Extra… but in a good way!

So I was packing for my daughter’s weekend away from me; and if you know me, you know that I am a stickler for packing all that is needed in preparation for eventuality.  Well I know she would only be gone from Friday to Sunday, but you never know… right?

Well, so there I was going through my usual – meticulously placing everything I believe she would need, and then some… so my daughter, sitting on the edge of the bed watching me in all my packing glory, says to me, like only she could, “mommy, you are so extra… but in a good way….”  Of course, I burst out laughing, because I know exactly what she means. She went on to explain exactly what she meant when she further stated that I always packed everything that she needed for her “trips”.

My “extraness” is not limited to weekend “excursions”, since whenever I prepare for her to go out for even an evening, I always ensure that she has a little handbag with her, which usually contains a rag, a snack, a change of underwear, water, toilet paper, and wipes and sometimes a change of top (depending on the outfit), a notepad and pencil and lip gloss (depending on the size of the bag).  For the most part, she always returns with the underwear and the change of top unused, but everything else is always needed.

But the interesting thing in all this is that she, too, has developed this so-called “extraness” that I have displayed.  On several occasions, I have observed her packing her bag to go out (for the day), and she ensures that everything I mentioned earlier is in her bag.  Plus, she reminds me to put enough of everything in her bag “just in case something happens” she says.

I believe that every little girl should always be prepared – for eventualities.  It is even more important for them to be prepared when they hit the age/stage of puberty, which we all know happen, to some, earlier than the norm.  Pretty soon, her bag will include an additional item (Lord have mercy!) But also important is her rag, her toilet paper and her wipes…aint nuttn extra bout dat. Do you know how many times I have been to the public rest room and there is no tissue, etc.  Who has the time to bother with the inconvenience of having to ask a perfect stranger for a piece of tissue, etc.  Not I!

A couple months ago, I went to a party, and I needed to pee.  When I got to the rest room, there was a long line of women standing with legs crossed waiting to use the toilet.  Guess what?  There was no toilet paper.  And guess who had toilet paper in her bag?  I did!  And guess who was asking me for a piece of my toilet paper?  Perfect strangers were! CASE IN POINT! I have many more stories of people asking me for other needed sanitary items…but I have made my point sufficiently….

So the next time someone tells you that you are “extra” for preparing your children for eventuality, tell them that you are extra, but in a good way, especially if they are not carrying “the load” on their backs…. lololol

When our babies become adults, they too will be “extra, but in a good way”; after all, we are their teachers…

Peace be with you as we strive to uncover and confront the truth about parenting