My dishwasher's possessed

one mom's attempt to find humor in the chaos

My Dishwasher and I

By

My youngest child, Peter, got off the bus Friday for the very last time as a kindergartner. With that last jump off the bus went a little more of my heart. My children are growing so quickly, I can barely catch my breath. 

I know the calender says the year starts in January and ends in December, but for moms, the year really starts in September and ends in June. Summer is just a holding pattern to get us ready for a new year of adventures.

This school year was a biggie for us. Our eldest,Tom, started middle school, Peter started kindergarten, and I started this blog. Lizzy being in second grade, though exciting for her, paled in comparison to the big changes and excitement of kindergarten, middle school, and our dishwasher getting its own website.

Tom looks much more like a teenager now. Very different from the nervous boy that started the sixth grade in September. I am thrilled that this year he actually got to see the good grades that have eluded him in the past even though he has always worked so hard.

He is getting an attitude that is so reminiscent of my own at that age that I have a new found respect for my parents. Whatever issues I may have had with their parenting, it now pales to the pure gratitude and complete awe that they managed to not eat me when I was a teenager.

I miss the little boy who would ask me to dry his tears before I left him at preschool or who would say I was the prettiest mommy in the whole world. I have been replaced by not one, but by several girls who have won his heart.

I am in awe of his confidence and his ease with people. He walks in a room and just owns it. And even though there are times when I wonder if we will make it past 12, never mind the official teen years, he has one of the kindest hearts I have ever met. I truly look forward to the man he is becoming. I simply adore him.

Peter will forever be my baby. Of my three children, Peter is the one who never hesitated to leave me. When he was two and going to nursery school, he only cried when I picked him up to take him home.

For the last few months, the child who could not get away fast enough for an adventure has started to want more kisses and cuddles from mommy. It’s as if he knows the big world is out there, ready for him, and he wants to stay my baby for just a bit longer.

I am secretly thrilled.

Lizzy started the school year with the declaration that her teachers “loved her very much” and she returned that love by having one of her best years ever. Lizzy is becoming such a little lady, and I am constantly being reminded that my beautiful daughter with special needs is really writing her own wonderful happy ending each day.

This year, because Peter was in school for the whole day, I found I had a minute to breathe. This was the year I both was looking forward to and dreaded. Who was I if not a mom to little kids?

Turns out I’m a mommy blogger.

My plans of becoming the perfect homemaker, complete with a beautifully kept house, home-baked bread, and a house filled with crafts that I finally had the time to learn didn’t turn out the way I planned.

I blame the kids’ schools for this.Now that they are paperless I had to finally break down and get my own email address.

It started out so innocently. One day I stumbled on a parenting site and replied to a post. I got a “like” response and I was hooked.

With my husband and my friend Maria to encourage me, I started to do something I had always wanted to do, write. Suddenly all the stories that have been inside me these last few years started to come out and take form on the computer screen.

For years doctors, teachers, and other parents have suggested that I share my experiences of raising children with a range of different issues. I took their suggestions seriously, but actually writing it down and hitting publish was different. Would anyone really want to read about us?

My blog was coming alive at the same exact time the brand new dishwasher we had just bought started to light up like a Christmas tree. 

Our silly machine would make a range of noises at all hours of the day and night for no apparent reason. After the very nice repairman had already made his first of four visits to our house I found myself on the phone with the repair center yet again. They wanted to know what was wrong with our brand spanking (and not inexpensive) dishwasher. I said, “It’s possessed.”

I woke Joe up one night listening to the incessant beeping of the machine that by now was identified by several choice words. “What if I call my blog ‘My dishwasher’s possessed?'”

He laughed and said, “That works.”

From the first essay I wrote in November on Momster.com to starting the site here in January, I have been welcomed by the blogging community. The support and encouragement has been amazing. I have found a piece of myself that I didn’t even know existed.

The kids have grown and changed this year. But so have I. My blog has opened up a wonderful chapter that I feel is only starting to reveal itself to me. I have no idea where it will bring me, but I happily sign on for the adventure.

My kids’ childhood seems to be going as fast as my own did. All I do is blink and another year is gone. Gratefully, I now have my possessed dishwasher to document all our crazy, happy, and trying times together.

Comments

  1. Grumpy Grateful Mom says

    I’m so glad you started blogging! I always look forward to reading your Sunday posts. I think you have such a unique and beautiful perspective on motherhood.

    I started blogging in January too. I’m also so glad I’m documenting some of our experiences. I had already forgotten so much!

