I chose to name this page 'Joy' as these are things that bring me joy.'Dear'- Erma Bombeck
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Erma Bombeck was a gifted writer and the world was a better place when she was present. Her column's were entitled "At Wit's End" and of course she wrote several books. On April 22, 1996 Erma left this world for her heavenly one.
Love is when....
(this column may have run
in 1988 I didn't date it)
"You don't love me!"
How many times have you kids laid that
one on you? And how many times have you, as a parent, resisted the
urge to tell them how much?
Someday, when my children are old enough to understand the logic that motivates a mother, I'll tell them. I loved you enough to but you about where you were going, with whom, and what time you would get home.
I loved you enough to insist you buy a bike with your own money that we could afford and you couldn't. I loved you enough to be silent and let you discover your handpicked friend was a creep.
I loved you enough to make you return a Milky Way with a bite out of it to a drugstore and confess, "I stole this." I loved you enough to stand over you for two hours while you cleaned your bedroom, a job that would have taken me 15 minutes.
I loved you enough to say, "Yes, you can go to Disney World on Mother's Day." I loved you enough to let you see anger, disappointment, disgust and tears in my eyes. I loved you enough not to make excuses for your lack of respect or your bad manners.
I loved you enough to admit that I was wrong and ask your forgiveness. I loved you enough to let you stumble, fall, hurt and fail. I loved you enough to let you assume the responsibility for your own actions, at 6, 10 or 16.
I loved you enough to figure you would lie about the party being chaperoned, but forgive you for it...after discovering I was right. I loved you enough to shove you off my lap, let go of your hand, be mute to your pleas and insensitive to your demands...so that you had to stand alone.
I loved you enough to accept you for what you are, not what I wanted you to be. But most of all, I loved you enough to say no when you hated me for it. That was the hardest part of all. 3
Best Mothering Tips again by Erma
First of all, stay in bed for thirty days following a birth. It gives everything a chance to settle back into place...like your mother-in-law.
Never have more children than you have car windows.
Children will never eat anything that has not danced on TV.
If kids buy "This hurts me more than it
hurts you," they will buy "You don't need a car, because I love you."
