Just after a bath tonight, Raina said, "Mommy, since I am a lady, I don't need to be married to have kids, right?"
"Er, no baby, you don't," my eyebrows raised high as heaven.
Just a couple of weeks ago, the topic of being a mommy came up while I was bringing her home from school.
"Mommy, A [Raina's best friend -- a girl] and I are going to live together and not have any babies," R remarked.
I was truly surprised. It was about two years ago that Raina was threatening to have a dozen offspring.
"I thought you wanted to have a bunch of babies," I said. "How come you changed your mind?"
"Well, I don't want to be cut up for the babies to come out," she replied.
"But, but..." I floundered, "you don't always HAVE to be cut up for babies to be born."
"How else are the babies going to come out?"
I sure walked right into that one.
"I will explain it to you when you are older," I answered feebly.
"Maybe when I am 10?" came the pat question.
"Sure, sure, that's a good age."
Phew. Close call there.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Tuesday, February 02, 2010
Supermoms
There are many benefits to taking Rohan to the park every morning. One, he stops saying, "Go there! Go there!" -- his morning chant until I give in. Two, there's the power of fresh air, swings and slides to tire a 2-year-old. Three, I get to hang out with other stay-at-home mommies, though there are usually more nannies than mommies at the park. It's also amazing to see the number of grandparents there, keeping up gamely with the little ones, while their parents work. I'm totally envious of these parents. They come really close to getting it all -- career and minimum guilt about leaving their kids behind.
But what I want to talk about are the times I hang out with other SAH mommies. There are the multitaskers, mothers who talk on their cellphones while pushing the swing. Others chat with other moms, while their kids run around. A mom or two just sits in the sidelines, probably enjoying a moment of peace. Then there are the inspiring ones -- the ones with teeny babies in a sling against their chest, patiently explaining to their 2-year-old why they need to share.
These look like Supermoms to me.
I met one at the park today. She had her 10-day-old son on a sling, while her just-turned-2-year-old boy climbed, jumped around and almost broke his neck a few dozen times. And she was telling me how much fun she was having. I think my eyes were wide. I mean, I love babies and all. Cute things, wot. But to deal with a 2-year-old and a newborn at the same time would have me headed to the nearest loony bin. She must have the patience of a saint.
But it seems such a common American trend these days -- to have babies who are months apart. And the moms just deal. Which makes me feel, why do I think it's a big deal to raise a 2-year-old and a 5-year-old? Why is it so hard for me? Why do I need my time away from my kids, my personal space, something "other" than taking care of the kids, without all of which I start getting realllllly snappy?
The plan is to put Rohan in a preschool in September, when he's close to 3 and hopefully potty trained. At which time, I will, also hopefully, work from home as I used to with Raina. But September seems far away, and I am soooooo bored.
But what I want to talk about are the times I hang out with other SAH mommies. There are the multitaskers, mothers who talk on their cellphones while pushing the swing. Others chat with other moms, while their kids run around. A mom or two just sits in the sidelines, probably enjoying a moment of peace. Then there are the inspiring ones -- the ones with teeny babies in a sling against their chest, patiently explaining to their 2-year-old why they need to share.
These look like Supermoms to me.
I met one at the park today. She had her 10-day-old son on a sling, while her just-turned-2-year-old boy climbed, jumped around and almost broke his neck a few dozen times. And she was telling me how much fun she was having. I think my eyes were wide. I mean, I love babies and all. Cute things, wot. But to deal with a 2-year-old and a newborn at the same time would have me headed to the nearest loony bin. She must have the patience of a saint.
But it seems such a common American trend these days -- to have babies who are months apart. And the moms just deal. Which makes me feel, why do I think it's a big deal to raise a 2-year-old and a 5-year-old? Why is it so hard for me? Why do I need my time away from my kids, my personal space, something "other" than taking care of the kids, without all of which I start getting realllllly snappy?
The plan is to put Rohan in a preschool in September, when he's close to 3 and hopefully potty trained. At which time, I will, also hopefully, work from home as I used to with Raina. But September seems far away, and I am soooooo bored.
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