Is the grass greener over there???

Ben (yesterday, in a whiney, snotty tone) said: "I can't wait to be a grown up so that I can do what *I* want to do all of the time".

Are you friggin' kidding me?!?!

To say I was a little ticked off would be a bit of an understatement. Maybe if he would have said it for a reason other than he was just ticked off because he would not have any more "free time" to play Wii for the day, I would have been a little more understanding. Or, maybe if he hadn't said it on a TUESDAY! when I spend the whole day running all over heck for my family, I might have been a little more understanding. But, the fact that he chose yesterday, a day that I spent not doing a single thing for *me* (except blogging and showering), until 8:45 at night , to basically announce that grown-ups, (and he was totally directing this at ME!), spend all of their time doing exactly what they want to do every day, was just not good. And, it really didn't result in my best Mommy-ing Moment.

I don't remember exactly what I said, but I do vaguely remember mentioning grocery shopping, cooking, cleaning floors and laundry. And, come to think of it, I'm pretty sure that Cub Scouts, Soccer, Wii and reading "My Weird School" books was mentioned too. And, if I had to guess, I would guess that my tone was probably a bit on the nasty side. Like I said...not my best Mommy moment.

So this morning, I remembered the "conversation" with Ben from yesterday. Since today I was able to spend time thinking about it with a clear head, and not running into the Park District building with kids and dinner, to pick up another kid from baseball, because we had 1/2 hour to get all of us to R.E., I was able to be a little more objective.

Ironically, in my objective state of mind, I was able to see that Ben was kinda right. I mean, of course, he wasn't right to say it to me in a snotty way when I was obviously doing the best that I could, for him and his brothers. But, he is very right that being a grown-up *is* cool.

I actually remember feeling the same way when I was a little kid. And, it was not like I had a rotten childhood. I actually had an awesome childhood and I like to think that my kids are having a pretty great childhood too, but the problem is that I (and probably Ben) like being in control. A child is not in control. They do spend a good portion of their time playing and doing fun things, but they are not in control. They get up when we tell them to, they go to school and get bossed around all day, they do the chores that we decide they should do, they watch the shows that we let them watch and they go to bed when we make them.

Being a grown-up is hard too, more than a 6 year old could ever imagine, but I personally like eating McDonalds and M&M's any time that I want. I like staying up late to read, or blog, or play Wii if I feel like it. I like deciding what to buy....with the money that Spencer gives to me ;), and deciding what colors to paint my house. I like picking out my own vacations and I'm always happy that I'm a grown up when I feel like wearing jeans to church...sorry Mom. ;)

After my epiphany, I was excited to talk to Ben this afternoon to tell him that I "got" what he was saying yesterday and I agreed with him!! I know that it did make him happy to hear that. I continued to talk, but I guess he had heard enough because he interruped me to see if *I* could get *him* a snack.

Ummmm....yeah, it must be nice to be a kid!!