circus monkeys {moms, this is for you}

some days you just need to write.  to vent.  to keep from pulling your hair out.  you know, on those days when a circus is going on around you, and you realize these most definitely are my monkeys.

the day started out good albeit lateish.  and by mid-morning, we were #winning.  making patterns with blocks.  doing preschool things.  and then at lunch?  somehow it had all turned crazy.  the kitten’s kennel we meticulously cleaned out yesterday had gravel and grass sprinkled all over in it.  grass and dirt turning the water bowl murky.  gravel dumped on the back porch.  all that work yesterday?  undone, for nothing. while i was just trying to get the guilty parties’ lunch.  so. defeated.  and for the 3rd time, pick up those choking-hazard blocks.  but put them in the right place.  unlike the 3 articles of clothing i found in three different toy boxes all jumbled.  going to be cracking down on the cutting corners and cheating in pick up.  along with the blaming-the-other habit that’s started and impossible to figure out who actually did it.  lunch.  nap, or quiet hour.  get the older two settled — well, not, you’ll see in a second — and nurse the baby.  put her down for nap.  now why is it that the first hour of nap is when they have to use the bathroom 378 times?  seven, i think actually.  3 for him, 4 for her.  potty training, so you can’t really say no… ideally this is when i’d get a few moments to lay down and read, or something, anything; just think for a minute!  using the bathroom (by myself for a change) is when i discover the downstairs bathroom with rocks in the sink, gravel on the floor.  oh, and a puddle of pee beside the toilet.  go to dry my hands… hand towel is dropped on the floor, 3 steps out of the bathroom.  as always.  ok, you know what, i’ll clean this up after rest time and for now enjoy the much-needed minute of peace.  or not.  they might be in bed, but they ain’t quiet.  or resting.  sit with them in their room.  nope, didn’t work either.  how can they find so much to occupy them with so little in their room?  how can we make it more bare-bones-prison-sparse so there is nothing they can do but relax and fall asleep?  #guilt #honestthoughtsfromoneexhaustedmom would they pleeeeeease just be still??!  baby’s awake.  so much for any restful time for me.  fine, get up.  we’re all up. how many hours till dad gets home?  somehow it makes it so much better.  but please be forgiving when the house looks like a hurricane and the couch cushions are piled like a volcano.  sigh.  eat your banana snack outside… WHAT?!  is that a gravel pile on the sidewalk?  did our lengthy lesson about this yesterday not stick-??  go get the broom.  cock my head.  it’s difficult to train wild monkeys you know.  this feeling-out-of-control circus is my life.  solidarity with all moms, everywhere.

she’s potty training.  dry for 24+ hours straight, including two non-nap naps.  there.  one trick that’s being learned.  i’ll take it.  just one thing today, but it’s a start for something to think on to be #thankful.