Motherhood: I think motherhood is the hardest job ever. Parenting in general is tough. Don't get me wrong, I love it, but the responsibility can be overwhelming. I've heard it said derisively that anyone can have kids but you have to apply for a dog license, and that is so true. Getting pregnant is the easy part. Actually, changing diapers, breast feeding with cracked and bleeding nipples, and waking up at all hours of the night to comfort a crying baby... that's the easy part. The scary part is that you are responsible for making a grown up. That sweet little baby will one day be on her own and making her own decisions. How will you know that she will make the right choices? Will she choose a peer group that is good for her? Will she respect herself? Does she have enough respect for herself to avoid drugs, reckless driving, abusive friends and boyfriends? Have you instilled the values that are important to you? Will she give of herself to make the community a little better? Will she volunteer her time to charitable organizations? Will she read? Exercise? Eat healthy? Treat her own children with respect?
Now that my girls are teenagers these are the thoughts that plague me. Just today we were talking about children, toddlers in particular. My daughter said "Ugh, remind me never to have kids." Well, while a screaming toddler can be a challenge as anyone with any sense will tell you, I sometimes reminisce about my own little ones; the snuggling close on a saturday morning, the smell of a freshly bathed baby, the soft spot right on the top of their heads pulsing with her heart beat, sticky fingers and pb&j for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The funny, matter of fact comments only children can make: "Daddy's poo poo burns my nose" and "I am NOT a butt-fish". It made me sad to think that my daughter might not share those same memories. I told her I'd want her to have children of her own someday. She'd be missing out on one of life's greatest gifts... just don't have them any time soon.
Bliss: I've been giving this one a lot of thought. The problem with bliss is that it's fleeting. Right now I'm sitting in my clean kitchen, the house is empty, I have on a pot of vanilla coffee and my Erin Bode cd. I spent the entire afternoon with my daughter Jessica (16) and we went to the Galleria and had a wonderful time bonding (okay and shopping too). My point is that right now this is bliss for me. Last night, however, my feelings of bliss were of a completely different nature. Last night my hubby and I shared a wonderful bottle of red from a local Missouri winery (yes, missouri has wineries), then we went up to bed and, well, you get the point. This morning bliss was staying warm and snuggly in bed while he got up at 5:45 to go to a soccer game, then sleeping another 4 hours with my dogs at my side.
So here are three separate instances of *bliss* in the last 24 hours, and they have nothing to do with one another. They don't reflect my moments of bliss over the last week, month, or year.
Although I have bad days just like everyone else, I also have perfect moments of bliss that I can find, if I only dare to look. Those moments can range from the satisfaction of finding and correcting an error on a prescription to an unexpected kiss from my husband, from my favorite Starbucks barista preparing my latte without needing confirmation to getting home from work and having dinner already made (whether by crock pot or a family member's initiative). What about stepping on the scale and finding you're down a couple pounds even though you weren't trying? Putting on last year's coat and finding a $20? Lipgloss that stays on even after you finish your coffee (Clinique Full Potential Lips in Cream Soda). Charles Schultz said Happiness is A Warm Puppy. I completely agree.
Where do you find bliss?
Well there are three of the words. Two more to go. I think I will wait and post the other two in the next day or so. Remember to let me know if you want to play. Also, I won't forget about you, but I want the words to be specific to you so it might take me a couple days to get back to you. Oh and if I see more comments about where are the rest of the words, I'll know you didn't read to the end. Goose. And Little Ms Blogger. You have been unmasked. Good thing I heart you both. xxoo
