Since today is Labor Day, and I don’t <ahem> have “official” employment to speak of I thought I would celebrate those dedicated laborers who don’t qualify for bonuses or raises, aren’t eligible for promotions and are lucky to even get a coffee break.
Parents!
Okay, so we get Mother’s Day and Father’s Day as official holidays, but come on. First of all, it’s always on a Sunday. No chance of getting a day off of work for that one if you happen to be both a parent and employed. Second of all, there’s always some stressful gift involved for the opposite parent. Like the year I got a toaster oven. Nothing says “thank you for all you do” like an appliance capable of toasting and baking. Imagine if I had gotten some ridiculous sterling silver pendant or something. Thank God I got the toaster. Right. Anyway. So, I am hijacking Labor Day to recognize some of the hardest working people alive.
Parenthood. It is such a labor of love. It’s both exhausting and exhilarating; frustrating and endearing; sacrificial and fulfilling. And, if I’m being honest here, it’s the most gut-wrenchingly painful thing I’ve EVER done yet the most soothing of balms for my soul.
And, dear God, the pressure! I feel like I fail daily in my role as ethical example and moral compass for my children. I’m pretty sure screaming at the moron tailing me on the freeway doesn’t build either one of my kids’ characters in a positive way.
I’m working on that.
It’s become increasingly obvious to me that parenthood is a work in progress. It’s a scary position to be in but I’ve never known a more important job. So, I will continue to try my best not to entirely ruin my little people and be proud of what I’ve accomplished so far. I’ve got two beautiful kids who know how to love. It can’t get much better than that.
So, on this Labor Day 2009 - Parents, I salute you! Take a moment to thank God for your children and your luck at surviving the years.
I leave you with this quote for inspiration from author Joyce Maynard (the little minx known for her 1972 relationship with author J.D. Salinger, then 35 years her senior) …
It’s not only children who grow. Parents do too. As much as we watch to see what our children do with their lives, they are watching us to see what we do with ours. I can’t tell my children to reach for the sun. All I can do is reach for it, myself. ~Joyce Maynard
And I leave you with this quote for a good chuckle from Erma Bombeck, an incredibly funny woman who left this Earth entirely too early, but left a legacy for finding the humor in just about everything…
I haven’t trusted polls since I read that 62% of women had affairs during their lunch hour. I’ve never met a woman in my life who would give up lunch for sex. – Erma Bombeck
Love to all, Mindy
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Angela
Thanks for the tribute Mindy. And oh how I love Erma. Maybe I’ll go buy a book for my Labor Day present.
Oh, you definitely should! Maybe I should do the same…
Mindy
Oh, how this made me laugh. In a very good way! The word “entirely” in the phrase “not to entirely ruin” is so key.
By the way, I got a toaster oven recently from my husband (not as a true gift for a holiday or anything, but still) and I was so excited. Count me as one of the weirdos. I also cried when he bought me a Dyson.
I will admit that I was a little crushed when I got the toaster oven…but I’ve used the heck out of the thing, very happily I might add. But don’t tell my husband!! =) Thanks for stopping by!
Mindy