  3. AlyceB says

    Aw, love hearing the “behind the scenes” story to the blog!

    PS – the good thing about being a southern hemispherean is that our summer is Dec-Feb, so the calendar year works well for us 😉

  4. Spilled Milkshake says

    I LOVE reading your essays and I am so thankful that you blog! Your outlook on life is so inspiring and I really appreciate your love for your children.

    My youngest also completed kindergarten this year. After having 6 children go through kindergarten, it felt so strange to me to be leaving that chapter behind.

    But, when one door closes another opens. My blogging door opened, too. I wonder where it will lead?

  6. Kathy says

    Thank you guys so much!! It is the greatest feeling to write something and then get such great and kind feedback. You will never know what it means to me!! Much love back to you all!!

  7. Steph says

    Kathy, you are a wonderful writer! You start a post and I can’t stop reading it. I love the way you write about your daily adventures! You have made me laugh a lot and that helps me get through the week! 🙂 Keep it up! It’s nice to grow with your children… Don’t get a new dishwasher quite yet! 😉

  8. Janie says

    What a poignant piece Kathy! It’s nice to know that your motherhood journey not only consists of rearing your children but rearing yourself as well and discovering your full potential. I hope that I will be able to do the same in my journey.

  9. Kim says

    Kathy, I am so glad you have found a creative outlet! It can be so satisfying to be able to express yourself and receive positive feedback. Keep up the good work! love,Kim

  11. Megan says

    I’m glad you started blogging, I started in November but didn’t really get serious about it until January. I also look forward to reading your posts Monday mornings.

  12. Ro @ MommyMindSpa.com says

    Thanks! Now I understand why your blog is called what it is, and it’s absolutely perfect! Love it!! This past week I had my middle graduate kindergarden, and my youngest had her orientation for starting kindergarden in the fall. The kids sure do grow … and it’s great to have blogs to share it all!
    New follower from Voiceboks!
    Ro 🙂
    http://www.MommyMindSpa.com

  13. marriedwchild says

    I love that we have connected through your possessed dishwasher. I know you have supported me through all my sites while I was just dipping in and getting my feet wet and I appreciate. That while I love your Sunday posts I am not going to lie that I secretly check in the middle of the week hoping you will sneak in a post on Tuesday or maybe Friday after the family is fast asleep. I think you have made the connections you have because you are truthful and genuine. While my family has just begun I can so relate to the feelings of things going by so fast etc. and I love that you and I would probably never connected anywhere but here! Cheers to another school year down!

  14. Young Mother says

    My daughter finishes kindergarten on Wednesday, and I too have seen such a growth in her. I really realte to your post with the kids, and new at blogging.
    Keep at it!

  15. An Irish Italian Blessing says

    I absolutely LOVE your blog! You are such an incredible mother and I love reading your stories. It’s funny because the other day a friend and I were talking, she works at a restaurant and there was a “DISHWASHER FIRE” I of course, immidiately thought of my friend with her Dishwashers possessed blog and now I know how you came up with the name, I love it!

  16. Joy Page Manuel says

    What a lovely, touching post, Kathy! Thank you for giving in to the itch to write and blog. We are fortunate to be reading you and get to know you and your family, albeit virtually. These kids are indeed growing up too fast and that’s what I always try to remind myself with each time I find myself on the brink of complaining…that soon, I will be missing all this and more. I do dread the time when Noah will be in school full time (2012). I think I will be the one to have separation anxiety. I’m also anxious about what to do next. I know that will be the time to consider employment once more and sadly, I’m not sure what I’ll do, where to go or if someone will even hire me. For now, I’m in denial. 🙁

  17. Kathy says

    It is so great to read such nice, and thougtful comments!!! You will never know what is means to me!!

    Katherine, that is funny that a dishwasher fire would remind you of me! It’s kind of ironic that I am assoicated with a dishwasher since I’ve really never been great at dishes and both my husband and my mother hate the way I load one!!

    Thanks again everyone!!! Much love to you all!!

  18. Kindra says

    Happy you found me through VoiceBoks ‘cuz now I’ve found you:) What a great story! You know, after having our 4th child, and colicky at that, I had to do some soul searching. During our bible study, a wise lady said, “no where in the bible does it say I get to have ‘me’ time or sewing time or running time, but it does say that being a parent…nurturing our child is our job.” During this stage in my life I have learned to redirect my focus on God, husband and children…in that order. If my priorities are Gods…I get a whole heck of a lot more done…including some “me” time 🙂 Don’t worry about your plans of becoming a perfect homemaker, you sound like a perfect mom!

