Pages

▼

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!

_
at

43 comments:

  1. AnonymousMay 28, 2011 at 1:58 PM

    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 :).

    ReplyDelete
  2. LisaMay 28, 2011 at 2:01 PM

    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.

    ReplyDelete
  3. BethMay 28, 2011 at 2:05 PM

    Hahahahaha!!! Hilarious!

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

    ReplyDelete
  4. Leila@LittleCatholicBubbleMay 28, 2011 at 2:07 PM

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

    ReplyDelete
  5. Leila@LittleCatholicBubbleMay 28, 2011 at 2:10 PM

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

    ReplyDelete
  6. BethMay 28, 2011 at 2:13 PM

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

    ReplyDelete
  7. Dwija {House Unseen}May 28, 2011 at 2:16 PM

    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!

    ReplyDelete
  8. HafsaMay 28, 2011 at 2:21 PM

    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.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Spence OhanaMay 28, 2011 at 2:31 PM

    That was too funny!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Kaitlin @ More Like MaryMay 28, 2011 at 2:43 PM

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

    ReplyDelete
  11. BarbaraMay 28, 2011 at 2:55 PM

    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.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Mrs. FordyceMay 28, 2011 at 3:23 PM

    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!

    ReplyDelete
  13. AnonymousMay 28, 2011 at 3:41 PM

    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

    ReplyDelete
  14. AnonymousMay 28, 2011 at 5:30 PM

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

    ReplyDelete
  15. Grace in my HeartMay 28, 2011 at 5:50 PM

    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!!! :)

    ReplyDelete
  16. God Alone SufficesMay 28, 2011 at 6:16 PM

    Oh my goodness, this is so adorable! :)

    ReplyDelete
  17. JulieMay 28, 2011 at 6:19 PM

    love love love!!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Brandon VogtMay 28, 2011 at 6:23 PM

    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.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Catholic GrammieMay 28, 2011 at 6:44 PM

    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....
    :)

    ReplyDelete
  20. AnonymousMay 28, 2011 at 6:56 PM

    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.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Faith makes things possibleMay 28, 2011 at 7:10 PM

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

    ReplyDelete
  22. KaraMay 28, 2011 at 7:19 PM

    LOL, love it :)

    ReplyDelete
  23. Carla DobsMay 28, 2011 at 7:56 PM

    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

    ReplyDelete
  24. MeganMay 28, 2011 at 9:13 PM

    This is hilarious!!!! :)

    ReplyDelete
  25. DebiMay 28, 2011 at 10:40 PM

    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!

    ReplyDelete
  26. DDMay 29, 2011 at 2:55 AM

    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

    ReplyDelete
  27. Mrs. MikeMay 29, 2011 at 4:34 AM

    This is the absolute best. It rings so true!

    ReplyDelete
  28. AnonymousMay 29, 2011 at 5:54 AM

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

    ReplyDelete
  29. AnonymousMay 29, 2011 at 7:05 AM

    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.

    ReplyDelete
  30. Amy @ This Cross I EmbraceMay 29, 2011 at 7:32 AM

    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 ;)

    ReplyDelete
  31. Sweet LilyMay 29, 2011 at 8:20 AM

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

    ReplyDelete
  32. HollyMay 29, 2011 at 9:21 AM

    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

    ReplyDelete
  33. SarahMay 29, 2011 at 10:54 AM

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

    ReplyDelete
  34. Joy Beyond the CrossMay 29, 2011 at 11:09 AM

    LOL!!!! So stinking cute!

    ReplyDelete
  35. Danya @ He Adopted Me FirstMay 29, 2011 at 1:23 PM

    Love it - and you of course!

    ReplyDelete
  36. lilyMay 30, 2011 at 5:20 AM

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

    ReplyDelete
  37. MandaMay 30, 2011 at 1:42 PM

    little manipulators in training! ;)

    ReplyDelete
  38. BeckyMay 30, 2011 at 4:23 PM

    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!"

    ReplyDelete
  39. Leila@LittleCatholicBubbleMay 30, 2011 at 9:41 PM

    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....

    ReplyDelete
  40. Melanie GillespieJune 1, 2011 at 8:57 PM

    Love it! :) Thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  41. LenaJune 3, 2011 at 5:29 PM

    What made your child write that last loving note?

    ReplyDelete
  42. Leila@LittleCatholicBubbleJune 3, 2011 at 7:59 PM

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

    ReplyDelete
  43. Rokeby VenusNovember 1, 2011 at 5:05 PM

    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..).

    ReplyDelete

PLEASE, when commenting, do not hit "reply" (which is the thread option). Instead, please put your comment at the bottom of the others.

To ensure that you don't miss any comments, click the "subscribe by email" link, above. If you do not subscribe and a post exceeds 200 comments, you must hit "load more" to get to the rest.