The Joys of Mommyhood

I haven't spoken often of my older kids often...I have 3. The oldest daughter hasn't lived at home since her first year of college four years ago. She is now a college graduate with an English degree working as a waitress. My middle son is an 18 year old who has been sowing his wild oats since his birthday in July. Most recently...they have been living together in a house with more than 7 people. They trusted someone in the house to be on the lease and pay the bills with money they paid him...they shouldn't have and now they are living in my house with my daughter's boyfriend and occasional others from the house sleeping on my couches.

Let me tell you...it's been quite an adjustment. We went from a peaceful house of three to grand central station and a house of 6 minimum sleeping here nightly. Here's some adjustments that I've been living with:

1. We used to be able to take a hot shower any time we wanted...now we get to take a freezing shower if we're 5th in line. Thankfully, this only happens on weekends to me...I'm first up most of the time.

2. I used to be able to have a clean towel whenever I needed it by washing towels once a week...now I need to wash towels at least twice a week.

3. I have to by twice as much toilet paper as before...so as you can imagine, we sometimes have to wait in line to go potty.

4. I have to load the dishwasher once or twice a day instead of every other day.

5. The noise level of the house has increased exponentially because of my son, Matt. He sleeps to video game songs. Who does that????

6. Everything smells stronger. Boys stink even more when they grow up.

7. Left overs??? Not any more.

8. Room in the fridge for things like REAL milk...not hardly. There's soy milk and other disgusting stuff that I would never eat or drink. Why do you drink soy milk if you're going to eat gallons of ice cream? At least Jess, my oldest daughter and her boyfriend buy their own food. Matt and his girlfriend and other friends just think they're doing us a favor by making sure they are clearing out room from the fridge and cabinets constantly.

9. I am deathly allergic to furry things and now we have two hamsters and a puppy. The puppy is only 2 months old and doesn't sleep through the night.

10. In fact, people are coming and going at all hours of the day...I am not finding sleep easy.

All this being said, it's been sweet at times. Matt is very affectionate...I've been hugged more since they moved back in than I have in the last year. He brings energy into the room. (Unfortunately, sometimes that much energy is exhausting.)

Jess did the sweetest thing this week. I was in one wedding that wasn't a relative and my best friend growing up was as well. She was the only non-sister in my wedding party and I was the only non-sister in hers. Her fiance at the time was an usher for my husband last minute when his wedding party went out to sea. Anyways, I found out that he died on Monday. I haven't contacted my friend in 5 years and didn't feel like I had the right to cry over this. I was sucking it up...but my daughter knew it. Tuesday she forced me to watch a tear jerker "PS. I Love You" and got my favorite dessert. I cried like a baby...she was right, I needed that. When I got up on Wednesday there was a note from her on my windshield that said, "Thanks for watching that movie with me even though you didn't want to. You don't have to be strong all of the time, sometimes you just have to cry. PS. I Love You, Your Eldest." Needless to say, I cried all of the way to work as if all that crying the night before wasn't enough.

I guess having to do a lot more clothes, dishes and cooking is not that bad. :)