Belated Mother's Day Meme

Hello Campers, I am back from vacation.  Now in need of a vacation to recover from my vacation.  Seriously though, we had a fab time on holiday.  All we did was eat, drink and relax.  Fantanstic.  About a 100 kgs heavier, but fantastic anyway.  It was a bit of a shock to return back to normal life.  The service at home is shocking and even worse - there is no glass of Chardonnay to be had with my lunch.  Deeply disappointing.  I have posted some pics of our holiday on my Facebook profile. If you are FB friends with me, you can check them out there.  If you aren't FB friends with me, then you must be the only person left on the planet who isn't.  I am proud to say that I have deep and meaningful relationships with at least 5% of my FB friends.  

My mother and father greeted me on my return with sharp admonitions to update my blog (Mother: "Tertia, you MUST update your blog more often".  Father:  "Yes, you are completely useless" - clearly feeling lots of love from my parents).  However, because my brain is still stuck somewhere between last week Wednesday and Thursday, I am sans inspiration.  But fear not - I found this lovely meme on my friend Tanya's blog (that skanky ho who is the editor of Living and Loving magazine and who secretly desires to be me) and in honour of Mother's Day next week*, I thought I would I give it a whirl. PS my other friend Tania did a version too.  I've decided to only have friends called Tania/Tanya.  It makes it much easier to remember their names. 

My most embarrassing moment as a mom was when… I have many embarrassing moments, but I guess my worst ones are when the twins go into 'twin zone' when I am out in public. That is where they start psyching each other up, getting into a manic frenzy where they screech and giggle and completely zone out. They tickle each other, laugh and basically act like two crazy wild children and I can't stop them or quieten them down without making a scene.  Totally embarrassing.  

The worst parenting advice I ever got was… "You better not pick them up too much / go to them at night / hold them too much etc when they are babies or else you will spoil them".  It is impossible to 'spoil' a baby, they NEED to be picked up / held etc.  I am glad I never listened to that.

The best parenting advice I ever got was… 'this too shall pass'.  It really is true. Even in your worst, most sleep deprived times... this too shall pass

I wish they had have told me that being a mom… would turn my whole life upside down. That I would no longer be in control.  And that I need to stop trying to be in control and just enjoy the flow

My most frightening moment as a mom was when… Wow, many.  When Adam was born and was taken to the NICU for breathing problems.  When we thought we lost Kate in the shopping mall.  Those brief moments when I feel totally out of control and unable to protect my children.

My best mom blog is… I have many that I read often.  Tanya/Tania as above.  My sister.  Dooce.  But my new favourite one is Rage Against the Minivan.  I LOVE the way she writes and I think she is an amazing woman.

The most awkward question I get asked as a mom is… When other moms assume that I am as domesticated as them.  I don't / can't cook. I am not a SAHM.  This lack of domestic skills sometimes makes me feel inadequate

If I had to do anything over as a mom, it would be… Relax more.  Dont be so paranoid / uptight / terrified.  Try and remember that kids are actually quite tough and 'this too shall pass'

If I could advise new moms to do anything, it would be to…Enjoy every stage, it goes by so quickly.  Savour today, your babies grow up so soon :(

The “non-essential” items that became essential were… For the twins - anything that would substitute being held - swings, bouncy chairs, prams. For Max - a very comfy rocking chair that I put in my room.  We spent many hours at night in it.  

The products that make me look as if I’ve had a decent night’s uninterrupted sleep are…Haven't yet discovered this. I always look as if I am about 8 hours short of sleep

The things that have kept me sane as a mom are… The Interwebs, my fabulous paediatrician, my sister, my mother, my husband and my fantastic nanny

The one thing I’ll never do again as a mom is… be so terrified of being in charge of such fragile beings - as I said above, I wish I had spent less time being scared and more time just enjoying each stage.

I’d like to be remembered as the mom who…is totally in tune with her children's hearts and minds. One of the kid's teachers said this about me "She is very in tune with her children". It was the best thing anyone has ever said about me. I hope I always stay that way. 

Motherhood has changed me because I’m… privileged and honoured to have the opportunity to experience this kind of love.  I love my children so completely and deeply, it blows my mind. I never knew such love was possible. It is better than any drug I've ever taken (and I've sampled a few in my life time)

Here is a pic of my precious children on holiday. I have THREE healthy, wonderful (slightly naughty) children. Three. That very thought still gives me butterflies in my tummy.  Damn, I am lucky. 

PS I know Mother's Day was this past weekend, but remember I am still about two weeks behind in terms of brain function.

Comments

[cat@juggling act]

Sounds like a super holiday. And yes, this too shall pass. I need to remember that now more than ever.

[Tania]

Mwah, love you my friend. At least your name starts with a T, so you are actually very close to Tanya and me :P

[Kate Giovinco Photography]

Happy Mother's Day! Loved this post!

[Angel]

Very cool meme!
Happy mothers day!

[Michelle Robertson]

Glad you had a fabulous time, we forget how necessary it is to escape from the world. What stood out hte most for me in this post is that time goes by so quickly, maybe that's because my oldest son is heading for 20 - SCARY - and my daughter just trned 15 - SCARIER! Fortunately my baby is still on the easy side of being a teenager. Unfortunately for him, this means I watch his every move and stare at him a lot because he's my baby, and all too soon, this will pass.

[Adele]

If I could advise new moms to do anything, it would be to…
Enjoy every stage, it goes by so quickly. Savour today, your babies grow up so soon :(

I am so glad you told me this. I remember your words often and don't wish away tme by saying things like 'I can't wait till you crawl/walk/talk etc'. Even by doing this, time is flying and I cannot believe she is growing so much, changing and learning. I take each moment as it comes and as you also said, I have relinqished control as much as I can and I am just going with the flow.

Thanks!

[Vanessa]

What a great post :) "This too shall pass" is what my husband and I say to each other each time the other one is about to flip out at the kids (okay, or just after one of us has flipped out), usually accompanied by a cup of tea (wine) and a conspiratorial wink.