"Earth's crammed with heaven, And every common bush afire with God, But only he who sees takes off his shoes, The rest sit 'round it and pluck blackberries."

- Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Aurora Leigh

Thursday, December 11, 2008

Caught by the Boogaliechoo

I am a mother.

This means that sometimes I yell at my children.

Actually, I'm not too much of a yeller, I'm more of a stern disapproving guilt-tripper. I think that's worse.

Sometimes I do unwarranted stern-disapproving guilt-tripping. I know, oh the horror.

On a plus note.... I do try to say I am sorry, or admit that I have been grumpy when times like this occur. I appreciated this as a child, and figure that it's something. I am not saying I always succeed in saying this, or that sometimes I don't have the same issues my children have (i.e. knowing I'm going to have to say sorry mid-guilt-trip, and still doing it... once again... oh the horror).

Anyway, this past week E has had a huge cough. Which means we are often awake in the middle of the night. Which means I am often grumpy the next day.

(Yes - I am a sleep-a-holic - but we'll save that for another post.)

So, I have been grumpy, and consequently apologizing, a lot lately. Today (not really a grumpy day after all) the following conversation occurred:

Mom: You may not roll backward off the couch onto your sister's head. (A reasonable request, I think.)

E: Humph. (And off in a huff to the kitchen she goes).

Mom: I love you, E.

E: I love you too, Mom. And I'm sorry that you're grumpy today.

Well, then.

8 comments:

Adhis said...

I, too, have honed my skills as an unwarranted guilt-tripper. Ugh. I'm hoping if I don't use that skill anymore, I'll lose it. Like my Spanish.

Kassie said...

Grumpy days are simply proof that you are A-human and B- a mom... It is amazing what an Im Sorry, I love you and a Hug will do though.

Mark & Bek said...

That's pretty cute. She is such a smart kid.

Jody said...

Hah! Looks like she's got your number. :)

Adhis said...

Kassie's comment looks like a report card.

You get an "A-" as a human and a "B-" as a mom. Hm. Was that graded on a curve?

Adhis said...

I just noticed the "tres boutique" on the side of your blog. The link leads to the lost side of town. Summer's site is atreschicboutique.com

Shelley said...

Our kids are smarter than we give them credit for, aren't they? what a sweetie!

Rosie said...

love it.