Joshuapants,
Thanks for making me a mommy. I can’t believe you’re six! I love you so much, baby boy. You’re everything I ever dreamed of.
Love, Mommy
Wax On, Wax Off
Recently I’ve been teaching my friend Jen (and to a lesser extent Cortney, really all I do is put together scenarios for her ’cause she already knows how, she just looooves it when I tell her what to do. Don’t ya Ney-Ney??) to COUPON. Jen is my second protege, big PROPS to my friend Elizabeth who is now a Mariah Carey-esque Butterfly and has her own wings to fly and the coupon binder to match. More props to Elizabeth because unlike Mariah, she has still managed to spread her wings and fly while wearing age-appropriate clothing that actually clothes her body. But anyhoo. What was I saying? Oh yes…
Now if you read this here mess blog often, you know I loves me some coupons, some drugstore rebate programs, and some grocery store sales! I have been thinking about it, as I’ve been Jen’s coupon Mr. Miyagi and she’s been my Daniel-san, why do I LOVE it so much? Not just the scoring free diapers, wipes, razors, etc. or “turning a profit” in CVS bucks or Rite Aid rebates – why do I love the process? I come from a family of teachers and always said I would be a terrible teacher, but I think I am pretty good at teaching coupons. And I LOVE doing it. Especially the hands-on lessons where we go to the store together!
I guess it just feels good to be good at something. There is not much in my adult life I have been really good at and also enjoyed. When I was working, I was a good employee, maybe even good at my job(s), but I didn’t enjoy it. It was stressful. Sharing couponing, well, that’s just fun. Giving away stuff that didn’t cost you anything to people who need it = fun. Helping a mom like you stretch her family’s tight budget = fun. Amazing your cashier = fun. Making friends with your cashier who you see once or twice a week = fun. Yesterday I freaking sang “Happy Birthday” to one of my cashiers at CVS (What up, Robin!!) because she’s AWESOME and it was her birthday and I bet none of her other customers was gonna do it!
So, I guess what I’m saying is: registration for Mr. Miyagi’s coupon training school of Savings and General Weirdness is open. Singing not required. But I might make you wax my car.
The Big Six
Six years ago today, I was 40 weeks pregnant, one day shy of my due date, miserable, giant, ready to give birth, but not ready at all. I had no idea what I was in for, as far as giving birth or as far as being a parent. All I knew was that I was ready to hold my baby in my arms. Ready to not waddle, lumber, pant, ache, hurt. Ready to not just be a mother but to mother.
I would have to wait three more days to hold my baby in my arms. When my due date came and went without any action, I was discouraged, to say the least. But by the next evening I was in the hospital, and finally the morning after that I held my sweet boy in my arms.
When he was a baby, I would say to him many, many, many times, “Oh, Joshua, I hope you always love me as much as you do now.” I knew I would love him, though I couldn’t imagine how much. But what surprised me, what I hadn’t expected, was how much he loved me. He has taught me so much about unconditional love. And he still does. When I mess up, when I speak too harshly to him, get mad over little things, he is so quick to forgive.
And now he will be six. He is thriving in kindergarten. He is excited about Hot Wheels, Lego Racers, and Super Mario Brothers. He has a best friend.
And in many ways, I still don’t know what I’m in for. But I get to be Joshua’s mom, so it doesn’t really matter.