The Life of Bethie

Monday, December 19, 2005

Mean Moms

Someday when my children are old enough to
understand the logic that motivates a parent, I
will tell them, as my Mean Mom told me:

I loved you enough . . . to ask where you were
going, with whom, and what time you would be home.

I loved you enough to be silent and let you
discover that your new best friend was a creep.
I loved you enough to make you go pay for the
bubble gum you had taken and tell the clerk, "I
stole this yesterday and want to pay for it."

I loved you enough to stand over you for two
hours while you cleaned your room, a job that
should have taken 15 minutes.
I loved you enough to let you see anger,
disappointment, and tears in my eyes. Children
must learn that their parents aren't perfect.

I loved you enough to let you assume the
responsibility for your actions even when the
penalties were so harsh they almost broke my
heart.

But most of all, I loved you enough . . to say
NO when I knew you would hate me for it.
Those were the most difficult battles of all. I'm
glad I won them, because in the end you won, too.
And someday when your children are old enough to
understand the logic that motivates parents, you
will tell them.

Was your Mom mean? I know mine was. We had the
meanest mother in the whole world! While other
kids ate candy for breakfast, we had to have
cereal, eggs, and toast. When others had a Pepsi
and a Twinkie for lunch, we had to eat
sandwiches. And you can guess our mother fixed us
a dinner that was different from what other kids
had, too.

Mother insisted on knowing where we were at all
times. You'd think we were convicts in a prison.
She had to know who our friends were, and what we
were doing with them. She insisted that if we
said we would be gone for an hour, we would be
gone for an hour or less.

We were ashamed to admit it, but she had the
nerve to break the Child Labor Laws by making us
work. We had to wash the dishes, make the beds,
learn to cook, vacuum the floor, do laundry,
empty the trash and all sorts of cruel jobs. I
think she would lie awake at night thinking of
more things for us to do.

She always insisted on us telling the truth, the
whole truth, and nothing but the truth.
By the time we were teenagers, she could read our
minds and had eyes in the back of her head. Then,
life was really tough!

Mother wouldn't let our friends just honk the
horn when they drove up. They had to come up to
the door so she could meet them. While everyone
else could date when they were 12 or 13, we had
to wait until we were 16.

Because of our mother we missed out on lots of
things other kids experienced. None of us have
ever been caught shoplifting, vandalizing
other's property or ever arrested for any crime.
It was all her fault.

Now that we have left home, we are all educated,
honest adults. We are doing our best to be mean
parents just like Mom was.

I think that is what's wrong with the world
today. It just doesn't have enough mean moms!

PASS THIS ON TO ALL THE MEAN MOTHERS YOU KNOW (And Their Kids!!!)

Sunday, December 04, 2005

But does he have to be MEAN?????

Sure, he's gone all week working sooooo hard. Sure the flights are nasty. Sure he has only 2 days to see the kids. But does he have to be mean? does he really expect me to cancel all their activities so they can stay home & hang out with him? Saturday, all day practically, was the Christmas Fair at the kids' school. He spent more time WITH them there than I did since I was working there. But he didn't feel good...he was tired..he went home for a nap. This is MY problem? Then Rebecca had a basketball game. Yep, *I* scheduled it when he was there just so I could ruin his day & mess up his preferred dinner time. I'm slick that way...inside line to CYO & their scheduling. The game was late because they overscheduled so we had to hang out for about an hour. All he could do was grump about how late it was getting & WHEN were we going to eat (the game was at 7pm instead of 6) instead of enjoying some extra time with the girls. BAH.

Today Rebecca skipped choir/mass. No thanks from Daddy there. We went for breakfast then Rebecca went to her Nutcracker rehearsal (12-3 sort of) & I took Nicole to Toys 'R Us to get a birthday gift. She also picked out a Christmas gift for Daddy & decided on Rebecca's which we went to Michael's to get. Very productive hour. We went home, wrapped, peed & left again for the party which was at 2:15. I had to leave the party to get Rebecca from rehearsal then go back & collect Nicole. The girls wanted to play but I dragged them out because we were going to get a Christmas tree, have dinner (soup I had made so we'd have a quick dinner this weekend since I knew we would be busy) then take Daddy to the airport. We got home about 4:45. He was mad. "I wish I had known when you were coming home so I could have taken a cab to the airport." "We don't have time to get a Christmas tree because I have to leave for the airport soon." "I don't want another half baked dinner like last week." (the big turkey dinner I made which came out fabulous, too bad the siding guy was here so we couldn't eat it)

