I don't like to have anything controversial on my blog, so please don't make more of this post than what I intend ... it's just how I processed my internal monologue of the day.
Right after Zesty was born, and by that I mean 5 days later, Splenda had her spring break. We thought this was a grand thing, because she could come and bond with her new baby brother.
What we did not foresee is that I am human, and a first time mom, and that I was already stressing out even though I didn't realize it at the moment. It was stressful for me to go from taking care of my pregnant body only to taking care of my post-partum body, and a brand new creature who depended on me for everything, as well as taking the sleep right out of my nights. Along with that, I learned to take care of Splenda's insulin routine so that she could spend 8 days in a row with us. Mr Lemon had to work just a couple of those days.
I also welcomed every visitor who wanted to come by and see the baby. You could say I overloaded my plate. There was so much on my plate I didn't even taste it, I just inhaled it.
At one point in this time period, Mr Lemon and I had a discussion. A DISCUSSION. It went something along the lines of me misunderstanding him, and him saying some stuff that he hadn't really thought through before saying to a brand new post-partum mother, and me getting mad at him. You know, that kind of discussion. We got over it, and it didn't scar our marriage or anything, but today I remembered it.
I recalled him saying he doesn't need a break from his family, and I thought it was a copout. He'd never taken care of both kids by himself, because the baby was only a week old. To me, he gets a break because he goes to work.
But today it occurred to me that he goes to work for his family. He doesn't leave his parenting hat at the door when he picks up his lunchbox. He takes his Daddy hat to work with him, and it is what inspires him to travel almost an hour one way, work 12 hours in a nasty steel mill, and drive home.
He provides for his family out of love and concern for our well-being, sometimes without regard to his own rest.
And to that, I take off my hat to every working parent. Moms who work full-time aren't doing it to get a break from their homelife. It's how they keep their homes running.
Recalling this six month old moment and the internal monologue from this morning made me want to make this home as pleasant as possible for him to come home to. It is here that he chooses to relax and be refreshed.
It is his oasis.
(Happy 19 month dateiversary eve, Mr Lemon)
8 comments:
Okay... this was just too sweet...
What beautiful insight that will continue to strengthen your marriage everyday.
And I will salute my SIL, too!! Mr. Lemon, you do a great job taking care of your family! And Mrs. Lemon, you are a great wife, and mother! ((HUGS)) Mom
Lovely tribute to Mr. Lemon.
Well put. I hope that he sees it and appreciates it. I do hope that he appreciates you, too, though, because motherhood is hard, whether or not you also work outside the home.
This was truly beautiful, Liz, and I remember experiencing something similar here in the Cavinee household many years ago. But it is things like this that make our marriages stronger. We can be so thankful for such godly, loving husbands. Ed has just overwhelmed me with his kindness and patience during my recent surgery and recovery. I love you, Liz....((HUGS))
This is a long overdue comment...(I haven't been reading much lately!)
I like this tender insight into Mr. Lemon's contribution to your family life. You are very sweet to recognize it.
I will defend your perspective just a touch because motherhood doesn't look on the outside as rigorous as 12 hours in a steel mill, but filling the emotional and physical needs of little people and taking personal responisbility for their safety and health and happiness while everyone is away is exhausting, relentless, and the lack of a break can be super overwhelming. So it's OK (in my overwhelmed book of momming) to express the need for rest.
And I totally know that in a normal moment (as opposed to a discussion moment), Mr. Lemon is all too ready to make it happen for you.
I love watching your little family through your blog.
(Sorry I've been a stranger for a while...just getting back into blog world since I'm on the other side of the world now;))
Just noticed your twitter about wanting your blog groove?
I just came across a cute little book that asks all kinds of questions to "tickle your imagination." One of them was, "Would you eat a meal a cat made?" I think it would be hilarious to make that a blog post...I don't know why, it just struck me amusing. And I don't even much like cats. Anyway...if nothing better comes along, I dare you to write about cat cuisine.:)
Bravo!
~DA
Post a Comment