Each day, I roll out of bed in a pretty decent mood.
Sure, I may need a large amount of coffee to help me feel ready to face the world. And yes, sometimes I take on life in pajama pants and spend the morning wondering if I’ve brushed my teeth or not, but for the most part, I don’t let it get me down. I’m pretty happy and relaxed. I’m content.
And then?
Kids.
Then kids happen.
On the one hand, my children are happy little beings. They have their moments like we all do, but they’re pretty great overall. Funny, silly, smart, awesome to be around and constantly amazing me.
On the other hand, they’re absolutely infuriating. They’ve got ‘selective listening’ syndrome. They’re irrational. They fight with each other at the most inopportune times. And they can be as angry as I’ve ever seen them one second and totally pleasant the next.
It’s completely maddening.
Kids. They’re tough on us parents.
They will take hold of 90% of our side of the bed while we’re sleeping, even though the middle of the bed remains untouched. They will tell us they’ll brush their teeth and then continue right on playing. They’ll get upset about the most irrational things at the worst time of day. They will complain bitterly about having to do everything while you are literally doing something for them at that very moment.
They will make you go from a happy, relaxed, pleasant parent into a raving lunatic who is yelling about putting on shoes and counting to three for the billionth time. And you will find yourself saying “I don’t start out this way. Why does it always have to end up here??”
And then, only a few short minutes later, you will be squeezing them tightly as they struggle out of your arms to rush to school, calling after them “Goodbye, sweetie! I love you so much!!”
Kids. They will make you crazy and simultaneously make you think “They’re lucky they’re so cute” too many times to count.
But at the end of the day, when I fall into bed exhausted, I am happy. Because I just spent a day surrounded by my children. My crazy, intense, irrational, exhausting little kids.
The same children who won’t listen to me will also run at top speed to see me at the end of the day when I walk in the door. The kids who make me yell more than I like and make me feel guilty more than I ever thought possible will also make me feel like I’m the most awesome person that ever walked the planet. The little humans who are stubborn and rude sometimes will also make my heart swell with pride.
So I will start the next day refreshed again. Happy and relaxed. And maybe, just maybe, one day they will surprise me with an easy morning.
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