no time

WHERE DOES THE TIME GO?

February 21st 2007 00:53

It’s library day today at my daughter’s school. Another week where the books are returned unread. Unread by me that is. My daughter has ‘looked’ at them. But her reading skills are a little limited. My daughter doesn’t complain but I just think to myself, ‘get it together Mrs M, you get the books for a whole week; pull ya socks up’.

I know, I know, modern day mothers put too much pressure on themselves to be “perfect”. I am by no means perfect, but I do strive to be ‘pretty damn good’.

Where does the time go? Yes, there’s the housework, yes there’s the paid work, yes, there’s the me time, the husband and me time, the children and me time, there’s the let’s all just do nothing together time. Time, time, time, time, time, time, time.

Not getting around the reading the library books is starting to irk me. I can just see it now in 20 years time by daughter will be offloading all her woes to someone and come out with “and my mother never read my library books” followed by loud animal like bellows.

I really don’t need that in my life. I have no time for it.

I know I spend more time with my children than my mother spent with my siblings and me. Now that’s not because she didn’t love us. She was just born in an era where mum did all the housework, all the cooking, all the grocery shopping as well as work. We don’t love her any less. In fact, my brother, sister and I all have a fierce love and loyalty towards my mother. We don’t blame her for anything. The one sad fact about it all is that we don’t know my mother as well as we would like. Stories of her childhood are few and far between. We glean what we can when all the aunts and uncles get together and reminisce. Theirs is a time when distance was kept between parents and children.

Having said all that, there is one thing my mum (and my dad) did during my childhood that I don’t think my children will enjoy. And that is growing up in a large extended family. My parents are Greek you see, so there was never a ‘small’ get together. There were plenty of cousins to keep me company (when my parents couldn't) every second day of the week. Literally. That is how often we would see ‘the family’.

But we’ve all grown up, started our lives and some have moved away. Not even my parents see much of ‘the family’ these days. Some have died and the rest think they’re too old. Even my father is beginning to fear driving at night. As the original generation will soon be gone, along with it will die a special kind of family.

My mother didn’t sit down with me and read my library books, but she did give me something that I could never have gotten out of a library book. I hope I can do the same for my children.

169

Vote

Add To:

subscribe to this blog

follow this blog on Orble

start your own blog

[ Link ]

Posted By: Mrs M - Category: Children

Related Posts:

Relate This Post

Recent Posts:
      DO CHILDREN BELONG IN ART GALLERIES?
      THE 'ME' STRATEGIES PART 3
      THE 'ME' STRATEGIES PART 2
      THE ME STRATEGIES PART 1

[ Previous - 2190 BUSY DAYS ON THE TROT ]

[ Next - WILL I ALWAYS BE A BABY? ]

Comments

39 Comments. [ Add A Comment ]

Comment by MelissaA

February 21st 2007 02:28

Fun Facts

I've been wondering where the time has gone today also!
I finally managed to get enough housework done today that I could finally get on line and set stuff up and l look at the time and think " Wow, only 1 hour until i have to be at school!"

Comment by Kleonaptra

February 21st 2007 03:24

Kalikapsychosis

I hear you Mrs M. I thought Id only been on orble an hour - how the hell have I been here for 3? As always I admire the honest parent, your writing style is a delight. You do make me pretty certain I dont want my own kids though! Im obessive enough over my animals, god knows what Id do to KIDS.

Comment by katyzzz

February 21st 2007 03:53

Photography Tips
MS Paint Art

Mrs. M.

The times they are a changin'. I agree you're pretty damn good, better than I was.

Just a little tip that may help you out of a wee problem.

Ask daughter to read out loud to you as you cook tea, etc etc, ask her to read to younger siblings even the baby, she can show him pictures etc, doesn't matter whether he understands or not but you'll find most of the time they all do pretty well at these sort of things, go backwards and forwards in this way, and by the end of the first week I'm sure you will have seen better progress than you've seen to date and it may relieve you of some of this headache.

katyzzz

Comment by Andrea

February 21st 2007 07:19

V8 Supercar Pitstop

Hi Mrs M

I too have that same problem ... where on earth does the time go? It was library day at my daughter's school today as well and I had that terrible guilty feeling this morning when she was packing up her school bag...

... uh-oh forgot the library books again!

Thankfully, at seven, my daughter is old enough now to be able to read them herself so, finally, she doesn't have to miss out any more.

A. xx

Comment by DuskDevi

February 21st 2007 07:43

Rugby World Cup 2007

...ahhh...we're all tempus fugit-ives....
Time was supposed to be on our side. It defected.

Hope you are well as can be Mrs M.

