You know what really makes me feel like a bad mom . . .

Of all the things that make me feel like a bad mom (and believe me, there are plenty) one that always seems to make me guilt ridden is the library. Crazy but true. As I'm driving to the library and planning how I'm going to tell the librarian that I can't seem to find 3 books even though I just de-junked my house, and yes my child spilled a little something on that book and I know that all my books are late-- the guilt and anxiety start to wreak havoc. I feel like I have to admit to a clergy that I was necking. As I was talking to the librarian he made some very friendly suggestions, such as look under the couch (my furniture has all been moved to clean carpets) or try under the beds (cleaned those during de-junking.) I feel like some sort of negligent mom who can't keep track of things. Which, apparently, I can't. Even with my newly applied efforts at organization, where we have 1 place for library books, they still get lost.
But, it gets worse.
Last week in an effort to return things on time I quickly went through the drive-thru to drop off some stuff that I knew was late. I returned home to find a message from the library where the lady not-so-kindly informed me that a book on tape was returned with something on the case that "looked like dried blood as if someone had a bloody nose all over it." OK, that is disgusting. BUT NOT TRUE. I know we lose books and Eden isn't always soft with them but my kid would not get a bloody nose all over something and then I just return it to the library all willy-nilly. Now, I'm worried that I've been blacklisted. It is on my account. Everytime I call in or check something out I will be flagged as the lady who turned in the bloody nose stuff. Wonderful. Just wonderful. Should I avoid going to the library all together? Or get a card out under my daughter's name so I can have a fresh start?
Maybe it's just me. Or my library. I have to say, in the new town we're in these librarians are much more like the kind I was scared of in school than the sweet old lady type.
Please people, am I the only one?

PS
I did pick up the offending tape case which OBVIOUSLY had chocolate on it. I cleaned it myself to avoid the $1.50 fine of them cleaning it. Chocolate/Blood, anyone could mistake the two.

Shh, don't tell

. . .my kids that I flushed a roly-poly down the toilet. (In my defense, it was in my bathroom and I would have had to walk all the way downstairs to take it outside. It was much easier to flush it.)

. . .Jason that the house was much cleaner last week while he was gone than when he is here. I really don't understand it because he does help out so much and is a very clean husband. Go figure.

. . .my kids that I tossed the special Mother's day treats they made for me. Hey, I don't like chocolate.

. . .Jason that I think the last few gifts he's gotten "me" have actually been for him. A bag of chocolates for Easter? I don't even like chocolate. New phones for Mother's day? I had no problem with our phones, but he did.

. . .my sister that even though I'm really excited and happy for her to get married I'm a little sad that I won't have any single sisters to fly in and nanny my kids while Jason and I go on our cruise.

. . .my Mother-in-law that we gave my mother $60 for her Mother's day present and only gave her a phone call.

. . .my neighbor that my dog pooped in their flowers and I didn't pick it up. It is a big flower bed and you can't even see it under all the flowers. Really.

. . .my piano students that I really want to quit teaching next year but don't know how to break it to them. Can I really do that to them? (I've been teaching some of them for 5 yrs.)

. . .my kids that sometimes I feel that nice guys/girls really do finish last. But they still have to always be nice. Even if they don't get what they give.

A Lesson in being STUBBORN

I know, I know, I just did a post about Mara so you'll have to forgive me.
Mara brought home her reading book and started and read the main character's name as "Sa-ha".

Me "Mara, it is 'Sasha'".
Mara "I know, I just wanted to say it 'Sa-ha'".

She then proceeded to read the whole book and call the main character "Sa-ha".

Of course. Always stand your ground, girl. You never know when it will be really important.