You know when you are reading blogs and you come across a blog and think I want my blog to be just like that when it grows up. That was what I thought when I found this week’s Blog Friend Feature. Hers was one of the very first blogs that I started following when I started blogging.
Meet Angie from Seven Clown Circus. I so relate to her stories about parenting. What I really love about her is that she writes funny posts and serious posts: but it’s always her voice coming through. She is also the host of Wordful Wednesdays, so if you like to show off your pics but have to write about them, too, you should link up with her. I was so excited when she agreed to be BFF this week because I know that you will love her.
Parenting is a paradox. I really believe that.
I’ve been a mother for 11 years now, which seems like such a long time.
And at other times not so long at all.
I feel like I’ve aged about a million years in that time, yet I feel younger now than ever.
See what I mean? 🙂
I thought I’d have buckets of free time when my children went off to school. I have less time now than I’ve ever had in my life.
I was told countless times how life gets busier once the kids go to school. I didn’t buy it. It didn’t make sense to me. I thought that nothing could be more time consuming that mothering babies and toddlers. And, really, nothing is. I didn’t understand that by busy they meant that they’d be hard pressed to find any block of time for themselves because they’d be scheduled here there and everywhere. I didn’t comprehend that the chauffeuring, homeworking helping, dinner making, extra curricular shuffling, social calendaring, volunteering, roll would take so much time. I didn’t realize that mothering older children can be as taxing as mothering infants. Just in a different way.
I’ve found that some things are harder, but some things are so much easier. Like going out with my children without bottles, diapers, strollers and that emergency change of clothing.
I guess the main thing I’ve found about parenting is that it doesn’t always make sense, but it’s worth it.
And of course, parenting is a paradox.
The End.
Yup, that pretty much sums it up!
All true.
Glad you are Shell's BFF!! Going to your site now! 🙂
Oh I was hoping the same, I was waiting for her to say that we get to sit around all day in our pjs drinking coffe and blog reading until the bus returns. Great BFF.
I think we're in it for the long haul. Of course, everything is easier with one.
I will have to stop by for Wordful Wednesday because…well, my Wordless Wednesday posts are always filled with words! 🙂
NO, please say it isn't so. I thought for sure when we get past the toddler stage that it will be smooth sailing. My almost 3 year old keeps my hopping to say the least. But, I only have one and plan on keeping it that way, so hopefully that will be a bit more manageable.
Great post!
Love Angie! (And not just because we have the same name) Her blog rocks! Great BFF Shell!
She is such a wise lady!
I would totally have to agree with this post.
Thank you so much for having me, Shell, and for the kind comments that everyone has left. So fun to be Shell's BFF today!
What a sweet compliment, Shell. 🙂
I've just had the pleasure of connecting with Angie through SITS!
You've got it – parenting IS a paradox!
Parenting is a Paradox. I mean, doesn't that just SCREAM to be a #1 rap single?
Angie, I'm looking at you.
aw man, I was totally living by hoping to have more time when my kids get in school … :-/ guess I'll just have to change 'school' to college, lol
btw … i totally want to be just like your blog when i grow up!
OH SO TRUE!! I thought that when my kids would enter school I would have so much more free time too!! Love your blog. thanks for sharing. 🙂
laura http://www.supergluemom.com
Maybe it's a good thing I haven't completely signed-on for this motherhood thing yet. 😉
Great feature… love Angie!
This post is so true. Just when you think it's going to get easier it gets busier.
Since I have both(babies and teens), I haven't realized this. It's just always been the same, busy, with no hope of any free time anytime soon.
Good post Angie.
Yes. I agree. I'm about where you are in the mommyhood experience…out of the bottles and diaper chaos and into the chauffeuring/volunteering chaos. I'm told it gets even more unreal when our cherubs become teenagers. Keeps it interesting, no?
Love your BFFs. Obvs! I have clicked around to her before but been ages. I'm going back!
You are so right about the time suck!
