I'm With the Band
Went with a girlfriend and our six kids to the lake today. Note the cascade of inflatables spilling out of my van onto the sizzling asphalt parking lot. At that point, we had been parked on said asphalt for 25 minutes and were still inflating, unloading, sunscreening, and schlepping passengers and equipment. Next note the contents of my beachbag, not one, but two magazines for my reading pleasure. Just in case I got all the way through the first and was stuck for something to do. Now, note the foul yellow beastie smugly entrenched between me, my beachbag and any lingering illusion of leisure time I might blithely cling to.
More and more these days, I feel like a roadie for Motley Crue. For starters, there's the sheer physical exertion: the endless lifting, hauling, setting up and tearing down. "Put it over here, no, over there, there, THERE!" Then there is the ass-wiping, the puking, the tantrums, the trashing of rooms. There is the procurement of playmates. And the ridiculous demands about food.
As I imagine it goes with roadies, the job description sounds much more glamorous than it is. "But you get to hang with the band, dude!" Or as my husband would say (if he did not value his life), "What do you mean, you're exhausted?? You were lying around the beach all day!"
Okay, even on the worst days, it still beats working in a straight job. There are nights when the lights go down, and I stand in the boys' bedroom doorway with as much awe and gratitude as any starstruck stagehand ever felt standing in the wings.
But its no day at the beach.
filed under: kids, goodtimes
Technorati Tags:
Linda Hirschman, motherhood, roadies, motley crue, maternal exhaustion, sahm, stay-at-hom-moms, kids, vacation, inflatable pool toys, day at the beach, tommy lee and me
Went with a girlfriend and our six kids to the lake today. Note the cascade of inflatables spilling out of my van onto the sizzling asphalt parking lot. At that point, we had been parked on said asphalt for 25 minutes and were still inflating, unloading, sunscreening, and schlepping passengers and equipment. Next note the contents of my beachbag, not one, but two magazines for my reading pleasure. Just in case I got all the way through the first and was stuck for something to do. Now, note the foul yellow beastie smugly entrenched between me, my beachbag and any lingering illusion of leisure time I might blithely cling to.
More and more these days, I feel like a roadie for Motley Crue. For starters, there's the sheer physical exertion: the endless lifting, hauling, setting up and tearing down. "Put it over here, no, over there, there, THERE!" Then there is the ass-wiping, the puking, the tantrums, the trashing of rooms. There is the procurement of playmates. And the ridiculous demands about food.
As I imagine it goes with roadies, the job description sounds much more glamorous than it is. "But you get to hang with the band, dude!" Or as my husband would say (if he did not value his life), "What do you mean, you're exhausted?? You were lying around the beach all day!"
Okay, even on the worst days, it still beats working in a straight job. There are nights when the lights go down, and I stand in the boys' bedroom doorway with as much awe and gratitude as any starstruck stagehand ever felt standing in the wings.
But its no day at the beach.
filed under: kids, goodtimes
Technorati Tags:
Linda Hirschman, motherhood, roadies, motley crue, maternal exhaustion, sahm, stay-at-hom-moms, kids, vacation, inflatable pool toys, day at the beach, tommy lee and me
Labels: mine all mine, signed me
9 Comments:
Great analogy! And what about those ridiculous demands about food?? Sometimes I want to buy a hamster feeder, fill it with cheerios or M-n-Ms and just leave it on the floor where the kids can most easily access it.
LOL Nice Mary! Not a bad idea... I always tell people I have to go throw some food at my kids... lol
A day at the beach with kids is no Hawaii girls! The only things that would make a job better would be the hours and a paycheck! (Because ladies, lets face it, no man could afford us if we charged for what being a mother is really worth! lol)
What? What? What was this about? In truth, I read your little "about me" section and just thought - OH, I LOVE HER.
You are a walking, talking, culture clash and I dig that.
I am channelling my inner Sally Field now...
they like me! they really like me!
Does this mean I get licked all over at Blogher '07???
"...a roadie for Motley Crue..."
That's funny stuff. I am far outnumbered by my nymphs and totally understand your plight and commentary.
Thanks for making my morning.
love it! Being a momma is hard work, now arguement there!
The most rewarding for sure though.
Yes, beats working a straight job. I remind myself of that several times a day! Because, face it, no one's gonna nanny these kids for free so that I can go galavanting about town (or to the beach) just for the heck of it. And, anyway, I'd rather be making memories with the crew. :)
ROFL - I remember the goal and milestone of the first outing without all the extra baggage of a full diaper bag, etc. Ah the things we do for our kids. ;o)
Hugs,
Holly
Holly's Corner
Here via the Carnival of Family Fun ;o)
I agree. Something as simple as a picnic can turn into a complicated event with all the planning and loading and unloading, etc.
Here via Carnival of Family Life.
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