ramble, ramble... #1

just as i was doing good, i don't post for a week... shaking my head at myself, but oh well. i really need to go to bed, but i figured i'd get this thought out before it gets lost in my brain space, even though it's something that runs across my mind almost daily. it always irks me to hear parents (especially mothers) - especially those of babies and young children - complain about how inconvenient their children are, whether directly or indirectly. well, duh! parenthood is the antonym of "convenience". first, somebody has to do one of three things: 1) push the child(ren) out; 2) get the child(ren) cut out of their body; or 3) file all of the paperwork for adoption. while some of those may be more or less painful than the others, they are all inconvenient. no matter how much you love your child, there's no way you'd honestly say that getting up with your child at 3 in the a.m. is fun. it's not. cleaning yourself (and your child) up after she projectile spit-up all over you, your couch and the floor is not fun. cleaning bottles, cups, and high chairs; washing and stain treating poop-stained clothes; getting peed on...all not fun (although the last one, in certain situations, can be quite funny). however, all of these not fun things come with the amazing wondrousness of being a parent. and don't get me wrong, being a parent really is amazing wondrousness, about 92.33% of the time. i think i've started rambling; did i mention it was late? anyway, back to the point. the reason why this complaining irks me so is because parenthood is also a CHOICE, as i've explained in an earlier post. so if you make the choice to become a parent, don't expect anyone to feel sorry for you because your child is an "inconvenience". don't get me wrong; i have my moments, minutes, days where i'm like "man! this child is a piece of WORK!!" (yes, double exclamation points are totally necessary); that's not what i'm referring to. i'm referring to people who ignore their crying children in public places as they haggle over lottery tickets (didn't i just see you with a WIC folder? why do you have a lottery ticket anyway??). i'm referring to young parents who daily, publicly, loudly mourn the loss of their carefree youth due to the responsibilities of being a parent (GOTS ta be more careful! self included). i'm referring to parents who hurt or even murder their children because they were too expensive, too needy, crying too much and too frequently...i can't. i just don't understand how you could bring someone into this world, a someone who relies on you for protection, nurturing, love, guidance, PROTECTION, and you kill them? because they cried too much? or whatever the reason; they're all bad. but back to the point (again; it's getting really late). if you don't think you can handle parenthood, either don't have sex, use triple-quadruple protection during sex (but to be really sure, just don't have it), don't have the child, give the child to someone who is willing and able to be her parent, or suck it up and deal with the consequences of your actions. if you choose the last option - emphasis on CHOOSE - we really don't want to hear about every little inconvenience your child brings you. Really. Don't. Wanna. Hear. It. really. just keep those thoughts to yourself and focus on your love (i hope) for you child, and how you can raise that child the best way you can. if you can't do that, you seriously need to get some help, for your sanity and for the welfare of your child. there's no shame in telling someone that you think something isn't right with your mind; it's more common of a problem than you know...but more on that later (maybe). there'll be a much better post tomorrow or Saturday; working out another "Day in the Life" so Gee can tell y'all what a clumsy mother she has and how she deals with it. :D

- up WAY past bedtime elle :)