Mom Guilt Strikes a Fatal Blow

Mom-guilt. I hate it. The moment the nurse placed each of my four babies into my eager arms, I could physically feel a lump form in my throat, a lead brick settle in my stomach, and some type of hot, painful, guilt-hormone race through my veins.


He has ear infections because I didn't breastfeed long enough.

I should've put an extra blanket on her when she fell asleep.

I knew his friend was sick when he came over, why didn't I cancel their play date?

She wouldn't have stitches in her lip if I'd left her training wheels on.

So, this morning I'm sitting in an audience filled with camera-toting parents and grandparents. Samuel, my 4th grader, has made the cut. He's one of five top spellers in his grammar school's 3rd and 4th grade classes.

This means one thing...district championships. Nineteen schools participate from the county and only the best of the best spellers compete.

Driving there this morning my inner dialogue began:

Hmmmm, you know, come to think of it, I don't recall going over the spelling words with Samuel.

That's okay, he's in the gifted program, remember? I'm sure he's got this figured out. I mean , who can't spell "friend" or "flimsy"?

But, you went over spelling words with his sisters and brother when they were in spelling bee's. You took the time for them.

Yeah, but I'm not a "new" parent anymore. I am much more relaxed about Samuel.

Or, maybe "Just Too Busy" working on your book?

Mom-guilt struck its fatal blow.

*******************
Sitting through three hours of a spelling bee, on a multi-purpose room bench can be painful. But, do you know what is excruciatingly painful?

Seeing tears well up in my son's eyes and watching the anguished look on his face as he missed the only two words on his team - losing the district championship for his school.

ACCUSE and MEASLES will go down in infamy, right alongside a few Kraft family spelling bee favorites like NASAL and BALLOON.

With that said, I'm going to be absent for a week or two. I'll be back on June 1st when the book comes out. I need to be present for the ones who need me most. It's time to focus on my one true calling, and the sweetest, most rewarding ministry God could ever give me - my family.

(But, if I'm not back in two weeks, don't send flowers - send BALLOONS. And, don't ACCUSE me of having the MEASLES. It's probably just a NASAL infection.)

Boys Will Be Boys

"Dad will love this!" David grabbed the navy blue t-shirt off the rack and shoved it under my nose.

Had my teenage son lost his mind?

"Oh, son, you've got to be kidding me. Your father would never be caught dead in that." Visions of my 80's high school years and a parade of muscle-shirt-wearing teen males flashed before my eyes.

"Awww, cmon' Mom. We could get one for Sam too." Master manipulation at its best. He knew to include his little brother (who thought he hung the moon) into his diabolical plan. "We could match out on the beach."

"Yeah Mom! Cmon." Samuel stood by his big brother pleading.

"You're father would not look good in that, David. It is SO not his style."

My son walked up and put his arm around me, whispering loudly in my ear, "But, you know how good I'd look in it." He smiled, flexing his one free arm for me.

His newfound muscles were getting lots of attention lately. "Law and Order. That's what I named them, Mom." David smirked, unwrapping me from his hug and kissing each bicep.

Three days later...

Unpacking in the hotel room, the boys knew I'd had a weak moment at Walmart and were so excited they could barely stand it. I grabbed the secret bag and opened it up, tossing navy blue t-shirts to all the boys.

My husband unfolded his, "What's this?"

"You're beach attire." 

I'm married to an amazing husband and father. Amidst the audience of snickering and laughter, he put on his new shirt and I snapped a photo.

Two hours later we were all at the beach.

Eight hours later he was nursing the most ridiculous sunburn I've ever seen.



What about you? Do you ever step out of character for your kids? How have you surprised them lately?

Parenting Tip #1,438,724

Never leave your seven year old alone with his father and a roll of scotch tape.