Saturday, May 28, 2011

Motherhood: It ain't all wine and roses!

You know me, I like to keep it real.

Here's how it went down yesterday….

I told my six-year-old that he could not attend a lengthy middle school/high school awards ceremony last evening. He really wanted to go (for the potential desserts at the end), so he began to beg. I told him again that he could not come with us.

He soon presented me with this:

"That is why my mom is evil."

FYI: My son told me later that this is a picture of me (Leila), as an evil wizard (note the hat and magic wand). Our house is being hit by lightning strikes. At least I am smiling!


When informed that he still could not attend, he soon handed me this:

"Well, I don't like you."

And then, this:

"Then I don't like you at all."

Next, in case I missed his point:

"I said, 'I don't like you.'"

When the answer was still "no", he brought out the big guns:

"If you don't let me go, I will never let you tuck me in,
and you do not get to spend time with me."

Alas, the answer remained "no", and he followed-up with my personal favorite:

"Wow. You are a horrible mother."

But never fear. There are moments of great joy, which sweeten the stings of parenting. For eventually, his final note to me was this:



And best of all, even though he was not allowed to go yesterday, he does get to attend the long high school graduation of his brother, tonight. I hear there will be desserts!

_

43 comments:

  1. Oh my gosh, how hilarious! I'm glad you have these photos and have written this story down so you can show it to him when he's older :).

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  2. Ha! I have a 3 year old who is about to drive me to drinking in the middle of the day. If she's not begging 22 times per minute to get in the kiddie pool, she is asking for food or "Go Diego Go." I can't wait for the nasty notes I'll get once she can write.

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  3. Hahahahaha!!! Hilarious!

    I can't believe you gave in! Softie :)

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  4. Beth, I didn't!!! He didn't go last night, but he was always going tonight. :)

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  5. It was confusing… I changed the wording to clarify. :)

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  6. oops! read that wrong! Stay strong mama! ;)

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  7. This is absolutely priceless! And look how the beauty of reconciliation can be played out in our own homes. Just another gift of having children!

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  8. ahaha so you mean it doesn't end after the terrible toddler years? So I have nothing to look forward to? Way to keep it real Leila :) and Lisa, love the notion of being driven crazy enough to drink during the day. When my husband gets home and puts the twins to bed, I pull out the wine glass and pour myself a relaxing drink.

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  9. So funny! What an awesome speller he is! He must have just learned that "gh" lesson :)

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  10. Isn't this the perfect illustration of how we treat God sometimes? "You won't give me that job in California? You're a mean mean God, I don't like you anymore" I am as guilty of this as anyone.

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  11. I can so relate! I just denied my 10 and 7 year old daughters a venti strawberries and creme frappucino of their own, and as we exited Starbucks, one said to the other "At least she can't stop us from eating when we get home!"

    Parenting has given me such a clear picture of the true nature of my relationship with my heavenly father!

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  12. Oh, good, so it's not just me getting some hate from male children! I have a one like yours, Leila, and I have received many a threat like that, usually he tries the, "Then I'll never never hug you or kiss you again!" Comes around later to say sweet things. Sweetest ever was, "Mama, when you get old and can't walk, I'll take you outside in the dark by the hand and show you the stars." Pure love.

    Kids - they make us nuts but we love em.
    My g'ma used to say when her kids used to misbehave that their antics were "enough to make a preacher swear!"

    Hilarious story, Leila. And I love the phonetic way he printed out his words. Very smart kid, there.

    -Nubby

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  13. Those are hilarious! I'm happy you shared. :)

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  14. Oh how precious~ I love 6 year old writing...I miss decoding it from my teaching days! I hope he gets some good desserts at the graduation tonight!!! :)

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  15. Oh my goodness, this is so adorable! :)

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  16. That. Is. Awesome. I'm framing these in our kids' rooms for inspiration. When they get angry at me and bust out a marker I will expect nothing less.

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  17. Thank you for sharing! My 21-year-old recently apologized for ever telling us that she hated us - and told us that she never really meant it....
    :)

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  18. I keep trying to respond and blogger..ugh!

    So precious! My husband and I both laughed. How wonderful and did I say...precious!

    Stacy, ugh.

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  19. Hahahahaaha!!!!! This cracks me up SO much! Thanks for sharing, I needed the laugh!! :)

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  20. My 17 and 19 year old boys have never even looked cross-eyed at me...

    My 12 yo daughter on the other hand was yelling "I hate you!" and running up to her room (which she shares with 2 sisters) at about the same time as you were getting your notes...

    I did not make her 4 yo brother get off the computer in the middle of the Naruto video he was watching and I was accused "you always take his side!"...

    DH looks at me after she storms away and deadpans, "have I told you I am glad we are adopting a boy?"

    Carla
    www.bringinghenryhome.blogspot.com

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  21. Hey! He can write and you didn't even have to beg him to practice!! As a homeschooling mom, I would count that as composition.
    Thanks for the chuckle!

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  22. I love it! My son hasn't resorted to notes yet but maybe I should tell him INSTEAD OF WHINING, to write down what he feels!

    DD

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  23. This is the absolute best. It rings so true!

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  24. Save those precious notes and pullem out at someones wedding ;-)
    Goggle does not like me here, but I am TheresaEH

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  25. What a great way to get a child to right--deny him his dessert rights! I love the Jekyll and Hyde thing. So honest and FULL of emotion.

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  26. HAHAHAHA!!! THIS is why I miss teaching Kindergarten so much!! I flipping LOVE how kids write, what they write about, and their drawings are always priceless!!

    (And I'm proud I didn't need your translations!)

    My personal fave had to be the 1st one ;)

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  27. God - The holiest word in the word.
    Mother - The sweetest word in the world.

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  28. Oh Lelia-this was really fun to read. Thanks for keeping it real, and real entertaining!

    I wanted to give you a heads up about something I’m working on … I’ve been so thrilled with all the new friends, great blogs, and wonderful posts I’ve read over the past 8 months (my short but rewarding blogging career), that I wanted to show an expression of my luv and admiration. Plus, I thought you might be feeling the same way—wanting to spread the luv! Check out the idea at my blog: http://alife-sizecatholicblog.blogspot.com/p/pay-it-forward.html

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  29. LOLol... so tough to be six. :)

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  30. Actually, I am really impressed at his writing skills!!! Way to sound out those words...

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  31. little manipulators in training! ;)

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  32. Hee,hee! This is too funny! My seven year old doesn't entertain me with any notes. Just crossed arms, a dirty look and a "hmph!"

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  33. I have really enjoyed reading these comments, and I am glad I am not alone, ha ha! And I can't believe I didn't see the spiritual implications and reflection in this exchange. Really good stuff to think on....

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  34. What made your child write that last loving note?

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  35. Lena, just time and space, and a chance for reflection. That first burst of emotion finally wore off…. :)

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  36. Hi Leila, very funny, please keep them for his 21st birthday. I love the ultimate sanction he gives you "if you don't do what I want, then you don't get to spend time with ME" yep! original sin right there! Look what happens when you hold firm and let him get it all out, he returns with a blue texta this time and just as emphatically tells you he loves you. Great little fellow.

    (Big message in there for girls in the playground who manipulate with this "I won't let you be with me" stunt...so much food for thought here..).

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