Question of the Week - I Actually Enjoy That!

I always thought that doing laundry was a big pain in the butt. Having to check the pockets, making sure stains have something sprayed on them, making sure socks are crumpled so that the dirty spots don't get washed, turning t-shirts inside out so the prints don't wear out. All the trips up and down stairs with heavy baskets. Remembering to gather the dirty clothes from the bedsides, bathrooms, front hall, etc. Just a big, pain-in-the-butt chore. And thank goodness my hubby does his own laundry!

But recently, I've actually enjoyed doing the laundry. The cute little girl clothes and underwear and the adorable little boy outfits? SO cute! I don't even mind scrubbing out stains, and I love discovering what's in the little pockets!

This week's question of the week is:
What is something that you didn't think you would like doing for the kids but you actually do like doing?

In addition to laundry, I am really enjoying packing lunches for the Pumpkin! This was something I never thought I would like to do, but I do like it! Shopping for different items to that she will like, thinking up what to put in, and even fixing sandwiches! (She loves chicken salad sandwiches! Who knew there was actually a sandwich she would like? I just need to remember to cover everything in either mayo or butter!) It adds time to my evenings/nights, but it's not bad and it feels good to have all that prep done and lunches ready to go for the morning!

I've been giving it some thought, and I don't think my enjoyment is really from doing the chores. It's that these activities bring out a very maternal feeling in me. This is what a Mom (or Dad) does for her (or his) kids. These are the things that parents do daily/weekly to care for and provide for their children. I'm a mom, and I do my kids' laundry and pack their lunches. I do many other things, but these are two things that I didn't know I would enjoy about being a mom. And I really do.

What about you? Any specific chores you thought would be a pain but turn out to be fun? Do any little chores bring out parental feelings in you? What do you things do you enjoy doing for your kids?

Summer Viruses

Some days are covered in vomit,
shit and snot. Bacteria and viruses
abound in the adorable petri dishes
who live with me. They ooze putrid
liquids, sticky and stinky. They infect
each other and those nearby. In their
misery, they fuss, whine, cry, cling
spreading their sick germs with
every nuzzle of their soft heads,
every embrace of their sweet arms.

These two are not simply offspring-
genetic carriers of my DNA. They are
my and my love's children, the
miracle of my heart walking outside
my body. Their throw up and diarrhea
do not overwhelm me, do not
disgust me. Their slimy snot and crusty
boogers do not offend me. My mother's
instinct has me reach out to catch
upchucked food remnants. The nessecities
of parenthood have me scrubbing brown
stains from underpants. The familial bond
has me spreading cool cream on red bottoms.

My patience isn't boundless. Sick kids
are trying, frustrating, cranky. They are
up in the middle of the night for hours,
unable to settle comfortably. They require
multiple trips to the doctor and pharmacies-
long waits with restless children, missed
hours from work. They do not eat the healthy
meals cooked with care, turn their noses up
at my hard effort of providing good food.
Nothing feels right, they complain
with words, actions, whines and cries.

They curl their bodies into mine, seeking
soft curves to pillow their achy bodies.
I hold them, carry them, calm them,
love them. I see them through their illnesses.
My heart bursts with love, in health and
in sickness. I take time off work, keep them
home with me. I measure the medicines,
check their temperatures, provide liquids,
clean them up. I am not a doctor, but I
nurse them till they are better, even at
risk of my own health. I wade through the bile,
crap and mucus to get them well again.