Thursday, October 9, 2008

No One Told Me

Yesterday during nap time I was sitting on the floor next to William's bed. He was having a hard time falling asleep and asked me to pat his back. I agreed because at that point all I wanted that boy to do was fall asleep. Fast. So with 1 hand I am patting William back, while in my other arm I held Lilly, who was also drifting off to sleep. As I sat there, in the peaceful moments before my babies fell asleep, one thought kept running through my mind, "HURRY UP and FALL ASLEEP!!"

The problem was that I had to go to the bathroom. In fact, sitting there became more and more uncomfortable until I just wanted to scream. Eventually it was going to reach a point where I would have to choose: leave before they're asleep and start all over, or pee right there on the floor.

No one ever told me that I would not be able to go to the bathroom whenever I wanted to, heck whenever I needed to, when I became a mom.

Before I had kids I never wore sandals unless my toenails were polished. And not just polished, but freshly polished, with my cuticles pushed down, and my heels nicely pumiced. With each child, this rule has become more of an idea than a reality. Well, really more of a dream. Do you know how many fingernails and toenails I am responsible for these days. 80. That's right. 80. It's when I notice a large accumulation of dirt under the boys' nails or Lilly scratches her face that I remember, "oh, yeah, fingernails...." And then I look at my toes. "Oh yeah, toenails....."

Yesterday I was standing in line at PinkBerry when I realized my skirt was on inside out. Yes, really. A couple of weeks ago I went to the dentist with my shirt on inside out. It isn't that I've completely lost my mind (only partly, not completely) it's just that whenever we're going out the door it's always such a rush that I don't take time to check the mirror. I just go.

That is really what life seems to be like a lot of the time. Just go. Just do. Just eat. Just sleep. Just Hurry Up. No one ever told me that it is really not the best way for me to enjoy my kids. Sometimes I just want to sit still and be.

Now can someone please tell me how to do that?


5 comments:

kristen said...

And mom thinks Im scattered! Love you, sista

kristen said...

And mom thinks Im scattered! Love ya,Sista

Justin and Erin McDonald said...

Sorry no help from me. I think that is why you have all the kids and I don't. My poor kids will be lucky if I even own a pair of clippers that work let alone have there nails cliped! yiks I might just make a terible mother! God will have alot of work to do training me to remember all that stuff!

kristen said...

Erin, Its fun to read your comments. They make me laugh. I was wondering where you were. Whenever I forgot to clip my kids nails I could count on my mother in law to point it out for me. Maybe Justins mom can do the same. ha ha 1

Justin and Erin McDonald said...

If you read this Kristen, Thanks, I will remember that! I am here in the philippines! we are good and just plunken away at language school. I have to say that it is true that I don't own a pair of clipers that work well, I own about five pair but one has a bad left side the one other a bad right side one has a bad middle and the last is ok but rusty so we might get tetnus! Oh well now you know what to get me for a baby shower gift when the time comes!