And let me tell you....a trip out in public with my brood is never very far from just that.
Let's just say that we attract A LOT of attention.
I'm not gonna lie. When I see a mom walking through a store with a long line of duckling waddling behind, I stop and count them....doesn't everybody? It just that because mine are all of the same gender....and BOYS in particular, we seem to turn a lot more heads.
I thought I would entertain you with a list of comments I frequently hear....and my responses:
Q: "Are 'these' all yours?"
A: "Yep"...or "Sure are"...or, more often than not, "(sigh)" (usually followed by a "get back here", "stop touching that"or "leave him alone."). It all depends on the day, # of errands run, or the "time of the month".
Q: "4 boys!?!?!" or "4 boys, huh?" (depending on the persons level of shock/disbelief)
A: Again...."Yep ('unless I lost count somewhere back there', I think to myself)"
Which is almost ALWAYS followed by one or all of these:
"Wow...you must be a busy mama"..."You've got your hands full".....or "God Bless You!"
To which I respond:
"I sure am"...."Yes, I do".....and either, "He sure does" or "He's gonna have to"
But my favorite is...
Q: "HOW DO YOU DO IT!?!?!?"
The reason I love this one so much is because people are usually caught off guard by my answer. Which is either...
"One day at a time"....or....."Not very well".....or, my usual "go to"......"I'm medicated."
This last one almost always sends the "questioneer" into a fit of nervous laughter. Their not sure what to say, so they just laugh. And I laugh right along with them. When the laughter finally dies down, I usually follow up with a, "No seriously....(pause)....I am." (then they are really at a loss for words. I'm sure they are thinking....Did she really just say that?)
And this was true, until almost 2 months ago when I had the brilliant idea that maybe I should come off said medication. 3 long weeks later I was "free" from them....and now, four weeks after that, I am going back on.
Picked up my RX tonight....tomorrow's the day.
I'd like to say it's because I "need" them, or "can't cope" without them.
But, in reality, it's because I have missed using that particular comeback at the grocery store. :)
hardy har har.....
Okay...no really....in all seriousness...it's just better this way.
I've decided that my boys deserve the "best" mommy possible....and unfortunately, this mommy needs a little help in order to be "on her best".
You know the old African proverb, "It takes a village to raise a child"?
Well...it's true.....and it just so happens that in our village resides Mr. Anti Depressant and Mrs. Anti Anxiety, too.
And you know what....we like them and we are grateful for their contribution.
Here's to hoping that they are just as helpful as they were before.
Wish me luck!
(for a more "in depth" and far less silly read about my decision to "go back on" anti-depressants, you can visit me at Methodical Musings of an Unbalanced Woman sometime tomorrow (no, I haven't posted it yet so you'll just have to stay tuned).
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6 comments:
Melanie, never feel bad about needing extra help. Everyone needs it! Especially a mother of four boys!
I can't tell you how many times I've wondered at needing medication to do the job "we're designed for" and wondering how I became so chemically unbalanced. I've tried to get off a couple of times with the same result. As for the village, I think a few generations ago there were villages to help with the kids and now we're so often on our own with gawkers whenever you go out (don't forget the annoyed ones). I'm just telling you I feel you. I guess both our kids are lucky we're not too proud to seek help.
Ha! I love it! And you're totally spot on! And your other reader's posts (above) are right on too...Parenting is SO MUCH DIFFERENT now than it was, making children different as well (in Anne of Green Gable's time, kids were kept home until they were at least 6 so they could HELP WITH CHORES-and then even when they went to school, they came home to do said chores AGAIN. Now, we push them out of the house as quickly as possible so that WE can do the chores or work.) Our society is pushing us to the antidepressants...we have way too much to deal with and if we want support, most likely we have to pay for it (housecleaners, nannies, therapists). Hang in there and just say to yourself..."yes I have these four boys and I LOOK FABULOUS!" (um, that's what I do, anyway :)
You do all make excellent points. Really....and I truly truly appreciate your support. Love you my friends.
I'm glad you're doing what's best for you. And I love the comeback too. You're hilarious!
Melanie....awww, you are great! I too seem to get the stare down or whatever you want to call it, when we are out and about. You see, Corissa for the most part is never with me when I have all the boys in tow, she is either at school or soccer or something. Anyhow, we create quiet the scene as well. IE: wrestling in the aisle of the grocery store(to which i completly ignore and walk away from) boys name calling each other(Jarett yelling STUPID HEAD, at the top of his banchy lungs) tag around the grocery cart(while knocking things off the aisle with their flaying arms), you name, they have done it and then some! Most days I am barely hanging on! And the things people say, "im sorry", or "wow, good luck", or "4 boys, you are busy", the best part of all this is when I say, "oh, actually I have 5 children the other one is not with us." It's really kinda funny, the reaction people have.
Don't be so hard on yourself, you are so incredibly awesome and are capapble of so much....the day will come when it will be a breeze to get rid of your "happy pills", until then, don't stress, it's not worth it!
Love ya!
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