I am claiming this opportunity to illustrate what it is like to be me.
After a day of teaching I long for fulfilling moments with my children and late night quiet time with my husband.
Kodak moments run rampant in my mind.
This brings me back to a famous movie line:
"Yes, Virginia...There is a Santa Claus."
...Yes Moms and Dads there are variations of "Kodak Moments."
Here's mine.
I had been promising a sticky treat of gooey wonderfulness to my girls for days.
CARAMEL APPLES
We were drooling at the thought of them.
Life was getting in the way of our family fun.
Gymnastics...
Birthday planning...
Work schedules...
Errands...
and Tutors were holding us captive.
The kids had almost given up hope.
They were done with me.
...Ready to trade me in for the newest version of "imom."
You've heard of her, right?
You know, the gizmo that puts real moms to shame. She's the wave of the future with every gaming "app" imaginable and unlimited kiddie web time. imom has the ability to accomplish each daunting task thrown her way, graciously, promptly and with out ever raising her voice or doling out a time-out.
- Thank God she doesn't exist.
Chloe, my youngest glared at me, arms folded across her chest," Mom. We're not making the apples again, right?"
Me: No baby, we are. (sounding a bit too enthusiastic for her taste)
Chloe: That's what you keep saying but we never do it.
Me: Baby, I'm sorry. We will tonight, after dinner. Sometimes our days get crazy and we run out of time. We'll make them...really.
Chloe: Pinky promise and say I PROMISE.
Me: OK. --- and I did as commanded.
The plans for a freshly baked dinner were ditched. I headed for the leftovers, saving 30 minutes of valuable time and giving us the window of opportunity that we needed.
Addi, Grace and Chloe had three different approaches.
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| Addi was being her wonderful self...Look at my photographer go! |
Addi dove in head first. The thrill of the candy apple treat was too much for her to bear.
She rushed to the stove but came in last. Addi had been all wrapped up in her latest drawing and wasn't paying attention to the goings on in the kitchen. Nothing at all wrong with that...happens to me all the time!
WINK, WINK... It's what followed that sent everybody reeling.
Never wanting to be last my little, big chickie mama plowed through her younger sisters...
...and elbowed Grace in the eye!
Grace cupped her damaged eye and cried...LOUDLY.
That left me wondering,"JEEZ! WHY DOES THE KID WITH GLASSES HAVE TO BE THE ONE KNOCKED IN THE FACE?!"
Then...
Here it comes.
In true Gracie fashion she stated: "You ALWAYS do this! You ALWAYS push me and I get hurt. You need to wait your turn."
Addison apologized, not wanting to get sent to her room for being aggressive and in no way wanting to miss out on the candy fun.
She kindly said," I didn't mean it, really...sorry. I'm really, really sorry."
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| Grace recovered quickly. |
This statement or ones like it are made on a daily basis by our Addi.
She acts on impulse and is driven by her emotions. There is nothing at all wrong with this unless you are in the middle of a growth spurt, like Addi and are rather clumsy because of it. She is my "bull in the china shop."
I remember being there. It's no fun. I feel for the poor kid...I do.
Her sisters on the other hand were not letting this slide.
This too, is becoming very familiar in our home.
Chloe chimed in...
"Addi, that was not nice! Why do you keep hurting us? You should not push people, especially your sisters. Mom, Addi should get a time out for hurting Grace...really."
I looked toward my eldest who was close to tears and utterly embarrassed...telling her not to worry, she had apologized and her sister would be fine...no worries.
Glanced at my on-the-mend middle child and assured her that it would be ok in a few minutes and pushed an icepack onto her face. She willingly held it to her wounded eye...
I swiveled left catching sight of Tiny, my youngest...arms crossed in that familiar stance, rooted in the center of the kitchen. She tapped her foot and looked my way,"Mom, what are you going to do about Addi?"
NOTHING...and please stop telling Mommy what do do. (In the calmest voice humanly possible)
Chloe started to cry
EVERYONE IS FINE. LET'S HAVE A GROUP SQUEEZE AND EAT OUR CARAMEL APPLES.
Chlo looked at me, I knelt to her height and she squeezed my breathe away with a super tight Chloe style hug.
It was beautiful.
...then I got in trouble.
DADDY WAS HOME!
The girls ran his way, candy apples in hand, strings of caramel falling from there mouths...
"LOOK DAD!!!"
"LOOK WHAT MOM LET US MAKE!"
"THESE ARE THE BEST EVER!"
I smiled his way. I thought they were great too.
Go Chloe!
OOPSY. WRONG...kind of.
Jim: "What did you do? You did the exact opposite of what the dentist told us to?! Chloe isn't allowed to have caramel apples...They could rip out the new silver cap on her tooth. Remember? Bill, you're acting like an au pair new to the job. What's up? Should we sit down and discuss what the kids are allowed to do and what they can't do? Maybe go over household rules?"
My response: "Oh no. Crap.That's right. I totally forgot. It's been a long day. Bad me. Too late now..."
No more caramel apples. So glad that she had at least one. I guess that I'm a bad Mommy.
But wait! ...I'm a good Mommy!
...definitely not an imommy.
Chloe has her silver tooth. Tiny Smalls lives on...That's her new stage name.
The caramel apples were well worth it.
