I mostly spend each day living in brief gulps from one moment to the next. In between tickle fights and time outs, I also sweat it out each day on the tightrope that is PPD and all its repercussions in my family, my health, my marriage and my sense of humor. Some days are good, some days only wish they could aspire to the high ranks of pond scum, but it's all part of my life. And it's all worth it.
it’s all about perspective
This weekend it was freezing cold and icy and generally unpleasant in the out-of-doors. While it’s always fun to curl up with book and blanket on days like that the children running amok with cabin fever can really put a damper on my relaxation. The day passed in interludes of silence, as the girls settled down to coloring and make-believe in the playroom, interspersed with total explosive havoc as their energy blew up in fits of temper, crying and whining. I watched all this in resignation, knowing that my days of being stuck in the house with the kids were on the rise as surely as the temperature was beginning to fall for the season.
Half-way through Saturday (that’s less than one day into Cabin Fever snowbound madness) Kurt, interrupted from his computer again, sighed and said, “I wish there was something we could go DO, but we’re just stuck in here all day and they’re driving me CRAZY.”
I stared. I gave him The Look. I generally sent massively incredulous and sarcastic waves of energy in his direction. Seriously, man? You’re going to complain after only FIVE HOURS!? I have at least SIX MONTHS of these kind of days awaiting me! I will spend the entire winter tearing my hair out trying to think of something, anything, to do to pass the time and let off steam. I will spend days and days and days in the mall just so they can run around somewhere warm while I’m beaten down with screams for treats and toys on display. We will invade the library until the librarian kicks us out because they cannot be silenced. I will play seven hundred thousand games of Candyland and Memory and Chutes and Ladders. Countless hours will go into bundling them up to play outside only to come back in 10 minutes later because it’s too cold or someone has to pee. I will have to say “NO” all day long as they beg to watch TV until my nerves crack and I throw on something long enough to let me drink a cup of tea sweetened with rum.
And it still won’t be enough. Their cooped up energy will never be spent. And you have the nerve to moan tragically about five measly little hours?
All I said, though, was, “Yeah, honey. This is what it’s like at home in the winter.”
Am I a super-model of restraint or what?
Oh this is a very typical topic of conversation in my house!! Except there would be no way I’d get “Yeah, honey, this is what it’s like at home in the winter” out of my mouth without using enough sarcasm to burn a hole through the floor! Hee hee.
Comment by Hillary — October 13, 2009 @ 11:37 amYou’re the sort of super-model who deserves a cover in your honor for that statement. Ever thought of modeling for GET BORN? (www.getbornmag.com)
I’m impressed your resist the TV urge. Just this morning, the three-and-a-half year old, without the distraction of her three sisters, who are at school, has both played computer games and watched “The Twelve Dancing Princesses” while I facebook. It’s the morning shot of fum for conscientious mommies everywhere. Good for you.
Comment by Heather — October 13, 2009 @ 11:51 am