Today I became ‘that’ Mom


Today I became ‘that’ mom.

 

The one who drove her kid through Starbucks for chocolate milk and a croissant only to rush him to eat it in the parking lot at school because we were a half hour late.

 

Oh, and did I mention he’s three?

 

While I understand the value of time and the need to teach our children to respect it- I find myself often fighting against it.  I can honestly and without shame say that there are days I simply don’t take my son to school because I don’t want to deal with the time parameters.  He has the rest of his life to worry about time; being on time, having enough time, what time…you get the point.  Whether it’s the excuse of his being late for school, or that I would have to show up as the frazzled still in her PJ’s mom or just in general stopping him from playing and having fun, I find myself saying enough is enough and therefore let him stay with me at home.

Kids need routine, I know.  But we have to teach them the fun of freedom sometimes as well right?  Without this letting go, this freedom, I never would have written Suburban Task Force.  I broke free of the corporate time structure and now force myself to work within my own ‘time’ to accomplish my goals.

 

Now, let’s be perfectly clear.  I realize I am incredibly fortunate to have this ‘stay at home option’ as my husband maintains his respect for ‘time’ and as a lawyer charges hourly for it, allowing me to be frivolous with mine.  Working from home means I can shift my work hours if need be, to overnight.  Yes, I suffer, but admittedly I like working in a dark and silent house.  There was a time when I made the daily commute and corporate rounds while my husband figured out his path, and so I try not to feel guilty about it… but sometimes I do.

 

This post is really a thank you to time and to my husband for letting me find my way into writing.  There were characters like Suzie, Jade and Chloe waiting to get out of my head and explore this world on the page.  Without the time, they would never exist and I would always feel an empty place where Suburban Task Force should have been.

Lest I not forget the drive-thru.  Without the drive-thru they would definitely not exist.  Sorry husband.

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