Domestic Bliss
15 July 2010
Before we had McKenna, I spent a lot of time fantasizing about what parenthood would be like. I thought mostly about big events – like decorating the Christmas tree as a family. Showing her ornaments that had been mine since I was a little girl, and Ben helping her put the star on top of the tree. I imagined Halloween; her skipping along the sidewalk, delighted by candy and costumes and all the other kids.
The big events I dreamed of before her arrival rarely happen the way I’d like. Someone is sick or cranky (often me), or I didn’t anticipate McKenna being afraid of something, or or or.
While I have the life I always imagined for myself – Ben, writing, kids – it doesn’t feel easy and simple the way I thought it would.
Except for sometimes.
Like two days ago.
It was 7 in the morning. Ben was standing at the sink, shaving, and I was lingering in bed, unwilling to move because I’d found a rare comfy position. (No easy task at 40 weeks pregnant.) I had one arm hanging over the edge, and our dog kept nudging it with his nose, trying to coax an ear scratch out of me. Then McKenna pranced into our room with a cry of, “It’s morning time!” and proceeded to grab this obnoxious toy vacuum cleaner and get to work on our carpets.
As I’m lying there listening to the vacuum say rude things like, “We must pick up the dust!” and, “This place is a pigsty!” I had a strange, “Ahhh,” kind of moment. Which, I know, seems weird since it was 7am and my housekeeping was being insulted by a toy. But there was just something about it that made it one of those sweet treasures.
They rarely happen when I expect them to, like on holidays or other special events. More often they crop up like they did this week, on a random Tuesday morning, when I can’t even really put a finger on why everything suddenly seems simple, easy, and blissful. I just know to enjoy it while it’s happening.
Comments
“Enjoying the detours” is a wonderful way to phrase it. Thanks for sharing that, Amy!
Posted by Stephanie Morrill on 27 July 2010
exactly. A patient’s mom once referred to it as enjoying the detours. LOVE those moments.
Posted by Amy Knapitsch on 26 July 2010