Dusk

Comment by yoda76

February 21st 2007 08:58

The Tube Blog

I don't need to tell you that I don't have the answer, either.

Don't forget that you also have 2 other kids (maybe three if you count me ;o) that take up your time - don't feel guilty, just do the best you can.

It's all anyone, including our children, could ever reasonably expect of you.

Comment by Mrs M

February 21st 2007 12:27

Mum's Word

Hi Melissa,

It's crazy isn't it. The school day actually makes the whole day shorter.

Hi Kleonaptra,

You never know you're own strength until you are tested. And yes, kids certainly do test you. Thank you for your kind words.

Hi katyzzz,

Thanks for the idea. Two birds with one stone. I'll try anything to save time and my sanity.

Hi Andrea,

There's so much to remember isn't there? Library books, news, homework, lunch, clean uniforms

Hi Dusk,

Time...that little bastard has never been on my side

Hi yoda76,

Yes, I have 4 kids including you.

Thanks everyone for the visit and the comments.

Love & stuff
Mrs M

Comment by Wendi

February 21st 2007 15:07

I know that with two teen kids remaining at home, I still struggle with time. Just imagine families that have more than a dozen kids at home! Last night while channel surfing I flipped past a show called "14 children and pregnant again". I skipped it because it was a repeat... I knew it was a repeat because the last time that family was featured, it was titled, "16 children and pregnant again!"

Oy!

I'm fortunate now because the kids are old enough to assist with household chores and meal preparations. Even still, I find myself pressed for time.

Comment by David

February 21st 2007 22:33

Mrs M ...

I went to a Greek birthday party once ... (for a couple's one year old) ... Best damn extended lunch I ever had in my life ...

It made me so envious ... (two child, no parent family here ...

I was in my 30s at the time, so it was a bit late to apply for adoption ... *

David ...

Comment by Mrs M

February 22nd 2007 00:12

Mum's Word

Hi Wendi,

I think I know the documentary you are talking about. I haven't seen it myself.

Mr M's two sisters have 22 children between them . Yep, 22. The older one is 42 and has had 13 children. The eldest is 23 and the youngest is 15 months. And she does homeschooling. She lives in Parkes which is a 5 hour drive away so we don't see her very often.

The second sister is 40 and has 9 children. The eldest is 17 and the youngest is 2 months. She lives about 35 minutes away.

It's interesting to watch the dynamics of such large families but there is no way I could do it myself.

Hi David,

Greeks love their food - it is good I have to say. Marry into a Greek family and you'll never go hungry.

I think the first thing my mother learned to say in English was "have had enough to eat?"

Thanks for the visit and the comments.

Love & stuff
Mrs M

Comment by KylieW

February 22nd 2007 01:14

Celebrity Obsession

Your point about not really knowing your mother made me think about my dad.

My dad just recently learnt that his father had been married before he married his mother. My dad's father has been dead for over 20 years, and he only found out this fact a month or so ago! He also only just found out that his parents never got married until his older sister was born. Something he had suspected, but nobody had ever confirmed (his mother has been dead for about 10 yrs now).

I can't imagine that (but then my poor dad's family is seriously seriously dysfunctional, and I still to this day don't know how they created such a wonderful man as my father). I really 'know' my parents, and I think that's a wonderful thing.

Don't beat yourself up about the library books. I'm sure you make up for it in many other ways!

Kylie

Comment by Mrs M

February 22nd 2007 01:32

Mum's Word

Hi Kylie,

Everyone has a story don't they? I don't know why my parent's generation tries to hide theirs. It's your life story that gives you depth and makes you a person as opposed to a title ie grandfather, father etc.

Thanks for your kind words and your visit Kylie.

Love & stuff
Mrs M

Comment by Candice

February 22nd 2007 03:18

Hi Mrs M,

Yes, there never seems to be enough time. I find it hard enough to get everything done in a week with only one littlie in tow, and it sounds to me that you're doing a fine job with your three munchkins.

But I also think our busy lives are a part of our generation, unfortunately. Not to mention all the extra expectations put on kids with regard to homework. My niece has hours of homework, in grade 4. When I was in primary school I spent most of my out of school time playing, not doing homework (and I was a conscientious student from day one). I think schools should be a bit more accountable on this front too.

Comment by Mrs M

February 22nd 2007 03:37

Mum's Word

Hi Candice,

Thanks for your kind words. I always knew I'd be busy because I always planned to have my kids close together but sometimes I feel guilty sitting down because I know there's always something to do.

I agree with you about homework. I wrote a post about it last November. Here's the link if you're interested. To Homework Or Not To Homework

Thanks for the visit.

Love & stuff
Mrs M