Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Mothering a monkey


This one is a climber.  I've shown you before.  Trees, swing sets, walls, rooftops.  You name it and she will climb it.  Some days it doesn't phase me.  Other days I find myself annoyed and wishing that she would stop.  And even other days I scan the tree tops when I call for her outside and she doesn't come running.

Back to the annoyed part.  Just typing that makes me cringe.  Why would I be annoyed that she is climbing again?  It is who she is and asking her not to climb is like asking her to change her eye color.  When I really examine what I'm feeling I realize that I'm not annoyed at the climbing but rather at the fact that I've asked her to do something else that needs done.  Or that I've asked her to stop because I, as her mother, know that she gets clumsy when she is tired and that the climbing needs to stop for now.

It's a constant thing, this mothering business.  Twenty four hours a day.

You provide and protect.  Nurture and love.  Teach and learn.  And carry things around for them like a pack mule.

And sometimes the days pass as chore upon chore upon chore.  The hours tick by and the seasons change and I go from laundry to cooking to driving back-and-forth.  And bossing and ordering and huffing and sighing because I am "annoyed."

I hope she, and her sister,  always remember the love.  And not the annoyed-ness.

For loving them and their Daddy is what makes me, me.

-dana

18 comments:

Rach Fairchild said...

That is some cute laundry you have hanging there :)

Luke and Tammy said...

I think that is the prayer of every mother, that our children remember the loving, and not the irritation. I know it is mine, because patience is just not one of my great virtues!

Lesly said...

When my daughter was that age she was on the monkey bars constantly at school. To the extent that she wore blisters on her palms. And she still wouldn't stop, so the blisters got infected - what a mess. Now she's 17 and it's been years since she's been on the monkey bars - we're doing university tours now. I know it sounds sanctimonious, but enjoy each age as it comes. (I know you do.)

Anonymous said...

isn't that the truth!

Alice said...

The joys of parenthood. I have a severely ADHD son who will soon be asking for his learner's permit.
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!
L,A-

grendelskin said...

Mothering is HARD! But I think they remember the love most, after all so do we when we think of our own Moms.
I get mad at myself too, getting caught up in the daily-stuff treadmill and forgetting to just watch them. My boychild was a serious climber from infancy on, but it's slowed down a little now and you know what? Silly, I know, but...I kinda miss it.

Emily Cole said...

I hear ya, lady! I am found in the same predicament SO often... I find myself calling the girl down out of the tree, and then just wishing I didn't 'have' to be the 'bad guy'... My Taylor Anne would LOVE to hang out (literally) with your sweet girl!

Needled Mom said...

That's what comes with the title of "mom"!!!! Maybe she will join a flying acrobatic team!

eva said...

Spoken,,,,,

like a conscientious mom!!

xo
eva

Renna said...

The one thing I remember hearing most from my mother as a youngster was "quit chattering", and "you're making me nervous". That's not to say she wasn't a good mother, or that she didn't love me. She was, and she did.

A less than ideal husband and home life (as a result of the husband) probably caused her nerves to be bad. I can look back on that now as an adult and understand. However, as a kid, it made me determined to never tell my children they made me nervous. I caught myself saying it to my very rambunctious daughter one day, and it stopped me in my tracks. I was becoming my mother.

Sara said...

She will remember you letting her hang from the clothes line! And think gosh I have an awesome mom!!

Dena said...

I feel your pain. I have a monkey too. What is it about the youngest that makes them climbers? I'm always saying "don't go so high" " test that branch" " Time to get out of that tree" I'm sure there are life lessons in there somewhere.

Trudi said...

I Have an exporing monkey! And at 17 it's real hard to keep tracks on his travels! You're doing a fabulous job as Mom, don't doubt yourself, the love shines through :)

Elissa said...

cal is also a monkey. climbing trees, climbing the clothespole like yours (likes to sit on the top), climbing the backstop at baseball.

i also do a lot of bossing and ordering and huffing and sighing because i am "annoyed."

i was a climber monkey as a kid. I used to use a tree in our front yard (right out by the 4 lane road) as uneven bars and practice wraps around it from gymnastics.

i bet my mother did a lot of huffing and sighing. but i don't remember.

:-)

Elissa said...

and SEE? even your daughter has cute boots. i'm off to huff and sigh about THAT. :-(

tara said...

Great title. It makes me smile

Kim said...

Its tough to be human....
just keep trying your best and loving them as hard as you can.
You can't be perfect and its a good lesson to teach your girls.....you try your hardest and its OKAY not to be perfect........you are still loved.

Happy Sewing

amylouwhosews said...

amen.