  19. Gutsy Living says

    I can relate to the different phases of school now that my youngest son is 17. Although he chose to leave his public high school for a military high school which he loves. He found his passion at sixteen. Enjoy watching the various stages as I know I cried when my oldest son left for college. The good news is that we’re doing our job as parents and teaching them to become independent is one of them. Enjoy the summer.

  21. Joy Page Manuel says

    Hey Kathy, quick question unrelated to the post above (sorry, didn’t know how else to get in touch)….What tips can you give me to get REALLY started on voiceboks? When I’m on the site, I couldn’t quite figure out what to do first. And the worst part is, the page always has difficulty loading or I get errors. Is that normal or is it my browser? I use 2 different laptops and it’s the same every time. I want to be more active but don’t know how to get started 🙁 Thanks in advance for the tips! You can message me here —- [email protected]

  22. Rachel Joy says

    This is wonderful, it’s amazing that even though we’re adults, we still experience growth in different aspects of our life and the best part is growing while we witness the growth of our own children…

  26. Olivia says

    New follower here via Voiceboks… Glad I found your blog! You really are a great story-teller… Wish I had that gift.. 🙂 – OliviaBlueMusic

  28. bubbi and boo says

    tears are dripping down my face. my youngest, my sweet little boy, is starting preschool this fall and i am soooo filled with emotions about it. where has the time gone!?!? and very, very happy you started blogging

  29. ~Mommy's Outside Voice~ says

    Lol I love the blog title! And I can so relate because I have a toy that we’ve had for 5 year now that I have always said is possessed! It goes off all by itself when no one’s near it! I know how you feel about the kindergarten too but it’s my oldest that just finished! Too fast it goes! Ok looking forwar to more laughs, following back from Voiceboks!

  31. Laura says

    Good for you! I also started a blog this year. I am a working mom, so I don’t have a lot of time to write, but now that we’re on summer break, I’m writing all the time (teacher). I absolutely love that you named your blog after your possessed dishwasher. It’s undoubtedly something that was driving you NUTS! I see that your daughter has special needs. My son does as well. He suffered a stroke in utero. I hope your daughter is doing well. Keep writing! Glad I found your blog!

  32. Kathy says

    Thanks for such great feedback and all the compliments!!! It really is a thrill! I really appreciate that you all take the time to read and post such great comments! Thank you! Much love!

    Kathy

  34. staci says

    Oh my gosh, my favorite name is PETER!!!!! My husband wouldn’t let me name our son Peter. LOL. But I love it. I’m a big Pete Sampras fan…..
    Thanks for stopping by November Sunflower. I’m now following you!

  35. lisaannepollard says

    I can totally relate to so much that you said! My daughter started Preschool this year, which isn’t as big a deal, but she was in school none-the-less. *sniff*

    I completely agree with you on blogging. I’m completely addicted and find it incredibly therapeutic. I can’t wait to see where it takes me!

    BTW, I LOVE the name of your blog! 🙂

    Lisa

  36. Susie B. Homemaker says

    I’ll have the experience of a kid in school all day when my oldest starts 1st grade this fall. I’m both looking forward to it and sad that she’s growing so fast. But I am looking forward to the extra time with my other two and not running back and forth to school so much. I also feel like my blog is going to keep me sane when all the kids are in school. Happy to hear you and the kids are growing together. 😉

  38. Mrs. Tuna says

    Blogging I think gives each of us a creative outlet. When I look back on some of my older things I see how much my writing has grown into a real voice. Miss it when I’m away.

  40. Kathy says

    I think I love checking out and reading so many great blogs as much as I do writing mine!! Thank you all for such great comments and for writing such great blogs!! It is great to have a creative outlet and to get feedback!! Much love!

    Kathy

  44. reanaclaire says

    I do understand how you feel.. i have 3 kids myself, they are 23, 20 and 17 now.. they lost their father 15 years ago and along the way, the four of us, we learn from one another.. me as a parent and they as my kids and my best friends, though tough, but we help each other, we lift up one another through good and not-so-good times!
    But above all, God guides us through it all..

  46. MommyDigger.com says

    Following back from Mommy Digger! Thank you for following me. Your blog is wonderful and I love your style of writing, can’t wait to see more of it!

Much thanks to Joseph Radigan, who besides being a great husband and father, also uses his talents to gently and ever so tactfully edit my blog. Joe is a business editor at Thomson Reuters in NY.
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