Little Mommy

Periodically I ask the kids what they want to be when they grow up, just to get them thinking about that. Natalie has been pretty consistent in saying a ballerina (though based on a dance camp she took this summer, I'm not going to hold my breath for that - she was not into the whole "performing in front of people" thing...). Sometimes she adds other things along with the ballerina idea. But she always says that what she really, really wants to be is a Mommy. I find it a little perplexing. I don't remember having those thoughts myself when I was young. I don't remember at her age, but from the time I can remember, the "Mommy career" was not on my radar. I don't think the Mommy idea crossed my mind until I was about, oh, 30 maybe.

I don't want to discourage her, of course, because being a mom is wonderful. As long as it doesn't happen too soon... The funny part is that I have realized over the course of several conversations with her that she has a funny idea about her baby. When I asked "Do you think you'll have a girl or a boy?" she looked at me funny and said "I only have one baby. It's Owen. So he's a boy." She has commented before that one day she'll grow up and then she'll be able to "take care of Owen and carry him around". I'm waiting for that day, I'll tell you. I sure could use the help! But seriously, isn't that an odd notion, thinking that when she grows up she'll be Owen's mother? I think I had some very motherly feelings toward my younger sister, but I always assumed it had something to do with her being seven years younger. Maybe it is just a girl thing? I wonder. All I can say is Bless Her Little Heart to say repeatedly that she wants to be a mother, if she is thinking that Owen will be her boy! The girl has more fortitude than myself. It took me about 40 years to be ready to look Owen in the face and be ready to parent him! Here she is at 4, ready to take him on. Ahhh, sweet girl. No wonder she gets cranky with him - she's probably imagining lugging him around the rest of her life.