Friday night...roughly 9:30p.
I have drivin over 1300 miles this week. I managed to sleep roughly
4 hours during the 48 hours of our transport and admissions.
Wednesday night had a good nights sleep (mom snored like a
hurricane, but she'll deny it!). Thursday, Kevin and I made the
journey back to RP (let's here it! What? What? RoPo, baby!).
Experienced one more quiets night sleep...
Friday evening I begin my thrust into (temporary) parenthood. I
arrive to Michelle and Andrews house to watch over there 3 beloveds
for the weekend. I am met by Andrew dashing out the front door for
the car. "Paul, I owe you for this!"
My response, "no worries Andrew. Someday, you'll babysit my
youngins...while i sit in the room in my Lazy-boy and watch!" I
thought that funny.
I entered the house to the joyous greeting of two
children. "PAAAAWWWWWWLLLLLL!!!!" A mighty greeting I must say.
At this point, I'm thinking, no problem! Maddie and Kaden are
excited to see me. Andre looks me over as if we were preparing for
a showdown...he knows something. It's just after 4p. I only need
to make it to 7:45p. What's 4 hours??? (famous last words).
Michelle hands me 4 pages of what to do and at what time. A sort of
User's Manual, if you would; however, this would be the Quick Start
Guide. "Thank you, thank you, thank you!" I can follow
directions. I can make KILLER Pasta-Roni! She points out the high-
lights and goes over some last minute "Stop, Drop and Roll"
scenerios. Out the door she goes...and with it the comforting
feeling of mellow children.
Door Closes: WHERE'S MOMMY???? WHEN IS SHE COMING BACK?
Kaden breaks into his war cry. Arms flying. Poohder (the cat)
takes one look at me, winks (saying, "you're on your own"), and
bolts for hiding places that only cats can find.
4pm: Only an hour and a half till dinner.
"What would you guys like for dinner?" Funny. I do not EVER
remember my mom asking this question.
"Corn Dogs"
"Pizza"
"Mac n Cheese"
Michelle informed me that this would happen, but that we need to
decide on one plate. "We are not a short-order kitchen during
dinner" were the words printed in my User Manual.
Corn Dogs it is. And Broccholi, or Fruit. Plates are served.
Nothing too hot.
Mistake #1: Would you like Ketchup or Mustard?
"Both!" So, I being the host, provide each plate with a small pool
of Ketchup and Mustard. Do all of you remember having your water
colors during Pre-school? First thing you do? MIX THEM INTO ONE JI-
NORMIS COMMON GLOB. Messy...that is the part that I had forgotten.
4 year olds and 2 year olds are messy. Especially when you give
them the opportunity to be so. NOTE TO SELF: Small lines of
condiments on the Corn Dogs.
Ok, so we survived dinner. They each actually ate a bit. Kaden was
a champ! Ate most of the corn dog, half of his broccholi and a
yogurt. Maddie...ate like a bird. Andre had some sweat
peas...wasn't much into eating though. hmmmm.
After that we watched Fern Gully (great movie). Next we fed the
cat, brushed teeth and put pj's on. Dressing a 6mo. olds is not so
easy... It was "show" time next. Veggie Tales! We read for a bit
and then migrated the kids to bed. Kaden was down pretty easy.
Maddie wanted mommie. She hopped into bed and waited for a bit. I
put Andre down. He'd have nothing to do with sleeping. Checked in
on Maddie...still awake. Kaden, OUT! Ok, 1 down. Andre is
screaming downstairs. I go down and pick him up. He mellows, but
won't go down yet. "Paul?" Maddie calls. "Where's mommie and
pappa?" "They are out right now. They will be back.", I replied. I
carried Andre upstairs and we sat with Maddie for a bit. I told
Maddie that I was going to go put Andre down to sleep, but would
come back up. Came downstairs. Hung out with Andre and just
rocked. (Michelle suggested singing, but I didn't want to
permanently scar the child.) Andre started passing out in my
arms...I laid him down. 2 down! I go back upstairs. 3 down!!!
w00t! How truly amazing children are. It is magic when they
finally relax and sleep and I'm friggen Hudini at this moment! So,
here i sit...waiting for the quiet to end...
Moms out there...you are truly amazing people. It is nights like
this that I am grateful for you on 2 levels.
