Mother of the Year...not!

(This post was written previously, but not posted. Like it matters, right?)

Last night I cooked dinner at my folk's house. We had a great time and really enjoyed the visit. Since Mom had already bathed Braxton, when we got home I decided to just stick Hadley Grace in the tub with me. Well she was absolutely adorable. She was saying "Ma Ma", waving bye bye - it just had to all be captured on video. So...I got my handy dandy iPhone (Blues Clues - what what??). And I recorded this:

ok...so I was going to insert the video...but can't figure out how to do it - so I'll tell you.

Right as I was saying - say "MaMa" - she reached for a bathtub crayon and went under! You can hear me saying "woah" - then "gassssppp" - then "you're okay!!" - right before the video ends. And you know what - she was okay! But how hilarious that it was all caught on video!

Now - this reminded me of my childhood. I was an incredibly gregarious, stubborn child. I am also an only child. Mom and Dad created an absolutely amazing childhood for me - and what do you do when you create an amazing childhood moment for your kiddos?? That's right, you video it! So the video camera was a regular part of the family. But, more times than not, it captured moments like this:

Easter morning: 1989, I'm 6 years old - dressed and ready for church. Mom wants to get a video of me in my insanely expensive outfit - complete with gloves and southern bell hat. I want to do anything but cooperate. You hear the video starting out like any other video - In my mom's best Barbara Walters voice "This is Easter morning, 1989. We are getting ready for church and Brittany has on her brand new clothes." "Brittany - come stand in front of Mom and tell me what the Easter Bunny brought you!"

I'm not buying it. I'm not budging. I'm not being the polite child I have the potential to be and she longs me to be. I'm sticking out my tongue. I'm swinging my easter basket. I'm scratching...well...I'm not being what she wants me to be! But here's the kicker!!

Mom points the camera in a different direction and gets her third grade teacher voice on - "Brittany Corrie - I am trying to record memories! Do you want everyone for years and years and years to see you doing this?? Do you?? Now act right!!"

Cue video camera angled at me - Diane Sawyer voice - and take 2!

These videos have provided us with lots of entertainment. Now Mom says - why didn't I just let it go!! Why did I stress. Why didn't I put it on pause!! We laugh and laugh and laugh...but the thing is - we want what's best for our kids. We want the clean house (Mom was amazing at that!), the frilly dresses, Easter Basket with New Kids on the Block poster and t-shirt, and dang it, we want it recorded! We want it documented that we got it right...if only for a couple of minutes...we got it right. I get it now, Mom - I really really do!