“Boys!” I shouted instinctively. “Where is my chair?”
My younger son, Lucas, who’s ten, yelled back, “It’s in my blanket fort! I neeeeed it for my fort!”
Now, let’s unpack this. As I stride to my desk, I’m laser-focused. I’m gearing up to tackle bills, write, or get some work done. I’ve forced myself away from whatever else was tempting me (seriously, have you heard about thredUP?), and I’m ready to dive in. I mean business as I approach that desk!
And, yes, I’m the big sister. Sure, I’m also a 43-year-old mom to two rambunctious boys, but somewhere inside me, that big sister persona still lingers. You know, the one who just wanted peace and quiet to read, to keep her belongings untouched, and to avoid the chaos of little boys rummaging through her stuff. Why are you even in my room?! Ugh!
When the kids were younger, my big sister instincts didn’t seem like a problem. They were little, mostly helpless, and always either curled up in my lap or in my sight. They drove me up the wall, sure, but they didn’t rearrange furniture or sneak off with my belongings. But as they’ve grown strong enough to wreak havoc in my space, that teenage version of me has resurfaced—angrier than ever.
“Listen, I get that you think you need that chair for your blanket fort,” I said, trying to keep my cool, “but I need it for sitting so I can get work done. Please, go get it and return it to me. And no more taking my furniture! That’s just not okay.”
Ironically, all the other chairs in the house were also commandeered for this fort, so I wouldn’t have thought my little office chair was critical, but I was wrong. By making him return that chair, I apparently crushed his dreams and cemented my status as the worst mom ever.
Honestly, I’m fine with that. Someone has to take the hit for this parenting gig. Might as well be me, right? You’re welcome!
And then there were my free weights—those colorful 8-pound beauties I thought were safe from invasion. Nope! They were now integral to the fort’s structure, as I discovered when I went to lift them. And my favorite giant pool towel? Yeah, that’s no longer mine, either. A wet child is perpetually wrapped in it. I even bought a new one, covered in cheerful pink flowers, thinking no boy would want it. Surprise! Now we have two giant towels—perfect for fort-building!
Not long ago, I went on a business trip, and while I was away, my husband took our older son, Jake, to get his learner’s permit. He even posted a picture on social media of our little boy behind the wheel of my car.
My car. Driving. My. Car.
“Good job, buddy! I’m so proud of you!” I texted Jake that night.
“Thanks for taking him, but why the heck can’t he drive your car?” I messaged my husband.
Silence. I’m pretty sure they were all busy building a blanket fort or cruising around in my car.
This article was originally published on July 19, 2015.
If you’re looking for more insights on parenting, check out our posts on home insemination kits and how to navigate the journey of motherhood. For example, resources like this one offer valuable information on insemination methods. And for those considering home insemination, this guide can be quite helpful.
In summary, motherhood often brings back those childhood dynamics, especially when it comes to sharing space and belongings. It’s a balancing act of asserting boundaries while navigating the inevitable chaos that comes with raising boys.
Keyphrase: Big Sister Parenting Challenges
Tags: [“home insemination kit” “home insemination syringe” “self insemination”]