Gandhi-Mom Doesn’t Live Here Every Day

– Posted in: Bright Side of Life, Food, Growing Up, Newt, Parenting, Personal Insanity, Things To Do with Kids, Worst Mom Randomness

Some days, I’m a good mom. I’m excellent, actually. Even though I feel like I’m walking through mud and the last thing I want to do is have a “teachable moment” with the children, I somehow rally and become this Gandhi-esque creature who I barely recognize. It’s freaky, really. Like standing outside yourself and expecting to see June Cleaver in your kitchen.

Yesterday, I was home alone with Newt. He’s 10 and has very little interest in cooking. Fortunately, if I ever completely lost my marbles and hopped a plane to Paris, his little sister would be able to keep them alive with a steady stream of nachos, waffles, and salad.

Not that I can fault the boy. My husband is the cook in our house. Newt and I fall more into the “get a spoonful of peanut butter out of the jar” category.

Anyway, I’ve decided this is the summer of “Everything you need to know to live on your own.” So when Newt said he wanted macaroni and cheese, I felt I was required to teach him how to make it (even though I kind of wanted to lay down and die).

He did incredibly well. All I did was strain the noodles (because I didn’t want him to get third degree burns). Later, he and his dad did the dishes.

boy makes macaroni and cheese

Father and son do the dishes

But like I said — some days I’m a good mom. Today, the kids basically watched a movie and played Wii. I could’ve taken them to their martial arts class, but I didn’t. And now it’s dinnertime, and they just ate a bunch of chips.

But that’s just how it goes. Some days, Gandhi’s around to make macaroni. Some days, he’s hopped a plane to Paris with a spoonful of peanut butter.

11 Comments… add one

Kristy July 1, 2013, 7:13 pm

I marvel at myself too when I have a moment here and there of greatness. So true.
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Tammy July 3, 2013, 1:01 am

I’m definitely learning that your have to celebrate your victories when you have them (due to their few and far between-ness).

Sisters From Another Mister July 1, 2013, 7:36 pm

Love …
somedays i cook more than double of what we need so there is a whole ‘nother meal just ready.
sounds more efficient than my can’t deal with it every night reality 😉
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Tammy July 3, 2013, 1:01 am

See, now that’s brilliant. I need to get the boy to start doubling his recipe.

Andi July 1, 2013, 8:55 pm

I just ate a spoonful of peanut butter for dinner. 😉

Tammy July 3, 2013, 1:02 am

And this is why you’re one of my best friends.

Cheryl S. July 2, 2013, 5:59 am

Score! You for a win! If we were always Gandhi-mom’s, we wouldn’t notice it, because we’d always be awesome, and then that awesome would be normal, and we’d always have to be raising that damn bar to be awesome. So I’ll take the moments. Because the alternative is too exhausting to think about.

Tammy July 3, 2013, 1:05 am

This is why I love you. I think the same thing about heaven. How could you possibly have heaven where everything is fantastic all the time? You’d never notice. Awesome cannot be normal.

Okay, I know that was off-topic, but it’s late and I couldn’t help myself.

bapu July 6, 2013, 10:04 am

ya gotta be proud of Newt!

Tammy July 6, 2013, 10:35 am

Very! He’s getting so big…

Andrea July 12, 2013, 2:56 am

When my son was ten I supervised him while he made a spectacular lasagna. Now he is twelve and just the other day I marveled at his ambition to heat up a chicken patty in the microwave. Sometimes you’re an awesome mom, and sometimes your kids are amazing. The truth is that most times, we are all just pretty good.
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