Thank you for stopping by! As I rarely have time to update this blog anymore, please come visit me at my new photoblog, Cari Berry Photography where I'll blog the occassional Beauty and the little Beast story, as well as post sneak peeks and stories from all my photo sessions. I try to give return blog love to all visitors over there, and hope to start giveaways there in the very near future!

For visitors to this blog, please accept my apologies, but I've had to turn on captcha because of the insane amount of spam comments I've been getting. Dontcha hate it when one bad apple ruins it for everyone else??!! ;)

Saturday, March 14, 2009

He Loves Me.

Anyone who has spent more than 3 seconds reading my blog will know that I am definitely not in the running for a Mother of the Year Award. I yell. I sometimes curse. I've even locked my toddler in his bedroom while he screamed that he was "all done take a NAAAAAPPPP!". And this week was perhaps worse than usual. All three of us had the flu simultaneously, which meant being cooped up in the house 24/7 with my children, cleaning up more messes than I can count and tackling piles of laundry while battling waves of nausea and a paralyzing headache.

But tonight, I was finally getting a break! Going to have a drink with a girlfriend celebrating her birthday at a local bar. It should've been a wonderful night. But the little Beast jumped on Beauty's head while using her as a makeshift hurdle, which led her to an epic meltdown. Then, the little Beast adamantly refused to go to bed on time, robbing me of the time I needed to straighten my hair and touch up my makeup. Then, Beauty threw up all over my never-before-worn nightclub outfit on my way out the door. At this point, I had used up all but one hour of my babysitter's time, which I knew would be barely long enough to get through the bar line to order a drink, let alone imbibe it!

At my breaking point, I whined to my mom on the phone, "I HATE my life this week!"

To which she replied, "Well, motherhood's not always glamorous."

I laughed and said, "Is it EVER?!" In that moment, I couldn't see past the overwhelming stress of it to remember all the little joys.

BUT THEN... putting the little Beast down for bed, I leaned over him to kiss him goodnight. He put his chubby little toddler hands on my cheeks and said , "I yub you Mama."

With heart melting, and guilt mounting, I replied, "Oh, I love you too buddy. So much. I love you all the way to the moon."

And that charming, clever, angelic little boy responded, "Yeah! and i yub you all da way to da sunshine!"

Well, it may not be glamorous, and somedays it's so exhausting, frustrating, heartbreaking that I can barely keep my head up, but nothing in this world compares to the knowledge that this perfect and precious little person loves me back in spite of all the ways I fail him.

29 comments:

Melinda said...

Motherhood is definitely NOT glamorous but at the same time there is NOTHING more rewarding...esp. when they express how much they really love you. My four-year-old wanted to hold my hand as he went to sleep tonight : )

Kati said...

I totally agree with you. You can't help but smile when they say I love you! It instantly makes things better!!

Have a good weekend!!

Kameron said...

It's amazing how they seem to bring you back when you are at your breaking point. I remember when my son was 2 months old and all he did was scowl and cry. One night I broke down crying to my husband and told him that we had an unhappy baby who always cried, I could never put him down for a minute and he'd probably never smile. An instant later I picked him up and he flashed me his first big smile. It melted me when I thought I couldn't handle any more!

Oh, and I saw your comment on Alicia's blog about the shirt I made for her. :o) I make most of the shirts I do by request so if you'd like on just let me know and we can work out what colors or fabrics and the design!

Oh and I think you said Heather is going to re-do your blog. She is my cousins's wife and she did my blog too. She is awesome to work with!!

Unknown said...

How sweet! Every once in a while I have moments like that, too. Meaning, the good moments that remind me that it's worth it. I have too many of the yelling, tired, frustrated moments. Girls Nights Out are so important, though, for the sanity!

Brooke said...

What a sweet, sweet post. I totally can relate to those tough days, especially days where I feel like I don't have enough patience that I need to have, and my kiddo still loves me no matter what (well, at least until she's a teenager).

