7 September 2007
In Season Momma
Posted by Momma under: Family .
I had absolutely no idea… But the job of a mother truly never stops. It is school season, as I like to call it… kind of like hunting season only it is a test of the mothers that can make it without surrendering to the chaos. But everyday starts a 7pm the night before with the question… “what can I pack you for lunch tomorrow”… then come the 3 different replies…
Preston of course wants a sandwich with turkey bacon lettuce cucumbers, but with the request that it does not get soggy, so how can a mom manage this request… I guess we will put the turkey on then the lettuce then the mayo, then the cucumber, then the bacon, see how this pattern works out for non soggy bread. Then after building the sandwich (I say building because it was gigantic), we stuffed it into ziplock bags that were only made for a simple one layer sandwich. Okay one sandwich done then the drink and fruit go in the lunch bag in such a way that you make the effort to no squish the sandwich, which by the time the lunch box makes it to the lunch room it has been tossed, hit over their best friends head, dropped down the stairs, or whatever they go through before they actually make it to the lunch table. Like I said that is one lunch made. The next two are easier.
Cam gets peanut butter and banana on a regular basis, and Abigail gets a turkey sandwich, a simple one, with their fruit and drinks they are ready to go… but wait I wish I had cookies to give them. I don’t, but I do have some cookie crisp cereal… that will work. Lunch making is completed.
Bathing next, not too bad of an ordeal other than I can’t watch over the boys anymore to make sure they are doing it right, so the simple smell the hair test is about all I can go on. Abigails baths are filled with worries that a shark is going to come out of the drain and get her, or filled with dreams that she is a mermaid and can not stop going under the water to test her breath holding power.
So then it is off to bed with Abigail at 8, only to get up 20 mins later for a drink, not sure why I just don’t remember to give her a drink every-night before bed. Then off to bed with the boys to tell them they have to read before sleeping, and they give me all the 100 hundred reasons why they don’t! And I usually give up unless I am being extra fierce that night.
And then it is 9 o’clock and Mom is still at work ironing the clothes to be worn the next day, making sure backpacks are ready, and around 9:20 I sit down… and start sewing on Cameron’s stocking.
*she sighs*
Then usually around 10:30 I just can not take it any longer and carry myself off to bed with the cell phone with the alarm set for 5:30, should my brain hear it.
*she sleeps*
Beep beep beep… yes another day found me and up I go, but not until I say out loud to myself… “I don’t wanna get up”. Just like I use to say to my mom. But what is a morning without saying, “not just yet”. So eventually I get out of bed and use my first hour to get myself ready for work, and then it is Abigail at 6:30 first because she is the most difficult to get up and we have the whole hair thing to do. So I get her up, usually dressing her while she is still laying down in bed. And stumbling to the bathroom she assumes the position to sit and have her hair done, but the end result… priceless. Then while she is dressing, off to wake up the boys. They are much easier; dressed, breakfast, teeth cleaning, and then before walking out the door it is a quick squirt - squirt and hair is done. And we all head out to the truck to go to dads house before school, only after a few arguments about who called the front seat first. Usually they have it figured out by the time I get out there, because I forgot to pack my lunch so I am scrounging up some cheese crackers and an apple, and then I cant find my keys… I need a hook that they can be found on.
*work and school happens*
Then off to get them around 4 after work and they tell me all about there day. That they usually forgot something, Preston’s sandwich ended up being soggy, and Cam scored a goal in soccer, and Abigail played with the big girls. Then home we go, with chores to be done, litter to be changed, floors to be swept, bedrooms to be picked up, back packs to go through, and dinner to get going. Around 5 we all sit down to eat and by 6 dinner and dishes are done, and then it is time for mom to do her chores (whatever they may be that day). 7 o’clock has found us again and it is time to start the preparation for the next day all over again.
But you know, I wouldn’t give it up for the world… I love the feeling of taking care of them, loving them, and talking to them about things that are special. The little secrets, like Pres almost dying of embarrassment when his brother shouts out at choir who he likes. And then the threats come that “bad things will happen”… It is so fun to watch them grow and be the best of friends whether they can admit it or not.
So there is only one last question… Will the momma make it this school season? I sure hope so.