Something About Monday

No Monday that starts out with a crying baby at 4:30 AM can possibly turn out good.

I am still trying to have a good attitude today, but it is a stretch.

First I had that wonderful early morning. Those of you that know me well, know that I am least of all a morning person. Second, my coffee pot doesn't start until 5:30.

There was whining, bickering and thrown food at breakfast.

The dog refused to take her pills and then chomped my arm just to let me know how she really felt about it all.

In spite of the fact that The Mr. cleaned the bathrooms on Sunday afternoon, the bottom of the tub was full of slimy soap chunks thanks to one of my boys. There was also a nice litter of dirty boy laundry to step over.

The transport people were 30 minutes late to pick up the baby. I don't have a case worker right now to be able to call and find out what's going on. I called the supervisor, but she's out of the office.

The dentist visit was supreme. I had to interrupt the cleaning 3 times just to referee, and they each had their own chair.

She decided to use some high powered water spray to clean my teeth. If you haven't experienced this delight in dental care yet, I can't even begin.

Of course X-rays were needed. I have a mouth the size of a small child. Due to past injury, I can only open my jaws so far. This dentist doesn't treat children so she only has adult size bite-wings. I have bruises on the roof of my mouth and under my tongue.

The baby was returned 30 minutes early from her visit with yet another pleasant note from her mom.

Twice now, I have been told I'm not dressing this child for the weather. Now add to it, that I'm not caring for her hair properly. I'm way to cranky to even get into this one.

As one of my friends is on her way over to visit, I discover the toilet is backed up, the baby is screaming and the phone is ringing. She lives out of the country and can visit for about 45 minutes. I did manage to answer the phone, give the baby a bottle and plunge the toilet before she pulled up.

Why is it exactly that boys like to unroll whole rolls of toilet paper into the toilet just to see what will happen when they flush it anyway?

While my friend visits, the phone rings. We all pretend not to hear it while the boys behave as though they are speed metal rock stars on drugs. Did I mention the part where they were rude and greedy?

Ah, a proud parent moment it was.

The afternoon has continued on with general surly behavior on their part and crankiness on my part. The baby is so out of sorts, it just isn't funny.

The rain is pouring down and my boys are out running the neighborhood in it.

I'm going to be lucky to get away with it all today.

Some days it's exactly what I told the hygienist. She commented on my parenting skills--I'm not sure exactly how genuinely--and my return was this: A lot of days, it's not at all about skills, just survival. Plain and simple.

It makes me think a little of our weekend. Some of the highlights included raiding a neighbors rummage sale to refurnish parts of our home, a picnic, and church on Sunday morning instead of Saturday night. Our little picnic found me riding home from the northern suburbs with a bag full of hot dog vomit. Our furniture escapade left a huge bruise on The Mr. and the checkbook. Sunday morning just meant less coffee, shower time and newspaper reading. Round it out with staying up too late to watch the Packers loose.

In between it all, there's lots of laughs and love. If there wasn't, we wouldn't be able to do it.