Just Wondering

Can you still call yourself a good mom if the first thing that flies off your tongue is, “BECAUSE I SAID SO,” when your child persistently whines, “Whhyyy, Mom?”

Can you still call yourself a good friend when it takes a month or two longer than it should to mail your dearest friend a birthday card, or worse, when your once-elaborate birthday gestures have been reduced to texts, emails and Facebook messages?

Can you still call yourself an athlete when dragging yourself to the gym once a week is cause for dialing up the Hallelujah Choir?

Can you call yourself one hot, hip mama when you realize the last time you went shopping for something other than a new pair of shorts or flip-flops was two years ago? Or that your collection of tanktops and sweatpants now outnumbers your collection of sexy dresses and va-va-voom blouses.

Can you still call yourself a writer when everything that floats from your mind to your keyboard reads like a giant pile of dog doo? And even after re-writing the same sentence fifty-seven different ways you are know you are in the running for the Grand Prize of the Crap Awards?

Can you still call yourself a domestic goddess when you’re happy that your new puppy has gone exploring under the bed or behind the couch because he makes a really great dust mop? Or when you feel the overwhelming need to do a happy dance because you’ve remembered to put the clothes in the dryer before they sit in the washer too long and you have to re-wash them?

If you answered “ABSO-FRICKIN-LUTELY” to all of the above then you and I must be dear friends. We see eye to eye and dustball to dustball, and we know that life is about bursts of brilliance and moments of jaw-dropping mediocrity. We know that every once in a while we need to take our glasses off so we don’t look too closely at all our faults and imperfections. That way we can celebrate what’s good and quirky and funny about ourselves. And we can laugh—because as we know, laughter is often what sparks those moments of brilliance once again.

HAHAHAHAHA!

Yep, I’m starting to feel more brilliant already! How about you?

34 thoughts on “Just Wondering

  1. Holy cow! I put a tick next to all of these (except the mom one because I’m not and my dust mop is a 15 pound cat named Zorro). We must have been best friends in a previous life :)

    Thanks for making me feel brilliant. I’ve got a lot of work ahead of me today.

    Happy writing,
    Anne

    • Welcome to my blog, Anne. I’m smiling at your comment. Thanks for letting me know I’m not alone! Happy writing to you as well.

  2. Oh man… Your writer and good friend examples ring painfully true! But you’re the only one seeing the dog doo draft, dear friend – the posts you share with us are rich with joy, contemplation, community building and laughter. Thanks for this!

    • You are welcome, Tele. And thank YOU for your kind words. Sometimes we just have to laugh at ourselves and it makes everything feel right in the world. :-)

  3. Becky, you are simply brilliant. I could not able to read many pf your posts due to some professional stuffs. But believe me in my dream also, I was not aware of the fact that you have stored something like this in your blog. This one is among your best posts. I simply loved it. You are too good Becky. :)

    • Wow, thank you, Arindam. Your comments always make me smile.

      I completely understand about not having time to read and comment on all my posts. I’m struggling to do that as well with yours and many others. I’m happy to hear from you whenever you have time. You always add a ray of light to the comments. Thanks for taking the time to swing by and say hi.

    • Thanks, Jodi. I was just enjoying your post on the benefits of laughter. Great minds think alike!

    • Thanks, Carrie. I’m glad you enjoyed it so much. Clearly we see dustball to dustball! :-) Thanks for taking the time to let me know.

  4. Of course, you’re still a good mom, friend, writer, athlete, hip mama, etc.! This post made my day. I love the image of that little puppy mopping the floor! I am with you on this–so glad you see the humor in life and make room for the brilliance!

    • Tina, I’m glad you enjoyed this. I can’t tell you how much I’ve been enjoying your blog too–from piano recitals to bike rides (well, the bike ride was scary), but I’m stilllll trying to find a few minutes to leave comments. Well, as you can see from this post, I”m not in one of my “brilliant” spurts, but I do appreciate you as a person and a fine writer!

  5. I’m loving this post. Made this girl’s day. Most women find it difficult to give themselves a break. Your insightful words say it all. Thanks a bunch.

    • Diane, I’m so glad this resonated with you. I’m usually my harshest critic, but every once in a while I find life (and my approach to it) just too funny not to laugh.

  6. Dear Becky –
    You made me smile — no, LOL — today. I look forward to one day seeing the dust bunnies fly off your charming puppy. Taking a walk (not a run) with you, sharing stories about motherhood, womanhood, and the writing life. Maybe even getting birthday card. Oh, that inner critic is a harsh one. And I’m starting to think that perhaps it’s a blessing that, when I take off my glasses, I can’t see very much at all.
    Your friend,
    Deborah

    • Deborah, I’m glad this made you laugh. I began wearing reading glasses last year, and I’m starting to think they’re doing a number on my inner critic. :-) Time to chuck them for a while and celebrate life’s imperfections. And YES, wouldn’t it be great fun to get together on your next trip to SoCal?

    • Lisa, I’m glad this resonated with you. Thanks for taking the time to leave your abso-frickin-lutely brilliant comment. I like your picture, by the way. You look light and bright and full of humor.

  7. I wish I had more “bursts of brilliance” than my daily dose of “jaw-dropping mediocrity” but hey, that’s life. Although mediocrity is not to be scoffed at–without it, we’d never realize true greatness when it appears. Anyway, in my eyes, Becky, you’re always brilliant.

    • I like your perspective. It reminds me of the famous Tibetan proverb: “Pain exists to measure pleasure.” All I know is that I have to laugh about the ridiculous nature of my being right now. Thanks for your confidence in my brilliance! It’s making smile.

    • Ha ha. So far the dust mop is a rock star in the potty training department. Not one accident in three weeks, but it’s a good reminder. Maybe I should get him on window washing duty!

  8. Absolutely correct my friend!!! And indeed, “because I said so” is the most logical response to your child – no matter how old they are!!! xo

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