Remember books? And: what do you REALLY think about moms?

[stoney321]

I've spent the past fews days reminding myself how good it feels to hold paper in my hands. Got a copy of 2003 Best American NonRequired Reading, edited by Dave Eggers, one of my faves. Good stuff. Some Lynda Barry, Dave Sedaris, even some Onion reporting. I loved this:
"The ideal reader cannot sleep when holding the writer he was meant to be with." I can think of 4 writers to whom I am their bitch.

And: "To think of oneself as the perfect receptacle for an artwork is one of the few wholly benign human vanities."

Now: SangueUK had a brilliant thought that has stuck with me for days: "it seems motherhood has replaced the pastoral myth." I totally agree. We're in a baby boom here in the States, and I wonder why. As a mom, well, at times there is a daily struggle to figure out who I am. Mother? Just me? What the hell does that mean? A lot of times it's a love/hate relationship. A lot of times I feel cheated out of being me.

For those of you who are moms, what do you think about it? Be honest: motherhood is 20 percent greatness and 80 percent shit, sometimes literally. For those who aren't mothers: why? (And I fully support those decisions, btw.) I'm interested in your disillusionment, or your utter joy.

Feel free to vent or praise or sneer.

Comments

:)

[serenelystrange.livejournal.com]

Im not a mother but i can relate to you. I know its not the same, but ive been helping raise my younger brothers since i was barely 9. Ive seen the struggles my mother has gone through and i know what a thankless job it is to raise children. As of today, i dont think i ever want kids, lol, but i suppose it would be different if they were my own. All i can say is that as long as you love your kids no matter what they will grow up to realize how much they owe to you, :)

Man, it sure can be thankless!

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

My best friend isn't going to have kids, so she borrows mine on occassion. Part of me envies that freedom. There is a lot more that you can do in life without sprogs, so enjoy your freedom!! I can see the benefit of both choices. I wonder if a lot of new, young mothers think it is supposed to be something mythical, or once the babies here everything is going to be fine?

Re: Man, it sure can be thankless!

[serenelystrange.livejournal.com]

I hear ya. Several of my friends and family members thought that the pregnancy would be the hardest, and then life would be happy and perfect. Boy, were they wrong, lol. I "borrow" relatives too and im always glad when i can give them back. For now, i am enjoying my freedom. Good luck, lol.