Thank you to everyone who responded supportively over the spanking incident of 2007. I appreciate that you didn't call me a monster and have admitted to either saying you'd never spank but did it anyway, or acknowledging without regret that it's a discipline method you choose. It has helped me tremendously to feel better over losing my cool. I suppose, despite my perfectionistic tendencies, I'm a human after all. Cue '80s music.
I also forgot to acknowledge the amazing men and women who have fought to protect me from harm. Their service to our country allow me to tuck my children in bed each night (some nights are less chaotic than others) and worry over the big, the small and the insignificant matters of my life.
One Tall Momma gives a wonderful tribute to her Uncle Ben about three posts down in the link. Check it out.
In closing, can I just say how grateful I am to live in a land where I can be who I am meant to be? Where my kids can be who they're meant to be? The freedom factor, like Spiderman's powers, does not come "without great responsibility". It's perhaps why I work so hard to be the best person I can be. I have that option when so many don't. I owe it to myself - to those who put their life on the line for me - to live up to that freedom. How fortunate that with freedom comes such great room for joy and exhuberance. Where else in America can my son, with his Jewish background and Catholic upbringing, stand in front of our Japanese imported wide screen tv and celebrate Kwanza dancing with a furry red puppet?
Life is good. Thank you all for being there to celebrate it with me.
More of my writing can be found on Babycenter.com. I write under the name Andrea Frazer and can be found in the Momformation Section.
10 comments:
I had a blogland glitch yesterday and could not comment on your post, but was able to comment on BabyCenter.
There is nothing to add at this point, the message is clear. We are human, even us perfectionists. I admire your honesty and dedication to being the best mother you can be, it is the most important job we will ever have.
Life is good and the feeling is mutual!
You know, your son could do that in Australia too!
I suppose our countries are in the minority - obviously there are similar democracies in other parts of the world but there is a LOT of people in a LOT of countries who don't know the privileges that we have in such abundance.
We ARE so so lucky, aren't we?
As much as I hate this war, I do give thanks for those who are willing to be in harm's way to protect our country. Thanks for the reminder.
Hey...btw, I'm baaaack. Check me out.
http://goodenough4now.blogspot.com/
Oh, and BTW, why are those kids watching the TV? They should be outside playing.
tee hee. kidding. i'm so kidding. on the heels of spanking, y'know...
I've been swamped so haven't been to your sites in a several days...but let me just say that it's your authenticity that makes you a good writer/blogger. Not many people are willing to put those thoughts/feelings/actions out there, but you are. Thanks for your generousity.
I too, don't spank, primarly becuase I have an anger problem and just don't want to open that door. I'm like my dad that way and don't want *that* scenario repeated. My crazy family thinks I'm the odd one because I DON'T spank. And they never miss an opportunity to say, "spare the rod, spoil the child." It's so trite and so not supportive of the parent I want to be.
So on that rambling, thanks again for sharing your struggle.
Fantastic post... brings to mind the scripture,
"To whom much is give, much is expected" Luke 12:48
Thanks for that reminder ;)
Thanks for stopping by my blog - you're so spot on - yes we're blessed but sadly not enough of the rest of us realise it ;~)
Amen, sistah!
I, like the others, love your authenticity - and have thus, awarded you for it!
Go collect!
oh yes!
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