This morning was a mess. Here is the set-up:
- Kiddo #1: Sizzles stayed at home with a stomach bug, which left her oscillating between perfectly fine and urgently racing to the bathroom - a very upsetting experience for someone who is quite private about bodily functions.
- Kiddo #2: Sticky-Butt is generally thrilled to have Sizzles home, but there is always an hour or so of adjustment when they squabble and clash until they find their sisterly rhythm. It typically comes in the form of an imagined "game" where they are escaping an evil witch and "quickly!" trying to save a prince.
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- Kiddo #3: Porkchop totters behind them shouting a well-timed, "Hook!" representing his new found obsession and inspiration from Jake and the Neverland Pirates. That is, until you try to change his diaper or somehow upset his universe. Then, he starts wailing and he doesn't really stop. I just race around trying to appease him. It is less than ideal.
- The Mama: I had my heart set on putting two blueberry bushes from our old house into the ground in our new(ish) backyard. Those poor little bushes have been holding on in some terra-cotta pots for the last two years. The ground is wet, spring is here, and it is going to rain for the next two days. Today was the perfect day.
How it all unfolded (literally):
When the wheels started coming off of the morning, I killed the TV, bundled the kids, grabbed a shovel and coraled us all outside. Six minutes later, Sizzles froze mid-tag and raced for the deck. I made a plea to the universe that she would just go to the bathroom and come back outside. I dug the shovel into the mud one more time, then ran over to the playset to spot Porkchop while he climbed up the ladder to get to the slide (more on that little trick on another post). Then I heard the wailing.
I will cut to the chase here and just say I had to drag the little kids back inside to handle a hysterical and half-dressed six year old who needed a bath and some serious deep-breaths from some mellowing aromatherapy scents right about then. It took me nearly an hour to reset the children and collect the path of muddy shoes and random clothing items.
In an effort to reset myself, I grabbed some yarn and needles and started to knit on the floor in the middle of my room. Sixteen stitches in, the roll-call began as the children came looking for me. As they plopped on and around me, this conversation ensued with Sizzles:
Sizzles: "Mama, do you like sewing or knitting better?"
Me (attempting to muster anything other than exasperation, when all I wanted to do was snag some peace): "Actually, I like knitting better, but knitting takes a lot of time and time is something I have very little of, before someone starts looking for me."
Sizzles: (ignoring my dig, she wraps her arms around my neck) "And gives you hugs."
Me: (lowering my knitting and deepening my breathe) "Yes, and gives me hugs."
Sizzles (putting her nose against my nose): "Mama, kids are hard. But, they are cute and give good cuddles too."
Me: "You are right....sometimes, mommy needs reminding."
The day (of course) got much better after that.
