Conversations

Charlie: 'I need milk. I NEED milk. I NEED MILK!!!!'
Me: 'Do you need milk?'
Charlie: 'OK!'
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7:30 pm on the day he skipped his nap:
Charlie: 'I need nap.'
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Me: 'Charlie, do you need a diaper change?'
Charlie: 'Ummm, no way.'
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When I turn on Curious George's Home Run (his favorite episode):
Charlie:  'I need REAL baseball game TV.'
Turn on old Yankees game.
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In the car, after daycare/work:
Me: (turning around to look at him at a stop sign) 'Charlie, is your snack good?'
Charlie: (pointing forward) 'Drive, Mommy.'

That Time I Tried to Travel

Last week I got to travel for work for the first time since Charlie was born. I was pretty pumped to leave him home alone with Josh. We’ve left him with my mom overnight before, but Josh has never been ALONE with him overnight.

 

As the trip drew near, I evilly looked forward to Josh trying to make dinner and take care of a crying toddler alone. I looked forward to the dirty diapers he’d have to change. I looked forward to him appreciating all the single parenting I do when he travels for his job (which happens every month.) I looked forward to Josh waking up in the middle of the night to comfort Charlie.

 

My evilness caught up with me the day I left.

 

I stupidly decided to wait until the morning of my trip to pack. I didn’t have to be to the airport until 11, so that’s plenty of time to get Charlie to daycare, shower and pack.

 

My day started at 4:45 am when the electricity went out.

 

Then the smoke alarm started beeping. Every 30 seconds. Until I got the step stool out and ripped the battery out.

 

I finally fell back asleep at 6:00 am. Alarm went off at 7:00 and I start packing up my shower supplies to shower at my mom’s house.

 

As I’m about to leave the house at 8:00, the electricity came back on. I left with Charlie. Not to return until 10:00 am. Two hours. TWO HOURS later.

 

The road right outside our house was completely closed. It took me two hours to take a different route around the city to get to his daycare.

 

Remember I said I had to be at the airport by 11? Still not showered or packed.

 

I raced around, and got out the door right around 11.

 

Then construction workers stopped me and blocked the road so their big truck could get by.

 

Then I somehow got distracted and started driving towards my old house, instead of the airport.

 

Then the road in front of Flight Park was blocked. I rolled down my window and told them they better let me through. They did.

 

When I got to the airport, the closest bathroom was closed. 

 

I have no idea how I didn’t get pulled aside for extra surveillance going through security.

 

I made it. I had a great time. Charlie didn’t cry. He didn’t poop. And he slept through the night.

 

Of course.

Better

Motherhood has brought out the worst in me.
It’s brought out the very best of me.

It’s revealed my deepest fears.
And created my greatest joys.

It's made me selfless.
It's made me want to be completely selfish.

It’s made me laugh hard.
It’s definitely made me cry.

It’s taught me painful lessons.
It’s made me sure of what I already know.

It’s made me wonder who I am.
It’s made sure of who I am.

It’s made me sick with worry.
It’s healed parts of me I didn't know were broken.

It’s made me sing.
It’s made me scream.

It’s made me numb.
It’s made me feel deeply.

It's made me feel utterly alone.
It's made me part of a team.

It’s revealed strength I didn’t know I had.
It’s shown me weakness I wish I didn’t have.

It’s confused the heck out of me.
It’s made me understand life.

It’s made me different.
But better.

I can’t explain it.
It just is.