We’ve been slowly putting the living room back together since painting and travels to the South. Today, Wayne and I tweaked the furniture. We’re going to keep permanent toy migrations at bay. We’ll see if that lasts. All toys do fit in their room now. I think the rearranged, cleaned, deentropified version looks pretty good.
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Laura’s tantrums have taken on a pattern. By personality, she’s a variable child (what child is not at 3). Tantrums can come at random times and at random places. As Laura’s Mom, I have a very good sense of her moods, sleepiness, tiredness, hunger, thirst, etc. I’ve been doing this for 3 yrs now. But tantrums burst forth at times I don’t expect. By my mometer, she’s fed, rested, entertained, and in good energy.
Sara has discovered the pattern to the variations. Hurrying. This morning, Sara observed, “Laura has now cried 4 mornings in a row.” That was correct. Every morning when we need to leave there have been gnashing of teeth, wailing, something. Taggies, shoes, horse toys. Doesn’t matter. It’s something. Transport has been walking, biking, and van. Still gnashing of teeth with each transportation method.
This morning grated on my nerves. Laura screamed and cried the entire way to school. We walked. It was raining. That’s what we do when it rains. I try not to drive to school. But the morning was warm (ish). The flowers were blooming. The girls often love being out of the bike trailer to run. We splash in puddles, we stop and look at sticks, and we have fun. Not this morning. The tantrum came.
Not shoes, horses, or taggies. Umbrellas. Silly me. I thought umbrellas would be fun. I imaged skipping, playing, twirling with umbrellas. That was a pipe dream. I quickly discovered if a 3yo walks with an umbrella, it’s at a snail’s pace. No running. Unfortunately, we had to make it to school and didn’t have 2 hrs. So the umbrellas went in my backpack. And the screaming began. Oh well.
At school, Laura snuggled with me on a bench with her taggies. The day was redeemed by Darcy and Helen. We went to Honore Bakery. Darcy drove us. We had a warm place, fresh squeezed OJ, hot chocolate, pain au chocolate, and pear frangoline (?). Amazing, healing, lovely, energy restoring. The line was long, but we snagged seats. Laura switched then. She smiled. She wanted to have a playdate with Helen. We skipped home through the rain. There was giggling and happiness. It’s the walk I dreamed of; I just got it later.
Genesis 39
21But the LORD was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love; he gave him favor in the sight of the chief jailer.
Joseph gets worked over- brothers, Potiphar’s wife. Bummer of a life. But God pours forth his love. I love this image of steadfast love. The directness of the verse makes me think it was very direct and evident. I think God does this in my life. I just don’t always see it. I have Jesus. Joseph did not. I need to realize that love is right here and live based on that.
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6 yo discovery. Sara was impressed the bookmark we had left in a book 2 weeks ago before our vacation was still in. She said in amazement, “Mom, bookmarks work!” Yeah for analogue and 6 yo who understand the wonder of God’s world, even in simple things.
Whenever I think about plans, I think about the opening to Battlestar Galactica. There are ominous words in front of an evil, kickbutt looking cylon saying “…and they have a plan.” That’s an aside, but the title generated that line of thought.
Laura’s teacher noted today that she “has a plan when she does art.” Her observation is that most kids Laura’s age enjoy art. But what she notices about Laura (which seems a little advanced) is she is not just filling up all the space. She has a plan in mind for the picture. She wants this part to be green and another part to be red, etc. I had not noted that about my kid’s art. It’s fun to note and ponder that observation. I love having other adults in my kids lives for reasons like this.
Another fun observation…Laura’s teacher is all about art. Laura walked in and started painting on a page without asking permission, putting on a smock, getting set up. It was all there just waiting for her creative spirit to work. What a fun place to be! Home is not always like that. I’m not so crafty. I’m glad she has a place to do that.
I’m lucky to have a quick moment to catch my breath. It’s always like hitting the ground running coming back from a trip. The trip is wonderful. The landing can be a little rough.
Sunday evening, we got back home around 10:30pm. We were exhausted and jet lagged. The kids were asleep. We got ourselves to sleep. Up at 6am to get us all off to work/school. Our dining room and living room are all taken apart. The paint job was such a success. The rooms are brighter and sunnier and neater. But nothing is where it’s supposed to be. It all makes for feeling discombobulated.
To make matters worse, there was a school meeting at 7pm that I wanted to attend. So we get the kids home at 6pm. I ordered pizza on the way home. I stop by TJ’s to get milk and end up just getting food. Mostly doing it blind since I’ve had no time to figure out a menu. But it’s nice to have a stocked frig. I’ll muddle by. Eat pizza. Say hi. Then out the door to school. But no one is there. I wander around. The event got canceled and I didn’t get notified. Ugh! Wish I could have stayed home.
So today is my catch up day. I got to ride my bike for the first time in 2 weeks. It felt great. There’s joy in home and my own schedule. The girls were even excited to go on the bike. They love riding down hills. Laura wants me to go fast up the hill. It’s fun to listen to Sara explain to her younger sister about gravity and Mom’s lungs. Laura threw a tantrum when she couldn’t take taggies to school. They’ve been dragged across 4 states worth of germs and need some cleaning. That caused gnashing of teeth.
I had 7 different places to go to pay bills…full day K, afterschool care, support the PTA, daycare, cafeteria, gym class, mom’s group. My checkbook got well used. I went out and forgot my wallet! Talk about discombobulated. Still it’s lovely to see all the cherry blossoms that have bloomed over the week we were gone. It’s great to ride through my neighborhood. It’s nice to have a day to catch up and plan. It’s nice to have a friend miss me while I was gone and call me to get together. It’s fun to be reading the pcusa lectionary for lent. I get bits and pieces from the reading, but it’s bits and pieces of God and he blows me away. Many blessings in this day.
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