Disasterizing My Expectations

I love my kids.  I do.  But that doesn't mean life is all kisses and snuggles around here.  And on days like today, there isn't much to do except duck my head and barrel on through.  Well, that and document the drama : )  

I have at least three major projects in process.  And none of them are getting done.  The kids seemed to need me con-stant-ly today.  And they were full-on disasterizing the house while they were needing me.  They wanted to play with anything but what was already out.  But only for a millisecond.  Then it was on to another thing that required me to prep for it/get it/monitor it/clean it up.  So that I kept getting swallowed up in their wake instead of riding along their wave of twinsanity.  If they didn't get the play object they wanted immediately, they had a mini-melt-down.  When they did, I had a mini-melt-down.  Because the day wasn't yet half over and I was fried.  When I turned my attention to prepping dinner (silly me for thinking that planning ahead would help me today) and my hands were buried up to the wrists in raw pork, yes that was the exact moment that they needed my absolute undivided attention.  And hands.

Because they are toddlers after all.  And toddlers need things.  (Now!  No the other thing!  Nooooo, the OTH-er thing.  Mom!!?!)  And when I finally found the other thing that they'd set their little hearts upon and snuck away for a few seconds to try to triage my most pressing project at least, I came back to discover that they'd masterminded a plan to use their cube chairs for evil.  Climbing on them to reach the kitchen counter tops and dish drainer.  Forcing me to try and rewind what was left of my brain to see if anything important was missing.  Like cutlery.  And chocolate.  To find that they'd hatched a scheme to move all play dough colors out of their containers.  And hide them.  In places like the trash can where they sunk to the bottom underneath dirty diapers.  Or pinched apart into tiny little smears on their play table.

I tried to get past the first waves of anger and frustration with coffee.  Then I reminded myself to set lower expectations.  So that we're all a little more successful.  Yep, mother of the year here is saying it out loud.  Set the bar low ladies!!  Celebrate the small things, like getting your teeth brushed before noon, for what they are.  VICTORIES in the battle for survival.  Pat yourself on the back for keeping just one thing organized, even if it's the ever growing to-do list.  Or one thing clean, even if it is the stinky diapers that you keep trotting out to the trash can all day, every day.  Because in the midst of all that isn't, there is this.

I am surviving.  We all are.  And the kids are learning despite my occasional preoccupation.  That Mommy has feelings too.  And responsibilities beyond them.  That I cannot be all things to all people at all times.  Not even a little bit.  In fact, I am pretty much having an awesome day if I am anything to anyone, just a little bit of the time.

Now I lay me down to sleep,
And the expectations I can't keep
May angels watch me through the night
And set my bar to an attainable height.


And all the mamas said...  AMEN!