Guilt Trippin’
Posted on 06.11.08 to Clare, Parenting by JoanI left work pretty late last night and reached home feeling utterly drained and extremely grumpy for many different reasons. Terence was taking Clare and the dogs for a walk and Clare came up to me and started tugging my arm, saying, “Please.” But all I wanted to do then was to just chill on the couch and watch tv to unwind, even if only for a few minutes.
So I told her to go with her daddy, which she did, but not without giving me a kiss and a hug first.
A few minutes later, the winds started howling and the sky started pouring immediately. I felt like the worst mum in the world! I jumped off the couch, and ran downstairs to look for them, in case they got caught in the rain and Terence would be struggling with Clare and the dogs.
Luckily, they were sheltered and Clare was merrily walking Dinky back from the next block. I picked Clare up, carried her all the way back home, showered her, spent some time with her in bed. I even ‘punished’ myself by not turning on the TV and cuddled with her till we fell asleep, to make up for being such a horrible mum.
I wonder how long more I can put up with these guilt trips.
