I pride myself on home cooked meals (sometimes cereal for dinner), keeping the house mostly clean, and showering my children with love.
But I have never been very good at certain aspects of it. I have to work really hard to play dollies or do puzzles or play board games. It doesn't come natural to me. I always feel like I have so much else to do.
And letting them do my hair or nails? Well, I've never really known what I would do because my other 3 girls have never asked if they could paint my nails or do my hair. But Nora? She is in a little class all by herself.
When she asked if she could paint my nails last night, I just looked at her for a second. "Wouldn't you rather paint Julia's nails?" I said. Yes, I was THAT mom for a moment. She wanted to paint MY nails, so I took a deep breath and said yes. I was soo proud of myself! That might seem like a silly thing to some. But to let my 3 year old paint all over my fingers with 3 different colors was really a milestone in my mothering.
I think all parents sacrifice their own wants and needs for their children, but we all have that one certain thing we don't want to do. Letting Nora paint my nails was mine. But OH! how wrong I was. It was so fun, super cute, and I just felt all warm and happy inside. Maybe I should let her put make up on me next time? Nah!
What have you let your kids do that was really hard for you? And was it worth it?
Awww! And that's why we love you mom!
ReplyDeleteA dear friend of mine used to let his daughter (yes, HIS daughter) do his hair and nails. He would un-do his hair and remove the polish from his finger nails before leaving the house, but he always kept the toes painted because 1) his macho friends would never know and 2) it made him smile to know that his daughter liked to pretty him up. (Her mom had left them shortly after she was born, so he tried his best to give her the things she lost when her mom left.)
ReplyDeleteYou really are a fab mom!!