Saturday, September 13, 2008

Coming Full Circle

“Dad, the baby was up all night … again!”
“Ma, all day long, she hangs on my leg and I can’t get anything done.”
“Dad, she won’t stop crying, what do you think it is?”
“Ma, what did you do when we wouldn’t eat?”
Ah, the great circle of life, it took so long to get here.


“Joe, you know, God doesn’t make grown-ups, God makes babies.”
Everybody loves babies. I’m not wrong making that statement, am I? Sure, some people are more excited about the thought of having kids than others, but really … aren’t babies adorable? I’ve yet to see one that isn’t. And don’t they always smell so good? Well … Almost always that is. I love it when they look up at you and smile. The best is when they grab a hold of your finger. (Although, my kids later learned not to fall for that one.) Babies are so tiny and dainty. They have little itsy-bitsy fingers and toes … little rubbery arms and legs … and very small noses (probably for their own survival). Babies are born little angels. So then … what happens to them?

“Honey, we did our best. There is no such thing as completely childproofing your house.”
I was really missing the days when my kids were babies. Some of my fondest memories are of them being toddlers. Our first experience with children came in the form of “double-trouble”. There was no fighting over who would hold the baby. My wife and I had one apiece. But when they became toddlers, they defined the phrase “the terrible twos”! We were both “on duty” at all times. Suddenly it was like there were two of us and twenty of them. It was a job keeping them out of harms way. It wasn’t too bad during the crawling stage, but when they took to walking, we’d have to split ourselves in two when they headed in different directions. And if I recall correctly their first words were … “Me too!” That of course is because everything we did … we had to do twice. They made sure of that!

“Kids really brighten a household. They never turn off any lights.”
During their school age years my kids were very much like me. Come to think of it, that could be the other way around, my wife still yells at me for not turning off the lights. But seriously, the pre-teen years are full of surprises. Parents really learn a lot at this stage. We come to realize things like … when you hear the toilet flush and then the words, "uh-oh!", it’s already too late. You learn that Play-Doh and microwave ovens should never be used in the same sentence. Super Glue is forever. And back then (yes I’m old) … VCRs do not eject Peanut Butter & Jelly sandwiches, even though TV commercials showed they did. What we’ve learned was that a good sense of humor was essential for getting you through this stage of your child’s growth.

“Joe, remember adolescence? That’s the age when children try to bring up their parents.”
It doesn’t really matter how experienced you are by the time your child becomes a teenager. It’s during a child’s adolescent years when most parents turn gray. It’s the age at which children stop asking questions because they know all the answers. And parents, thinking they got a handle on parenting at this point, learn yet a few more interesting things. Like cleaning the house while teenagers are at home is like trying to shovel the driveway during a snowstorm. And they learn there are three ways to get something done … do it yourself, hire someone to do it, or you could forbid your teenager to do it. A friend of mine summed it up nicely … Raising teenagers is like nailing Jell-O to a tree.

Don’t you agree … having kids is fun? I'd really like to know.

“Honey, don’t you wish we had more children?”
“Sweetie, Don’t you remember all those times we told our kids … to just wait until they have kids? Let’s just be thankful we’re still around to enjoy the show.”

22 comments:

Ken Duck Geraths said...

True, true, joe that was the best!!
i being a grandpa my self can relate! lmao!

Mom said...

Do you have an RSS feed?

Utter Basketcase said...

Awww this is a gorjus post PJ!!!

It has got me even more excited about my pregnancy!!! Only less than 4 months to go now!!!!!!!

And the kiddies are ADORABLE!! xx

Frogs in my formula said...

Having kids IS fun. I love the picture and the Jello comment. The gray hair? I'm not ready...

Deb said...

My parents were the stupidest two people on the planet...until I turned 21 when they somehow became freakin' geniuses.

When my son was growing up I would watch the Cosby show and take notes. Now my son is 21 and history is repeating itself - he no longer thinks I am an idiot! Hallelujah!

Mike said...

Great post. Fun stuff. My hair isn't turning grey, it just decided to fall out.

I've gotten lucky with my three. The running joke with my wife is that they are turning out great in spite of what we did to them...

Confessions of A Mississippi Mom said...

I think you out did yourself on this post, I was tearing up! Truly you have a great family and you are a blessed to be a part of the "cycle of life". This is a excellent gift to give you grandkids..b/c you tribute to how kids brighten up everything is priceless..

Confessions of A Mississippi Mom said...

LOL I meant your grandkids,,, hey even your kids would love to read this.. I hope you share!!!

Moooooog35 said...

At least your grandkids will have a nice warm place to sleep on cold nights.

Jesus, Joe - shave that chest, will ya?

It's like a wildebeest holding two kids hostage.

Bogart said...

I gotta get working on having my own kids...so I can become a granddaddy before death.

Anonymous said...

Joe, I've been reflecting on this very topic quite a bit lately.

I now see it from three views.

