In the world of moms, some days are good and everything goes as planned.
But most days are chaotic and frustrating, and nothing goes as planned.
So, last week, I made plans with my friend for a fun filled outside day, in an effort to keep the kids busy and out of the house because we are in the midst of painting and it is a mess.
As I climbed into bed the night before I fell asleep to dreams (fantasies) of cheerful,enthusiastic children looking forward to the fun day we would have.
At 6:30am reality hit with a vengeance as B climbed into bed asking for the 200th time if he could have his new legos. They are buried under 3 feet of other items that I had shipped from my parent's home, which I hadn't had time to unpack yet.
You would think I would just flip the box over and open it from the bottom to give him hours of content play. You would think. (I actually just came up with that solution while typing this, I'm so slow sometimes).
I distracted him with the television because that's the kind of mom I am. I let him watch an hour of tv first thing in the morning while the girls and I continued to sleep.
When the girls woke up, I dragged myself out of bed and started the day.
I served them a deliciously healthy breakfast of blueberry bagels with cream cheese.
B is a planner like his mom and functions better when he knows what is scheduled for his day.
So I outlined what we were going to do without time stamps, because he wears a Spider-Man watch on his right arm and is a time telling expert.
![]()
Mack Attack is complaining about having to eat half of a bagel that I gave her. She's not hungry she tells me. So I try to trick her by saying that if she wants to have enough energy to ride her bike all the way to the tadpole creek and back she needs to eat all the bagel I gave her and drink all her milk. She downs her milk with no problem. Two minutes later she drops her bagel, cream cheese down, on the floor. I was not about to waste another bagel in trying to force her to eat more.
Lost that one.
I then spent the next few hours trying to get the older 2 kids to play outside while keeping the toddler awake and out of the paint mess through her morning nap so she would take an extra long nap in the afternoon…. because that was part of the plans.
It was miserable, but somehow I did get the dishes done, kitchen floor swept, and a picnic lunch packed.
It was also part of the plans to meet at the walking trail at around 10am.
Lost that one.
It took me forever just to load the double stroller, 2 bikes, 2 helmets, water bottles for everyone, and picnic lunches in the burb. By the time it was loaded I was sweating profusely and my muscles were aching. I had gotten my workout for the day.
Won that one!
Another bright note is my friend was having an equally unsuccessful day. I pulled into the parking lot at the head of the walking trail at 11:15 (B made sure to tell me that it was almost lunch time).
I unloaded and got everyone situated and then a wave of pain hit me. This pain caused some panic as I knew the repercussions of ignoring it…. poop pain!! You get the picture...
I had 2 options:
1. Abandon bikes and strollers right there at head of walking trail, pray they would still be there when I returned. Throw kids back in the car and race the 7 minutes back home…. with no guarantee, hope only, that I would make it in time.
OR
2. Walk/run as fast as I can with the girls in the stroller and B on his bike at my heels and head straight for the bright blue porta potty.
The pain was brutal so I went with option 2.
I ripped Mack off her bike, threw her in the stroller, told B to follow me on his bike and explained very loudly that mommy needed to go to the bathroom RIGHT NOW. As I walk/ran to the porta potty I threatened the girls with their lives if they tried to climb out of the stroller. Luckily the toddler was strapped in so I didn't have to worry about her. I then scared B with stranger danger and lake drowning if he got 2 feet from the blue shiny porta potty.
I held my nose as I stepped into the box and was surprised by its cleanliness.
![]()
Won that one.
I took care of business with the door cracked open enough that I could see the girls sitting in the stroller.
My scare tactic worked with B because he stayed close enough to bang on the side of the porta potty the whole time.
Won that one.
When I was done I walked towards my friend who had arrived a few minutes after my entry into the dreaded porta potty. I wasn't even going to mention what had happened. However, B felt it necessary to explain what had just happened in as much detail as he could. I think he is learning the art of embellishment.
Lost that one.
