Thursday, September 20, 2007

Parenting is Exhausting

Obvious, I know. But I'm too old for this. My daughter has been "transitioning" into preschool over the last week and a half, which means I sit there in the room while she refuses to separate from me. I had forgotten how exhausting this process is. Every day I bring a book, hoping today will be the day I get to go to the "mommy cafe" (the teachers' lounge down the hall) and read, but every day she isn't quite ready for me to go more than five feet away. Good thing stubborn toddler girl eventually translates into strong woman, right?

In the meantime, I'm starting a few books, even though I'm only able to read bits and pieces here and there. I'm starting The Woman Who Waited: A Novel, by Andrei Makine, for the next Slaves of Golconda discussion, which will be on September 31, and is open to anyone. The discussions are great, so I encourage you to read along, and discuss with us.

I'm also reading an ARC of Everything by Design: My Life as an Architect, by Alan Lapidus, a memoir about his life as an architect, designing huge hotels and casinos for equally huge personalities.

I'll try to read tonight after the kids go to bed, if I'm not falling asleep myself...zzz...

12 comments:

jenclair said...

:) Sorry about the separation anxiety! It will, of course, work itself out, but makes for high Mommy Anxiety in the meantime.

Anonymous said...

That I've been separated from my parents for so long makes me forget about the tremendous effort put in parenting.

Mommy Cafe sounds very cute. :)

September 31? You must be really tired. Check the calendar and make sure you don't miss the discussion. :)

Anonymous said...

Btw, just saw The Line of Beauty is in your random library. I enjoyed that one a lot. :)

Gentle Reader said...

jenclair--you're right, it will work itself out, I just have to keep telling myself that, over and over...

matt--must be September 30! I'll have to go over to the Slaves site and see if I read it wrong, or just typed it wrong--hee hee! And I really enjoyed The Line of Beauty, too :)

Gentle Reader said...

matt--it does say Sept. 31st on the Slaves site, I'll have to correct them! And I didn't even think it sounded wrong, shows how tired I really am! And by the way, the "mommy cafe" is actually the "mommy and daddy cafe", I should have been inclusive!

Robin said...

Oh, I understand that fatigue! And yes, stubborn toddler girl definitely will translate into beautiful, strong adult woman before you know it! Just remembering my own experience with my beautiful daughter...

Booklogged said...

Someone contacted me about sending me an ARC of the Lapidus book. I said I'd like to read it, but I've never received it. Hmph! Look forward to your thoughts about it.

Anonymous said...
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Gentle Reader said...

robin--I'm glad to hear it from a pro!

booklogged--that's funny, it took this copy a really long time to get to me--they had to send it twice, I think. I'll let you know what what I think of it...

Tara said...

I know what you mean about the separation stuff. I'm still dealing with it in a much more mild way with my kindergartner. While it is frustrating, I know the day will come when she wants me to not be around - I expect it would be soon - so I'm treasuring these last 'one more hug and kiss Mom' moments.

Lotus Reads said...

Oh gosh, yes, I remember my kids' first few days of preschool like it was yesterday. I was so anxious for them I couldn't even concentrate on my book! Speaking of school, I have to go fetch my kids from High School (how time flies) now, so I'll save the wonderful-looking book review for later.

Gentle Reader said...

tara--I'm actually treasuring these moments of her attachment to me, too. She's the last of my three, and I do love the fact that she wants to hug and kiss me all the time (unlike my 11-year-old son, who is entering the preteen attitude years, it seems). It's just that sitting there all morning trying not to engage with her while she bonds with the teachers is excruciating! But it's just a phase, and will pass like all the others!

lotus--I can't concentrate on my book either, not so much from anxiety as from my daughter's clinginess (I'm doubting that's a word...), and my trying to get her to go to the teachers for things, instead of coming to me. But it's true that time flies and I'll be missing this phase soon enough. And then she'll be asking to borrow the car...