Heather did my blog too! She's so great and easy to work with and FUN!

Kelly said...

I have been in many situations like this and though that I was going to loose it. Then they say one of those cute and unforgettable things that melts your heart and you remember why you had kids in the first place. No one is a perfect mother...just remember that! :)

Beth said...

Not glamorous at all. And sometimes more frustrating than rewarding.

But, somehow, still worth it. And it's hard to put in words. But, like you, I wouldn't change it for anything.

MaryAnne said...

It's the sweet moments that make it all worth it...

Sarah said...

Seriously your blog cracks me up! I just love those moments that remind us why we chose to loose our sanity and have children! (Flying in from SITS)

Courtney and the Boys said...

Um, are you inside my head? I swear I feel this same way a LOT of the time...especially when we're all sick. That's just the worst. Hope the rest of your weekend is better!

Court

Unknown said...

I couldn't help but smile at the end of your story! How cute!

Heather said...

How is that little kids know just when to be sweet and say stuff like that?It's amazing!

Kelli said...

I love your blog. I was laughing then your cute little "I yub you mama" gave me the chills! Don't you just love them so much that you can't stand it?

Alexia said...

That's the only thing that keeps me going at it too!

Sally's World said...

loved this post...it is so real and honest as usual, i've forgotten what glamour is!!!

Rachel said...

Ahh... one of THOSE days! I know exactly what you mean. And somehow the little guy finds a way to remind me that this IS life... the one I wanted. And he most certainly is worth it.

Thanks for sharing. I found myself going "oh yeah, I know about that"... all through it!

Love ya all the way to da sunshine!

BeLoVed AiMeE said...

so cute!

Elaine at Matters of the Heart) said...

Aww, what a precious post. So true, they love us in spite of us...

Bar-b said...

btdt, thanks for posting about it. Your hhnesty rings true with most moms.

Did you resched???????

Lisa@saltandlightstudio said...

So sorry you missed your girls night out, that truly does suck.

At least you know that God has a sense of humor. ;)

And He too wubs you all the way to da sunshine...and then some..

BlogBaby

Unknown said...

I am soooo feelin' ya! Puke and all!

missy said...

oh my gosh.....how sweet is that!??!!?!?

Eyeglasses & Endzones said...

Yeah, Sometimes you just want to lock yourself in the bathroom with a tub, candle, good book and an alarm clock to wake up in the morning. I hope everyone is on the up and up...and one day when they remember how stressed we were...they might just write us a check for all our troubles LOL =*)

Keri said...

So true! I can relate- I've had a few of those crazy days lately. But it's all so worth it isn't it?

Thanks for sharing REAL life with the rest of us overwhelmed Mommy's out there!

Unknown said...

They are worth missing one night out with the girls. Your kids are SO cute and remember to always keep in your mind that he loves you to the sunshine when you are having a hard day. Good luck with the next girls night out! I hope you make it.....;)

Miti said...

Oh man.....do I relate, Carebear. I know exactly how you feel. It's so funny to read your post because I recently had a similar post on my blog. It's called The Love Story. It's good to know that others are sharing in the same frustrations of motherhood. I wanted to invite you over to my blog for Scenic Sundays - a photography meme I created. It focuses more on the beautiful places rather than the beautiful faces. Hope to see you there! And just try to take this motherhood thing one day at a time. That's what I try to do, but I understand. Sometimes it's not that easy.

Lauren said...

I'm so glad to see motherhood in reality. Not quite a Mom yet, but it's nice to know what to expect and know that it's not glamorous. Thanks!

lmt1073 said...

no matter what, they can always bring us back when we are at our wits end. and i wish i could tell you it will get better but dealing with a teenager is pure hell. she is mean!!! but then she does the sweetest things and it makes me forget about all that!

Unknown said...

I love being a mommy, but definitely agree that it can be really hard. A child's unconditional love makes it all worth while and we just have to try to remember that even when they are having their many off moments!