We started our walk. Yelling at the 3 older kids the whole time to wait up…. STOP and wait... don't get too far ahead of us. While trying to keep the 3 younger ones happy in the strollers with snacks.
Mack Attack did great riding her bike for the whole mile to the tadpole creek. When it was time to get back on bikes and walk back to the car she was too tired to ride her bike and wanted a ride in the stroller. I felt a twinge of elation inside as I got to say, "If only you had eaten all of the bagel I gave you for breakfast, you would have more energy." But that was short lived as she climbed in the stroller and I threw her bike on top and pushed 2 kids and a bike the mile back to the car.
Let's call that one a half win/ half lose.
When we were done we loaded everything back up and headed to the park. I stopped and grabbed a slushy for the kids because I'm a cool, spontaneous mom. Or was it because I needed my Dr.Pepper fix. Stranger things have happened.
Won that one.
We finally got lunch at 1:06.
B made sure to let me know I was late with lunch…. you know, the time teller.
Lunch went pretty smoothly as I don't have to stress about the mess at the park. All the food that doesn't make it in their mouths and lands on the floor instead is just helping out all the park animals. Keeping them fed well and healthy. Right??!
The kids played on playground equipment for a few minutes while my friend and I sat in silence and enjoyed our peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. No one broke a bone or cried or anything.
Definitely WON that one!
![]()
![]()
![]()
I dropped the older 2 kids off at 1:46 for a playdate with cousins. (It's kind of nice to have a kid who can tell time and keep you on track or let you know just how off track you always are.)
Then as part of the plan for the day I took Kimi home and finally laid her down for her nap which she was completely ready for and zonked out as I was carrying her to her bed. She slept for a solid 3 hours.
Won that one.
I painted. Just me and my thoughts (and if that doesn't scare you, nothing will)!
The evening went a lot smoother. I didn't have any plans.
Maybe that's my problem. I try to plan too much??!
I've learned that some days I win and some days I lose. I consider it a successful day if I keep the kids alive. Am I right??! My mom did say in my latest visit home that it's a wonder they live through the day with as much mischief as they can get into!!!
Aren't you just exhausted from reading all that?
If you're lucky enough to snag a nap…. DO IT! And get in some extra time for me, please.
If not, say yes to the next 3 demands of your children and see how many wins you get.
![]()
As I climbed into bed the night before I fell asleep to dreams (fantasies) of cheerful,enthusiastic children looking forward to the fun day we would have.
At 6:30am reality hit with a vengeance as B climbed into bed asking for the 200th time if he could have his new legos. They are buried under 3 feet of other items that I had shipped from my parent's home, which I hadn't had time to unpack yet.
You would think I would just flip the box over and open it from the bottom to give him hours of content play. You would think. (I actually just came up with that solution while typing this, I'm so slow sometimes).
I distracted him with the television because that's the kind of mom I am. I let him watch an hour of tv first thing in the morning while the girls and I continued to sleep.
When the girls woke up, I dragged myself out of bed and started the day.
I served them a deliciously healthy breakfast of blueberry bagels with cream cheese.
B is a planner like his mom and functions better when he knows what is scheduled for his day.
So I outlined what we were going to do without time stamps, because he wears a Spider-Man watch on his right arm and is a time telling expert.
Mack Attack is complaining about having to eat half of a bagel that I gave her. She's not hungry she tells me. So I try to trick her by saying that if she wants to have enough energy to ride her bike all the way to the tadpole creek and back she needs to eat all the bagel I gave her and drink all her milk. She downs her milk with no problem. Two minutes later she drops her bagel, cream cheese down, on the floor. I was not about to waste another bagel in trying to force her to eat more.
Lost that one.
I then spent the next few hours trying to get the older 2 kids to play outside while keeping the toddler awake and out of the paint mess through her morning nap so she would take an extra long nap in the afternoon…. because that was part of the plans.
It was miserable, but somehow I did get the dishes done, kitchen floor swept, and a picnic lunch packed.
It was also part of the plans to meet at the walking trail at around 10am.
Lost that one.
