“Oh you will blink, and they will be all grown up!”
I usually hear this in the check-out line in Publix. After I have battled my way through every dang aisle with my three children.
Put that back!
Don’t hit your brother!
Don’t hug your sister. That always ends bad.
Stay by me and the cart, so they can pass by.
OUCH!!! You don’t have to be on top of me!
Don’t stop in front of the cart!
OUCH!!! Don’t hit me with the cart!
For Pete’s Sake! Don’t put your mouth on the cart!!!!!!
Although I offer a sweet smile and nod to the little old lady, inside I may be gritting my teeth and spewing a few choice words.
But even deeper down, I know she is right.
Then there has been this week. We had two bursts of snow in Tennessee that has amounted to over 7 inches of snow and 6 out of the last 7 days stranded at home.
Don’t get me wrong; I LOVE snow days…. until I don’t 😉 I loved every minute of it until about hour number 96 of not leaving the house. My kids and I are all social creatures who get to a point where we long to be social with someone who doesn’t share the last name. And the homemaker in me is ready to let Chik Fil A cook a meal and give my dishwasher a break from the two loads a day it has been doing the last week. I just need a day for my sanity and, honestly, theirs too.
I know when my kids are off to college, I will miss it. I may see some sweet neighborhood kids out building a snowman and say to the mother, “Oh you will blink, and they will be all grown up!” They may force a grin with their tired, snow day weary bodies. And I hope I remember. I hope I remember that, although, there are fabulous memories being made, it is a lot of work.
This is what getting three kids ready for a snow day at my house looked like this week:
- Run around the house to gather a hodgepodge of snow gear for each kid. Crap! Where is the matching glove!!!
- Start to dress first child who promptly turns into a limp noodle – long johns, long sleeve t-shirt, hoodie, socks (help me out child!!), snow pants, gloves (one in each hole!!), coat, and finally 15 minutes later – toboggan.
- Repeat with each child.
- Start to try to get yourself dressed then….
- Child #1 comes in and needs a new pair of gloves, because the other ones make her fingers feel funny.
- Start to get dressed then….
- Child #2 comes in and asks has played long enough to get Hot Chocolate. NO!!!!
- Attempt to go to the bathroom then…
- Child #3 comes in and asks if you are ever going to come out…
- You finally get your own hodgepodge snow gear on minus your boots and gloves because your daughter is now wearing them.
- Repeat at least 3 times a day.
It doesn’t just have to be a snow day. Sometimes just a Tuesday can run you ragged. Last week my husband was working late, so I was putting my three kids to bed by myself. My older two children read to themselves before bed. I was tired after a long day and ready to trim our 30-minute going to bed routine to 20 minutes. I asked my 7 year old, Matthew, if he wanted to read to himself instead of me reading to him before bed. He was SO excited to be a big kid reader. By the time I finished snuggling, chatting, and praying with Ethan and Ella, Matthew’s light was turned off.
I couldn’t help myself as I went back in his room, snuggled a little more, and got a book to read to him.
Because I am going to blink one day, and he will be all grown up.
Relish reading books, snuggles and the snow days. But give yourself a little grace if you need a minute to recharge your batteries because being a mom is hard work.
The Southern Lady Mama 