I *want* to be that Mom. I really do.
Scarlett has a set of books -about what mommy and daddy do. In the "mommy" book, Scarlett learns (not just by the words..but the illustrations as well) that mommy keeps the house spotless ( while Daddy is at work all day), takes baby on errands like the grocery store, and effortlessly whips up a healthy dinner for her family on a daily basis. Sometimes, dessert too.
I'm not that mom.
If there were a book written about Scarlett's world (and not just a blog), she would see that our family rocks the roll reversal. Daddy whips up the healthy dinners for his family on a daily basis. Sometimes, dessert too.
But every once in a while, I get another case of 'mommy guilt'. I feel less of a mom because I don't cook, or trade recipes with friends, or plan my family dinners out week by week. That guilt got the best of me on Monday. Also, I was hungry, Daddy wasn't home, and Baby was sleeping. And we had the ingredients for lasagna.
Now, its not that I'm a particularly bad cook. I fended for myself for many years. And I do get satisfaction from a meal well made. But it doesn't come naturally, and I'm clumsy in the kitchen.
So back to that lasagna. Not even 5 minutes into boiling the water, it overflowed in the pot (oops) and spilled down my shirt. The scalding water left a pretty little 2nd degree burn on my stomach. It hurts. Like a lot.
But I forged ahead. Turns out, the lasagna was delicious. And I have a whole pan of it to enjoy. Mike doesn't like ricotta cheese (I forgot) and Scarlett doesn't eat anything right now that doesn't resemble dinosaur nuggets or Easy Fries. So the burn-and the food-was mine.
Mike has told me now that I'm under official orders to stay out of the kitchen. Scarlett doesn't even know, nor care, that I lovingly cooked my family a homemade meal-while my flesh blistered, no less. It made no difference in her little world.
She already knows that I'm not that Mom. It's up to me to decide whether to feel guilty about that, or not.
The last page of the Mommy book says "Mommy always has lots of hugs and kisses to give..because she loves you more than anything".
See, Scarlett?
At least we have that going for us...because I *am* that Mom.
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