Fw: Did you do anything today?

[Guest guest]

Dawn, mommy to Dakota, 6 and , 2-1/2 (eosinophilic gastroenteritis,

fundo 10/96)

>

> Did You Do Anything Today?

>

> My husband came home today and saw me sitting on the couch, toddler on

> one knee, and baby nursing on the opposite breast. I was trying to turn

the

> pages of a book with the hand not attached to the infant, while listening

for

> the sound of the stove buzzer, which would indicate that tonight's pork

chops

> were at the stage between " well-done " and " the dog gets tonight's

entree. "

>

> My husband looked at me innocently, and asked, " So, did you do anything

> today? "

>

> It's a good thing that most of my appendages were otherwise engaged, as I

was

> unable to jump up and throttle him to death. This was probably for the

best,

> as I assume that asking a stupid question is not grounds for murder in

this

> country.

>

> Let me back up a bit, and explain what led me to this point in my life.

>

> I was not always bordering on the brink of insanity. On the contrary, a

mere

> four years ago, I had a good job, steady income, and a vehicle that could

NOT

> seat a professional sports team, and me, comfortably. I watched

television

> shows that were not hosted by singing puppets. I went to bed later than

nine

> o'clock at night. I preferred sex to sleeping in. I laughed at those

people

> who drove halfway across the country hauling a tent trailer, three

screaming

> kids, a drooling dog, and called it a holiday. Now I have become one of

them.

>

> What happened? The stick turned blue. I have traded in my 's

Secrets

> lingerie for cotton briefs and a firm support nursing bra.

>

> Good-bye,

> Garth . Hello, Sharon, Lois and Bram.

>

> My idea of privacy is getting to use the bathroom without a two-year old

> banging on the door, and the baby spinning the toilet paper roll from my

lap.

>

> And I finally understand that the term " Stay At Home Mom " does not refer

to a

> parent who no longer works outside the house, but rather to one who never

> seems to get out the front door. So here I sit children in hand,

wondering

> how to answer my beloved husband. DID I DO ANYTHING TODAY!

>

> Well, I think I did, although not much seems to have gotten accomplished.

I

> shared breakfast in bed with a handsome young man. Of course, the

breakfast

> consisted of a bowl of porridge and leftover cookie crumbs found between

the

> sheets. The handsome young man is about thirty-four inches tall and only

gets

> really excited at the sight of purple dinosaurs, toy trucks and French

fries.

>

> I got to take a relaxing stroll in the woods. Of course I was on the

lookout

> for frogs and lizards, and had to stop to smell the dandelions along the

way.

>

> I successfully washed one load of laundry, moved the load that was in the

> washer into the dryer, and the dryer load into the basket. The load that

was

> in the basket is now spread out on the bed, awaiting my bedtime decision

to

> actually put the clothes away or merely move them to the top of the

dresser.

>

> I read two or three classics. Out loud. Of course, Dickens or

Shakespeare

> cannot take credit for these works, as we have moved on to the works of

Seuss

> and Munsch. I don't think I will be making any trips to the Adult

Section of

> my local library anytime soon. In between, I dusted, wiped, organized

and

> rearranged. I kissed away the owies and washed away the tears.

>

> I scolded, praised, hugged and tested my patience, all before noon.

>

> DID I DO ANYTHING TODAY?

> You Betcha.

>

> I now understand what people mean when they say that parenthood is the

> hardest job they will ever have. In my LBD (life before diapers) I was

able

> to teach young minds how to divide fractions and write complex sentences,

but

> I am unable of teaching a strong-willed two-year-old how to use the

toilet.

>

> I was once able to navigate urban streets while talking on the car phone

and

> looking for a decent radio station, but now I can't get the wheels on my

> stroller to all go in the same direction.

>

> I've graduated from university, written newspaper articles, and won

awards,

> but I can't figure out how to get carrot stains out of the carpet.

>

> I used to debate with my friends about politics, but now we discuss the

merits

> of cloth versus disposable. And when did I stop talking in sentences

that had

> more than five words? So in response to my husband's inquiry, yes, I did

do

> something today.

>

> In fact, I am one step closer to one of life's greatest accomplishments.

>

> No, I did not cure AIDS or forge World Peace, but I did hold a miracle in

my

> arms.

> Two, in fact. My children are my great accomplishment, and the

opportunity to

> raise them in my greatest challenge. I don't know if my children will

grow up

> to be great leaders or world-class brain surgeons.

>

> ly, I don't care, as long as they grow up to be happy and fulfilled.

> They are my greatest joys, even though I sometimes cry myself to sleep at

> night in frustration.

>

> The point is, that today I got to watch my children take another step on

> the great journey of Life, and I even got to point out some of the sites

along

> the way. As challenging as parenthood is, it is also equally rewarding,

> because we are using all our wisdom, our talent and skills to help forge

a new

> person.

> It is this person, these people, who in turn will use their gifts to

create

> our future.

>

> So every nursery rhyme I recite, every swing I push, very little hand I

hold

> is Something. And I did it today.

>

[Guest guest]

Did I do anything today? is so great. About the only thing not mentioned

was giving meds thru out the day and going to doctors. Thanks

Phyllis-mom to

Arissa (12/22/95) EG, multiple food allergies, occasional asthma

Remi 6, Spina Bifida, developmental delays, allergies-nuts, shellfish and

latex

[Guest guest]

I know, I thought of that too. We have the extra worries of not worrying

about scrapes and bruises but about tummy pain and making sure our children

are not eating or not eating the " wrong " things. I think that just makes

us extra special mommies.

Dawn, mommy to Dakota, 6 and , 2-1/2 (eosinophilic gastroenteritis,

fundo 10/96)

----------

>

> To: eosinophilic gastroenteritis (AT) onelist (DOT) com

> Subject: [eosinophilic gastroenteritis] Re: Fw: Did you do anything today?

> Date: Tuesday, September 22, 1998 8:35 PM

>

>

>

> Did I do anything today? is so great. About the only thing not

mentioned

> was giving meds thru out the day and going to doctors. Thanks

> Phyllis-mom to

> Arissa (12/22/95) EG, multiple food allergies, occasional asthma

> Remi 6, Spina Bifida, developmental delays, allergies-nuts, shellfish and

> latex

>

>

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>