December 20, 2006
Janet!*
Cookies from Adria. Thank you, Adria!
On Saturday, Wade took the boys to the zoo; on the way, they drove through the car wash because Wade couldn’t stand how filthy my car was. The boys weren’t thrilled about the detour, but Wade ignored their whining because DIRTY CAR! MUST! BE! CLEANED! RIGHT NOW! And clearly, I wasn’t going to do it.
As he pulled into the car wash, Charlie piped up: “DAMMIT, I didn’t WANT to GO to the CAR WASH!”
I don’t feel guilty about teaching Charlie to swear; I don’t have time. I’m too busy feeling guilty about forgetting to take cookies to his school for the Happy Birthday Baby Jesus! party and for forgetting that he was supposed to wear his special purple Pre-K t-shirt today. Of course, because I’m a good mommy (and by GOOD I mean MOTIVATED BY GUILT and also possibly INCREDIBLY STUPID), I went home after carpool and picked up his t-shirt and then went to the grocery and bought cookies and then drove BACK to his school and dropped them off. In the rain. With Henry in tow.
And as if that weren’t enough, I’m still feeling guilty because the cookies had red and green sprinkles on them; they were supposed to be PLAIN, so that the kids could decorate them, but see, when you wait until 8:00 am on the DAY OF THE PARTY to run to the closest grocery for the cookies (which you were probably supposed to MAKE YOURSELF, from scratch, using your Grandmother’s carefully guarded recipie) you don’t have much choice. It was sprinkles or nothing.
In the end, of course, who cares what the cookies look like? We’re talking about four-year-olds! And when I took Charlie’s t-shirt in, his teacher said, “Oh, no one else remembered either.” So I’m in good company. And I’m sure at least one other kid will say, “I WAS SUPPOSED TO WEAR MY TEE SHIRT TODAY, BUT YOU FORGOT!” at the end of the day, and some other mom or dad will feel terrible, too.
Merry Christmas, dammit.
Posted by Susan @ 3:55 pm • Uncategorized
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December 20th, 2006 at 5:53 pm, Heather K Says:
I think I need to make friends with Adria! Yum!
December 20th, 2006 at 7:26 pm, 1blueshi1 Says:
Heh, my kid’s Christmas party at school is tomorrow, and I can’t get off work to go–all sick/vaca taken for plague/wedding/younameit. The GUILT when he leans against me and says sadly, “Mommy, I wish you could come to my Christmas party tomorrow.”
Sorry, but I’ll be rehearsing my hara-kiri skills.
December 20th, 2006 at 7:30 pm, Mary Says:
Oh, hilarious and sad! The guilt!
December 20th, 2006 at 7:49 pm, Susan Says:
Ah, guilt: the equal opportunity mommy leveller.
I swear they only have those parties to make us feel bad.
December 20th, 2006 at 8:42 pm, Karyn Says:
I’m so glad.
SO glad.
It’s not. Just. Me.
For the millionth time.
Thank you, Susan…
December 20th, 2006 at 8:47 pm, Arwen Says:
Noodle has been dropping the F bomb. She knows its bad, blushes a little and I then drink another glass of red wine. I am not even sure how to thwart the language beyond not using the language myself.
ha ha ha ha ha.
December 20th, 2006 at 9:12 pm, Wendy Says:
Been there, done that!
Panic is setting in. Amber’s party is Friday and I am one of the room mothers. I am making cookies tomorrow or will I forget or will they be edible? Then we are off for a 3 hour car ride to meet up with family. With all that is going on, I just hope Amber makes it to school with clothes on.
December 21st, 2006 at 12:06 am, adria Says:
Oh, don’t you love the mommy guilt!
I am so glad your goodies arrived safely, and I hope you are sitting back and enjoying them all!
I was planning to send your favorite chips, but I totally forgot to buy them. (I blame my mushy pregnancy mind on that one - so sorry.)
Happy Holidays!
December 21st, 2006 at 5:36 am, Mamacita Tina Says:
I’ve noticed my man likes to keep the cars clean. How do I get him to have this same frame of mind for the house?
December 21st, 2006 at 6:24 am, Roola Lenska Says:
Aahh Mommy-guilt. Nothing says Christmas like the aroma of Mommy-guilt! P’s party was last Friday. They taught the kids a bunch of holiday songs to perform at the party. P loves to sing them with gusto but apparently only in the privacy of her own home or carseat. They lined all the kids up in front of the tree to sing which they all seemed to do happily - except of course for my kid. She refused to wear the santa hat (which I totally don’t blame her for) and whined, frowned and cried through the entire performance. I think that since she didn’t take off in our direction as soon as she saw us we were ahead but . . . am I raising her wrong? I want her to be an individual and all but why can’t she just drink the kool-aid sometimes? (Sorry for that overlong post)
Ahhh Rocky Horror! Nothing says seventh grade like:
Michael Remi was there the day the earth stood still . . . .
December 21st, 2006 at 7:59 am, Misfit Hausfrau Says:
I loves me some mommy guilt!
BTW–I would also love it if Wade stopped over here and washed my car. Thanks.
December 21st, 2006 at 8:07 am, Susan Says:
Marisa, Charlie also refused to sing at his Christmas performance. And then, the VERY next night, he sat in his bed for an hour and a half.
Singing.
Christmas carols.
Argh.
December 21st, 2006 at 9:36 am, MJ Says:
Hey, I was asked to bring in a “nutritious” snack for my children’s party. We made brownies instead. They have eggs in them. Eggs are good for you.
Anyway, I must dash and go eat the brownies with them. Yes, parents are obliged to show up. Damnit.
December 21st, 2006 at 12:00 pm, Candace Says:
What the hell? People still have kids in school? My kids’ last day was last Friday! Thankfully, we’re almost halfway done. And no one’s head has exploded.
December 26th, 2006 at 9:23 pm, Devra Says:
I decided long ago that if it was more important to my husband to rid the world of excess french fries in mini vans, so be it. It’s his schtick not mine and if it were mine, I’d be outsourcing it!
I hope your guilt has subsided by now!