I'm thankful for getting up at 2 AM to spend three hours comforting a screaming toddler and cajoling her back to sleep. I'm thankful for temper tantrums, diaper blow-outs and drive-by snottings. I'm thankful for four solid days of refusing to eat anything other than waffles. I'm thankful for never ending laundry, an overflowing dishwasher, and the pile of cracker bits and half-eaten grapes under my coffee table. I'm thankful for every kick to my ribs and karate chop to my bladder. I'm thankful for already outgrowing my maternity clothes. I'm thankful for tossing and turning and leg cramps and being woken up by snores once I do finally get to sleep.
I'm thankful for "NO MOMMY!" and "Mia says no!" and defiance and pouting. I'm thankful for having to reload the dishwasher every time my husband does it and for having to dump every diaper he changes into the actual diaper pail when I find it sitting in the top instead. I'm thankful for never quite enough time and never quite enough money and collapsing into bed too exhausted to even shower after three straight days without a single moment to myself. I'm thankful for bad hair and no makeup and ratty old clothes.
I'm thankful for every boring hour of library story time, every repetition of the same old books and the same old songs. I'm thankful for every battle about wearing shoes or a jacket or buckling the car seat straps. I'm thankful for out of control weeds that it now seems easier to leave for the frost than even consider getting a chance to pull. I'm thankful for turning my life and body back over to another infant, for endless nights of breastfeeding to come, for vomit in my hair and a sad, flabby belly.
I'm thankful for my imperfect, challenging, frustrating life. I'm thankful for every minute of it.
Comments (23)
And in the morning? I'm making *waffles*. Ok, sorry, I'll stop channeling Donkey from Shrek.
That was very well put, and a wonderful reminder that even with the day-to-day challenges, the little ones and the ones that seem insurmountable, we still have innumerable things for which to be thankful. Happy Thanksgiving. Enjoy your...tofurkey? ;-)
Posted by Heather | November 22, 2007 8:13 AM
Happy Thanksgiving!!
Posted by Maggie | November 22, 2007 8:37 AM
Hear hear! I'll join you in that sentiment.
I hope you guys have a wonderful Thanksgiving, and I'll have some (actual real turkey) gravy on my mashed potatoes for you. ;)
Posted by chatty cricket | November 22, 2007 10:03 AM
Have a wonderful holiday!
Posted by debra | November 22, 2007 10:31 AM
LOL!Happy Thanksgiving!
(and to make you even more thankful: I'll send you my never ending laundry!)
Posted by Nadine | November 22, 2007 10:41 AM
You put that perfectly well. God bless the bastards.
Posted by patois | November 22, 2007 11:10 AM
I am thankful that you have all those things, too. 'Cause I'd seriously throw up if you didn't have this blog.
So yes, I am thankful for you and your husband and your kids and your internet connection.
Happy holidays.
Posted by Mr Lady | November 22, 2007 11:22 AM
Oh those really were some of the best times of my life...now my house is way to quiet and my house is some times lonely without all the tantrums it used to have...every once in awhile my grown kids act like 2 year olds and I remember how exhausted I was! : ) Enjoy it...it goes by fast!
Happy Thanksgiving! I am grateful for you and your family! And for letting come along on your journey!
Posted by gypsy | November 22, 2007 12:55 PM
Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family!
That was actually quite beautiful in it's truth.
Posted by Diane | November 22, 2007 1:28 PM
Beautiful. Happy Thanksgiving.
Posted by She Likes Purple | November 22, 2007 6:36 PM
Amen!
Posted by Susan | November 22, 2007 7:59 PM
Amen, sister. Amen.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Posted by Kim | November 22, 2007 10:39 PM
Ohhh! Just wait till you have two of 'em!! ;) Two times the THANKS! ;) Happy Thanksgiving!
Posted by Haley-O | November 23, 2007 12:23 AM
Wow, you made me tired. More tired than I already am.
Posted by Katy | November 23, 2007 7:15 AM
You say it well. Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours, too.
Posted by sue | November 23, 2007 10:26 AM
very sweet. :) I hope you guys had a lovely day.
Posted by Leah | November 24, 2007 8:04 AM
And I'm thankful that I'm not quite doing all of that just yet (even though I'm sure I definitely will one of these years). Hope you all had a great Thanksgiving.
Posted by angela | November 24, 2007 6:33 PM
Oh my, you've got a lot to be thankful for.
I'm thankful for your blog, you remind me that we're all in the same boat.
Posted by Nila | November 24, 2007 10:01 PM
can I just say "ditto"? Thanks for reminding me that I am not alone in this job called motherhood!
Posted by workout mommy | November 24, 2007 10:17 PM
Yay! I'm thankful for you! I'm not alone!
Posted by Bianca | November 25, 2007 12:46 AM
Me,too. You said a mouthful.
Posted by wordgirl | November 25, 2007 1:14 AM
You've said it perfectly.
And vomit in your hair? Is totally underrated.
Posted by Sam | November 25, 2007 8:42 AM
Ditto, sister. Except I was the one leaving diapers on top of the can.
Posted by Aimee Greeblemonkey | November 26, 2007 3:46 PM