Allow me to elaborate. After two decades in parenting, I have found myself occasionally indulging in the use of profanity or inappropriate gestures when my children aren’t looking. What can I say? I am only human.
As many of you can attest, our children are the joys of our lives, the center of our universe, and sometimes the very reason we have gray hair. They can frustrate us beyond belief. My kids have brought me to tears, uttering phrases that I swore I would never hear from my own child. Yet here I am, faced with the very beings I nurtured and who now have the power to shatter my heart or leave me curled up in a ball, tears soaking my pillow. Moments later, they may approach, completely oblivious to my emotional turmoil, their innocent eyes and charming smiles disarming me despite my earlier frustration.
Here are some instances that have led me to those less-than-proud moments of flipping the bird or making unflattering remarks behind their backs:
- Once my eldest entered middle school, it was a game changer. At this age, they often project an air of coolness, too self-conscious to acknowledge their mom in front of friends. I recall the first time I discreetly flipped off my child when he and his friends walked right past me, completely ignoring my existence. I felt hurt and angry, and my reaction was perhaps immature, but it happened in a heartbeat.
- Cooking dinner for my family of seven can be a test of patience. When two or three of my kids declare they aren’t hungry, certain choice words might escape my lips. They may not be audible, but let’s just say if you could read lips, the message would be clear.
- Having all boys certainly provides a reality check. They often don’t notice the odors or the messes that are painfully obvious to us. When I ask them to clean their rooms and air out the space, the response might be, “I already did that.” The stench alone can make expletives slip out, but being told that their “clean” room is not a problem only makes me want to roll my eyes and walk away, perhaps with a discreet gesture of frustration.
- The youngest kids in the family are learning from their siblings, and they can be just as charming as they are mischievous. When the little ones roll their eyes at me, I sometimes find myself shocked at the gestures I might make behind their backs, and strangely, it doesn’t always make me feel guilty.
- Teenagers and their romantic interests! Do I need to elaborate?
- “Mom, I need new shoes.” “Mom, I need jeans.” “Mom, I need money for dinner.” “Mom, I need gas money.” “Mom, I lost my school books!” “Mom, my cleats are too tight, and while we’re out, can I get gloves too?” “Mom, I broke my phone again.” “Mom, I need help with my school loans and insurance.” After years of these requests, when I hear, “You won’t help me? I never ask for anything!” I find myself wanting to unleash a flurry of gestures and words under my breath.
In summary, our children can bring us to the brink of frustration, yet they also fill our lives with joy and pride. They are incredibly fortunate to be loved unconditionally by us.
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