These Are The Days

           There is nothing like waking up in the morning listening to the waves roll up on the shore with the smell of the salty air surrounding you. As you slowly open your eyes, a cool breeze blows through your open windows and the subtle call of gulls are heard   as they scramble after the sand crabs that scurry along the shore.  One more deep breath and you begin to slowly move your body from your bed and then it happens……..the alarm clock goes off, scares the baby lying next to you who immediately begins to wale. It seems to be the catalyst for how the rest of your morning goes. One child screams that you’re brushing their hair too hard as two teenage girls fight over the shower. Finally the bus arrives and the baby girl is still scrambling for her shoes when you shove her out the door with one shoe on and one in her hand as she runs toward the bus griping about how she’s tired of oranges for her snack. You barely have time to breath when you turn around and your eldest daughter hands you your grandson so that she can go pump a bottle for him. Meanwhile, your baby is cutting teeth as loudly as he can on the cold washcloth you gave him to chew on, since he despises pacifiers and teething rings.        

                Alas, the joys of parenting and grand-parenting.  Days like that are when you’re wishing for Calgon to take you away. Those are the chronicles you want to sweep under the rug. There is really only one thing you can do on days like that. You just keep breathing. Soon the babies will take a nap and you can clean up the mess that blew through town before the other kids left for school or you can sit down and watch the mess not clean itself. I know this because I have done it time and time again. Sometimes I have quoted the songs of Meatloaf. “Life is a Lemon and I Want My Money Back”   other times it is simply the most joyful moments that make it all worthwhile and that is when I’m reminded that the Calgon days are all worth it. Yesterday was one of those days. My husband and I went to check the blackberry patches in the woods behind our neighborhood. Unfortunately they are still green.  Liberty had been out of school sick with a sore throat. We met her as we came up the path. After my husband Sjhon gave her a good scolding for being out of the house and we walked halfway home, she coughed and grabbed her throat.

                Me: See I told you being outside when you’re sick makes it worse.

                Liberty: My throat hurts.

                Me: Maybe you need some soup.

                Liberty: Feel my throat. I think my anal glands are swollen.

                Me:  Liberty, you don’t have anal gland’s you’re not a dog. Do you mean your lymph nodes?

                Liberty: Whatever.

               

                Today on the other hand was one of those Calgon moments and all day I have found myself thinking about Libby’s non- existent anal glands and I smile. That is the key to it right there. When people comment on how they would go nuts with six kids, I just smile and say it can be crazy sometimes. All I know is if Liberty comes home today complaining about her throat, I will call the vet and make her an appointment.