Are you thinking you’ll be reading about my never ending battle of the bulge?  The skirmishes of the Thunder Thighs versus the Ballooning Butt?

Sure, I could rail on and on about the roller coaster ride of weight loss and gain but which of us hasn’t been there before?

And this blog entry isn’t about gains and losses in the stock market.  I have one word regarding that:  AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

The other day I was embroiled in one of my manic cleaning episodes.  (For you word nerds reading, YES, I meant to use “embroil” as in to throw (affairs) into a state of confusion or disorder; complicate; entangle – cause that’s what I do when I clean!).  I was loading the dishwasher when it occurred to me that I no longer have a gazillion plastic dishes taking up the top rack.  That, for the first time in 8 years, the bottom rack gets filled up with REAL dishes before the top rack is full.  No more mini-sized plastic dishes (although we still have a few bowls).  I have reclaimed my kitchen cupboards, drawers and dishwasher!  I have actually GAINED some space in the kitchen by losing all of the “kid safe” stuff.

In the bathroom, my epiphany was dimmed. Rather, the natural balance of nature occurred.  I have been ousted.  Little by little the space I claimed for my face wash and moisturizer, makeup case, smelly girl lotion, antiperspirant and the like has been taken over….by my 8 year old.   Instead of Oil of Olay there is now Spicy Gumdrop Body Lotion and Warm Vanilla Hand Cream, SparkleBerry Shower Gel and about 40 other assorted creams, gels, soaps, lip balms, body glitter and who knows what else.  Let’s not even TALK about the hair products!  I have LOST nearly every inch of my bathroom space.

I contemplated these changes and my attitude toward them:  annoyance at losing MY space; satisfaction at having finally ditched the plasticware.  I started listing the other gains and losses experienced in the eight years of having a child:

• Lost use of my bookshelf – gained a homeschool library
• Lost the need for a gazillion pair of pumps – gained pain free feet
• Lost the ability to sleep late on Saturday mornings – gained the ability to fall asleep at 8pm Friday night
• Lost the knowledge of the top 40 songs on the radio – gained appreciation for song lyrics I can understand
• Lost date night – gained family night

I came to the conclusion that it all balances out somehow.  Though I may bemoan the loss of some personal space or time on occasion, I come out the winner at the end.  I get the great kid and the gift of learning to accept the changes that come with parenting.