They Still Love Me...


...or so they say, those children of mine.

I visit so many great blogs with different and wonderful purposes. One such blog is Cop Mama. I believe CM's blog has a great purpose... a ministry if you will...where moms get together and talk. Today, instead of my Monday Ramblings I am linking to her Monday post called Mama Guilt Mondays. If you are a mom and you've ever felt guilty over motherhood, check her out.

Although, my children are grown and I don't have much advice to offer mothers with young children, I will confess two terribly stupid mom moments of mine when my children were little. I still beat myself up for saying them.

Here goes:

My son is the oldest of my two children. Being the oldest child well...you are the experimental child. Parents try every parenting method on you. It is a well known fact. He was energetic, as he should have been. One day when he was about three years old, he had been misbehaving -extra and on my last nerve. Frankly, I was at my wits end. I finally grabbed him, pulled him close to my face and said "If you don't stop acting badly, I am going to take you to (insert grocery store name) and leave you." He cried. Not a little cry. He cried a big crushing cry with huge crocodile tears. I'm sorry!

I laugh about it now, but the memory can still bring tears to my eyes and daggers to my heart. I said for years he should have been removed from our home for that one.

My daughter is the baby of the family. She really never got in trouble. But, I still worried about a couple of behaviors. For one as a small child, she acted as if she and I were joined at the hip and would tell me every little move she was going to make before she made it. I was very glad that both of my kids read much of the time. My daughter, though, read (it seemed like 24/7) and instead of going out to play many times she would read. I had a hard time keeping her in books, let me say. So one day, my idiot mouth guided by a clearly malfunctioning brain said, "Would you stop reading so much and go watch TV?" I'm sorry!

Huh? The minute I heard those words come from my mouth, I realized what a stupid request I had just made. I remember after I said it, I just kept on walking hoping the entire episode would never be mentioned again. She returned to her reading.

Did you know that all parents are imperfect? No matter how much we try we will probably feel guilty about something we did or did not do regarding our children. It's good to confess it to another. Why? Because...we are all in the same boat and we don't always know it.


Years later.


Kids grown.



They survived.



They still love me.

Monday Ramblings will return next week.

Comments

Kim said…
Thanks. Mine are 3 1/2 and 1 1/2. It is so nice to get a glimpse of my future. :-)
Devon Ellington said…
I think as long as they're secure in the love you provide, the "mistakes" fall away.

It's when love is with held that problems arise.

Obviously, you let them know they were loved.
Kim, Welcome. The future is great.

Devon, You know it. You are right on. If children feel loved then those silly mistakes are forgiven.
Mason Canyon said…
Sometimes (Moms or not) we just can't help ourselves. Words have a way of flying out of our mouth without our control. Sounds as though you handled the fallout very well afterwards. That counts greatly.
CM said…
I love that picture! Let me guess, your son was trying to read and his kid sister was bugging him??? I love the big smile on her face! Too cute.

Only TWO times you said something you regret? Uh oh, I already have you beat! Well, it sounds like your kids turned out great, so I don't think too much harm was done!

Thanks for your kind words. You're right, I guess it is kind of a ministry. Thanks for linking up.
Christine Danek said…
I may bookmark this so I can look at it when I have one of those frazzled days. My kids are 4 and 1 1/2 and it is always nice to hear what other moms go through. I don't feel so alone.
Thanks!
Hi Teresa .. I'm only a God-Mum and I did it too .. enough is enough sometimes. As you say fortunately they still love us - we all stretch those boundaries .. just such fun, despite the headaches and heartache afterwards .. we live and learn!

Enjoy the week .. Hilary
Oh this post makes me want to cry because it reminds me of when my youngest was barely a year old. She had spent most of the day whining and clinging to me.

I was trying to get something done in the kitchen, getting ready to go somewhere for the evening. I remember her sitting at my feet on the kitchen floor just crying. I just ignored her because I thought she was just trying to get attention. A few hours later, her fever spiked at 103. It turned out she had a horrible ear infection.

I'm sure she doesn't remember that incident, but it bothers me to this day. So, yes. I'm sorry.
Cindy said…
As a mom of four kids, ages 27-15, I also have those kinds of stories. We're all human moms and they love us anyway.
We humans are still evolving.
Unknown said…
Teresa, don't beat yourself up too much. We are all human after all and you've been a wonderful example to them. They need to know that life goes on after we make mistakes and you do after all love them dearly.
Carol Murdock said…
Teresa, this is a wonderful post!
My first child was born 3 months after my 16th B'day. I was a baby with a baby. I had only been a wife for 9 months and 10 days! Here I was trying to fill 2 roles I was not equipped for! I did it! I made lots of mistakes along the way but as I tell my 3 grown children now, the wonderful, successful adults they have evolved into tells me I did an excellent job in spite of myself!!
Anonymous said…
Awwww- *cyber hug* I have one son (so far) and he's going to be two on Sunday. He's incredibly willful, stubborn and very bright- all that adds up to wearing me down to being overly permissive or replying in a manner completely unbefitting the ears of a two year old. While I'm still apologizing a half hour later he's looking at me like "what's the big deal? Wanna play with my trains?"

Good to know there are other women out there with such stories. Thanks for sharing!
Mary Aalgaard said…
I have four BOYS ages 16 (almost), 12, and TWINS age 9. Come on over to my house and have a cup of chaos w/me if you're feeling overwhelmed. Love prevails. My son had appendicits that I thought was a stomach flu, so I waited two days to bring him to the ER. He survived. Thank God. The ER doc said it would be normal to think and react like I did. Now, the boys thinks he's one of the unique people in this world minus an appendix!
Betty Manousos said…
Teresa,
what cute kids!! Love the photo!
I just loved your post and I think you' re an excellent mother.
Betty xx
Man, that is one cute little girl!! I guess her brother is kind of cute, too. ;) I also happen to think you were an excellent mother.

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