Friday, May 22, 2009

under a spell


I only wish that was the sleep fairy pictured above....

Unfortunately for us- Lulu has been waking before the birds these past few weeks.
As in 5:30 and 6 a.m.ish....
As in Hell o'clock.
7 a.m. would make such a huge difference- seriously.
Anyhow what parent doesn't constantly complain about interrupted sleep?
I'll tell you who.
My happy-go-f'ing-extra-happy- all-the-f'ing-time neighbours.
that's who.
They have a 2 and a half year old and a new born and I swear they are ALWAYS smiling.
Always blissful and always nauseatingly happy.
I mean, I don't think I have ever seen them in a rush, flustered, angry, tired looking, frustrated, or upset.
ever.
Even when the 2 year old is crying and having a "moment" they are always the picture of calm serenity.
What's up with that?
We just don't get it.
Sure they have a nanny and a cleaning lady that does the groceries and the cooking- but still...
The back yard always looks as though a fisher price toy bomb went off - but they never seem to care.
It's all about the kids.
and happy happy happy.
Don't get me wrong- they are really nice.
In fact so nice that I feel a bit guilty about writing this, okay not really, but still, I just want to know- what are they on?
what keeps them so chipper all the freaking time?
Why don't I ever hear them raising their voices or losing their temper the way we always seem to be around here these days?
I just want to know.
Even when their kid is running down the street towards a car they calmly walk (never run) after her.
mean while I'm like "LULU!!!! STOP RIGHT THIS MINUTE!!!! DIDN'T YOU SEE THAT 10 000 LB ESCALADE GOING 20 OVER THE SPEED LIMIT???? WAIT FOR MOMMMY!!!! NEVER RUN AWAY LIKE THAT!!!!!AHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!"
Okay maybe I'm not that bad- but still, I have been known to get my "mom voice" on when the need arises (which has been far too frequently these days I'm afraid)
Don't get me wrong, Lulu is a great kid. Really great.
For the most part she listens and is very obedient- but like I mentioned- she's a KID.
And that comes with some challenges.
At least for us.
Maybe my neighbours got some sort of a magical manual when they brought their kids home from the hospital.
Or maybe they just raided the med. closet before they left...
just a thought.
Whatever it is that keeps them that freakin' chipper all the time- I want some.

Or maybe their kids just sleep until 7, or maybe they go to bed at 8 p.m. with them- which is my guess.
not that I'm judging...
What else could it be?
Oh and I forgot to mention that they actually seem to enjoy putting the kids in the car seats.
Yes I said ENJOY.
Who likes dealing with that crap?
I know I don't- and I only have one to buckle in each day. geez..

Is anyone else out there THAT happy?
Or am I just a crusty bitch these days?
Come on- be honest- I can take it.

edited to add: after a decent nights sleep (although I heard a little someone up and at'em at 6:30) I feel a bit bad about writing this post.
But staying true to myself- I won't delete it.
It's how I've been feeling these days.
Not sure why it bothers me so much that there are parents out there that seem to be walking around in a perpetual bubble full of blissful oblivion- but it does.
Maybe I'm jealous.
Maybe I wish I had a part time nanny and a house keeper that does the groceries, takes out the trash, cooks and even cleans the inside of the car...grrrr.....
For the record I don't live next to the Trumps or anything like that either- which bugs me even more.
The house is VERY modest and I'm pretty sure they don't make a ton of money- it's just that because they have "help" they seem to always have so much more free time to just chill and goo goo and gahh gahh over the kids.
which also bugs me.
maybe we put to much emphasis on the wrong things- like gardening, picking up toys, having a bit of house pride, cleaning up between the houses, cooking, did I mention cleaning? looking after Lulu on my own 24/7 and did I mention cooking and cleaning?
I feel like a mean spirited person as I write this- but if I'm being honest.....
I hate feeling so negative.
Okay it's a new day- time to think positive and not worry so much about what other people are up to (or not up to...grrrrr...)

maybe it's a full moon or something.

9 comments:

kurrabikid said...

Love your post! All I can say is this: THEY ARE LIVING A LIE. Clearly!!!!
(Or perhaps I am just ridiculously jealous, because I spend most of the day saying, 'no', 'don't', 'watch out' and 'stop it'. Actually, mostly 'stop it'!)

Anonymous said...

My brother in law and his wife are exactly your neighbours. And to boot they have no nanny or housekeeper or anything, and they just had their THIRD child. It drives me insane.

Lynn said...

I was going to comment to say that these people probably have just as many stress-moments as you, you just don't notice...

But then I got to the end of your post where you say they don't mind the car seats, which are totally the bane of my existance. WHO ARE THESE FREAKS?

It's mind boggling.

Tania said...

Definitely a facade. They probably curl up in the fetal position each night and cry themselves to sleep.

Mommy Jo said...

Appearances are deceiving.
I'm with the majority are this one. Some people are very good at making everything look just peachy...makes me puke.

moplans said...

having help and focusing on what really matters to you are important, but I do think they are on drugs.
or maybe other people are just happier than us but i like to think they are on drugs.
maybe we should be on those drugs.

eventually I tend to find out that even the nicest people lose it sometimes. though if they aren't yelling at a kid going towards a car I dont' know what to make of that.

as we've discussed, if your kids sleep your life is completely different than ours. years of sleep deprivation make anyone crusty.

Blog said...

I think it's just that some people are better at HIDING their stress, frustration, etc.. And I, personally, have no desire to be that way. We should all aim to be more transparent in this world....

amanda said...

You are not alone, my friend... that is for sure. I'm always feeling like I'm sweating and flailing and flustered keeping them in check - hollering to "get over here" or to "get off your brother" or whatever. It kills me that I can't seem to keep it together while other moms always seem so happy and in control.

Honestly though, I think it's so unhealthy to always be so damn happy. Those people who seem to really have it together almost never do behind closed doors. That and there's probably lots of drugs involved. I'm just sayin'. Not that there's anything wrong with that.

Karen MEG said...

We must be sleeping under the same moon, or something...
Just wanted to stop by and thank you for the comment on my own little ole rant.

My take on your neighbours, they must be on meds. Seriously ;).