Tuesday, May 30, 2006
The Aaaahhh Moment
We started planning it last night - today would be a big day for the five of us. Sarah and I would take the three kids, and leave the house. Drive away. All of us at once. We were headed for big places - Wendy's, Kohls and Target. Whippee, seriously. Thinking I might be getting a little cabin feverish, Sarah decided I needed an outing.
Right after morning nap we loaded everyone up. Bottles, blankets, toys, diaper bags, shopping lists, shoes, sippees, etc. etc. etc. Emphasis on etc... We pulled up to Wendys. The man taking the order must not have said anything when Sarah gave him our very long order; nobody was hangin' their head out the window when she pullled up to pay. (As in, "how many kids does that lady have in her car?") Soon as everyone had something they could pretty much feed themselves, we headed to Kohls. Sarah, like the head of a little army (which is what she sort of is) handed out food, instructions, and with one big bite of her own sandwich was off to shop. We did okay. I didn't end up outside the car with the kids locked inside, so we did okay. With Sarah back at the car we were off again, this time to Target. That great store that has enough groceries in it to justify regular trips there; also enough fun stuff to make you look forward to going there. Before she headed into Target she loaded the DVD player, gave more instructions and was off. When Caiden explained the movie was "just a little bit scary" I told him he could turn his head because Grammy is technologically challenged and if I shut it off it will not come back on. Sorry - you're just gonna have to deal with it. (This is what REALLY happens when you leave your children with your parents.) The 19 month old, by the way, was mesmerized - seemed to love the scary parts. Maybe the thumb and blanket took the edge off. I found myself wondering how many other families sit in the Target parking lot dining and watching a movie. Sarah seemed happy to have had an outing when she came back to the car. At least she had enough bags it looked like she'd had fun. Good for her - I'm thinking she's pretty due.
So off to home, it's now naptime, we tuck in the kids, unload the car and all the junk it took to take them for essentially a ride since we never got out. When we pulled up in the driveway I was truly content to just have left the house; it was a nice change of scenery, and a new appreciation for what going to Target involves for me vs. my daughter. (Reminder to self - do not EVER complain about shopping alone. Ever.)
Sarah's husband got home and dinner was in the oven, so I opted for a walk around the neighborhood. With her IPOD in one hand, and my cell phone in the other in case I got lost (I truly have NO sense of direction), I had a fabulous time just walking through the neighborhood. I saw Americana at it's best. Lots of culdesacs with pick up basketball games, kids on hot wheels, a few teens smoking and I resisted stopping to tell them how much it was going to cost them if they kept this up for the rest of their lives.... the neighborhood pool was full of families, runners, bikes, etc. Listening to Bebo Norman at a noise level that threatens my future hearing, I felt right with the world.
I came home to sit down to dinner with this sweet little family. Listening to them get a 4 year old to eat green things brought back memories from about 15 years ago. Then Sarah told me, "Mom, you need a bath." She laughed when she explained it didn't reflect my personal hygiene but rather that need girls have for long, hot soaks on a regular basis. This sweet daughter went in and cleaned the tub! This daughter who gave birth three weeks ago, and has had her hands full since then. I was horrified, but she insisted. She'd lit candles, set out bubble bath, etc. I used up all the hot water, read a magazine and drank an ice cold diet coke. Whatever savage beast I may have had when I went in was soothed when I came out.
So a great day - in every way possible. But the aaahhhhh moment of it all, when I told her she was the one who needed to be soaking in tubs, taking walks with a girlfriend, etc. and she said the best part of the day was spending the afternoon with a friend, and that friend was me. It just does not get any better than that. Seriously.
Right after morning nap we loaded everyone up. Bottles, blankets, toys, diaper bags, shopping lists, shoes, sippees, etc. etc. etc. Emphasis on etc... We pulled up to Wendys. The man taking the order must not have said anything when Sarah gave him our very long order; nobody was hangin' their head out the window when she pullled up to pay. (As in, "how many kids does that lady have in her car?") Soon as everyone had something they could pretty much feed themselves, we headed to Kohls. Sarah, like the head of a little army (which is what she sort of is) handed out food, instructions, and with one big bite of her own sandwich was off to shop. We did okay. I didn't end up outside the car with the kids locked inside, so we did okay. With Sarah back at the car we were off again, this time to Target. That great store that has enough groceries in it to justify regular trips there; also enough fun stuff to make you look forward to going there. Before she headed into Target she loaded the DVD player, gave more instructions and was off. When Caiden explained the movie was "just a little bit scary" I told him he could turn his head because Grammy is technologically challenged and if I shut it off it will not come back on. Sorry - you're just gonna have to deal with it. (This is what REALLY happens when you leave your children with your parents.) The 19 month old, by the way, was mesmerized - seemed to love the scary parts. Maybe the thumb and blanket took the edge off. I found myself wondering how many other families sit in the Target parking lot dining and watching a movie. Sarah seemed happy to have had an outing when she came back to the car. At least she had enough bags it looked like she'd had fun. Good for her - I'm thinking she's pretty due.
So off to home, it's now naptime, we tuck in the kids, unload the car and all the junk it took to take them for essentially a ride since we never got out. When we pulled up in the driveway I was truly content to just have left the house; it was a nice change of scenery, and a new appreciation for what going to Target involves for me vs. my daughter. (Reminder to self - do not EVER complain about shopping alone. Ever.)
Sarah's husband got home and dinner was in the oven, so I opted for a walk around the neighborhood. With her IPOD in one hand, and my cell phone in the other in case I got lost (I truly have NO sense of direction), I had a fabulous time just walking through the neighborhood. I saw Americana at it's best. Lots of culdesacs with pick up basketball games, kids on hot wheels, a few teens smoking and I resisted stopping to tell them how much it was going to cost them if they kept this up for the rest of their lives.... the neighborhood pool was full of families, runners, bikes, etc. Listening to Bebo Norman at a noise level that threatens my future hearing, I felt right with the world.
I came home to sit down to dinner with this sweet little family. Listening to them get a 4 year old to eat green things brought back memories from about 15 years ago. Then Sarah told me, "Mom, you need a bath." She laughed when she explained it didn't reflect my personal hygiene but rather that need girls have for long, hot soaks on a regular basis. This sweet daughter went in and cleaned the tub! This daughter who gave birth three weeks ago, and has had her hands full since then. I was horrified, but she insisted. She'd lit candles, set out bubble bath, etc. I used up all the hot water, read a magazine and drank an ice cold diet coke. Whatever savage beast I may have had when I went in was soothed when I came out.
So a great day - in every way possible. But the aaahhhhh moment of it all, when I told her she was the one who needed to be soaking in tubs, taking walks with a girlfriend, etc. and she said the best part of the day was spending the afternoon with a friend, and that friend was me. It just does not get any better than that. Seriously.
Labels: Dusty Stuff
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