Gabrielle

I was watching Desperate Housewives the other day, we are a few weeks behind y'all, this was the episode where Carlos and Gabrielle were debating the merits of having a nanny. Gabby said something like, "I will be a better mother if I have a good night sleep." I couldn't help but think, Amen.

This week Jeff has been out of town, so I haven't had much of a chance to be selfish. I have found that I am not as good at being a mom when he is away. It is the little things, like how much I smile, or how much patience I have.

With my sweet Lily, queen of defiance, we have developed a relationship of give and take. I have found ways to coerce her into behaving with my charm. I make doing what I want seem like it is way more fun than acting like a lunatic. But, not this week. I just want her to listen to me.

We were carrying the groceries from the car to the house. Lily wanted proceed up the path to our house, not by walking, but by hopping, not even by hopping regular, no she wanted us to hop backward. Arms full of groceries, Lily insisted we hop backwards. Of course, she wanted me to participate, she is the queen. When I refused, she threw herself to the ground and had an enormous melt down. When I walked away, she got up and ran away screaming.

This would never have happened if Jeff was home. See if Jeff was home, I would have smiled and agreed to hopping backward. I would have laughed and said, "I love hopping, good job Lily." It is not that he would have been there at that moment, he would have been off at work. But, everyday he spoils and pampers me just a little. It is so nice to be spoiled and pampered that I go through my day with a zest for life. No spoiling = no zest.

Gabrielle is my favorite Desperate Housewife. I think she may be my exact opposite, but I am working on being a bit more selfish and pampering myself a bit more. My grass does need cutting too.