The Domestic Anti-Diva

I just watched “Mary Poppins” with my kids. I haven’t seen that movie in eons, I think not since I was a kid myself. Watching it, I had a startling realization.

I am George Banks.

Or, at least in my twisted ideal world, I would be.

No, I don’t go off to work at the office every day. And my house is not run with the precision of an early 20th century British bank. But when I watched Mary Poppins, I realized that what Mr. Banks idealizes is what I often idealize as well. Children who are perfectly behaved at all times. Seen and not heard. A house run with precision, not a thing out of place or time.

Tradition, discipline, and rules must be the tools
Without them – disorder! Chaos!
Moral disintegration!
In short, we have a ghastly mess!

I completely agree with all of that! And yet, like George, I sometimes miss the bigger picture. That kids need time to be kids. And most of all, kids need time to be kids with their parents.

I feel so conflicted. I want my kids to be responsible, obedient and respectful. I want them to save their tuppence, not always blow it on the bird lady. But I also want them to be compassionate kids who also know how and when to have fun. I want them to get dirty and dance on the rooftops (okay, not literally).

But it’s easy to go out in search of adventures like Mary Poppins when you can clean up the nursery with nothing more than a song and a snap of your fingers. It’s easy to go fly a kite with your kids when you’ve got a household staff to take care of cooking, cleaning, laundry and other drudgery.

So what’s a mom to do? Where is the balance?