A second opinion
Posted on Wednesday, May 7, 2008
URL: http://www.nwanews.com/gentry/Opinion/2440/
ì Maybe it is a bad idea to run with worms. î
As a Mom, I find myself saying strange things that make me wonder, ì What did I just say ? î No wonder people without kids probably think weíre nuts.
Before I had kids I never told anybody ì Please eat your butter, toast and all, î or ì Boogers are ickypoo ! Yuck, give that to me ! î I used to speak like a normal person and I rarely ever talked to myself.
People look at you a little funny when you are in the store and you tell an infant ì Do you think Daddy would like some peas for supper ? Lets go find some peas. î But they look at you really funny when you say that and youíre alone. OK, I did catch myself, but sometimes my brain just thinks in baby talk.
I thought Motherís day would be a good time to reflect on how blessed I am to have children. Thereís nothing like the feeling of chubby little arms wrapped around your neck and hearing, ì I love you Mommy. î Life with children is probably the biggest adventure I will ever have and educational as well.
If I didnít have kids, I wouldnít know that earthworms donít have eyes. My 4-year-old, Emily, has a very big interest in earthworms since her Grandma gave her a plastic box full of dirt in which to keep them ó in the interest of science of course.
ì Do earthworms have eyes ? î Emily asked. ì If this one does, I canít see them. î
We did an Internet search and found out that earthworms do not have eyes, but do have light sensitive cells scattered over their bodies. They cannot see, but they can sense if they are in the light or the dark. Who knew ?
While digging in the garden this week, Emily found another earthworm. ì I have to show Daddy ! î she shouted and ran full speed towards the house, worm in hand, only to trip six steps later. She took a flying belly flop in the grass and the worm flew at least six feet in the opposite direction. I actually saw sunlight reflecting off his slimy body as he arched through the air.
Luckily for the worm, if he survived, we were unable to find him. Emily, however, was very upset. I gently reminded her that it probably is a bad idea to run with worms, that we should carry them carefully.
If I didnít have kids I would never get to officiate at goldfish funerals. My Mom got Emily and 21-month-old Isaac three goldfish. Unfortunately, Cassie the goldfish died before I got home.
ì Mommy, you take pictures of car wrecks and fires, you need to take a picture of Cassie, î Emily said.
So I took pictures of Cassie floating on her side in the tank. Then I took pictures of Emily looking sadly at Cassie floating in the tank. Under Emilyís direction, we put Cassie in an old perfume box with flowers on top and laid her to rest in the garden after a very solemn service.
Iím not sure what Randy, my editor, thought when I turned in a memory card full of baseball pictures, school events and dead fish. With children of his own, Iím sure he understood.
After the next paper came out, Emily asked me where Cassieís pictures were. Uh-oh. She asked me when they would be in the paper. I told her I would have to talk to my editor, hoping she would forget. Not a chance !
ì I have looked in many papers and not seen any pictures of Cassie. Have you talked to your editor um Ö Randy ? î She asked.
So I would like to remember Cassie as I promised. She did not get a chance to be a part of our lives for very long. She was the most beautiful of our goldfish and we will miss her very much. She is buried next to Grandmaís fishpond in the garden, and we will always remember her.
And we probably will. My parents still tease me about my goldfishís funereal. I insisted that my goldfish be buried in the creek.
Then there are the questions that you canít find on Google. The ones that would leave the deepest philosopher stumped.
ì Iím scared, Iím scared I want to sleep with you, î Emily said. We told her that Jesus would send his angels to watch over her while she slept. We prayed for God to watch over her all night. We thought we were such wise parents for the way we handled the situation.
Emily was tucked under the covers, looking sleepy. ì If God is watching me while I sleep, and heís watching me while I play, when does he go to bed ? î Um, good question. ì Well God is all powerful and omnipresent and he doesnít have to sleep, î we replied. All-powerful and omnipresent doesnít make much sense to a 4-year old.
ì But if sleeping is good for us, why doesnít God sleep ? î she asked.
My brain began spinning tales about time zones and rotating shifts. ì We donít really know if he sleeps or not, we probably wonít find out until we get to heaven. î
Then, the next morning, Emily asked, ì What does God eat for breakfast ? î Another very good question. Maybe he eats manna, or maybe he eats fruit, or maybe he doesnít eat at all. If the Bible covers that, I donít know about it.
Moms definitely deserve a little understanding especially when weíre late or forget something. I saw on the news that doctors have scientifically proven that women with small children have a brain chemistry problem that causes them to have a condition called Momnesia.
Women with Momnesia do things like forgetting their car keys and doctorís appointments.
The condition is caused by the chemicals in the brain that help Momís focus on their children. It is also a matter of only having so much attention to go around.
So the good news for me is that next time I thank someone for an interview and leave, only to return five minutes later for my keys and notebook, itís not because Iím crazy or irresponsible, itís because I have Momnesia.
Even with special disorders, exhausting nights, enormous messes and heart-stopping scares, Momís are very blessed. We have little people ó some of us have bigger people ó that God has given us to take care of and love with all of our hearts.