Friday, August 04, 2006

Is this all it takes to get on the Today show??

Ha! Anyone watch TODAY, today? I Tivoed it because I don't get up by 7 am. :) Or...you know 10, (which actually reminds me. There was this lady in my church from the “crack of dawn” club who used to ALWAYS make these jabs at me for being a sleeper. Here's the thing. I don't go to bed until two or three in the morning. I'm a night owl. I can't help it, it's just the way I'm made. BUT that doesn't mean I spend my life in bed. I sleep seven to eight hours a night just at different times than the average person. Does that make me lazy? :) Well, I might be lazy but THAT doesn't make me so. I'm just saying...)

Okay, back to TODAY. There’s a woman on who has the audacity to say “Motherhood is Boring!” I’ve been saying that forever and NO ONE has been calling me to be interviewed by Campbell Brown. Can I just say it? I’d rather Instant Message with Chris Lynxwiler or Rachel Hauck than play Star Wars Monopoly with my kids. There’s no challenge… I can’t lose a game of Monopoly and I won’t throw the game. But beyond that, I DO play occasionally. I stop working every now and then to watch a funny episode of Spongebob or The Fairly Odd Parents (CRACKS ME UP). I think being there for our kids is much more than catering to their every whim. My kids want me to leave them alone 83% of the time. So I figure if I pay attention 17% of the time, we’re good. We have dinner together every night, although more often than not it’s Taco Bell on paper plates or pizza from Giorgios, but we’re eating it together. Non negotiable. Dinner—family time. Period.

What do you think? What does Motherhood mean to you? Let’s open a can of worms!

13 Comments:

Blogger Edgy Inspirational Author said...

What a riot! Yes, Claire is a kick! I hope to read the sequel at some point (if it comes to my house.) With my reading list that's the only way I'll get to it. Looking forward to the sequel of TCOTS even more!

August 04, 2006 11:30 AM  
Blogger kate said...

I just heard them discussing this on The View and then I checked my email and saw your title (ACFW) and thought 'hey, is she watching The View too'? Close. Anyway, I cannot imagine that motherhood could be boring and I personally feel sorry for this mom. I can see that motherhood can be frustrating, overwhelming, unnerving, lonely, crazy, and a thousand other words -but never boring. I loved having my three sons live at home. Those were truly the best days of my life - all that fun - loud boys, wrestling, fights, etc - how much more could one girl ask for???

Tracey - I'm amazed at your weight loss. Please share HOW you did this. I need to drop 50.

Hugs to all, Kath

August 04, 2006 11:41 AM  
Blogger Tracey Bateman said...

Hey Kate,
I think what she actually meant was what you said. She even said, "If I had said Motherhood is stressful, I wouldn't be getting all the backlash" She really did phrase it poorly. But as I listened to the interview, she was acutally saying, I just need time for me too. I can't be a "mom" 24/7 I would go nuts!! Just goes to show that there are different approaches to mothering. My mom was definitely a nurturer who gave me all of her time. I'm not so much that way, but it works for us as long as I give them what they need and don't live in a fog. :) Thanks so much for entering the discussion!

August 04, 2006 11:50 AM  
Blogger Unknown said...

You know, I'm a SAHM. I'm not BORED, but I DO get the "me syndrome" going at times. If I had a job outside the home, I wouldn't even be in the same building as my children for 8-9 hours a day. At least I'm here. No, I don't cater to their every whim. We read together daily, do "lessons", and eat together for dinner. But when I'm "working", they pretty much understand that they can't demand my attention. And mine range from 16 to 4, so it's a spread. But I implemented a schedule that I TRY to stick to, and that works for the most part. Then again, it's not just the kids....people from church and such call on me to do things because I'm "home". I've learned to look at that caller id and ignore a lot. LOL

August 04, 2006 12:22 PM  
Blogger Linda Fulkerson said...

Anyone who thinks motherhood is boring needs to spend 10 minutes with my daughter! She's a hoot. And so is my son. Of course, I'm blessed that my "kids" are easing out of their teen years now and are becoming less and less like my children and more and more like my friends. I've been a mother for nearly 19 years now and I've never been bored once!

August 04, 2006 12:33 PM  
Blogger Georgiana Daniels said...

