|

|

The Only One

I had the pleasure of meeting Darcie on my Disney trip last spring.  I actually discovered her blog a couple weeks before we left, and I liked her instantly.  I wasn’t disappointed when we met in person.  We hit it off immediately and she’s still one of my favorite blogs to read — quality writing infused with humor and transparency — right up my alley!  Please make her feel welcome.

There are times when it’s good to be the only
one.

Like on Black Friday, when your kids would give a kidney for
a Wii and you are the only one lined up outside Best Buy at 5 am.

Or when you’re the only one with all the matching
Powerball numbers.  The only one to get called back for a second
interview.  The only one your two-year-old reaches for when he wakes up
groggy-eyed and wants to be cuddled.

All good times to be the only one, don’t ya think?

And then there are other times when it’s absolutely
dreadful to be the only one.

The only one to show up to a baby shower.  The only one
to wear jeans to what you thought was a casual gathering.  The only one to
forget your mom’s birthday.

Not. Good.

There have been times in my life when something really
embarrassing or just plain bad has happened to me and the only thought that
brings me any solace at all is that surely, I am not the only one this has
happened to.  Surely someone else has gone before me, and lived through to
see the light.  And maybe it’s the competitive nature in me (or
something else entirely) but the thought that someone else can endure the same
trials and tribulations I am, and can come out a better person for having
trudged through, well, it encourages me.

So I’m hoping that y’all will help me out
here.  Because there are things I deal with on a day to day basis that
often times leave me scratching my head contemplating how I went from a
somewhat hip young chick to a 30-ish mom of four whose greatest
aspirations on any given day include making it to noon without having to fish a
spoon, or Hot Wheels car, or board book from the toilet.

I’m not alone in that am I?  Because, you know,
misery loves company and all.

Anyway, I’ve compiled a little list of some of the
things that I pray at least one or two of you can relate to.

So, please, for the love of all things sane, tell me
I’m not the only one…

– who views a trip to the grocery store (or the bathroom for
that matter) as “me” time.
– who will order a Diet Coke and salad with low fat dressing on the side, all
so that I have a few calories to spare for the white chocolate raspberry
cheesecake I saw on the dessert menu.
– who finds dried up boogers on the walls and sheets in my child’s (I
won’t say which one) bedroom.
– who tries and tries but can’t jog a full mile without cheating and
walking at least a little bit of it.
– who has learned to appreciate the view through a window full of handprints.
– who has a friend that I dread calling back because I know I’ll be on
the phone for two hours.
– who has never even considered downloading some fancy ring tone for my cell
phone.
– who considers JoJo the Clown and Handy Manny fashion forward.
– who is on a first name basis with the poison control operator.
– who doesn’t text.
– who trusts that Matt and Meredith will tell me all the news I need to know.
– who still reads actual books, as opposed to listening to them.
– who is intimidated enough by my kids’ teachers that I insist on calling
them Mrs. ___________.
– who isn’t ashamed to admit that, yes, the TV has served as a babysitter
from time to time.
– who, in spite of the nitty and the gritty of the daily occurrences, gives
thanks daily for every last moment of it.

Darcie blogs at Such the Spot.

 

Join The Conversation

36 Responses

  1. I love the “me” time at the grocery stores. I can turn a quick trip into 2 hours and so enjoy myself!

  2. Well, I personally like to take my extra calories on the french fries.

    No. No, you’re not alone. 🙂

  3. LOL! at the boogers on the wall comment! I thought I was the only one! When DD was about 3.5 I tucked her little sweet beautiful self into bed and she turned to look at me and said “Their don’t have boogers on the wall at the pizza place, do they mommy?” Faint. No, honey I don’t think they do. “Well *I* do!” A frantic dash for the light and an inspection of the wall by her bed revealed a fine covering of dried up boogers all over her nice spanking white wall. So no, you are definitely not the only one cleaning dried up boogers off the wall.

