The Mommies' Diaries…Parenting, One Blog at a Time.

Have you ever breastfed while standing?  In public?  While getting a manicure?  I have.

Last Saturday my husband had to attend to a family emergency, so it was up to me to entertain both girls.  This isn’t a big deal since that’s my full time “job” anyhow, but I was hell-bent on getting my nails done.  This in and of itself is pretty funny because I am so not a pampered kind of girl.  However, my husband very sweetly mentioned that he appreciates it when my toenails don’t resemble Medusa’s hair.

Of course I had a few choices.  I could’ve waited until my husband returned home.  I could’ve postponed my plans until Sunday.  I could have even scrambled to find someone to watch the girls.  But, no, I decided to take the road less traveled….the road most sane people wouldn’t even consider.  I brought the girls with me.

The first 15 minutes were wonderful.  Bitzy slept in her car-seat while DJ awkwardly stared at everyone.  But, it all went downhill from there (I know, shocking) – and ended up with me breastfeeding Bitzy….while standing.  My manicurist stood beside me, carefully painting one nail at a time while I swayed back and forth.  I know what you’re thinking, and YES – I left them a huge tip and a 5-star review on Yelp.  Ok, ok – what you’re really thinking is that 1) I’m crazy, and 2) you would’ve been pissed if you were in that salon, trying to relax, at the same time my family hurricane passed through.  Fair enough.

What’s done is done.  That salon has forever earned my business, I have my first Shelac manicure, and DJ has enough nail art to last her a year (and additional $12.00 that I happily paid).  More importantly though, I have a renewed perspective on what it means to surrender.

Isn’t that what parenthood really is?  Daily surrender?  Giving up our own power, or more accurately – our plans, for the good of our own mental health?  The faster we can embrace the concept of surrendering, the faster we can relax, and enjoy each moment.  I should have just surrendered to the idea of not getting my nails done on Saturday – it would’ve saved me a lot of frustration, embarrassment – and money.  I should’ve let go of what my vision for that day was, and I should’ve adapted to a more realistic one.

The same goes for my house.  I am a neat freak….like, crazy OCD.  My dad has owned a cleaning business for the past 25 years.  I have grown up hailing to the almighty vacuum.  Cleaning has served as my outlet for control when the world around me seems to be fraying at the edges (quick, get the scissors – we can’t have fray!).  I am only able to relax once the dishes are done, the laundry is folded and the beds are made.  I’m super organized and have labeled bins for almost everything.  When the contents of those bins are scattered about, I find it hard to breathe.  Seriously.

This characteristic is not conducive to life with a 3 year old, nor does it compliment living with a 4 month old baby.  There are toys everywhere.  Despite my recent sweep through of the house, boxing up a ton of “extra” toys – imaginations are budding, and play is how both DJ and Bitzy are learning.  So, OK.  I need to chill out.  How does that quote go, “Shoveling a driveway during a blizzard is like cleaning up the house when the kids are still awake?”  Totally pointless.

Surrender.  Remember the nail salon, Gina?  Yup.  Ok, surrender.

And that I did.

On Sunday, DJ woke up at 6:00 am.  By 6:45 am, this is what our house looked like:

And I left it like that till bedtime.  Picking up toys, after all, might’ve chipped my Shelac.