Not My First Rodeo

This is a saying my dad used a lot when my brother and I were teenagers and trying to pull a “fast one” on him.  This and “do I look like I just fell off a turnip truck?” (which to this day I have no idea what that is suppose to convey but it got our attention…which  was no doubt the action he was going for). 

My dad has several of these off-the-wall sayings.  Like saying “go pound sand in a rat hole” to someone you don’t care for.  Or this tasty little saying “tighter than a bull’s ass in fly season” which can range from a bolt that is too tight, or someone who is too cheap (Like how these can cover multiple situations?  Yeah, me too).  Then there’s the “sweating like a Norwegian writing a letter” that refers to when one is sweating because of the heat, or from working so hard, etc but it always makes me laugh when I hear it because of the picture it conjures up in my head.  Now before all my fellow Norsk folk start bashing me…I AM Norwegian, my father is 100% Norwegian so we eat all the strange food, wear the hot-as-hell sweaters, and think pewter is better than diamonds…and we are proud of it!  Okay?…no need for hater comments thankyouverymuch.

But the saying “Not My First Rodeo” fits my life right now, right here, in this stage.  I am a mom to three boys!  I’ve been through this baby to toddler stage 2 times before this.  This is definitely NOT my first rodeo. 

But some days it feels like I’m riding a bucking bronco and can hardly hang on for two seconds let alone the whole eight.  

Why is that?

I should know by now what to expect when Buggy is frustrated and doesn’t have the words to express himself.  Yet at times my eyelids twitch from the shrieking he does to get my attention or to express his frustration. 

I should know that even at 15 months old, babies still go through non-sleeping periods and will put me into a perpetually exhausted state for several weeks.  Due to teething, growing pains, nightmares etc.  But yet I’m still surprised and end up saying to myself “I don’t get it!  A 15 month old should be able to get through the night with no problem, what the heck is going on!!??”

I should remember that at this age they go through yet another wave of separation anxiety and I should have my patience locked, loaded, and ready to go every single day.  But most of the time I feel I fall short.

I should remember that at this age a baby’s favorite pastime is throwing food on the floor and getting it all tangled in his hair.  Yet I still let out a quiet sigh of frustration whenever I see Buggy drawing a new and improved Picasso in his gorgeous golden blond hair. 

Do I have rodeo amnesia?  I’ve been through this two times before, why are these things still frustrating?  Shouldn’t I have built up some sort of tolerance by now?

*sigh*

The good news about a rodeo?  Variety!    

Sure there are days where I feel like I’m being bucked off by a bull due to shrieking, lack of sleeping, clinginess, or foodie Picasso, and the clowns (aka my two older sons) have to distract said bull before I get a horn in the tush.  Days like yesterday when all Buggy did was scream the entire time we were in a store, screamed when we got home, screamed when he was away from me, screamed as he went down for his nap, screamed when he woke up and screamed on and off through the night (mommy is thinking it’s teething).

But there are other days where I feel like I am riding a horse and running the barrels without a single mistake and in record time.  Getting the kids everywhere they need to be. Like this weekend when we were cramming all our summer activities into 3 days.

But my favorite times are when I feel like I am riding a beautiful stallion around the arena and it feels like I’m gliding, flying even.  Like I can’t even hear or feel the hooves touching the dirt.  Days where everything is running smoothly from sunup to sundown.  Days like today, where I’m greeted with a smile the minute I walk into the nursery and he is happy all day long.  He naps like a rock star, and plays nicely and happily all day long only to go to sleep peacefully in my arms.

Yep, I’m thinking Motherhood is like a Rodeo.  Every. Single. Day.  No matter how many you’ve been to each one is different.  You just strap on your boots not knowing which event you will end up doing, you might ride a bull, or you might even end up stepping in a big pile crap…but you also just might get the stallion!!  And that is just flat out worth it all! 

Does motherhood ever make you feel like you are part of a rodeo?