Monday, January 24, 2011

I'm being Upstaged.

(photo by Tabitha Bird. 
Cyrus, 3yrs old)


There is room for exactly one Drama Queen in my house. One writer. One cupcake lover. One person most likely to down a glass of wine in the evening and say, "Whatever."
And then we had him.

I write.
He climbs onto the top bunk and draws on the ceiling. With black pen. Permanent black pen.

I eat my cupcakes.
He throws them.
At my dog. MY dog!

I down my glass of wine in the evening and say, "Whatever."
He downs his toy cars and screams, "Mooooommmmmmyyy! There's a hole in my belly!"
I drop my wine and run to his side. "A hole?"
What kind of a mother am I to have missed a hole in his belly?
"Look! There!" He points at his round little tummy sticking out over the top of his shorts. His tears are already spilling their fat drops all over him.
Then I see where he's pointing.

I bite my lip to stop the laughing and rock him on my lap to assure the poor child that he isn't dying. When I am sure I can talk without releasing the building laughter I say, "It's okay, baby.  Everyone has a belly button."

Yeah. I am being upstaged.
And I like it. I like it a lot.

As I put him to bed I think, perhaps every writer should be upstaged by life and those who live it with them. If only to be reminded that words are not created from a vacuum, in an absence real of living. To all drama queens out there. LIVE it! And let yourself be upstaged. Occasionally.

~

What about you? Been upstaged lately?

31 comments:

  1. Love this TB. My cute parakeet is much more adorable than me. So he upstages me in cuteness.

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  2. My newest little treasure Chloe does most of my upstaging lately! She has me desperate to hold onto a speck of the limelight. Hubby is all gagga over her:)

    Nice post!

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  3. LOL!! SO cute! Love it Tabitha. I couldn't agree more. Being upstaged keeps us humble. Thanks for getting excited with me about my announcement today. I loved reading your comment!

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  4. So sweet! My 100 pound dog upstages me at least once at day, if not more offen, the loveable oaf!

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  5. I'm constantly upstaged by my 2 daughters, and I'm ok with it. Occasionally.

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  6. Whenever being upstaged leads to laughter, it's a good thing.

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  7. oh excellent post! being upstaged is positively neccessary for one's improvement - dontcha think?

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  8. Love that picture! You have an amazing family and live in paradise are you aware? ;) I don't mind being upstaged once in a while at home.

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  9. So sweet! And great picture! My kids, grandchild upstage me daily. And I'm okay with that!

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  10. hahahahha, children are so innocent. Interesting narrative. :)

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  11. I love it. Yes...humility. I think of the famouse musician who hands the mic to a budding protege...the crowd so awed they can't even clap. They sit slack jawed at the one who is becoming while the master holds his pride in long overdue hands. As it should be. Beautiful description of the way parenthood should be.

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  12. Oh yes I most definitely have moments where all the kids upstage me in their dramaticness, love the image, & of red wine "whatever"!

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  13. It's though we have these momemts in life so we can write about them. And you write them so well. Thanks.

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  14. What a great story! What a character of a son you live with. Likely to provide you with material to write about forever. :-)

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  15. Haha.. this is absolutely adorable! :) I'm so happy you shared these moments with us.

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  16. Kids are total upstagers. They put our egos in perspective. This post was a warm, funny reminder.

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  17. My husband and daughter are both drama queens.Daughter's effort at Cyrus's age (on tearing open the roast chicken packet and placing it on a plate)..."Oh my god...eeewwwww...this chicken has no chest!Gross! What chicken has a chest like that! Oh my god!!...oh my god".
    Me: "Turn it over".
    Makes you laugh.

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  18. A delightful post. I'm upstaged all the time by my little Foxchi. Work that out! Lovely!

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  19. Oh yeah. I'm upstaged on a daily basis. Cute post!

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  20. I really enjoyed this story:)) I have a three-year-old grandson who works very hard too to upstage us when he visits--but you know, I don't mind either.

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  21. Hilarous. I've been upstaged every day since they came into my life.

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  22. That was just hilarious.

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  23. Years ago. My oldest is almost 17. Then, I had another (he's 13), and finally....the biggest upstaging of all.....TWINS! Lord, help me.

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  24. I loved this post! It made me think about my kids when they were small.

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  25. hahahaha
    I love it!
    Love when my kids make me roll around on the floor with their gorgeous antics
    xx

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  26. Ah, this is wonderful, wonderful, wonderful writing! I enjoyed every word and it definitely made me laugh!:)

    He sounds like a fabulous kid! And so entertaining! Yes, being upstaged can be so very worth it at times.;)

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  27. Marvelous!
    He sounds like a super cool upstager :D LOVE the picture!

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