In defence of exhausted mothers everywhere

I do not consider myself a vain woman.  I have wash and wear hair, could never be described as a fashion diva, nor do I have a lot of time, energy or – heck, I’ll admit it – money for fancy makeup, nails and the like.  With that said, I occasionally walk by a mirror, glance into it, and wonder “who is that poor exhausted middle aged woman?”

Then I sigh, and realize it’s me.

I remember a famous quote by my favourite columnist, the late Erma Bombeck.  She once wrote “Seize the moment. Remember all those women on the Titanic who waved off the dessert cart.”  I live more by that motto, than the “it’s better to look good than to feel good” motto, and I can prove it!

I have provided, following, a list of what our family did/accomplished/completed in one typical, insanely busy week last year:

Celebrated The Rational One’s birthday; finished fifth in the hurdles; ‘swam up’ to Cubs; ate dinner with 80 of our closest Scouts Canada friends and family; voluntarily served barbecued burgers to 300 public school kids and their families at a school event; re-sodded the grass; hit a homerun; passed level six swimming; bough tickets to see R.E.M. in concert; got the car repaired; walked the dog 21 times; worked 40 hours (each parent); met a Russian mobster when he jumped the line at Starbucks; helped a little old lady onto the streetcar; got environmentally friendly and switched to the TTC; and gave up environmentally friendly transportation when I loaded my kids into the minivan to drive across town to play three on three hockey.

We set up the spare bedroom for my mom’s (“grandma’s coming!”) visit; washed eight loads of laundry so my mother wouldn’t think my life was out of control; picked up Mom from the airport in rush hour; watched my youngest son score eight goals at three on three hockey; picked up a pound of coffee at the new Starbucks at 9:59 pm (whew!); watched my eldest play three on three with kids who were old enough to be shaving, and he did great; got the tire on the minivan replaced; set an appointment with the allergist; delivered my son to a birthday party; and took the other son shopping for ‘skinny jeans’ – what are they?

We picked up groceries, drove to the cottage, cut up a tree that had landed on the cabin in a thunderstorm.  We went swimming; went tubing; went tubing again; had a campfire; went fishing (unsuccessfully); tried to teach the kids to water ski; had a barbecue; cleared stumps; cleaned up the beach; raked paths and taught our kids to drive a fishing boat.  Watched a movie; played a board game; lost in poker; completed a project on Mesopotamia that I didn’t even know he had to complete; attended a hockey “parents party”; dropped off Mom with my sister; donated time to the community centre; coached a game of baseball; went to the R.E.M. concert; tidied up the house; looked at the calendar for next week; hugged my kids (a bunch of times), kissed my husband (a bunch of times) and went to bed.

After learning she had a terminal illness, Erma Bombeck wrote a great column titled If I Had My Life to Live Over.  Most poignant on the list was “I would have sat on the grass with my kids and worried less about grass stains.”  I don’t want to wish for a ‘do-over’.  I’ve earned every dark circle and wrinkle, but that’s not old age, that’s living; and I’m loving nearly every minute of it.


Was this article informative? Become a Beach Metro Community News Supporter today! For 50 years, we have worked hard to be the eyes and ears in your community, inform you of upcoming events, and let you know what and who is making a difference. We cover the big stories as well as the little things that often matter the most. CLICK HERE to support your Beach Metro Community News!

Click here for our commenting guidelines.

Leave a Reply

*