I was a teenager. A very mischeivious one. Very. I knew it all and nobody could tell me any different.

Which brings me to the teenaged girl who lives in my house. She used to be sweet and cuddly. Then her horns and tail sprouted and somewhere or another she's found a pitchfork.

I only 4 years ago went through it with the oldest daughter, the one who has blessed me with a grandchild. Now she is going through it, and I'm watching.

Yep. In the next year or so, the circle will be complete on my end. And I will watch as my kids begin the circle and work their way through it.

A most awesome post, Joe. Most awesome post.

Malicious Intent said...

Nice pic...but Mooog is right...do a bit of manscaping. Your wife will like it and the kids won't mistake you for a rug.

I have to say I have had a very unique experience with parenting. I have two kids in two different worlds and so it's sorta like trying to be in two places at the same time. I call it the Jeckle-Hyde parenting experience. Go from one mode to another with no warning and they are so far apart and different from one another...you sometimes forget where in the hell you are! lol

Practically Joe said...

ken: "i being a grandpa my self can relate! lmao!"
me: The worst thing about this is knowing I'm now married to a grandmother.

giggles: "It has got me even more excited about my pregnancy!!! Only less than 4 months to go now!!!!!!!"
me: Awwww! Can I be a bloguncle?

frogs: "Having kids IS fun. I love the picture and the Jello comment. The gray hair? I'm not ready..."
me: Kids are fun ... gray can be fun too. NOT!

Deb: "My parents were the stupidest two people on the planet...until I turned 21 when they somehow became freakin' geniuses."
Me: They were geniuses all along.

Mike: "The running joke with my wife is that they are turning out great in spite of what we did to them"
Me: That's a joke your kids will cherish always.

mississippi mom: "I think you out did yourself on this post, I was tearing up!"
me: Oh miss Mom ... don't cry. You are so cute! Here ... have a tissue.

Moooooog: "Jesus, Joe - shave that chest, will ya? It's like a wildebeest holding two kids hostage."
Me: You are too friggin funny! Just so you know ... look closer ... I'm wearing a sweater.

Bogart: " gotta get working on having my own kids...so I can become a granddaddy before death."
Me: Practice makes Perfect.

catscratch: "Yep. In the next year or so, the circle will be complete on my end. And I will watch as my kids begin the circle and work their way through it."
me: I'm sure you're as greatful as we are to live long enough to enjoy it.

MI: "Nice pic...but Mooog is right...do a bit of manscaping. Your wife will like it and the kids won't mistake you for a rug."
ME: I'm Italian ... and yes ... I have just as much on my back.

MI: "I have two kids in two different worlds and so it's sorta like trying to be in two places at the same time."
ME: It's a tough job. But I bet you do it well.

Along said...

You killed me with that photo!! So cute!!! Makes me want to chew on their chubby cheeks.

When I was growing up, I thought my parents were so outdated. Now, with 2 daughters of my own, I know what it's like being on the other side of the "eye roll". Sheeshh...

Anonymous said...

They are ADORABLE!!!! you must be so proud!!!

The Mistress said...

I have done an excellent job of childproofing my house by not having any!

Rhonda said...

What beautiful little grandbabies!!! Jimminy Christmas, you could never be mad at faces like that!

Great post! I laughed out loud when you talked about cleaning up after teens being like shoveling snow in a snowstorm. I was just mentally cussin' out my kids for leavin' all their crap in my front room...ya know, the NICE room..the one that's ALWAYS supposed to be clean. Grrrrr!! And I thought toddlers were bad...pfffft!

Heather said...

I'm almost 35 - my parents seem even stupider than they did when I was 14. I think it's because they are.

My dad always told me that paybacks were hell and that's the only thing he got right.

And for the record, I don't like babies. They scare the crap out of me, they are germy and snotty and fussy. My teenager is a nightmare but I'd rather have a 15 yr old than an infant any day of the year.

xyu95 said...

2 young babes on your shoulders. life is good.

Practically Joe said...

Along: "Now, with 2 daughters of my own, I know what it's like being on the other side of the "eye roll".
Me: I bet your "eye roll" still gets the message across.

phaedra: "They are ADORABLE!!!! you must be so proud!!!"
me: I am proud ... and just as adorable (almost)

mj: "I have done an excellent job of childproofing my house by not having any!"
me: I have a friend that childproofs his house by haveing plenty of condoms handy.

rhondalue: "I laughed out loud when you talked about cleaning up after teens being like shoveling snow in a snowstorm."
me: funny but true

heather: "My teenager is a nightmare but I'd rather have a 15 yr old than an infant any day of the year."
me: Yeah ... teenagers are much easier to ground.

xyu95: "2 young babes on your shoulders. life is good."
me: It sure is buddy. It sure is!

xyu95 said...

She was drinking at the BEER WORKS and fell for the manager

Suburban Correspondent said...

Amen to the teenager paragraph! And apparently you have never heard of NILE.