I was one grouchy, cranky, mean, not-looking-like-someone-who-walks-with-God kinda girl this past Friday.
The worst part? It was Sawyer’s third birthday. While I attempted to shield it from him, there were probably times that I didn’t do so very well and I feel a horrible guilt. I have heard the stuff about guilt – it’s a pointless emotion, it’s not from God, yada, yada, yada…
I still feel it.
As the mother of three young children ages five and under, I often feel like all I do during the day is pick up messes created by curious hands that are into EVERYTHING and return random objects found in various locations throughout the house that are constantly traveling in cycle on any given day.
The latter is proof-positive that the early skill we learn of “classification” in preschool will definitely be one that will eventually be applicable in our everyday lives – I have found a can of soup in Sawyer’s room, pairs of pants and socks in the kitchen, and toothbrushes in the living room. This is normal in our world – finding things that don’t fit and returning them to where they do.
I don’t like to use this blog as a platform to whine and bemoan the very blessed position I know I am in. I would not trade this job for anything. Anything. I love what I do and am so thankful that I can do it.
It doesn’t mean that there are not going to be days that are hard. It doesn’t mean that I’m not going to need to complain, whine, and have a pity party for myself once in a while. So I am going to now. It will be brief and edited.
Friday was one full day, friends. We do that for birthdays because it is my belief that we need to celebrate whoever is the birthday person with relentless joy. It was Sawyer’s turn and we had a day of fun planned from the start.
Sawyer loved his Tranformer bike and wanted to get out and ride it immediately after breakfast. Though the day was a little chilly, we did just that – we walked down the street in our jammies trailing Sawyer who proudly rode his new bike with new matching helmet while he continually squeezed the very high-pitched horn. He was in bicycle heaven.
When we returned home, I needed to shower.
Big mistake.
I usually do this luxurious task before my children wake up for the day because well, it just invokes disaster if I don’t.
I was quickly reminded why I do.
Solomon pulled out my box of tampons that had been tucked nicely under the sink. He spread them throughout the bathroom and master bedroom. He took them apart and there were little “tampon squirrels” all over my bedroom.
I stopped and cleaned up this fiasco and proceeded to finish getting ready.
When I finished and went downstairs, I was greeted with an entire bottle of Swiffer Wet mop solution upended all over the kitchen floor. The boys were walking in it and the bottom of their pants were soaked, so I needed to clean up the aforementioned mess AND change their clothes. And now I was going to have to worry about the developmental delays that could transpire due to the horrid chemicals that probably leached into their bloodstream THIS ONE FATEFUL MORNING.
My mother arrived and we had a lovely lunch at Chick-fil-A and tooled around a bit.
When we got home, about twenty minutes past nap time, my in-laws arrived.
Five minutes later, Sawyer pooped in the backyard.
Then he stepped in it.
Then he walked in the house.
Need I say more? I was cleaning up globs of human poo from my carpet, trying to clean him up, and explain that we don’t poop in the backyard. Only Ellie Rose, our beloved yellow lab, has this privilege.
Yes, I know this is showing signs of readiness. But we had also just discussed this the day before.
We recovered (maybe) and proceeded with a wonderful dinner celebration of pizza with JJ’s parents and our beloved sitter and her husband. A good time was had by all.
I just wanted a glass of wine at this point.
After we had gotten everyone to bed, I went straight the wine refrigerator and pulled out a bottle of white. The bottom of the bottle hit on a wire and busted all over my hand.
Mama said there’d be days like this. I love the wisdom from Van Morrison.
But the things that did go right? My sweet boy got to celebrate his third birthday with all set of grandparents and a family that loves him immensely. He laughed a lot. He got to feel celebrated. He was hugged constantly. We treasure him beyond words.
Even when he poops in the backyard.
I know I shouldn’t laugh, but I’m sorry, I am.
Out loud.
At the image of your boy pooping in the backyard. At my memory of Gabe doing the EXACT same thing at that age (thankfully he chose to poop in the creek, and didn’t track it in the house).
When the wine broke, did you cry? ‘Cause I would’ve. All the way to the shotglass, where I then would have just drowned my sorrow with some JD…
OK, I might be kidding. Or, maybe not.
Good for you for keeping your cool so Sawyer could still have his special day. I’m sure he was oblivious to your state of mind and still had a great day. At least it was memorable!