  4. Just found your blog..dont know where…and love this list. I can relate to so many of them. But, come on….start texting! 🙂

    Have a great day.
    Hugs,
    Fran
    TN

  5. I not only view grocery shopping as me time, but also as a great excuse to just SHOP! I have never downloaded a ring tone and don’t know how, don’t text, and have never listened to an audio book. The daily-ness of life is truly something to be thankful for, especially when you’ve lived a time that seemed it would never get back to normal, so yes, I am so thankful for this, too.

    Steph

  6. You are definitely not alone…I totally see myself in your list. I cannot get into texting and find ‘treasures’ in my kids’ (not just one) beds all the time. I don’t get to see Matt/Meredith anymore because the tv is tuned to some cartoon so I can shower but like you wouldn’t change a thing.

  7. Definitely not alone on finding “me time” at the grocery store. I’ve been known to stand in the magazine section for nearly an hour. And the friend that you dread calling because she talks for two hours? I’ve got one of those friends, too. 🙂

  8. I’m nodding my head and saying “me, too!” for so many of these.

    I don’t text. I don’t have any special ring tones. And my windows have hand prints, nose prints and dog slobber accenting the view.

  9. No way are you the only one!! There were many on your list that I can totally relate too. I think some are just part of being “mom”, which is a good thing. Great post and thanks for taking the time to babysit Musings while Jo-Lynne is eating her blueberry pies in Maine!!

  10. Great list. . . I have grown to love handprints on the windows. Bathroom time is ME time. I love handy manny – one of my favorite cartoons. Poison Control and I have seasons of time when we touch base – a lot! I read AND listen to books. Sometimes the TV can be a great babysitter.

  11. I can relate to probably 90% of this list. And texting…I’ll probably never know how to do it. I figure by the time I learn how, there will be some new technology so really, what’s the point?

  12. I can relate to probably 90% of this list. And texting…I’ll probably never know how to do it. I figure by the time I learn how, there will be some new technology so really, what’s the point?

  13. I can relate to probably 90% of this list. And texting…I’ll probably never know how to do it. I figure by the time I learn how, there will be some new technology so really, what’s the point?

  14. I can relate to probably 90% of this list. And texting…I’ll probably never know how to do it. I figure by the time I learn how, there will be some new technology so really, what’s the point?

  15. I can relate to probably 90% of this list. And texting…I’ll probably never know how to do it. I figure by the time I learn how, there will be some new technology so really, what’s the point?

  16. I can relate to almost all of them. But I do text and love it. Remember, talking about calling that friend that will talk for 2 hours, text her. It goes alot faster. LOL

  17. I especially felt very alone when I discovered those dried up surprises on the walls when the mover was taking the bed away from the wall where they were hidden for who knows how long.

    About the teachers, I have a hard time writing a quick note to them without using my perfect penmanship and rechecking my spelling.

  18. I can give you an amean for quite a few of those. In fact, just the other day, I was going grocery shopping–yes for groceries–and husband wanted me to bring the kids, and I said in all seriousness “Doesn’t that kindof defeat the point of “me” time?” And then I thought how pathetic that I am considering my grocery shopping part of “me” time.

    Oh well, such is life!

  19. When I first had Nate, I LOVED going to the grocery store by myself, without the baby. I would leave him with his dad and would just take off for like two hours. Anything to get out of the house and have time to myself, although I never texted while doing it.

  20. You are definitely not the only one…
    no texting, no downloadin ringtones, TV as babysitter, saving calories for the big dessert, interspersing walking with jogging, and of course loving every minute of it all!

  21. Oh girl, when I get to go to the grocery store by myself my family can probably hear me celebrating as I back out the driveway. Love it. Throw a tasty beverage in there while I shop? Forget about it.

    Love the boogers. They’re not that extreme around here, but they lurk. Unfortunately it is often because someone has handed ME a booger and I’ve had to find the nearest place possible to dispose of it. – Oddly enough, my guest post coming up here will make mention of boogers as well:)

  22. You aren’t the “only one”…and it’s nice to be reminded that I’m not the “only one” as well! I’m guilty of considering shopping solo at the grocery store “me time” too.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Search
Close this search box.