One of Those Days…
I haven’t had one of those parenting days in a while. You know the ones. Those days when nothing goes right and everything is a struggle. I mean, don’t get me wrong. On most days, there’s always something that is challenging, but there are certain days when it seems like everything I touch becomes ten times harder to accomplish. It’d been a while since I had one of those, so I was probably overdue. On Wednesday, I paid for it.
I had the best of intentions on Wednesday afternoon. I was going to pick the kids up from daycare as soon as I was done at school, and we were going to head across town to our church where Chris would meet us for a family dinner before we all went to the Ash Wednesday service at 6:30. It should have been fairly simple. Ahhh…best laid plans…
I had forgotten when I planned this little soiree that I had after school tutoring scheduled (I tutor in writing two days a week for an hour after school), so I ended up leaving a full hour after I originally planned. Which meant I would not, in fact, miss the rush hour traffic as we headed across town to the church. But, I was still optimistic. I picked up the kids and we set out. But we didn’t get far. We pretty much came to a dead stop on the interstate in rush hour traffic and we continued to creep for the next full HOUR. For one hour, I sat in traffic with a screaming Gracie and a whining Bean, who were both hungry. As we crept closer and closer to the church, the sky grew darker and darker and darker until I was sure there was a hurricane getting ready to hit us. But as bad as the wind blew and as dark as the clouds grew, no rain fell and so I thought that maybe we’d be able to get to church before the heavens opened up and soaked us.
And the rain did hold out. It waited until I had just loaded my arms full of diaper bags, a thermal tote with our dinner inside, my purse, and I had just pulled Gracie in her carrier out of the car. THEN, the heavens opened up. So, holding all of these things, and trying desperately hard not to drop Gracie’s carrier, I now had to try to wrestle with an umbrella, too. All of this while Gracie is screaming bloody murder in her seat. She doesn’t like the rain. It makes her hair curl.
So, I’m hurrying and balancing and trying to protect my screaming banshee of a child from the rain, when I finally make it over to Bean’s side of the car to get him out and I discover that – surprise! – he’d taken off his socks AND shoes in the car.
Now, at this point, I am very carefully balanced with all my bags and supplies and giant babies in car seats. My arms are full and I’m standing in the pouring rain, holding an umbrella handle under my chin, trying to keep Gracie dry. In order to put Bean’s shoes on him, I’d have to put everything down. But where? It was pouring!
“Michael!” I barked. “Why did you take off your socks and shoes?”
“Because my feets were hot,” he pleaded.
But before I could even begin to think of how I was going to handle this (I’d have to put everything back in the car, including the car seat, go put Bean’s shoes on, and then reload everything in my arms for the second time…), a Good Samaritan appeared.
This very kind older woman was walking by with her umbrella, trying to get into the church, but when she saw me struggling to hold everything and then heard me asking about Bean’s shoes, she turned back to me and said, “Hi there. My name is Betty. Can I please help you?” I tried to kind of smile and say that I really had it under control, but it was very clear that I did not. So, Betty kindly pushed me out of the way and told me to keep Gracie dry while she literally climbed her 80 year old self up inside my SUV and dug out Bean’s shoes which had been flung to the nether regions of my floorboards. The whole time she climbed and searched, she talked to Bean, and he must have liked her because he talked right back. He told her about his day and about his “bes’ fend” at school, and about how we were going to go to “cherch” tonight and eat God’s snack (which is what we call Communion). Finally, Betty got both shoes on Bean and helped him out of his seat and then she walked up to the church with us, holding him under her umbrella while I carried Gracie’s seat and all my bags under mine.
At the outdoor entry to the nursery, she said goodbye and I thanked her profusely, while insisting that I now had everything under control. So, she leaves, and I turn around to go inside the building to the nursery only to discover the entire nursery wing is locked. No lights are on. No doors are open. It’s shut tight. So, now I’m standing under a tiny awning with all my bags, my screaming baby in her car seat, and a squirming, hungry toddler.
Cue the lightning and thunder.
It started popping lightning around us and the thunder boomed so loud that Bean literally scaled up one side of me and down the other. He was terrified. Gracie was, too. And I had no where for us to go. When I had stopped to thank Betty, I had set down all of my things in the process of our conversation, so I very quickly started piling my bags on my arms again, picked up the infant carrier (which, with Gracie in it, weighs about 35 or 40 pounds, at least), and tried to also carry/drag Bean, who was now terrified of the lightning and had strapped himself to my right leg.
