Lisa-Jo over at The Gypsy Mama
does a Five Minute Friday post each week on a topic she chooses. Write
for 5 minutes flat – no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking
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Note: I know it's supposed to be 5 minutes, but I'm ALWAYS using my timer for something else when I write this, so I keep missing the five minute mark. For honesty's sake, this post was 6 minutes and 22 seconds. Hopefully there's not Five Minute Friday Gestapo.
Topic: Opportunity
Opportunity has a fat backside. It's huge.
Her frontside? No idea. I'm not sure I've ever seen it.
The only time I see her is when she's flouncing away, big, bustled, neon, polka dotted rear end waving in my face as the door slams shut behind her.
Like when it's 2 am and Belle is saying, "But Mommy, just come lay down with me for a few minutes and we can snuggle!" but I'm desperately trying to get her back to sleep so I can go back to sleep, so I come up with creative reasons why that won't work and get her to go back to sleep alone.
Then laying in my bed a couple minutes later I think, "Maybe the stiff neck and sore shoulder and punch in the face would have been worth it if I had just laid down next to my precious girl and slept for a bit..." And I hear Opportunity snicker as she creeps away down the hall. Gone again. I didn't even see her there. Just that HUGE backside that I can't miss as she's leaving.
So the next day when Belle gets up I lay down next to her on the bed and say, "Let's snuggle!" and wrap my arm around her. She gently takes my hand and pushes it off her and says sweetly, "Mom, sometimes I like your hugs. And some times I don't."
And my phone does a little jingle as Opportunity sends me a text saying, "Give it up. I'm not even in the building."
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You worded this so well! I find I have this problem too - missing opportunities, specifically with my kids. I wonder if all moms feel like this sometimes?
ReplyDeleteSo true, love this post. They ARE opportunities and we have to take what we can get, right?
ReplyDeleteLove this! What a great perspective. Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeletePerfect. I love it. I've seen that backside so many times, but didn't know that's what it was until I read this. Really, just perfectly said.
ReplyDeleteOh--and I love the idea of a 5-minute, no edit post! (I'm sure 6:22 is close enough.)
I love the visual of the big behinded Opportunity. I have seen her walk away swishing her back side too. Hug the babies often. I remember and still struggle with the balance of time with them and me time. But here I am with 22, 17, 16 year olds and I have to chase them down to love them sometimes. I am chasing them around for a hug. Your post for FMF was great. See you next Friday at Lisa Jo's if not before
ReplyDeletethis is the best metaphor I've read all year, maybe in my whole life. Especially the part where she texts you ;)
ReplyDeletewow. loved this. poignant, funny. marvelous.
ReplyDeleteSooo true. Sometimes after C is asleep for the night, I miss him and think...man, I should have done ____ today instead of ____ (fill that in with laundry, cooking ,cleaning, whatever).
ReplyDeleteIf there were 5minutefriday gestapo, think of all the words we wouldn't get to read - talk about missed opportunity.
ReplyDelete