So here I sit this day pondering on what my offspring really feel about me as a Mom. In all honesty it doesn't matter now because they turned out as awesome humans, so I must have been okay,
RIGHT?
From the moment I felt the first flutter of life I was elated and crying at the same time. They both caused me to get fat and fatter. They caused me to eat everything in the kitchen and from all the Tom Thumbs that sold Little Debbies and wash-downs of Tab. Calories were high on my doctor’s attention. Tabs would take care of the calories,
RIGHT?
I spent years on creek banks and KOA's rolling in sand-filled beds inside sagging tents and a pop-up camper to prove I was a good Mom. They ate my campfire grits seasoned with gobs of rancid butter and accidental sand from the dropped spoon. Sand helped the grits to thicken,
RIGHT?
The first one requested her teacher reserve me a whole seat on the bus they were taking for a field trip because, "My Mom is BIG." Day of field trip the teacher started laughing as I walked up to load my seven-month pregnant self.
"Oh, now I see."
Good parenting,
RIGHT?
The last one came home after a week of kindergarten with all the ‘I See Sam’ books to practice reading to us.
"He can't read yet."
"Yes he can, came to school reading."
"How?"
Mr. Rogers, Captain Kangaroo, Mr. Green Jeans…
"Where was I?"
There but not really there. Good parenting,
RIGHT?
I caused them to use the World Book Encyclopedia when they asked me to answer a question on some random homework assignment.
"Look it up, we own a perfectly good set of encyclopedias and a Webster’s that is paid in full."
The guilt would come to haunt my sleep, but I was right,
RIGHT?
Years crawled by like cold molasses at times when I wondered when the drudgery would be over. I wanted them to like what I liked. Country music gagged both of them. They liked music that sounded like car crashes caused by yowling cats.
"Close that door or I'm gonna bust that thing wide open."
Michael Jackson, be damn,
RIGHT?
I tried to teach them to do laundry and cook enough to survive if necessary. I got bleach spots on new denim everything. One even melted a plastic bowl while trying to warm milk for a kitten. Surely my DNA wasn't that messed up,
RIGHT?
Time took off and so did they. We were finally empty nesters and I could not adjust to that. Long Sunday afternoons were wistful and lonely. One was making her own little people and spending time with her head in books of higher learning. Another was between some college and helping Uncle Sam in far flung places of this world to keep us safe and free. Turkey, Saudi, really? Not one Christmas together for four years. That was a reflection of good parenting,
RIGHT?
I spent one entire year driving to Birmingham bi-monthly to catch up on laundry, clean the house, cook and freeze foods for my precious grandbabies so they would have a hot meal while their parents worked and attended classes in other cities. My son-in-law loved me on those weekends. That was good parenting,
RIGHT?
...Dang right. I got peed on, snotty kisses and sleep togethers. I feel the relief of protection in this litigation-crazy world by the one that reads the law. He will defend his mother,
RIGHT?
I was honored to watch as both my offspring walked into the new phases of their lives with sheep skins and outstanding student loans. That is a good thing,
RIGHT?
Two years ago, I was honored to watch as my first grandchild walked across the stage to be handed a diploma for twelve years of hard work that has earned him a spot at Auburn, where he studies engineering and has recently joined the power lifting team.
My precious, smart granddaughter is a student in Mobile at the Alabama School of Math and Science.
Those perfect grandchildren thankfully own none of my math skills,
but,
They show very good examples of good grandparenting.
RIGHT?
I don't take credit for their parenting, but I do think I set a good example,
RIGHT?
Right…
You can check out Earline’s blog and buy a copy of her first book “Life With the Top Down” at: http://www.earlinesdoins.com.
