Wondering if I’m a seasoned mother today. Not like Lawry’s or a rub, but…
After a great morning at work, I hit a couple of errands and
picked up some very cranky kids – Number Two Child whined in exhaustion and
Number Three Child
stood, petrified by the Styley-Sweats (double-barreled noun
defined as a need to wear something even though it makes you really hot and
sweaty. Cause, to be blamed by a very
colorful Volcom hoody that MUST be worn because the vibrant tie-dye matches
electric blue shorts and shoes).
Anyway, Number One child was fine hanging out in his
creative mind on the swings, decompressing after six plus hours in class, from
thing to thing, with no air conditioning, fully integrating a young brain,
pliable to over-saturation.
The other two were sinking.
Number One was crying in borderline fakery that turned real
quick.
I just needed to make some lunch plans with my friend who
also works, takes care of three kids, is trying to be everywhere at once, and
who I miss because our paths don’t cross the same way they used to when our
kids attended the same preschool and elementary school. (Please note, that this
is exactly the fifth lunch date I’ve made since I’ve become a mom. More of a worker than a luncher. And I’d most often rather chat in the dark
during movie previews or on a run. Or
between swim sets. Or, on a jog. But I kinda hurt my earnestness, springiness,
so, well… I’m trying to take my own
advice and rest for a few seconds…)
No one but Luke wanted to pick up the books I was ordained
to put on hold at the library. The books
that I was needled into placing on hold via the Westchester Library
System. There were tears that I didn’t
take too personally (liar, me) so we picked up the books.
Then, offender of time and pusher of Spring-fevered children,
I made them go with me around the corner to the produce store to pick up a few
things. We found Yan-Yan’s there – those
little Nutella-like breadsticks with animal words and funny descriptions etched
into them like: OWL STAYS UP ALL NIGHT, and SEAL LIKES TO LAYOUT IN THE SUN (comedic
overtones, kinda).
That said, I also purchased produce – fruit, to be
exact: watermelon, two types of mango,
gala apples, red seedless grapes, corn – some other stuff. Pringles.
I do live on both sides of the fence, nutritionally. I know that too many “no’s” bounce back so
I’m pretty reasonable, even if some people think I’m somewhat a hypocrite.
It was the Yan-Yans that redeemed me.
Venna Rose and Leo didn’t eat the entire containers of most
definitely hydrogenated oil-infected food, but I washed the grapes and cut up
the watermelon and we talked and settled into the late afternoon, when little
hands started reaching for bites of washed grapes and cut watermelon, then
retreated into their rooms and quiet corners of the house to read.
Perhaps you have to search for the kernel there.
Any mom would say, you got them to eat fruit and read.
Today you succeeded.
Then the Pringles disappeared moments before dinner (shrug).
