Nobody likes me...

One thing children always seem to be able to accomplish is to make things beyond challenging at various times. Having five children usually means someone is always challenging, it's usually Rusty but I digress.

Avery has reached the age of teetering on the verge of more self awareness and responsibility and not wanting to teeter on at all.

By and large Avery is a wonderful kid. A typical 1st born. He is very bright, very athletic, everyone likes him, he has a very good wit and he is very sensitive to others. He is also aloof, complacent, and overly dramatic. I wont say which one of his parents he is more like but I'm assuming you've already figured it out.

His new rationalization of why he shouldn't listen to his Father or I is because no one likes him anymore. A typical scenario would be "Avery please take out the garbage" "Why? Because no one here likes me so I always have to take out the garbage!" (dramatic storming off ensues). "Avery please don't push your sister, brother, dog, ect" "I can never do anything! Nobody here likes me!".

Now thankfully I have other Mom friends who are also experiencing this behavior. I know that this isn't because of some lack of attention he's receiving but because of his age/dramatic personality. I have a friend who's daughter wrote a note to her saying how much her family doesn't like her. Maybe it's a 1st born/oldest thing or maybe it's nine/ten year old thing but honestly I'm running with it.

Now I respond with sarcastic comebacks like "How did you figure it out?" or "I can help you pack for your new family". Some may say this tactic is cruel however I feel telling him what he wants to hear is the best medicine. It will also show the younger siblings I mean business and maybe they should avoid this behavior when they get older(That probably wont happen but I can dream can't I?).

In the end Avery knows we love him. He may come home to suitcases packed but he knows they're empty. I just hope he outgrows these "episode" before I am inclined to actually pack his stuff.

Have you experienced a similar scenario with your kids?

Sick Mom...Day 7

Okay so obviously I skipped days 4, 5, and 6 on this journey but I'm back today so we'll just gloss over it. I skipped those days because the children were home and I don't get much time to hole up in the office and type out a witty and yet vulnerable blog about a Mom who thinks there's no such thing as "having it all".

I am writing tonight even though, as I described to my friend earlier, grossly sick. I don't mean communicable disease sick or Christina Aguilera herpes sick but coughing up my right lung and choking on mucous sick.

I have no time to be sick so I'm going to the doctor in the am. I've had people ask me what I am going to do now that I'm not working. Well since I still have five kids, and I still go to school, and I still am on the PTA, volunteer at school, and am on every committee from here to Nantucket, I think I'll keep busy. This week alone I have something every night, not to mention the kids activities and Miss Shelby's 1st birthday party.

I really have no time to lay in bed and watch Marley and Me and eat bon bons till I no longer sound like a lady of the night with a bad smoking habit. Trust me I tried.

I don't even know why God tries to have us be sick. Is it an attempt to slow us Moms down? Because it ain't working. I do not know of one Mom who can ever just be sick. I have no such friends who can lay down for more than ten minutes without some child crying, or needing to be fed, or wanting something...anything!!!!

My husband stubs his toe and he needs to take a two hour nap. I vomit on the way to drop off and still pick up cup cakes for the cake walk. Some days I wonder how much simpler life would be if I was a man. Then I remember the dangle bits and that dream pops faster than a balloon at a 5 years old's birthday party.

I know these times go by fast so I really don't mind sucking it up when I'm sick and keeping life in motion. I know when they're all grown I will have time to be sick, or read a whole book, or have a nice evening anywhere. I can burn myself out just to insure they're happy because that's what we do, isn't it?