Unfortunately, I have a 2 year-old waiting by the door who clings to me while I prepare my food (which I really do the second I come in that door). Since he has already had dinner he sits with me (as in on my lap) waiting somewhat patiently until I take my plate to the sink so that we can play dinosaurs or vampires vs. werewolves or any other activity that requires my full mental and physical participation. It's so difficult to not just ignore the munchkin sometimes and devote my time to something more relaxing like, say, RHONJ (embarrassing to admit, but hey).
It's tough to find a balance that includes "ME" time; especially when every hour of the day is spent working for other people (my boss, my husband and my son) to make sure that their needs are met. I am so guilty of hiring Sully/Mike Wazowski or Buzz/Woody or DJ Lance Rock to entertain the kid while I do everything that I need to/want to do before bedtime.
Lately, since we've been discussing adding another child to the mix I've been thinking about how to best spend my time away from the office. Right now I would give myself a big fat FAIL in the attentive mother department. I'm not horrible, but you know you are doing something wrong when the kid starts having to climb things to get your attention. I do realize, however, that the important thing is to recognize the faults and to try to do better to give the kid and his future siblings a solid, fullfilled experience with me as their mother.
I can't always rely on myself to provide the internal motivation to do things in the best way as opposed to doing things in the easiest way possible.
Fortunately, I have a 2 year-old who is there to say, in those post-dinner moments of lounging lazily at the table, "Mama, you are all full." Even if that is his way of saying, "OK lady, get your butt up and play with me," he has a point. I am full and I should be thankful for that. And I should give him the best of what I got.