Now, our church campus is beautiful and very Floridian, which means it’s open air. Which meant we now had to get from one side of campus to the other in order to find a building that was unlocked. So, we start the trek, me balancing all these things and cursing myself for choosing to wear heels that day to work.
We finally made it to the other building and managed to get into the church kitchen, where I dropped everything in relief and immediately texted Chris, “I really need some help. Where are you?” He responded with, “Running late. Won’t make dinner. Will be late for church. Love you.” To which I responded with a text that was not appropriate for church OR this blog. I ditched my phone and concentrated on feeding the kids dinner. Only, I just realized that in the shuffle of sweet Betty helping us get out of the car, I had accidentally left our dinner tote in the backseat of my car. Which was across the church campus. And it was still raining and thundering and lightning.
Awesome.
So, I left my bags in the kitchen, threw Gracie on my hip, and held Bean’s hand while we ran back across campus to the car through the rain, got our dinner, and then ran back across campus to the kitchen again. If we hadn’t been before, we were now SOAKED.
But soaked or dry, everyone was hungry. So, I got Bean all set up with his PB&J and sat Gracie on the table so I could hand her little pieces of steamed veggies I’d brought for her. About 10 minutes into dinner, Gracie knocked her entire bowl of food onto the floor and then immediately started crying because she wanted more. As I was cleaning that up with the one small napkin I could find, Bean spilled his cup of apple juice all over the table.
Excellent.
I finally got everything cleaned up and loaded up and we headed back to the nursery. It had been half an hour and it was only 15 minutes until the service started. Surely, the nursery would be open. We fumble our way once again through the rain with all my bags, the infant carrier, and Bean in tow, only to find the nursery to still be locked. Seriously, I almost started crying. Instead, I prayed.
I believe the exact prayer I prayed went like, “God! What the crap, man? I’m trying to get to church! Are you freaking serious with this?”
So, I just gave up. I set my bags down, I sat down on the ground and pulled a crying, scared Bean into my lap, and we sat there for 10 minutes under a tiny awning in the rain and thunder while we waited for the nursery to open. Finally, one of the nursery girls came flying up and let us into the building. I got the kids all set up and made it to church right on time. Chris, unfortunately, was about 20 minutes late and ended up sitting in a pew behind me because of the crowd.
Sometimes these days, I forget how hard it is to be a parent. You get so used to going, going, going that you almost forget what it’s like to not be on full speed all the time. And I forget that I’m tired, and I somehow manage to fit it all into the 24 hours in a day. But then there are other days. And on those other days, the only thing that holds it all together is the fact that you don’t have time for it to all fall apart. On those days, you just pray angry prayers to get through the moment and hope you aren’t doing any permanent damage to your children’s psyche. Then, you go home, wipe everyone down with a diaper wipe, kiss them goodnight, as you climb into your own bed, you say another prayer that somewhere in this somber season of Lent, you find a little time to be still.
And then you wake up tomorrow to blue skies and happy babies, and life goes on as it always has.
27 Comments
Nate's Mom @ Nate is Great
I hear you, mama! It’s so easy to think we have it all under control until nature takes over. Nate’s had a whopper of a stomach bug, which he shared with me on Wednesday night. I was sick all night and, after recovering, Nate decided to re-join the party and threw up at 3:30 that morning. Chad couldn’t take the day off on Thursday so I spent the day being sick, alternating between running to the bathroom and lying on the couch, while we had a Curious George marathon. I remember when I used to complain about being sick. No more. I now know that being really sick *and* caring for a sick toddler at the same time is really, really worse. xxoo
Angie
You poor poor thing 🙁 that sounds terrible. And holy crap, Bean looks sooo much like Chris in that photo where he’s looking down at Gracie!
Jennifer Hardin
I hear ya girl! Tennie is going though a growth spurt… the dreaded 3 month one and WILL NOT SLEEP. It’s been a whole week of one of those days. I couldn’t make it church at all!
Leah
You did better than I would have. The traffic and threat of storm alone would have had me turning around with my tail tucked between my legs.
Jess W.
I just had to comment on this one… I know that feeling well. My husband often asks me how I keep it together. The simple answer is, I don’t have time to fall apart! Yes I want to cry but that will just add to my burden. =P
Sarah H.
