Mommies don't cry

After a long day of following my girls around the house picking up after them, wiping poop from wiggly booties, breaking up arguments, making meals, cleaning up dog pee from the carpet, and trying to catch one minute of privacy in the bathroom with no success, tears filled up in my eyes as I sat on the living room floor and began to cry. My 3 year old princess walked into the room crying about the 2 year old taking a Barbie from her and she suddenly stopped, took a deep breath and said, "Mommies don't cry". At that moment, I started laughing uncontrollably and hugged her tightly. I said, "Oh yes we do, sweet pea. Just not about toys." She started laughing and trying to make me keep laughing. I think she was a little taken back by my tears and wanted to make sure I didn't start up again.

I believe that her thinking mommies don't cry is a little telling on how they see me as a mom. Mom's are the caregiver, the emotional support, the compassion giver, the counselor, the intervention specialist, and, of coarse, somewhat of a maid. I'm not supposed to cry. I'm supposed to help them when they cry, right? Right? Ha. When I told my husband about it he was quite amused. He knows that I am a little (OK, a lot) weepy at times. Music is my number 1 cause of tears. Songs that remind me of people or events can bring me to a gasping sob. I often laugh at myself in the middle of it all.

I believe that it's important for the girls to see me cry. They need to know that I'm human, too! I make mistakes. I say things that I shouldn't say. I have grumpy days just like they do. I think that the part that is beneficial to them is when I sit down with them and share what I'm feeling. They need to hear me say I'm sorry when I've been grumpy or I've done something that upsets someone else. They need the example of being able to stop, step back and put a situation into perspective. They need to see me make right a wrong I've done. They need to hear me pray and ask God to forgive me of my sins. I want my girls to know how to ask for forgiveness from others and from God. I know that's one of the best lessons I can teach my princesses!

I cry. I sin. I am a mommy and I wouldn't have it any other way!

"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." Romans 3:23

"A woman wears her tears like jewelry." ~Author Unknown

"The soul would have no rainbow had the eyes no tears." ~John Vance Cheney