nice places.
No matter how many times I do this to him, Bart always has the patience of a saint (because he generally has the patience of a saint) and pretends that this is a really good idea. One day he will call my bluff and have the house listed and boxed up before I come to my senses.
I always come to my senses. I like where we live just fine. All it takes is for me to get a couple of good nights’ sleep and everything feels like it’s been pieced back together. Except hands. Hands take a good six weeks of sleeps.
How’s your world right now?
* For the record, the Badoo and the band camp girls were the sweetest, funniest, cheekiest angels last night and went a long way to reminding me that parenting might suck sometimes, but the rest of the time it’s bloody brilliant.
Helen K says
I know that feeling so much (Al has a similar reaction often although it’ usually living on the coast somewhere warm, or selling up and living on a boat) – it passes (luckily – I get motion sickness). So hard to see your kids in pain, isn’t it? plus losing the stability you had achieved – your balance. But it will come back. I’ve flipped the other way today as have the family which is a nice change – I’m enjoying it while it lasts! Xx
Shannon@ my2morrows says
Sydney traffic certainly sucks balls. I’m stuck in it right now! Broken fongers are painful. I hope they heal quickly. Poor poppet. Xx
Emily @ Have A Laugh On Me says
Pretty tattered as I battle a bad bout of insomnia. I too want to move, to somewhere that isn’t busy. Then again I agreed to speak at a friend’s workshop tomorrow in Brisbane, I took on more work to help a friend and I agreed to have playdates tomorrow when it’s my wedding anniversary and I want to do nothing. What a good post. Thanks for the vent, better go and cook a dinner so assuage my guilt because I gave my kids pizza on Tuesday! xxx
Kate says
So so true. Poor Maxabella. We now instantly silence each other whenever either one of us starts to say anything that sounds the least bit like “we are so on top of this parenting gig babe”. THAT is the jinx of all jinxes. Hope the fingers get better soon!
Denyse says
Yep. Life. One minute we think it’s so cool, we are nailing it.. Then “something” … Sorry about your lovely girl & what this kind of thing does to us as parents. Right now I’m still waxing & waning between love, like, dislike my life that I’m trying to get used to. Taking me out of the rat race, away from work & all that didn’t quite fix things for me.. I took myself with me! Love to you xxx
Kathy says
Sounds like a week!! Ah the yin and yang of life hey. Or the sweet and sour. The hot and cold. Life is relative isn’t it – I sort of love how when you are most grateful life reminds you to be even more so.
Seana Smith says
Hello, those x-rays make me feel quite unwell. Poor you and poor she and I do hope things have calmed down. Ah, the overwhelm when it’s all too much and it FEELS as it it’ll never calm down and then it does… and it’s a sunny day and suddenly, … life can feel so different. Ups and downs and ups and downs… but the dreadful Sydney traffic is a constan.
Terri Hart says
oh no! Those-rays really make me sad! How did she break her fingers? Is the prognosis good? Poor baby. Fingers are so precious, yet they are aways the first to get in trouble! Hope she’s ok… 🙁
Kate says
Oh man I know this one so well.
Parenting here at the moment is a series of best days followed by worst days followed by best days all over again.
Just yesterday I couldn’t even drive all the way home from the school drop-off with out stopping for a big cry and then today I decided my kids are the best in the world.
Big love to you honey, and those poor little fingers. xxx
Janet aka Middle Aged Mama says
That happens to me too! Now my kids are grown though, it tends to happen with my business. One minute I’ll think I’ve finally got this gig all sorted and the next I come a gutser. It sucks!!! But it keeps me humble!!!
Bec Senyard says
Oh Bron, Don’t you love when reality checks in? Parenting is really like a roller coaster ride. I hope the hand heals and you can get good sleep and can get clarity in thought when you work. xxx
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Mel Roworth says
Things are good right now, but Mr Wonderful goes back to work tomorrow after 4 days off.
I’m hoping I can keep the momentum going.. Believe… Believe… Believe.
I’m the Queen of virtual moves. Even in my mind, packing up, unpacking, new schools, new neighbors, new friends, is too exhausting. File it in the ‘one day’ basket and move forward another car length in Sydney traffic.
Sam Stone says
Life is exhausting at the moment. Totally and utterly exhausting.
Sonia Life Love Hiccups says
Oh holy shitballs. What the seriously? Give her my love and we so need to lunch/ coffee / drink and debrief xx
Gin plus Tonic says
Well you’ve certainly put my woes into perspective! Goodness hope the breaks heal well and your week improves – although how could it not?