The dichotomy of motherhood

As my babies become less baby-like and more people-like, I find myself feeling torn between two completely opposite emotions. I am relieved that I have a bit more time that I can use to do what I want (see previous post…obviously doing nothing good) and I am sad that Zoe and Jonah are growing up so fast.

Yesterday, though, I had such a good day with Zoe that I didn’t have the feelings of wishing she was still little. My big 4-year old and I had a mama-and-me day and we went to see Chihuly at the de Young museum. If you happen to live in the Bay Area, you MUST go see this exhibition. It was incredible. Zoe came out of it and said, “Chi-HOOOO-li is an amazing artist!” (I’m not making that up.)

Glass ceiling

We made the requisite stop in the museum store where I agreed to buy her a Chihuly Artist Kit for kids, and a puzzle for Jonah. Zoe also wanted a purple pencil sharpener. We’ve been trying to teach her that things cost money, and that money comes from working instead of just magically out of our wallets. So I told her if she wanted the pencil sharpener she’d have to see if she had enough money. She did, and she was so proud to be able to buy it herself. (She had earned the money from helping to put Jonah to bed a few nights before….I was joking when I told her I’d give her $5 if she could help her Daddy put Jonah to bed. She promptly got up, picked some stories she knows by heart to read to him and was mostly successful.) We have been talking about making a list of chores for her to do to earn some money so she can buy herself the infinite list of things she asks for whenever we are in any retail establishment. The thrill of purchasing the sharpener made her hungry for more, and she said she wanted to do some chores when we got home. (I’m not making this up either.) Alrighty!

Zoe at Chihuly

After the de Young, we went to see the butterfly exhibit at the Conservatory of Flowers where we actually got to observe a Monarch butterfly emerge from its cocoon and watch as its wings went from crumply to beautifully expanded. It was so neat. And we had such a good time. I felt a little bad that I didn’t bring Jonah along, but in hindsight I realized the days agenda really wasn’t geared toward an 18 month old.

We were both hungry and so had lunch at the Beach Chalet, then headed home. Zoe fell asleep during the car ride and took a nice long nap, but when she awoke, here are the chores she completed:
1. Dusted the living room furniture.
2. Vacuumed the bench in the kitchen and under the table.
3. Picked up her shoes and jackets from the living room, put them away.
4. Picked up Jonah’s toys from living room, put them away.
5. Picked up her room, dusted her dresser.

For this, she earned $1.25. So when I am feeling sad that she isn’t the little baby she used to be, I am going to think back on this day and remember what a great time we had and be thankful for the present.