Yesterday was a busy day and I didn't even get the pumpkin farm pictures loaded onto the computer. It will have to wait until later. I did however get one costume finished! But I didn't get it done until after the 'witching hours.'
You know, the hours between dinner and bed when all hell seems like it is about to break loose and the kids are becoming little demons. I like to call those the witching hours. This is the typical rundown of our witching hours and sometimes it feels magnified ten times over if Allen is out of town...I am trying to make dinner, the kids are getting hungry and cranky, and Simon wants to be held and so now I am cooking dinner with a baby in one arm. Then Lauren and Ethan get in an argument and the crying ensues and if I am really lucky I will also have the pleasure of hearing nice high pitched shrills from Lauren. It's at this point I start watching the clock. Dang. It's only 4:50. They are still going to be up for another two hours.
Oh, yeah. I forgot to add that the phone is ringing off the hook and my mother-in-law stopped by to see how things are going. I don't have time for this!
We sit down for dinner. Of course I hear, "I don't like this," and "Mommy, what is this?" and "MOM. Lauren is kicking me under the table," and "How much more do I have to eat?" and "If I eat this can I have a dessert?" It's never-ending. Simon is growling because I am not feeding him fast enough. We come close to a couple of meltdowns but we get through it.
Dinner is finished and now it's time for baths and that starts another argument over who gets to take one first. Ethan is sent to the other bathroom so they can take them at the same time. Finally everyone is bathed and once again if I am lucky, Lauren and I disagree over what pajamas to wear and instead of arguing, she gets her way and wears jeans and a t-shirt. I don't care. Whatever. I look at the clock again and it's only 6:30. One more hour to go.
We go to the living room to read books and once again the shrills start because Ethan in sitting in Lauren's spot and Lauren got to have her book read first last night and IT's NOT FAIR, MOM! This is where I want to say, "Well, tough. Life's not fair." But I don't. Books are read and now it's off to bed. It's 7:10 and they are in bed and just need to say prayers and get goodnight kisses. Oh, wait. Now they need a drink and of course need to go to the bathroom. So back to bed and Lauren is mad over who knows what. I ask her to say her prayers and she doesn't want to but after a little encouragement she does. I always love a grumpy prayer. Ethan prays that Lauren will be nicer to him. "Goodnight. I love you." Whew! It's 7:30 and I am done for the day.
Until I hear footsteps coming down the hall because one of them, usually Lauren, needs to tell me just one more thing.
Some days I try to remember:
That these are the longest days but the shortest years.
That I need to take more pleasure in dinner, bath, books, and bed.
That we have had a long day and everyone is just tired and hungry.
Yet sometimes I just need them to get to bed so I can have a some peace and quiet. I know that is completely selfish but it's true and I am sure I am not the only mother that has ever counted down the hours until bedtime and the end of the witching hours.