Adventures in Parenting – November 2010
by Patricia Darak
The house is so quiet this evening. Even though I am only about one-twentieth finished with my busy day, I have a little time to savor the peace and tranquility. Soon, though, the morning will come and the household will begin to stir. And that, what I like to tell people, is when the real fun begins . . .
I woke up at 5:00 a.m., picked out my clothes, took a shower, and got dressed. Then, I woke my oldest daughter up at 6:30 so that she could get dressed and have sufficient time to detangle her waist-length hair. At 7:10, we bundled up, gathered our various backpacks and purses, and we made our way to our vehicle. Safely stowing our gear and buckling ourselves in, we made our way to school; our discussion of various topics helped our brains warm up for the day.
Arriving at 7:30, we made our way into the building where my daughter joined her class in the lunchroom for breakfast. After a hug, I said goodbye and started on my way back home. Alone, I turned on the radio and caught up on some pop culture. Soon enough, I had pulled into the driveway and made my way quietly toward my loving husband and our still-sleeping children. Slowly easing in the front door, I saw a big, blue, puffy, bundled blanket on the couch with two little feet sticking out: my son. Apparently, he had awoken to a house devoid of ever-attentive Mommy, figured out that I would be right back, and decided to wait in a spot that I would see as soon as I walked in the door. It worked. I closed the door, then crept silently over to my little handsome man. Kissing his angel face on his chubby cheek, I tucked his blanket in around him. I gazed at him for about five minutes, then turned around just in time to hear his little sister’s bedroom door open. She peeked around the corner, then her face lit up when she saw me and she ran toward me with her arms wide open. I gathered her up in my embrace and rained down kisses on the top of her head while she snuggled closer.
After a lengthy cuddle, my barefoot princess gathered up a few of the still-floating helium balloons from the previous night’s birthday party. She twirled around, holding tight to the curling white ribbons trailing the rainbow-hued bobbling spheres, ecstatic giggles issuing forth from her tiny pink mouth. “Mommy, Mommy . . . look! Look at ME!” And I did, clapping and laughing at her cleverness.
Then, it was time to greet my sleepy prince. Kisses and cuddles were delivered in a timely manner (immediately), and he bravely soldiered forth to get dressed while I attended to his younger sister. Half an hour later, breakfast eaten and their bodies adorned with clean clothing, the children lined up to have their teeth brushed, face washed, and hair smoothed. Next, backpacks were shrugged on, and we marched out to the vehicle to make their journey to school.
After making sure that they were each signed in to their respective classrooms and their gear stowed, I (again) made my way out of the school. I walked down the hallway, turned left, then emerged into weather that seemed to drop a few degrees every few minutes. It wouldn’t be long until the first snowstorm blew in. Well, I thought, who doesn’t like to play in the snow? As I drove away, I mentally started the interior timer that would tell me that I had exactly two-and-a-half hours to catch up on errands, shopping, housework, and various other tasks that needed to be done. Somewhere in that time frame, I would have to assemble a snack box for the kids (who always seemed to be starving after school), and make sure that my husband had something to eat for lunch. Maybe, if I was really lucky and could squeeze out ten minutes, I could eat lunch, too.
Too soon, it was time to head up to the school and pick up all three little bookworms. This was when the day was the busiest. One by one, I gathered my ducklings, and we lined up to make our way to our awaiting chariot. As soon as they were all buckled in, the starving group called for snacks. I handed out the food, then they settled in for the long drive home. Before too long, the chatter started. They would each give a lively report on their day, and compare the good, the bad, and the boring. We arrived home and everyone ran for the house, the front door flung open and backpacks thrown on a chair. I was left behind, and as I slowly shuffled toward the house, my son trotted out and grabbed my hand. He didn’t want me to be lonely, and wanted to be the one to keep me company. As I smiled down at his innocent face, I thanked him for thinking of me. “That’s my job, Mommy. ‘Cause I love you!” “I love you, too, Son!” We entered our home and gathered as a family for some quick playtime before I had to excuse myself. Dinner needed to be cooked and homework needed to be finished, so I wanted to get started right away. “Aww, Mom! PLEASE?” I took a deep breath and thought about a time in the not-so-distant future when all they would want to do is have ‘alone’ time. “Okay, let’s play for just a little while longer.” “Thanks, Mom!”
Then, dinnertime. After, homework, then time to get ready for bed. A lengthy snuggle and two stories each, then to sleep. For everyone except Mommy and Daddy.
. . . The house is so quiet this evening.
