except for right now. Mister O came along, and I decided I'd take an extra long leave to be a stay-at-home mom. (I also believe this to qualify for the title "working mom." Hopefully after reading this post you'll agree.) I did this when Bean was born too - stayed home for four months with her. By the end, I felt that I was in my element, a domestic queen ruling her domain...and then I went back to work. This time, I'm home for seven months with a work at home project thrown in the middle of it. Currently, I'm home with both kids at the very same time all day most days. And it's no wonder that the time has flown right by this summer. Here's a sample day. Today, actually, if I can remember it now.
So, this morning, after feeding Mister O., showering while B fed the Bean, and throwing on some clothes and half-drying my hair, I came downstairs to a kitchen that looked like this:
I wasn't exactly surprised - it had of course looked that way last night too - but it annoyed me. I sighed and headed for the coffee maker (not pictured) and navigated the maze of dirty bowls and recyclables to put my toast in the toaster.
As soon as I put my breakfast on the table, Bean abandoned her post there. She was anxious to get outside and help me spread the remainder of a straw bale on the garden. I was pretty excited about this being her idea. I hadn't counted on getting any more garden work done today, but here she was, proposing it. I asked her to wait, ate my breakfast, and we headed outside. Mister O remained just inside the screen door in his bucket seat on the kitchen table. I said a silent prayer that he'd remain content.
Upon reaching the garden, Bean noted that everything was still wet and we had a lesson about what dew is. I commenced to pull some weeds to clear ground on which to throw the straw. Bean went off on her own to play. Perfect, I thought. Even if she doesn't help, we're out here and I can get some stuff done! Fast forward about 5 minutes: Mister O. was fussy and Bean decided it was too cold to be outside. Another sigh from me, and we headed indoors. My eyes were now on the clock, as we had a 10 a.m. playdate at the local park, which involved getting the Bean into swim gear and packing a picnic.
By now it was about 8:30, and the Bean requested stories. Great idea! I praised and rewarded her request until 9, when it was time to prepare for the park. I needed some time to make our lunches, and then it takes at least a half hour to gather all troops, potty, and shove bodies and gear into the car. I also fed Mister O. at some point.
All loaded up, we headed to the park. I drove us all the way there, only to realize we had no diaper bag. I decided to take my chances. We wandered around the park, Bean in her swimsuit, and awaited our playmates. I feel that I should also mention it was 59 degrees outside this morning. OUr friends soon called - change of plans. I was proud of the Bean for receiving the information fairly well. She's not so good at flexibility these days, since her brother arrived and stole the Mommy show. But we both made it to the car, and then to Chik-fil-a in a happy mood. We even stopped for gas, where I helped the Bean out of her suit and into her clothes while the tank filled up. Mister O. slept - thank you, Mister O.!
After lunch and playing and some conversation among moms at Chik-fil-a we headed home where Bean actually did eat her lunch. Then stories and a Mister O. feed, and a nap, from which there were ZERO WALK-BACKS THANK YOU VERY MUCH. (this is a huge victory for me - it doesn't happen often and Bean has been more than trying at sleep time)
And then I proceeded to get ready for a trip to the pool, an opportunity that serendipitously arose as I G-chatted with another working mom friend this afternoon. By 4:10, I had woken the Bean, fed Mister O., gotten all of us dressed, packed our bags, and loaded into the car again to go to the pool...where I got to sit still for a few minutes while the Bean played happily in the water and O slept. I also noted that these days are numbered - my friend spent the time chasing after her youngest while keeping track of the oldest's behavior choices. She did not sit still.
Then it was home, supper, tele, stories, bath, be...no. not bed. There was an hourlong battle with the Bean, fraught with tears, over staying in bed. And then there was feeding Mister O., and putting him into his bed. I also did some laundry and the dishes at some point. A pile of clutter destined for the basement made it down there too. And now there's this rambling post telling you about all of it.
Why? Because this is life, and I want to capture it. And just as I can barely remember the details of today anymore, I know that very soon this entire season of life will be just a tiny drop in the bucket of my memory. It is a crazy, chaotic, happy, stressful time, and I know that it's cliche to say so, but I truly would not trade it. Motherhood in all of its messiness and dirty dishes and tantrum refereeing is beautiful.
Now excuse me, while I collapse into bed.
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