It took me forever just to load the double stroller, 2 bikes, 2 helmets, water bottles for everyone, and picnic lunches in the burb. By the time it was loaded I was sweating profusely and my muscles were aching. I had gotten my workout for the day.
Won that one!
Another bright note is my friend was having an equally unsuccessful day. I pulled into the parking lot at the head of the walking trail at 11:15 (B made sure to tell me that it was almost lunch time).
I unloaded and got everyone situated and then a wave of pain hit me. This pain caused some panic as I knew the repercussions of ignoring it…. poop pain!! You get the picture...
I had 2 options:
1. Abandon bikes and strollers right there at head of walking trail, pray they would still be there when I returned. Throw kids back in the car and race the 7 minutes back home…. with no guarantee, hope only, that I would make it in time.
OR
2. Walk/run as fast as I can with the girls in the stroller and B on his bike at my heels and head straight for the bright blue porta potty.
The pain was brutal so I went with option 2.
I ripped Mack off her bike, threw her in the stroller, told B to follow me on his bike and explained very loudly that mommy needed to go to the bathroom RIGHT NOW. As I walk/ran to the porta potty I threatened the girls with their lives if they tried to climb out of the stroller. Luckily the toddler was strapped in so I didn't have to worry about her. I then scared B with stranger danger and lake drowning if he got 2 feet from the blue shiny porta potty.
I held my nose as I stepped into the box and was surprised by its cleanliness.
Won that one.
I took care of business with the door cracked open enough that I could see the girls sitting in the stroller.
My scare tactic worked with B because he stayed close enough to bang on the side of the porta potty the whole time.
Won that one.
When I was done I walked towards my friend who had arrived a few minutes after my entry into the dreaded porta potty. I wasn't even going to mention what had happened. However, B felt it necessary to explain what had just happened in as much detail as he could. I think he is learning the art of embellishment.
Lost that one.
We started our walk. Yelling at the 3 older kids the whole time to wait up…. STOP and wait... don't get too far ahead of us. While trying to keep the 3 younger ones happy in the strollers with snacks.
Mack Attack did great riding her bike for the whole mile to the tadpole creek. When it was time to get back on bikes and walk back to the car she was too tired to ride her bike and wanted a ride in the stroller. I felt a twinge of elation inside as I got to say, "If only you had eaten all of the bagel I gave you for breakfast, you would have more energy." But that was short lived as she climbed in the stroller and I threw her bike on top and pushed 2 kids and a bike the mile back to the car.
Let's call that one a half win/ half lose.
When we were done we loaded everything back up and headed to the park. I stopped and grabbed a slushy for the kids because I'm a cool, spontaneous mom. Or was it because I needed my Dr.Pepper fix. Stranger things have happened.
Won that one.
We finally got lunch at 1:06.
B made sure to let me know I was late with lunch…. you know, the time teller.
Lunch went pretty smoothly as I don't have to stress about the mess at the park. All the food that doesn't make it in their mouths and lands on the floor instead is just helping out all the park animals. Keeping them fed well and healthy. Right??!
The kids played on playground equipment for a few minutes while my friend and I sat in silence and enjoyed our peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. No one broke a bone or cried or anything.
Definitely WON that one!
Then as part of the plan for the day I took Kimi home and finally laid her down for her nap which she was completely ready for and zonked out as I was carrying her to her bed. She slept for a solid 3 hours.
Won that one.
I painted. Just me and my thoughts (and if that doesn't scare you, nothing will)!
The evening went a lot smoother. I didn't have any plans.
Maybe that's my problem. I try to plan too much??!
I've learned that some days I win and some days I lose. I consider it a successful day if I keep the kids alive. Am I right??! My mom did say in my latest visit home that it's a wonder they live through the day with as much mischief as they can get into!!!
Aren't you just exhausted from reading all that?
If you're lucky enough to snag a nap…. DO IT! And get in some extra time for me, please.
If not, say yes to the next 3 demands of your children and see how many wins you get.
