I just finished cleaning up -- at warp speed -- my kitchen, dining room, and living room.
A clean space invites children to play. I should remind myself of this before being inspired to clean. That noble sage, Phyllis Diller, has spoken eloquently on this topic; see my side bar. I should know better than to ignore her wisdom.
No sooner was the living room room clean than my three adorable daughters decided it was the perfect space to make forts. They all need a separate fort. There is much moving of chairs and dragging of blankets and propping up of cushions happening in my living room as I speak. I am waving a white flag. It was clean for less than five minutes. Why, oh why, do I bother?????
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My oldest daughter was so excited to be making forts. She came to me all a-twitter. "Mom, can we make FORTS???" I groaned audibly and put my face in my hands. "Pleeeeeeeeeeeeze, mommy? I'll clean up right after! I promise! Pleeeeeeeeeze????" What kind of ogre says no to that? At the expense of my own happiness, not me. Forts were approved and forts are under construction.
A FUN mommy would jump at the chance to promote such imaginative play. A FUN mommy would help drag out blankets and pillows. A FUN mommy wouldn't feel the need to pop open a beer just to get through the fort-play.
It is NO FUN to be a fun mommy. Fun mommy's don't get what THEY want, such as a clean living room.
When is it time for me to get my way? Don't answer that...I'm not in the mood to cry.
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20 April 2010
It is No Fun Being a Fun Mom
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4 comments:
I loved making forts when I was all of their ages. You let them make forts = you are an excellent mommy. And yes, probably best that you drink beer and not participate in said fort making.
Yep. I'm with you. I get it. I'm not much of a fun mommy that way either.
Sigh.
So inconvenient, those small beings. Good thing they're cute.
Oh Monica, I hope you had the beer! My home is a wreck. I have been living in laundry hell to the exclusion of all else. We are beyond the point of warp speed cleaning. I need more hours in the day, more caffeine, something!!!
whew...thank you for posting this. I loathe the explosion that comes after cleaning a room. And the clean space begging for a fun mom to build a fort....I usually try to turn a blind eye and let 'em at it, but secretly I'm cringing while ignoring, wishing that I had the "fun-ness" to join them.
A wise older friend told me a long time ago, when I was in a cleaning frenzy before some guests came, people don't come over to see your house, they come to see you. Have a big kitchen and plenty (food, wine, love, advice, stories) to share. So let the bomb drop in my living room....I've got cellar full and a fridge that's stocked. We can all hang out inside the fort that love built.
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