Boring? Never. But, like Robin I need the "me" time too. In fact, there are 2 times a month when I want/need to leave the house BY MYSELF, and when I didn't get that last weekend I was a total booger. I do love being with my 3 kids 24/7 and I wouldn't have it any other way. I did the career thingy, and prefer being home with my entertaining children.

August 04, 2006 12:41 PM  
Blogger Cyndy Salzmann said...

I'm not what my kids call a "mommy-mom" either -- and I have always felt sooo guilty about it. I have some good ideas -- but lose interest quickly.

My middle daughter (18)is fond of saying, "You know I am going to remember this, Mom." And, trust me, she will. I found out a couple weeks ago she carries a LIST in her purse of times she feels her dad and I have slighted her. Seriously. I didn't believe it until she pulled it out of her purse and read it to us.

In typical "non-Mommy-Mom" fashion, I responded "Just remember that I am the one who will be helping you shop for stuff to decorate your dorm room." She answered, "Do you realize how much these veiled threats are hurting my development?" Veiled threats?!? And what about MY development? Just thinking about that list in her purse gives me a hot flash.

This summer I have made a concerted effort to schedule stuff with the girls each day because I am afraid I will end up oposite Dr. Phil if I don't. So we have tea at 2:30 most days -- complete with little cucumber sandwiches -- and play this lame game called "Imagine If..." The girls really enjoy this -- so my plan is snag Liz's list when she's not looking and burn it on the gas grill. I am hoping the cucumber sandwiches will blur her memory. : )

August 04, 2006 12:47 PM  
Blogger Cyndy Salzmann said...

BTW Tracey -- you look FABULOUS girl!

August 04, 2006 12:51 PM  
Blogger Cara Putman said...

We talked about this on my blog, too: www.carasmusings.blogger.com.

It's interesting to see the full range of views on this. I don't always love being a mom. There are parts of the job that I really don't enjoy and that feel like a just that -- a job. But there are so many times when God reminds me that the children are His gift/trust to me. And my husband is always quick to remind me they will grow up too quickly. My oldest starts first grade in a couple weeks - and that is so humbling. I still remember her tucked behind me in her carseat during some of my law classes. And before I know it she'll be headed to college. I'm trying to find joy in my children, even on the days I don't feel like doing it. But boy am I glad that I can rest in the assurance, that even on the hard days, God knows I am the right mom for them. Now if I could just BELIEVE that!

August 04, 2006 1:15 PM  
Blogger Melanie Dickerson said...

Tracey, let me just say I'm so glad I'm not the only one!!!
I have never admitted it before, but to me, motherhood, at least spending 24/7 with children, especially toddlers, taking care of all the discipline issues, their fighting, THEIR boredom... I'm sorry, but it's BORING! At times, I used to think my brain would turn to MUSH!
I always wanted so badly to be the perfect mom. I took a course when my first child was a baby so I could make and decorate all their birthday cakes. Just spent five hours this morning decorating my 8-yr-old's cake. Right now I'm hurrying through this comment so I can help my (oh-so-demanding) 4-yr-old wrap her present for her sister. Believe me, I would rather be working on my medieval romance (your paid critique-ee is waving at you, Tracey, thanks so much!).
But God gave me these children, and so help me, I will be the best mother I can possibly be for them. Because I love them. And because I love them, I realize it would be best that they not be homeschooled. If ya know what I mean.
Melanie Dickerson

August 04, 2006 2:09 PM  
Blogger Heather Diane Tipton said...

not a mom... but I SO get the sleeping til ten thing and everyone thinking you're lazy... they ignore the fact that I don't usually go to bed til 4.

August 05, 2006 10:45 PM  
Blogger Rachel Hauck said...

Great post, Tracey.

You know what else is boring and monotonous without the life long rewards of parenting?

A corporate career, dead end "free love" relationships, selfish pursuit of hobbies, etc, etc.

What isn't boring after awhile?

GREAT things in life make us sacrifice and work.

Rachel

August 06, 2006 5:52 PM  
Blogger Vicki said...

Glad to meet another night owl. Folks just don't get it, do they?:-)

Gonna link to you if that's okay. Congrats on your book nomination in the 2006 ACFW Book of the Year contest. Blessings to you! I mentioned all the finalists on my blog at http://victoriagaines.com

August 07, 2006 2:31 PM  

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