Thursday, October 30, 2008

Guilt Trip: A one way ticket

A brief synopsis of my morning:

ME: Kate, come on, we need to hurry up. Mommy is going to be late to work.
KATE: You are always at work mom?
ME: No, Kate, I am not always at work. Sometimes I am at work and then other times I am home with you.
KATE: Me and Daddy live here. You live at work Mom. You don’t live here with me and Daddy.

This is just unfair on so many different levels. Of course she picks a hot button item on my list right now to taunt me with. You know, I left an insane job, working 60+ hours per week so that I could work for peanuts in a “normal” job and have more time at home. I don’t get any respect around this place. This was my initial thought, but I decided it wouldn’t be productive to go there with a two year old.

Second, and most freaking important of all … this child seems to have FORGOTTEN that it’s her father that is gone for work, oh, let’s see, a good third of the year. Yes, and during that time, it’s only her and her mom. Why? Because Dad is ALWAYS at work. I’m not bitter about this whole situation at all, am I? However, being the restrained person I am, I also didn’t go there with a two year old.

Thankfully I have you to share these frustrations with and didn’t quite respond in either of the above ways to my darling daughter this morning. Instead, I smiled sweetly and said, “Geez honey, I sure wish I could spend more time at home with you too.” If only she could understand how much I really meant that …

Now, please excuse me while I return to my home, errr, I mean work.

7 comments:

Jodi said...

Oh no! So sorry! That is like a dagger in your heart. I LOL when I read it though , becuase Craig is always the one gone for work! It's not fair being a mom sometime.

C. Beth said...

Oh, Lyndsay, I'm so sorry! For what it's worth, I think your response was a good one. It probably helps her to know that yes, she misses you, but you miss her too! I can tell from your blog posts that you're a very involved mama. :) Hang in there!

Lia Pearson said...

aaaah Lyndsay! I know you've been struggling with this and I'm sure hearing it from Kate made it that much harder :( if it makes you feel any better....Preston once asked me (after a FULL weekend of editing) why I love my clients more than him!?! They always ask who's on my computer screen and I say "oh, one of my clients" so I guess that's where he got that from. it made me feel horrible!

Amy said...

Is this the same little girl that informed my mom: "Sometimes Daddy comes to our house and sleeps in Mama's bed."? LOL

Anonymous said...

Don't you think at that age, they are just beginning to understand the power of words? And, maybe she was just trying an idea out on you to see what reaction it got?

I think you handled it beautifully, and I would doubt that you'll ever hear those words again BECAUSE you didn't react.

They are such crafty little souls!

Special K said...

Oh man!!!! I hate things like that! My husband is out of town for an undisclosed amount of time right now and the kids reaction is to start saying "daddy did that for me" about everything. Apparently he came and did everything though he's across the country. GRRRRRR.

I'm sending you one ticket back from your guilt trip, free of charge.

Lyndsay said...

Thanks for your support and sharing your stories. It's just so darn hard!

Amy, yes, that is the same kid. I can ONLY imagine what she'll be telling people when she's 5!