Things Seem to Fall Apart

I just had to add a little note to my post from earlier today . . .

Yes, the post where I was telling you just how much I was enjoying our summer days thus far. Well, things seem to fall apart just when you note how smoothly they are going, right? Seems to work that way for me, anyway.

Just like the time I was watching a child lose it over being removed from a kiddie playarea. Kicking, screaming, flailing, the whole nine yards. I remember watching the frightening episode for awhile, with wide eyes and my jaw on the ground, and a big ol' chip on my shoulder no less! Then, as this child was obviously not able to pull himself together, I managed to regain my composure enough so that I could look down my nose and make mental notes of how my child had never thrown a tantrum, ever.

And then I had S.

I'm absolutely convinced that his number of tantrums, barely at age 2 mind you, is ever increasing due to the fact that he is making up for his brother never pitching a fit, and due to the fact that I needed a good lesson in being humble!

I'm learning that motherhood is the great equalizer, thank you Mrs. Anderson.

That lesson was felt yet again today. Yes, our day was going so well. Until dinner.

I had the witching hour somewhat under control, carefully planning a few choice activities for that tough part of the day. Then G started snooping in the kitchen and asking too many questions about what I was cooking, what the ingredients were, and would he have to eat it. That was the way our supper started, and it ended with all of us in tears right there at the table. G was choking himself on tiny bits of tomato in his best effort to boycott the dreaded supper, S was throwing his dinner, probably for the very same reason, and B was blowing raspberries with baby food in his mouth, his protests over the fact that he no longer wants the baby food and is ready for what his big brothers were discarding.

There was this other mother there with the boys that I hardly recognize, or maybe just don't want to claim. She was short tempered, impatient and cross, and she was making empty threats to con her children into eating their supper. I am not proud of any of this behavior and have already been on my knees, believe me!

Everyone finally gave up, we got out of the house as fast as we could to get some fresh air at the park, and then we called it a day. I tucked the little ones in first, and then little G and I had some time to visit and talk about how we could make things better tomorrow. We both offered our apologies, and then we prayed for each other, for ourselves, and for our family. I immediately felt better.

I tucked him in and walked down the hall and heard 3 little words that seemed to melt away any leftover hurt that was there from our day. In that sweetest little S voice came, "luh-you, mama"

I went back and forth with S several times saying "Love you, S" and then I just sat on the steps to listen to his little cherub voice. I want to remember just how he sounds right now so that when he is a teenager, bedroom door closed with music blaring through the house, I will not forget these precious moments. I have a feeling those days will be here before I know it.

That makes the lesson I learned today that much tougher!