Oh man Katie! What a day! I’m surprised only ONE Good Samaritan helped you. But this story is exactly why I hardly go anywhere with my 8month old. For Ash Wednesday our church had a soup and bread dinner at 6:30 and a service at 7pm. We live 5-10 min away and still didn’t go! Why? Because she starts to want dinner between 5:15 and 5:30 and bath time is at 5:50 and she’s nursing by 6:10 and fast asleep by 6:30pm. And I’m terrified to take her out and keep her up past her bedtime! Maybe I’ll change when more kids come along. But her schedule has me saying no to a lot of evening things—or I just go alone after she is in bed. Honestly I read your blog and see all the fun things you do with your kids –out and about, shopping, trips–and I wonder–should I try to get out more? With us both working I prefer to spend weekends playing n the floor, swinging at the park, having Grandparents over for lunch–pretty much we all stop and do everything around her naps in her quiet, dark room. Hopefully next time I’ll get a kid who can nap on the go! But seriously I hope the Pastor of your church was VERY appreciative of you attendance on Ash Wednesday!
Sarah
I think I’d have given Betty a day job! What a nightmare, I don’t know how you managed it. I don’t have children yet but your experience on Wednesday is one of the things that scares me silly. Well done for getting through! 🙂
Margaret
Yeah, we had one of those days yesterday, only instead of church it was the pediatrician where Child #1 (Bean’s age exactly) was LICKING the furniture (WTH?) and instead of a lightning storm it was the breakup of a friend’s marriage (I WISH we had had church last night). I think it starts when they just don’t feel like being on your timetable and then you can never, ever speed them up again. It makes me very glad when they’re in bed and I can drink a beer in front of the TV. We’ve all been there. I’m so glad those days END.
Margaret
And Jess W. You are SO right! The second you lose the little control you have left you’re done.
Bec
Wednesday was also a “wipe em down with a diaper wipe” night for me too!
Sarah
Wow. I so would have gone through a drive through and driven home.
Is there no one in your church that could watch you kids for a minute while you run around?
Deepa
Oh Katie, we have all been there. When these things happen to me, I usually put the kiddo somewhere safe, have a really quick cry, take a few deep breathes, and regroup. The fact that you made it through with TWO without completely loosin git is amazing. I hope flowers and chocolates will be part of your Saturday morning wake up!
momiss
AH! We all have them. I once looked straight up, and shouted “Good LORD GOD! Don’t you think I’ve got about enough to handle here?!??!!” I was really mad and sad and feeling inadequate. A normal day for me at the time. But I survived, God forgave me, and I still stay Motherhood is the best club in the whole world. God Bless Betty and all the Betties in the world.
Mindee@ourfrontdoor
Oh Katie.
At least you blog so you can tell yourself in the middle of all of that, “Hey, this will make a GREAT blog post.” 🙂
Peggy
The visual in my head of this made me laugh. Sorry you had “one of those days”!
Meredith J.
I’m sorry, but this post really made me giggle. I feel so bad for you! I’m not sure if I could have held it all together! Good job momma!
Alyssa
You girl are a trooper! I’d have packed my kiddos up and left in a puddle of tears! I hope you are rewarded with a relaxing weekend 🙂
Meggie
I love the line “And on those other days, the only thing that holds it all together is the fact that you don’t have time for it to all fall apart.” SO true. I just had one of those days on Tuesday and I reached a moment of wanting to sit in the floor and cry… but didn’t have the time or energy. Ha! And like you said, you wake up the next day and things are back to normal and life goes on. Thanks for sharing! Glad to know I’m not alone!!
Katie's Mom
I believe the most appropriate phrase here is, “Keep Calm and Carry On”
Lauren
This made me cry. I can relate. My husband is a pastor and we have a 2 year old and 1 yr old.
Alyssa
Oh poor mama. Don’t you hate days like this, but they sure to make interesting reading for your blog. I had to laugh when you discovered Bean’s socks and shoes off. Drew takes his socks and shoes off all the time in the car. In fact I’ve had to take him to Target barefoot because he took his shoes off in Daddy’s car and they never got taken out.
Allison
I couldn’t help but chuckle at the prayer. I’ve had a few of those!
jenny-bird
Oh Katie. What a day you had. Much love to you and your family.
Alaina
Yikes…yeah, that sounds like no fun at all…so sorry you had one of those days!
Calypso
🙁
Sorry it was a rough day Katie. You handled it better than most. I would have just went home when it started raining. I hate driving in the rain.
Calypso
BTW, these pictures are HILARIOUS!!!!
HeatherM
“And then you wake up tomorrow to blue skies and happy babies, and life goes on as it always has.” -Knowing this is what gets you through the rough days.
By the way, the song “Gracie” by Ben Folds (Songs for Silverman album) just came on my Pandora, and I thought of you. Have you heard this song? I think this is your Gracie Girl’s song.