Real-life Motherhood Moments, #4 - THE AWKWARD MOM

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Real-life Motherhood Moments, #4

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…Because there’s just too much real life not to share.

Son, trying to name his new stuffed rhinoceros: Mom, I just can’t decide! I want to name him either “Tusky” or “Horny.”

Mom, eyes widening: Tusky. Let’s go with Tusky.

Son: No, I think I like “Horny.”

Mom, decisively: His name is Tusky.

***

Another nonsensical conversation filled entirely with nonsequitors–with my adorably ADHD son, who becomes ravenous at night due to meds.

Me, entering the kitchen, and washing off the salt, which he has slimed with green sludge while attacking a plate of avocado: You and your appetite at night…

Him: It’s swarsikachia.

Me: Come again?

Him: It’s shrucksatoxa.

Me: I’m sorry?

Him: A fear of sweat!

Me, grinning, recalling few times that my son isn’t happily sweating): Really. You. A fear of sweat.

Him: Or maybe it’s cooties.

Me: (speechless, laughing)

(Mom later had to look this one up: fear of sweat is soceraphobia. True story.)

Check out the last few slices of real motherhood here, here, and here. Feel free to add your own real-life moments in the comments section! You might also enjoy 25 Ways it is Okay to Fail as a Mom.

About author

Janel Breitenstein is the author of Permanent Markers: Spiritual Life Skills to Write on Your Kids’ Hearts (Harvest House, 2021), plus a few more in the pipeline—including IRL Parent Prayers (Andrews McMeel) and The Cool Mom: Putting Anger on Ice When Life Boils Over (Kregel). Her work can be found on Christianity Today, Focus on the Family, and FamilyLife. She graduated summa cum laude from John Brown University and began her career with NavPress, where she worked on The Message Bible. She then moved to FamilyLife Publishing. In January of 2012, Janel and her husband packed up their family of six and moved to Uganda to serve with Engineering Ministries International (eMi), an organization focusing on poverty relief and development, providing structural design and construction management for Christian organizations in the third world. After five and a half years there in East Africa, she and her family returned to the U.S., where they continue to work on behalf of the poor. She speaks, writes, and loves on her family from Colorado. Her fresh, authentic, intimate style connects with readers around the globe. You can find her—“The Awkward Mom”—having uncomfortable, important conversations at JanelBreitenstein.com.

4 Comments

Cindy Blunier - 9 years ago

I vote Tusky! ?

Cindy
reply
Cyndee - 9 years ago

THANK YOU! OMG- Matt came home the other day and was so happy I had purchased him “rubbers” from the store. I’m thinking, “great, something else we’ll have to un-learn before returning home.”
reply
- Janel - 9 years ago
  
  I LOVE IT!! Awesome! Yeah, I always feel dumb asking for one of those when I’m teaching. Good grief 🙂
  reply
Real-life Motherhood Moments, #5 | a generous grace - 9 years ago

[…] out the last few slices of real motherhood here, here, here, and here. Feel free to add your own real-life moments in the comments section! You might also enjoy 25 Ways […]
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I'm totally #thatmom--the one diving into all the weirdness with my kids, sidestepping a few eyerolls.

Pull up a chair for practical ideas and discussions on the parenting, relationships, and spirituality we're all army-crawling through every day.

After five and a half years in Uganda, my family and I returned to the U.S., where I write and speak professionally, and we continue to work on behalf of the poor.

My first solo book, Permanent Markers: Spiritual Life Skills to Write on Your Kids' Hearts (Harvest House), released October 2021.