God, Beer and Crazy People

Driving home today...enjoying the gorgeous sunshine and ruminating over life and the Universes' sense of humor...a song came on that just made me laugh out loud, despite the serious theme. And, yeah...for those of you who know me, it was a country song (some of us can't escape our roots, no matter how hard we try and afar we fly from home...) "God is great, beer is good, and people are crazy." Yup. Pretty much. Sums up life in this world. And, in reference to the past few days of ranting over grumpy, mean, arrogant people...it's actually a reassuring thought. Don't you think? But really, if I consider that I'm just as crazy (or more so) than the next person it completely changes whatever perspective I may tend to adopt regarding the situation. AWESOME! It also makes it possible for me to really take a second look...to step back and put myself in the other persons' shoes. That way I am a whole lot less likely to judge harshly (or, perhaps, not even judge at all.) Another benefit to this way of thinking is I am also less likely to be AS hard on myself...hmmmmmmm...so, think for a moment...an opportunity to just accept me (you) as I (you) am (are)..."self-acceptance"...a radical thought (also a terrific book I highly recommend "Radical Acceptance.") Let's move on...

Parenting is hard. And maybe not so rewarding...at least at first...and for some, it may always not be (rewarding, that is.) I have friends who are the parents I aspire to be...but, alas...I never will be.
Not gonna happen.
Uh-uh.
No way.
Not in the cards.
Not wired that way.
Not my dharma.
[sigh]
It makes me crazy sometimes...well, okay...most of the time. My best friend is this ambitious, ever-present, doting, volunteering, homework-helping, organic-food-entire-meal cooking, bedroom-cleaning, spaghetti-sauce-from-scratch-making icon of perfection. Um. Yeah. That's right. I'm not. Well, I am ambitious and I guess I do cook organic as I can...but my sauce comes from a jar. And, the few times I've cleaned my kids' rooms...not so much as a "Thanks Mom!" and in less than a day the rooms are a disaster again. Yep. That's gratitude for ya. It irks me. Not because I was this particularly gracious child...but I have to say I was a lot more grateful. It's a weird thing with these last coupla generations...entitlement. Huh. I shake my head as I watch the neighbors buy their 16 year old just-licensed daughter a nicer car than I drive (and I must add that they are not better off financially...) I can't wrap my brain around what the outcome of this generation will be through the "spoiling" and "entitlement" we've given them. Wow. Anyone?

AHEM.

Self-acceptance. So...I let my kids make their own toast...sometimes I even make them make their own lunches. I DON'T clean their rooms...so they have to live in the filth or clean it themselves. And, believe it or not, I do help them with their homework when they ask. If they choose to do it. And if they don't, they face the consequences (my first grader doesn't like to do homework...so he loses privileges when I get a call from his teacher.) There are boundaries and I make them accountable. But it has been a hard road. I feel guilty, more often than not, for not riding my son about doing his homework. For not cooking fully organic meatless meals (try that when your married to a meat cutter.) For watching them "wade" through their stye of a room. But, I'm slowly becoming more accepting of my lacking skills. I'll have you know that I choose to be lacking...remember the "people are crazy" truth?? Well...call me crazy. I'll be happier, when all is said and done.

Accepting, honoring and LOVING myself as crazy.

That's right.

C-R-A-Z-Y

ENJOY!

Much Love and Many Blessings...Kim