.-= Heather´s last blog ..Spring break; a summary =-.
It’s OK to laugh. I did as well when it was all over. Jeesh.
So glad to know I’m not the only mom who has dealt with a child pooping in the back yard. This would have never occurred to Susannah but Sawyer? I should have seen it coming. Miles away.
I THINK I didn’t lose my cool enough for him to see TOO much. Who knows – maybe it will come out on a therapist’s couch someday.
Man, that was one tough day, I feel your pain. I hope you got at least some wine in the end. :)
Visiting from SITS.
.-= Barbara@CherishCollages´s last blog ..Ultimate Blog Party 2010 =-.
Oh, I did. I did. Better believe it.
Thanks for reading and commenting, Barbara!
I didn’t mean to laugh either..maybe since it didn’t happen to me it was kinda humorous. Poop in the carpet…sigh….wish I could say I’ve never seen that here before, but I have (just not when I have a house full). All you can do if pray for a brighter tomorrow. lol swiffer all over the floor..your kids are very curious!
It’s OK to laugh. It IS funny.
I am certain every mother has had poop on the carpet at some point. I had just had enough at that point.
And yes, we have very inquisitive, strong-willed children. It’s genetic.
i can totally relate to this day. good thing God made kids really cute….because otherwise i don’t know what i’d do! luckily the chaos tends to be at a mere dull roar most days :)
.-= Alison´s last blog ..ridin’ off into the sunset…. =-.
I think most of us mama’s of young children can relate. It goes with the territory, is part of our world. But you are correct – they are cute for a reason.
Well, at least his birthday was memorable, right?
.-= C @ Kid Things´s last blog ..Crush =-.
Umm…to say the least. That’s is certainly looking on the bright side, C!
Is it ok to laugh? Cause it’s so not nice to laugh when mama’s having a bad day, but it is funny that he pooped in the backyard!
I’m sorry it was such a rough day for you and I hope your weekend was better. I’m praying ‘Sawyer’ has a great 3rd year full of God’s blessings for him, his siblings, and his parents!
.-= Michelle´s last blog ..Project 365 – week 14 & 15 =-.
Yes, it is OK to laugh. I laughed, too – on Saturday. Thank you for your sweet blessings!
Oh my, you poor thing. That is not a good day even if it was a birthday and don’t forget that you are human and are entitled to feel every single feeling you felt that day.
Sadie at heyMamas
Thank you for your sweet reminder, Sadie!
Oh, Natalie…I so understand! There are just certain days that you want to stomp your foot and say, “It’s NOT Fair!” I get it.
I’m sorry it was a tough one. I’m REALLY sorry about the poop mishap. I probably would have lost it right there. =)
~Mandy
.-= MandyP´s last blog ..It’s Either Her or Me =-.
Oh yes. I feel like saying this often. Thanks, dear!
Is it bad when you can’t help but laugh more the worse someone’s day gets? Natalie, this was horrific and hysterical. Nothing could have gone right that day. This is exactly why we hang one to the brand new mercies of the morning by our fingernails sometimes.
Love this.
.-= Tracy´s last blog ..A Great Weekend In Review =-.
Amen, sister. Amen. Thank God for His grace and the mercy of a new day. Saturday was much better. Much. Of course, how could it not be?
Oh Natalie…. what a day. You are a trooper! I had to laugh also, but I do feel your pain. Those are the days you just want to go back to bed and wish you could sleep it all away – or drink it away – but with broken wine, sleep may be better ;) You are such a wonderful mommy though. I know that your children feel so loved and I’m sure that Sawyer felt especially LOVED on his birthday. You are entitled to vent. How else would a mom of 3 little ones even survive? That goodness for God’s grace to get us through those not so perfect mommy moments ;)
By the way, I was telling someone about your blog and my sweet Alana was all of a sudden VERY concerned. In her delicate little freaked out voice she said, “I don’t want my mommy to be on fire!” I tried to explain the metaphor, but she was still quite overwhelmed by the literal use of “fire”.
I hope you have a much better day today ;)
It’s OK to laugh. I know. We all have these days. I did get a glass of wine after all. Thank God for small things.
oh, i’m sorry your day went that way. but you had to laugh at it. i did.
even if he pooped in the backyard.
but i probably would have screamed in the middle of it and drowned my sorrow on the wine…
.-= cheri´s last blog ..wordless wednesday: a day at the arcade =-.
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