Then he says, "Should I just call a cab & get out from underfoot?" Nicole said," yes." I choked back a laugh then told her that wasn't a nice thing to say. She continued to tell him to take a cab until he told her to stop saying mean things to him. *chuckle*

"I don't recall saying you were underfoot" I commented, "What? You didn't get enough attention this weekend?"
"I didn't get ANY" he said. Me neither, btw. We skipped the tree & I heated the soup, sliced some bread, set the table & called everyone to dinner. His comment was, "eat fast, another meal at the last minute." HONESTLY. I'm sitting there in tears while he yells at Nicole who is trying to butter her bread but accidentally dragging her sleeve through her soup. So she leaves in tears. He says to me, "What NOW?" (I mumbled nothing)

So......it's all about HIM? I think not. It's about the girls. They are busy. I'd like to stay home & do nothing on the weekend. Unfortunately, it JUST DOESN'T HAPPEN. And he's taking that personally. WTF??? The girls did NOT want to go to the airport. But we went & Coli fell asleep on the way. They were both were asleep by the time we got home at 6:15. Coli cried when she realized daddy had been left at the airport. *sigh*

But he hasn't asked for a copy of their school pictures. He didn't ask to see Rebecca's Nutcracker costume. He did lamely ask how school was going - kind of looking for small talk or something. OMG. Why does he have to say so many cruel, hurtful, belittling, nasty comments? My best just isn't good enough for him. I cried my eyes out tonight. And now Rebecca's reading this over my shoulder instead of doing her homework. Life sucks & then the alarm goes off AGAIN. Thank God we're all healthy.

Friday, December 02, 2005

Heeheehee, these things crack me up!

What Your Underwear Says About You
You like your underwear to make you feel girlish and pretty. Let's hope you're a chick.
You're comfortable in your own skin - and don't care to impress anyone.

Thanks, Deb!!





You Are "Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer"





Rudolph, the red-nosed reindeer
Had a very shiny nose.
And if you ever saw him,
You would even say it glows.

For you, Christmas is a mix of tradition and fun.
You're not above strapping on a red blinking nose for a laugh.

Thursday, December 01, 2005

Oh what the heck....


Team Liberty - Nicole's soccer team! (Nicole is far left in the picture) Fall '05.









Rebecca & Nicole were flower girls for my niece. June '05.





Rebecca, go fly a kite!!
Spring '05, I think.



Nicole's 5th birthday!



Nicole playing water balloon toss at her end of year picnic. *sniff* Bye bye preschool! The boy on her right turned up in her kindergarten class!






1st day of school 9/05.

It was my 20th Class Reunion.

The next installment of my summer, lol.

Tuesday 8/2: Class reunion email everywhere. Nothing like last minute. Where is Steve Guilmet? He said he was coming & would bring his band to play then hasn't been heard from - ?????
Thursday 8/4: Still busy with class reunion last minute crapola. I guess my saying, "I have no pc access" means NOTHING. Argh.
Coli can't go on the bus tour in Nova Scotia because she's 5 & needs to be at least 6. pissed Pissed PIssed PISsed PISSed PISSEd PISSED FUCKING PISSED.
Friday 8/5: back at mom's office to look for shit to do in Halifax, Nova scotia. Not much online - ditch idea? **Ooh... Rebecca & I went to FA to see the Alumni band & Sebec Lake artifacts.
Saturday 8/6: OMG, 20 year class reunion...Sam & Dara stayed over. Heh heh heh. Finish THIS later!!

and of course I never did.

Rebecca is home sick....sooooooooo.......



Nicole & mommy on a New Years Day '05 hike.












Rebecca's 8th birthday party... a pool party which is why her hair is wet!




I just like this picture.















The girls' 1st excursion into the COLD Atlantic Ocean at Sand Beach, Acadia National Park.



Rebecca & Nicole on our cruise of Frenchman's Bay, Bar Harbor summer '05. Christmas card material or no?


Rebecca & Nicole at their piano recital summer '05.


 
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