It began with a harried 6:30 wake up call:
"Maddie! Get up! It's late!" I jumped the steps two at a time.
Her tiny frame stirred and she grumbled; ignoring me.
"MADDIE! You'll be LATE for school! GET UP." I shook her bed.
"hmmph-a-rmmph...."
"Maddie? This is three." I said quietly.
My daughter shot up in her bed. "I AM UP! UP! Oh NOOOO I forgot to set my alarm!"
Down out of her bed she flew rushing to start and finish her morning in what seemed like a giant gulp. A quick kiss that looked more like a head-butt and off she went.
One down, one to go. Boo likes to take his time in the morning. He gets up early so he can do so. I almost feel like I should be brewing coffee for him and fetching his paper so he can linger over it while contemplating his Cinnamon Toast Crunch. He loves to eat breakfast in his robe...my lil Hugh Heffner...yeah, that's another blog all together.
The phone rang. This is not a good thing in my house; not before 9am anyway.
"Mom?"
I immediately thought the worst: a gunman? a bus crash?
"I forgot all my homework."
I wrinkled my nose and sighed (the volume of the sigh indicates the level of frustration). This was a low level warning. She didn't even hear it.
"I'll get it to you as soon as I can Hon. Sit tight." and so began MY rushing. NOW I had to hurry Boo along so I could get to her homework to school and drop him off. Not a big deal. I had plenty of time. We hustled and scooted out the door. Awesome! Half way into our extra trip I heard him.
"Ohhhh NO!" he whispered.
I almost locked em up.
"WHAT?" I hunted him down in the rear view mirror. My eyes all but burning a hole in the seat.
"Mommy, I don't have my project papers. They're on the table in the dining room"
I smacked the steering wheel and sighed. Defcon 2. NOW I had to rush to middle school, fly home and zoom to elementary school; all before 8:30am. It was 8:10 DAMMIT!!!
Then I did it. I was a selfish wench. I drove in the butt-head lane and cut someone off. He was pointing out that I was "number 1" and smacking HIS steering wheel. As I pulled into school, he whipped up next to me with his window down and some pretty words of wisdom to share. I simply smiled and blew him a kiss. I had a schedule to keep. So I was Supermom: I dodged a bullet, was faster than a speeding locomotive and was able to get my son to school in a single bound.
I called work to inform them of my fabulous start and kept up my insane pace. It was how my day went. Home was no better. Because I was late, I needed to stay after; then run home, attack my elliptical, get dinner started, bake a birthday cake, biscuits and begin dinner for tomorrow (because I would be doing laundry, hauling kids to drama...pant pant...dizzy...lost sight of...day... me....help...drowning...)
The phone rang. This is not a good thing in my house ever, I think.
"Mommy? I forgot I had drama and band. I'll be late."
"Ok. Call me when you're leaving. Have fun I'll see you soon." this rushed from my mouth in one word because I was hurrying to wrap a gift.
Boo marched through the door.
"Did you have a good day Honey?"
"Yeah." he toed the carpet and looked everywhere but at me.
"What."
"I forgot my homework."
RED ALERT RED ALERT!!!! SEEK IMMEDIATE SHELTER! SHE'S GONNA BLOW!!!!!!
I sighed and swiped my keys, snatched my jacket and held the door for my son; baaaaack to school. I forgot my wallet and purse. I prayed as fast as I was driving that I didn't get caught. I had to hurry and be home before Maddie got back. We made it. Somehow we made it. Finally! Done running. I took off my coat and heard my daughter at the door.
"I'm starrrrrving." she said kissing my cheek.
The tears were instantaneous and hot. I forgot to get anything out for dinner. I officially gave up. All I could do was rest one hand on the counter and the other on my chest. I think it was to keep my heart beating at a normal rate; or maybe just to catch the failure dribbling off my chin in little choked sobs.
The pizza man came right away. I was too defeated to eat. I sat on the couch moping and wishing I hadn't had this day.
The kids came out after cleaning up (throwing out is a better more HONEST description) and clicked on my favorite show. They sat on either side of me, leaning their heads on my arms. Over the top of six little sockie feet I watched and felt my shoulders slowly relax. The tears of frustration dried up. It was over.
"I love you Mom. You order the best pizza in the world."
Bad day? Just like that--I forgot.
