April 28, 2006

Cleaning Chaos

Cleaning a house with children present is like rebuilding a house during a tornado.

I have just spent 6 hours cleaning only to go back and redo certain tasks because my son decided to dump all his Mega Blocks on the living room floor.

I think the neighbors heard me yelling, “No! No!Darn it! Pick those up, Doodlebug!” I have to remember not to say naughty words around him, and I felt guilty saying “darn”.

Needless to say, I eventually laid the Bug down for a nap and finished the rest of my chores. Even my husband helped. He mopped the kitchen and dining room floors for me and I am very thankful.

I’m tired and sore now, I think I’m going to take a nap myself.

April 27, 2006

Mommy Wars or Women’s Wars??

I was reading this and that, and I wonder: When will women be celebrated for making choices that best suit them instead of being forced to do what society expects of them?

I remember watching an episode of Dr. Phil when I was on maternity leave. The topic was Moms Who Work vs. Moms Who Stay Home. I was suffering from the “baby blues” and I became very angry and sad to see Dr. Phil of all people hosting this show that encouraged moms to “duke it out” over their viewpoints. I felt enraged. So what if one mother chooses to have a career as well as be a parent. So what if another mother chooses to stay home with her children. Who are WE to judge what another woman does? We have no right to force our opinions on others. Whether it be about politics, religion, sex or parenthood; what right is it of mine to say, “Your method sucks, you should really do this!”

I consider myself to be a feminist. I vote for women who stand up for themselves and do what they want rather than what they “should” do. The “shoulds” really piss me off. (Yes, I said piss– deal with it.) All my life I was told I “should” go to college. I “should not” have sex before marriage. I “should” go to church every Sunday. I “should not” drink alcohol. The list of “shoulds” and “should nots” goes on and on. Well I’ve had enough of it. What I decide to do is no concern of anyone, as long as I’m living my life ethically and morally and not causing harm to another person.

Now as a mother, the list of “shoulds” is enormous! I “should” create a schedule and routine for my baby. I “should not” let him eat hot dogs or macaroni and cheese. I “should” spend 6-8 hours a day playing with my child. I “should not” have a pet around my son. I “should” stay home with my son. I “should” go to work so I don’t waste my mind.

Frankly, I “should” stop listening to nonsense and follow my own rules. What works for me may not work for others and it’s perfectly acceptable to accept that. We can agree to disagree. We should support each other, not attack each other.

I think the Queen of Spain is 100% correct when she says, “We’re being discredited by our own kind.” It sickens me to think that I’m being attacked by my fellow woman rather than celebrated for my achievements. Whether I work in a big office downtown or in my home as a mother, I should be praised not patronized. And I should praise other women for their accomplishments as well. Our differences should be appreciated not exploited.

April 25, 2006

Sexy in Sweatpants?

Last night I came home from work, fed and bathed my baby, put him to bed, made dinner for myself and than curled up on the couch to watch another North and South tape. I only have one more of the first book left.

I was so into the movie that when it was over, I realized my husband had come home from work and was sitting on the sofa.

I looked over at him and said, “Oh my! When did you get home?”

He just laughed at me. He apparently had been home for 20 minutes and I never saw him walk into the room nor did I hear the front door open for that matter.

He was a little irked stating, “What if I had been a burglar?” Considering my hometown has 23,000 people and is pretty safe, chances are this won’t happen, but he did have a point.

I calmly told him that if he were really a burglar, our dog Murphy would have attacked him to pieces. But then again, Murphy didn’t bark when Hubby got home so now I wonder.

After we finished watching my flick we turned on the show “Medium”. I love this television show. Patricia Arquette is a “real” actress. Meaning, she’s not stick thin.

Halfway during the episode my ever-funny hubby said, “You look kind of sexy tonight. What did you do differently?”

I almost choked laughing. I was laying on our couch in sweatpants, a tank top and hoody jacket with my slippers on.

“What do you mean I look sexy?” I said.

He replied, “I dunno, your hair looks cute, you look smart with your glasses on, and you just look sexy.”

I actually got up to feel his forehead. Then I remembered he is my husband and he loves me. So he’s obligated to say things like that. Okay! Okay! I’m sure he really means it!

April 24, 2006

Funny Hubby

My husband is a comic. This is not news. He’s always been a funny, witty and sarcastic. It’s just that he sometimes drives me over the edge with his humor.

For example, last night I was surfing the internet and came across www.mygeneology.com. The site allows you to upload your photo and it then scans your facial features to find which celebrities you most resemble. I was having fun until the site told me I look 71% like Bridget Fonda, 70% like Cybil Shephard 68% like Katie Holmes (are you KIDDING ME?) and 67% like Jodi Foster (umm..SURE I do).

My husband was loving the Katie Holmes thing. He’s had a crush on her since Dawson’s Creek. He is the ONLY man I know who was upset about her pregnancy by Tom Cruise. Yes, that’s my husband. The man with a “Katie Crush”, who loves to watch Entertainment Tonight and reads In-Touch Magazine (he claims he likes to see what the celebs are wearing, but I know he’s lookin’ at the ladies in their Oscar dresses).

All night my goofy hubby kept calling me Katie and saying things like, “Don’t tell my wife, Katie, but I think you’re hot” or “Let’s hook-up, my wife won’t be home for hours, Katie.” I was getting rather irritated by his hilarious little remarks so I said, “Listen, Doug is it? My handsome boyfriend Brad, err…I mean Tom would be very angry if I cheated on him, being that we’re scientologists and all…” I think I managed to shut him up because he just continued to watch the news.

What kind of dork did I marry? He is my dork and I love him.