Mothering Many

From the front room window, that is.

High on the list of things that continue to frustrate me: my living room blinds. Remember the kids broke them? I know I said that. It’s been months now, and *cough* they are still broken, because…well, cleaning while you have kids is like shoveling the sidewalk while it’s still snowing and repairing things while you have kids is…required. But I plan to replace, not repair, and I actually plan to use roller shades, like the ones I have in my bedroom. As much as I like the Hunter Douglas blinds, and as much as I love the idea of shutters, I know that the shades would be a better choice for now.

Surprisingly enough, my vertical blinds have remained relatively unmolested. 5 years here, and we’ve still got all of them, and the slide mechanism still works. Perhaps that’s because they 1)stay slid back all the time and 2) face the boring back yard where nothing cool ever happens.

How come everyone gets a nap but me? I know I mentioned yesterday that I am trying to get the kids back on an even keel, and part of that includes an earlier bedtime, and fuller school days. The kids are just thrilled, I tell ya, ab-so-lute-ly THRILLED. And I am dogmeat tired, and have the brain power of a bowl of cold oatmeal by 3pm when it’s finally time that I can think about writing. Oh, and Miss Drama, she does hate the idea of he light being off and also the idea of her own bed and also she “wants to sleep on you”, meaning she wants me to rock her to sleep again. Ooooooooookay. What else am I gonna do, eat bonbons with a hydroxycut chaser?

Seriously, I am tired, and just so you don’t think Pollyanna is writing this blog, I did lose it last night with Drama. Even DH commented, asking me what was up. I was tired of pouring out, pouring out, pouring out. I was angry and I was empty, and I just wanted them all to go to bed and leave me alone, for crying out loud! And then I remembered something almost magical–those same kids who drain me also fill me up. I was so tired I had forgotten to let them refuel me. I met their needs and then got up to do something else, instead of allowing them to meet mine. So I pushed my work aside (yeah, I really need to get to that still), and I picked Drama up and we rocked; snuggled up in that comfy chair, we rocked. And I forgot how long he day had been, and I forgot how tired I was, and I forgot how she was supposed to be sleeping, and I just soaked up that good baby lovin’.

Here’s hoping I remember that lesson before I get waspish and ornery again.