Fun, a word that we don't usually use to describe our daily lives as moms.
Cleaning up blow out diapers, potty training, feeding toddlers, sleep training, carting children around from soccer practice to piano lessons, homework, and bedtime doesn't seem to add up to fun.
When do you have fun? Do you make time for fun in your life?
Well according to Crocs (Yes the shoes) they just came out with a "State of Fun" Survey that Identifies Moms' Fun Deficit in Time for Mother's Day.
"The first-ever "State of Fun" survey commissioned by Crocs, Inc. (NASDAQ: CROX) shows that 90 percent of U.S. moms connect fun to their personal health and well-being, yet 63 percent say they're having less fun today than they did ten years ago."
I mean ten years ago I was putting my high heels and mini skirt on and getting all dolled up for the night. Dancing until the wee hours of the evening and eating an egg sandwich at Denny's until 1:00 am. Then rolling out of bed at 10:00 am with no responsibilities and watching tv all day.
Today as a mom getting ready for the night consists of me taking off my makeup (mascara/powder) at night not getting dressed up and getting cozy in my pajamas. I can barely put on my sandals and wearing high heels is out of the question.
Dancing? Last time I danced was at a wedding I was invited to, and that was a year ago, and I was home by 9:00 pm. I fell asleep with a child in my arms.
Waking up at 10:00 am, that's just a joke in itself. I watch the sunrise most mornings with bags under my eyes, and coffee brewing with my mouth drooling as my cup is under the Keurig dripping, and I'm patiently waiting for it to be done so can gulp it and wait for the caffeine to kick in.
My fun today consists of jumping on a trampoline with my toddler and me holding my legs together as I'm jumping and praying I don't have an accident before my potty training toddler. I wonder who will pee first?
Most days we are having fun running around at the park. She's running, and I'm trailing behind her hoping I can catch up. Pushing her on the swing screaming "wee" and sliding down the slide with her in my lap over and over again.
Would I change any of the fun in my life? Nope. I enjoy seeing her smile, and that's what makes motherhood fun.
But do I crave a more fun in my life? You bet.
I miss jumping on a plane and staying up all night in Las Vegas for the weekend. Going to lunch with my girlfriends whenever I wanted on a whim. Wine tasting on a Saturday. Yoga classes weekly. Going to dinner and having a drink or two and not worrying about waking up in the middle of the night. Getting dressed up and having somewhere to go other than the grocery store.
You get it. But I have come to grips with that this is only a short season in my life.
One season and this season of motherhood will pass in a flash.
That fun I had ten years ago was the old me. Pre-motherhood.
Motherhood is fun in its own way. We make it fun with the little things.
According to the survey moms having more fun can benefit everyone in the family: 64 percent of Americans agree that if mom's not happy, nobody's happy.
Moms have fun like buying new shoes (hint Crocs), trampoline parks, the zoo, playdates, beach days, new discoveries. Laughter and more laughter.
So with the little fun in our lives, one of these days we will be jet setters, wine tasting, and traveling the Rivera. Once the kids are off to college and sleeping through the night. At least that's the plan in my head.
Until then, I will be the mom with her big diaper bag, carting my jogging stroller across the Target parking lot with a screaming toddler.
Just say a prayer for me, and pray I have a little fun in my life one of these days.
Find more "non-sugar coated" motherhood stories at -www.themothereffintruth.com
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