Eight is Enough

Next week Natalia turns eight. Her birthday is always a big deal to me, not just because I am so happy that she was gifted into my life, but also it reminds me how quickly time flies. I've blogged it many times: The older I get, the faster time flies. Especially now since my life has started being fun and full of good stuff.

I will confess this: Eight is not my favorite age for children as a general rule, but Natalia is the best eight year old ever. I used to avoid babysitting eight year olds at all costs when I was in college and just stick with the babies to five year olds. What I mean is it's just an age of roller coaster emotions, terrible two's without the cute baby body, and they generally are more into their friends now because their friends know EVERYTHING! Never mind that I have 35 years of experience and a bachelors degree under my belt. I'm just mom after all. Did I know about the Green Grannysmith spider who could take out six kids in one spray? Did I know that google was a number? Did I know that clothing does not have to match? No. I am obviously lame.

It has kind of blown me away how head strong Natalia is lately and how snotty she talks. It's her version of what a teenager sounds like. It's just weird to hear this kind of noise coming out of such a small body. It reminds me of a voice over on TV and I am mesmerized, then realize I am supposed to do something about it. Yes, I already whined about this and talked about the child labor sticks of despair, but it's my blog and therefore my sounding board. By the way, the labor sticks totally work because nothing will change a child's tune faster than having to take five minutes out of riding her scooter with her girlfriend because she has to pick up poop in the back yard. She isn't cured by all means, but at least I get five minutes free from snotty arguing back talking and I didn't have to clean up poop. Boo-yaah! Mom:1, child: google.

I don't think it would bother me so much if I didn't have my own inner turmoil that I'm working on right now, so knowing this, I mentioned it to Natalia in a very seven-going-on-eight kind of way after she told me I was mean. Now, I didn't do anything Evil Queen specific at that moment, and she couldn't name anything in particular, but she said I have been mean lately. I get it. Like I said, I have some stuff going on, so my fuse has been short and I have felt less connected to everyone lately. That's the only reason I had a little heart to heart with her. Wouldn't you know it that the little smarty pants tried to play the "mean" card against me the next day when she didn't get her way about wearing "high heeled" shoes to school. That I saw right through. She's so smart. If I wasn't so mentally fried, I'd be kind of proud and laughing at the moment. It just takes me a couple days and moments of silence to process how hilarious all that is.

One thing that helps is my own girlfriends. In the past whenever I have had my garbage creep to the surface I have isolated myself. Obviously that has never worked, so this time I have rallied a few close girlfriends around me. Way better. Part of the idea to do this comes from how much I have needed other moms to get me through motherhood and tell me my child is normal and that I am a good mom. Yes, I know on a basic level I am a good mom. I mean, she isn't setting library books on fire and Googling how to make pipe bombs out of Barbies. But, what I am talking about is raising the kind of girl that people will go to for advice about their own crazy daughters. The kind of woman who other women will want to ask out for girls night and laser tag. The kind of girl who someone can pull aside on Easter night who will listen to her friend empty her heart and say "I knew all along". That's the kind of girl I want to raise.

Kara helps me see the bright side too by saying things like "Oh, she runs on her toes, she'll be a great sprinter." and "Yeah, she's head strong, argumentative, and slightly manipulative, but those will be great qualities when she learns to use them appropriately as an adult". Of course those are gratuitous use of quotes, but I'm not exactly a literary genius here. 

I can see Natalia having a bright future in law or politics. Please sweet baby Jesus in a manger surrounded by livestock let her use those forces for good and no longer against her mother. I actually told a co-worker yesterday that I have an eight year old daughter at home and I just could not argue with her anymore. Yeah, she was totally offended and huffed off. Seriously folks. It's about survival and I have to save my energy for my daughter. I can't waste it on other nurses. Besides, she obviously does not have the stamina Natalia does because Natalia never would have let that conversation end there. Weak sauce.