1 - It is a reminder to me of the power and skill that parents have
and how well mothers, in particular, handle the multiple demands
placed upon them during their days. Your's is a job that could
never be paid adequately or with any realistic compensation.
2 - I am so not cut out to be a mom!
This will be a good lesson for me. Watching 3 children for an
entire weekend will be quite the adventure. If I make it out alive,
I think that I am another step closer to wanting my own family. If
I do not survive...well, then Darwin was right.
Day 2...still tired from the move
I woke up this morning a bit battle worn, but no worse for the
wear. I figured that I would get a headstart on the morning. I set
my alarm for 6am. My Quick Start Guide listed 7 to 7:30 as the
official start times. An hour to hour and a half will be plenty of
time to do some last minute preparations for the day!
6:30: Maddie and Kaden are up. They inform me later that Mommy and
Daddy usually tell them to lay down for a little bit longer...damn
their honesty. Made me feel played!
6:40: Andre is up. There truly is no mercy in parenthood. This
would be payback from all of the years that I woke up at 5:59 with a
big smile on my face and song in my heart (and out my mouth).
Kevin, if you are reading this, sorry, sorry, sorry.
The morning went pretty smooth. "We" had milk and "our" morning
bottle. Maddie and Kaden watched their morning show. Andre
preferred the pre-game coverage for today's college football lineup.
Breakfast: Kaden had cereal...3 bowls of cereal! Impressive.
Maddie chowed on scrambled eggs w/ cheese and some toast with butter
and strawberry jam. Andre teethed on his ring, and that was good
too.
Morning shows were on. Clifford's puppy stories, I think it was.
This was my chance to clean up after breakfast. Andre laid down at
9:30 for a nap. I was really jealous. (note to self...next
carrier - infant)
10a: Maddie, Kaden and I ventured into the backyard. We were armed
with water bottles and swings. This lasted for a while...it was
nice. When Andre woke up, it was close to snack time. Food was
shared by all.
10:30a: Let the water fights BEGIN! Good times out there. Maddie
and Kaden wanted their shirts and shorts off. I loaded them up with
sun screen (being the fair skinned person that I am) and let them do
battle. The wars raged for quite some time. Maddie took time outs
for sunning herself. Kaden rests for nothing, except naps and
bedtime.
Water wars raged on until lunch. Lunch went well. Turkey and
cheese for Kaden. PB and J for Maddie...NO CRUSTS!
1p: Nap time. Most went down without a fuss...I tossed and turned
a bit. I was such a bad example!
Realization: Nap time is when Mommies, or homemakers, clean up from
the previous round (this IS used in context) and prepare for the
next round. Dishes are cleaned, rooms are re-organized, and rations
are set aside for the next battle. This is much like a Sun-Su epic.
I must thank, at this point, Jamie and Brenda for arriving with OJ
and some relief. I do not doubt that I would have survived;
however, knowing that I was not alone for the next hour made me WAY
happy.
The remaining hours of the day went smooth. Maddie, Kaden, Andre
and i went to the park. It was a good walk. (note to self and
others...bring Water and EXTRA SOCKS on journeys to the park).
Greatest thing in the stroller...BUTT WIPES!!! The all-purpose
cleaning strip.
Park was great! Kaden is the best climber! We turned home, cuz
pizza was on the way.
Dinner was successful. Maddie and Kaden liked the pizza. Andre
even ate some cereal and pruns; although, not on the first attempt.
Bath time: I don't really remember giving my sister a bath. I
remember my mom giving her a bath though. Andres bath went fine.
He didn't seem to mind it much and, at times, even seemed to enjoy
it. Got him dressed and ready for bed. The other two's bath was
more of an adventure. Draw the bath, let the kids play, wash and
rinse the hair, let them play, wash the bodies, let them play, get
one of them out at a time, let the other one play.
We were bathed, brushed and washed by 7:12p...not too shabby! Kaden
picked out a "show". We watched it until 7:50p. Mommy and Daddy
call! Andre is fast asleep...which is ok. He is not much for words
at this point. A snore is with chapter! He had fallen asleep on me
while watching Baby Genius.
Well, not much more happened. Andre woke up, and fell back
asleep...and now i must do the same thing.
i'll add a couple of additional details as they flow and i get some
sleep...
peace out all!!
