When your kid doesn't see you

but apparently still thinks you're cute 🤗

Mother’s day comes with so many cute school crafts because teachers are super heroes and know the way to a mom’s heart.

This year, Ollie’s teachers helped him answer a few questions about me. There were some wins like his favorite thing about me is that I’m “funny sometimes” and he loves me because I’m “so cute.” 🤣☠️

But then there was “my mom’s favorite thing to do is...” and Ollie answered “work.”

So let’s just start off by being very clear: NO. Just, no.

Two options: (1) I could play it cool and be like oh he's just five that's cute and funny. lol if only. (2) and obvs the one I opted for: Over analyzation station (just made that up and feel great about it).

What did I do to make him think this? Am I not being present enough? Is he speaking to my last gig that we were all super involved in as a family? That might make sense. Do we need to have a big family conversation about why we all work and go to school? How can I shift his perception so he sees the value of work but also that it's not everything? WHY DOES HE THINK THIS ABOUT ME?!

I ultimately don't know the perspective to take on this, but what I do know is that he is in fact just five and I’m just 39, doing the best that I can.

Friends, I see you. I see you doing your very best in the many things you’re doing. I see you trying to find some semblance of balance. I see you carrying that mental load of all the damn things to keep everything running smoothly. I see you working alongside your partners to create the life that best suits your family. I see your heart breaking when you feel like your kid doesn't see you in the way you so desperately want for them to.

It’s tough to not dwell on the misconceptions, but then they come home with a picture of just the two of you under a freaking rainbow getting ice cream together from your favorite ice cream shop.

Why couldn't that have been what he listed as my favorite thing to do? Unclear. But I'll take what I can get. Because while I'm not getting everything right, I'm getting some things so very right, like prioritizing ice cream dates and chasing rainbows 🫠

Currently

Listening to: Outkast

YEP. That’s right. Highlight of my Mother’s Day was finding out Ollie knew the entire chorus of Ms. Jackson. Now I need to find the edited version before he learns the verses 😆

Loving: These barrel jeans

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