Why grandmas are great:
1. They are like a second mom. They will come over and change diapers, feed the baby, read books to baby, play with baby, bathe baby and most everything short of nursing. Sometimes they even cook a meal and do the dishes.
2. They always have good tips and new ideas. My mom basically taught me how to dress my daughter. She also decorated and got her room ready for her when she transitioned into sleeping in her own room. My mother-in-law helps to introduce new foods and new games to play.
3. They tell you you’re doing a good job even if you don’t think you are. And when you mess up, they don’t judge you.
4. They babysit, for free. Plus, you know that they are doing it out of total adoration for your child and you never worry when they are on the job.
5. Even mommies sometimes need their mommies.
Originally published on, and used by permission of, www.AlsoKnownAsMom.com
My mother likes to tell this story as if I may forget it, but I never have: I was in elementary school, maybe 4th grade, and it was my mother’s turn to drive the carpool. On this particular morning, she had a terrible stomach flu. It was too late to find someone else to drive us kids to school, so she got in her car and proceeded in her duties as mom. Unfortunately, and most embarrassing to me, she would intermittently pull over the car, open the door, and vomit in the road.
It wasn’t until I became a mother myself that the significance of her actions became apparent to me. Moms don’t get a sick day. Moms don’t get a day off from work when they come down with a flu, head cold, allergies, bronchitis or pneumonia. The irony of this is that when you become a mom, you get sick more often. Perhaps because you have contact with more people with kids and kids, as cute as they are, are little germ bombs waiting to blow.
Recently, I was sick. Unlike my husband who lay around on the couch all day, I continued in my pursuit of taking care of everyone but myself, running errands, cooking dinner, changing diapers, etc. Eventually, I refused to get out of bed and let my husband take over for a few hours while I rested. Confused at first that I was going to “rest,” he did eventually come to terms with my condition and make me soup, which I ate in bed. Sometimes, daddy isn’t around to take over and you have to be both mom and sick simultaneously. The best way to deal with this is to avoid too much action from either yourself or your child. In other words, watch cartoons all day long. Yes, you’d rather be watching The Bachelor’s After the Rose Ceremony again (I can’t believe he did that to her. What a jerk!), but that won’t distract the wee one. So, suck it up and watch Ant Bully on Netflix instant player or Sesame Street clips on Hulu.com while your kid is entranced because they’ve only seen T.V. at grandma’s. Relax, guilt-free, though they aren’t outside getting fresh air or playing with friends, you’re sick. Your body is begging for a break. Now, how to avoid getting your kid sick…
Originally posted, and re-posted with permission by AlsoKnownAsMom.com
