Parenting

Where's Mommy?

by Jill Veldhouse
Updated: 
Originally Published: 
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I am with my children all day every day. I never leave, and if I do, they are with me. Every damn day.

So here’s what really pisses me off: The fact that I cannot leave the house to run a quick errand without all of my children acting as if I am never coming home again.

“I want to go with you, Mommy.”

“Why can’t I come?”

“I WANT TO GO WITH MOMMY!!!!!”

As I back out of the driveway I see my children’s faces and hands pressed up against the window, and they are all hysterically crying. Seriously? Why do you want to come with me? Aren’t you sick of me? I haven’t been overly nice to you today.

Here’s what I want: I want to go the grocery store without having to buy a cookie for you to eat before we even start shopping, or argue over why I won’t buy you another box of Cocoa Puffs, or have you run into my achilles tendon 5,000 times because I let you drive the kiddie cart again. I want to roam the store in an absolute daze looking at anything and everything to plain and simply waste time and avoid going home just yet. I want to NOT have to give you my iPhone to watch videos so I can shop in peace. Do you understand the judgmental glares I get from other moms who clearly don’t approve of my shopping methods?! Do you care?! No, you do not. You are selfish.

Here’s what else I don’t get. You have a father who loves you with all of his heart. He’s the type of dad those sappy Father’s Day cards talk about. Sure, he works a lot, but when he is home, he genuinely wants to be with you. I, however, cannot say the same. Do you know how it makes your father feel that you would rather go with your mom, who you have spent the ENTIRE DAY with, than spend quality time with him?

My children would walk three miles uphill in a snow storm without a coat, pass by their father 6,000 times (but not before asking where mommy is), to tell me that they have nothing to tell me.

I could curl up in the scariest corner of our basement and they would find me in less than three minutes to tell me that they have to go to the bathroom. I can hear them from my corner in the basement.

“Dad, where’s Mom?”

“Dad, where’s Mommy? Where’s Mommy?!!!!”

“Mommy???!!!”

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