APPLICANT #31: Danielle Reiss

Danielle Reiss is a mother of one from Seattle, Washington.

Here is Danielle's video application:

Here is Danielle's current situation:

"I am a stay-at-home mom to my 17 month old son, Aytan, I am married to the best husband and father (ok, maybe I’m partial), Josh. We live in the Central District of Seattle and we spend most of our time exploring what Seattle has to offer. I belong to several “mom groups” and I have found that immensely helpful with the transition to parenthood. Being a stay-at-home mom can be isolating at times, but I find a little dose of “hanging out with fellow moms” to go a long way!

In my spare time (what’s that?) I love to read, do crossword puzzles (Sunday NY Times – ouch) and crochet."

Here is Danielle's blog post:

"I’m done.

“I’m done,” I repeated to my sister and 7 year old niece. “Aytan played on the slides, he fed the goats and the pigs, we went on a hay ride, we picked two pints of raspberries and now I’m done.”

Pause.

“You sound just like mommy, my sister pointed out accusingly.”

“What,” I replied defensively. “I just said that I’d like to go home now. Aytan hasn’t napped all day, it’s 100 degrees outside and we’ve picked so many raspberries that a statewide shortage might ensue.”

Then it dawned on me. I did sound like my mother. When my mother has reached her limit, she simply and succinctly proclaims: “I’m done.”

But is it really so bad to be like my mother? Sure, I remember being a teenager, thinking about how I was going to be the coolest mom and would be nothing like my parents. My kids would have no curfew, no school pressure, would be allowed to be drive at night on unlit roads to go to a party being hosted by an equally angst-ridden teen I had only met once, etc.

I truly was the coolest and greatest mom… until I had a child. Now I would be proud to bear resemblance to my mother, one of the strongest and most remarkable people I know (my father being among them). If only I could even come close to the heroic strength she mustered when coming to America at 11 years of age, not even knowing how to say “hello” in English. It would be an honor for me to share any idioms or expressions with the woman who chaperoned my school trips, bought me Shrinky Dinks when I was sick, and is so well known for her disdain for clutter (something I definitely inherited) that my grandmother once remarked she was afraid to stop moving lest my mother throw her out. Granted, my mother’s wardrobe did thoroughly embarrass me while she accomplished said tasks – I don’t think I can recall a time that fluorescent yellow, puffy paint and leggings were featured in the same fashion season.

I’m certain that I am not immune from causing embarrassment to my offspring. Perhaps I’ll snort at a funny joke, or try to use slang that is not intended, nay, practically illegal, for anyone over 20. 

Amidst all of the juggling and multi-tasking (imagine carrying a screaming baby while talking on the phone, cooking dinner, jumping in circles, folding laundry with your toes and writing down notes with the pen between your teeth) of motherhood, I hope that my child will not be offended if likened to their mother. Let me reiterate that – I hope that, after further thought, it wouldn’t be the worst thing to be “like your mother.”

With that said, I’m done.

Danielle"

The Verity Mom Team