Parenting is a lot like any job: you’re never really done. There is always one more thing:
Wipe down the counters for the 3rd time that morning b/c you are trying to keep Elam’s strep throat to Elam’s throat, find 25 things that need to be put away.
Put away thing #3 in the boys’ room and realize they have no clean pants. Check laundry basket that was empty Sunday and find it full.
Head downstairs to throw laundry in, realized the sheets you washed this morning after Elam coughed like a croupy mess in your bed all night are still wet in the dryer.
Realize the grandparents are headed to visit Thursday and the spare room and downstairs bathroom need cleaning…
Seriously. These things are not made up. I don’t have enough time nor is my brain functioning well enough to be creative enough to imagine such inane madness.
Actual events today:
Calista gets picked up at 330 for a play date, escaping germs
335 boys get PBS kids
336 I call my pastor to prep a small group leader training that happens next week. We have had to reschedule 2 times and now we get a phone appointment
358 doorbell rings. The guy is here to measure windows for an estimate. He was supposed to arrive at 430
Ditch the pastor (Sorry Brett)
Spend 45 minutes with the windows man. Try to call Brett back and he’s out of the office
450 Start oven. Start to cook chicken and 2 loaves of bread, ground beef for lasagna for Thursday
455 XS has a meltdown because the TV stops his favorite show and he can’t just watch it again…
Did I mention that after dinner, Elam smacked his face into the piano bench, splitting his lip? This is the same kid who 2 days ago, on his 5th birthday, had to cancel his party… He ended up testing positive with strep Monday.
Blood after a long day is not my favorite
And did I also mention Brian is out of town? And I had to call him around 130am b/c Elam wouldn’t stop screaming about how badly his ears hurt? I slept about 4 hours last night…
It has seriously been one thing after another.
I tried to carve out 3 minutes for just Calista time tonight. Reading to her before bed, praying and snuggling. Really quickly but alone. She had been just a great helper tonight (other than when she screamed upon coming home that she didn’t want to see Elam’s gross, bloody face…). When Elam got out of the bathtub and was freezing cold, she read his new book that arrived one of those door bell times.
Thanks Uncle Brandon and Aunt Jessica!
Well, first XS crawled in like a ninja, joining her under her covers. Then Elam heard me reading from his top bunk and hollered “Can I come too?!”
Then this happened.
How grateful I am that we added just one more kid. That I spent 1 more minute with Calista. That I took 25 more deep breaths today and didn’t scream at anyone. That there is always one more thing to do (I never did finish rebuilding that Lego fire truck…) but I certainly have job security.