This is SO true Angie! I think Jordan is WAY more work than the twins at the moment. I also agree with the "I feel older, yet younger than ever" comment. It's absolutely the truth. The great thing is, we get better with age. 🙂
Yay, I love finding new blogs… on my way over!
that is the most awesome saying ever…parenting is a paradox…amen!
although I can't wait to not have to have a pull up and sippy cup in my purse!
Shoot! And I was so looking forward to when all of my kids were in school 🙂
I was hoping she would say it got easier too. I keep thinking it HAS to get easier. I loved this post and I love the part about parenting being a paradox. I think that is so true!
I'm finding that I don't really care. I keep hearing that it doesn't get easier…and I find that at the end of the day when the laundry is STILL scattered all over the place, the kitchen a mess with dirty dishes and clean ones mixed in, the dog stinks, the diaper pail stinks, the trash is sitting infront of the garage door but somehow not made it into the garage, bills are past due, the beds haven't been made in weeks and who knows when the sheets were last changed, the pantry shelves are pretty sparse and there is enough playdough stuck to the carpet that it now resembles a kindercare activity mat but I have an uber cool whatchamcallit thingiemabober for my uh yeah…. I don't care. I love it. I don't mind that its tough. If it was easier it wouldn't be worth it. If it was easier it wouldn't be parenting. If it was easier, everyone could do this day in and day out and then where would the satisfaction be? Would I appreciate as deeply the giggles? The cuddle time? The lines the vacuum makes when I actually find time to use it?
Awesome post! I love visiting your blog
it was a wonderful post and I because I am still the mother of preschoolers (3 yr old twins) I want to believe that it HAS to get better, easier, quieter, but I also see that it doesn't, and that's ok with me. I suffered through infertility hoping for a child , I got 2 and more love in my heart than i could imagine, I also had to get a lot more patience, and imagination. But it's all worth it…Right?
Great post!!!!!!
Angie will always be special to me, because she was one of the first bloggers I met, and she actually encouraged me to start mine. She is a genuinely nice person with a heart of gold. I love her!
My world keeps colliding with Angie lately!
Great choice for a BFF!
Love the post, love the BFF-ness of it all and love the word "paradox." Why? Don't know. Just do. Well done, ladies! XO
It doesn't make sense does it? I'm off to check her blog out. 😉
Me too! I was really hoping it gets easier.
Love Angie's blog too!
Ohh so true. Doesn't get easier, but different:)
Yep that pretty much sums it up. I've been a mama for just over 12 years…when does it start getting easier??! And "free" time is an urban legend!!
Wait…does this mean I won't be exercising more when they're in school (the bar is set low, anything is better than never!)? It's so true, you just grow out of one stage and enter another! Happy to meet another BFF of Shell…she has the greatest!
Well … yea, I suppose it is a paradox … funny thing is I;ve been sittin ghere for like 5 WHOLE minutes trying to figure out what to say but my brain keeps wrapping around too many thoughts to focus on one … or two … so, I guess thanks for point out the new blog for me to check out- I totally know what you you mean by "when my blog grows up" OH, and Fashion Week is a bit of a paradox too!
I love Angie! I have been reading her forever it seems like. She is awesome (and gorgeous!).
So true! Not as much maintenance with the older ones, but just as much work!
I can relate! Now that I have just one at home, I'm happy to catch my breath. Soon, she'll be driving herself, and I could get bored! (not)
I dont think it ever gets easier, it just gets different 😀
Perfect way to phrase it. The thing about parenting is once you think you have it figure out, it changes.
Great choice for a BFF! I have heard this, though I would hope for all your mommies that the chaos would die down a bit as the kids get older. I dunno how you all do it, but you're all supermommies to me 🙂
Hope you are all enjoying the weekend!
It's so true! I keep telling myself that once ALL my kids are in school, I'll be able to do what I want during the day. But now that I have 2 at school and 2 at home…my days are ANYTHING but for myself. Granted, I know I still have 2 at home, but my days are SPENT!
I'm heading over to visit her blog now!
Love this post! 🙂