I took the day off from work so that I could spend it with my 4- year-old doing something fun. It was going to be just the two of us. When you are the mom of more than one child (heck, even one child!) it can be difficult finding uninterrupted time with them (and only them). I mean real time with no siblings, chores, work, or other distractions. We were both very excited! We started out on our day but first, I needed to stop at the bank. After all, I needed enough cash in my pocket while we were on our adventure, right? While at the bank, I remembered that I needed to check on another account and it would only take a minute. So I sat her down with a coloring book and took care of my other bank business. After the bank, I decided to make a quick stop at the store to get some things for the upcoming school year (I had heard this store had some great sales). Besides, it would only take a minute. The store took so long, that my daughter got hungry. Since we were still close to home, I decided to go home and make her a little snack. After all, it would only take a minute. Once home, I remembered that there were clothes in the washing machine, so I decided to put them in the dryer, after all it would only take a minute. Then I got a call from work asking me an important question. I decided to check my email to respond because it would only take a minute. You guessed it! Those minutes turned to hours and we never made it anywhere! I felt terrible! I had failed miserably as a mom! In my head, I imagined how my daughter would be impacted by her disappointment forever! My poor baby!
So you can imagine how I felt when later that day, my husband asked her the infamous dinner table question, “How was your day?”. Fully expecting her to share her disappointment in her terrible mother, I braced myself for her answer. Then she said this :
“It was the best day ever! Mommy took me to the bank and I got to color and eat a lollipop! We went to the store and I got to push the buggy! Oh, Mommy made me a special treat too! And guess what else? I helped put clothes in the dryer! It was so much fun Daddy!”
Wait, What? Didn’t she notice that we didn’t do anything we planned? Didn’t she feel like I broke my promise to her? Actually, not at all! Her perception of our day was totally different than mine. In reality, we DID spend the entire day together alone. I included her in everything I did that day. Was it the park or a special place? No! But the “where” didn’t seem to matter much to her at all. All she wanted was to be with me.
This is a reminder to all of us busy moms out there to stop being so hard on ourselves! We are doing the best we can and most of us are doing a darn good job too! So go ahead, cut yourself some slack! You are most likely an awesome mom, even if you think you have failed! 🙂
This was AWESOME.. You are exactly right Belinda, no matter what we do with them, just being with them is good enough.. My 7 & 3 year old begged to come to my boot camp class with me.. I said you guys will be bored, well, they were my cheerleaders & everyone else’s.. It’s the little things that matter.. Thank you for sharing & reminding us MOMS, that it’s ok to simply do nothing & still have a fulfilling adventure ?
That was wonderful! Children usually have the best perspective! Their little minds are not convoluted with craziness like our adult minds. They see the good that we often miss. That really was sweet & I can see her cute little face as she tells about her day.
Thanks Ayesha! I agree that our children usually are reminders of how we should appreciate the little things in life. She really was very excited about our day. Thanks for commenting and for reading!
Thank you Shawntel! I think it is so cool that you took your children with you to boot camp! I bet they had so much fun. Thanks for reading!
Yet another fabulous article! Realistic, Relevant and Right! Keep writing Belinda you are doing phenomenally well. 🙂
Thank you Nedra Buckmire! I appreciate you taking time to read it!
This was a great post! So often, we as parents think things have to big and extravagant for our children, but in reality it is just the little simple things they enjoy. Making the memories and knowing we included them is all it takes. Thanks for sharing because it only took a minute! 🙂
Thanks Carnita! I appreciate you taking a minute to read the post :-).
Belinda,
I Love This! This is such an awesome reminder of just how important it is to spend “Quality Time”, and not to prejudge anyone else’s perspective of a situation. Allow “them”, and yes, our children to say how “they” feel. Princess O was so delighted to be hanging out with her Mommy, and to have her all to herself, at the Bank, the Store, the House with her own “Special Treat”, not just a snack… lol.. I just Love It! You Go Mom, cause Us Moms Rock! Smooches