I posted this video on my personal Facebook page last night. We have watched it a couple dozen times since – I hope you enjoy.
Also, check out today’s post on Rocket City Mom.com by clicking Here. It’s my “Mixed Tape of Parenting Edition”, today’s song is “Green Gloves” by The National.
The alarm sounded, I snoozed, it sounded again, and I arose to make my way to Mae’s room. No surprise, she was cuddled deep within her blankets asleep. I sat on her bed; she clutched her covers tight and rolled over. I rubbed her back acknowledging that it’s tough getting back into routine.
“It’ll be good to see your friends!” I said, leaving her room, hoping she was awake.
After getting ready I peeked into her room to, thankfully, see a tossed-haired child pulling up tights and choosing a skirt.
We made it to the breakfast table.
“Where’s your binder?” I asked anxiously after noticing it wasn’t in her backpack.
“I don’t know.” Came through a half-full mouth of cereal and sleepy eyes.
“We need to find it. Can you remember where you left it?” Panic setting in a bit.
It’s only a binder, but not knowing where it was brought haste to an otherwise smooth morning. I thought I had got everything ready.
I looked in cupboards and under couches, while shouting out the minutes we had left before needing to leave. Then, I remembered her binder was at school.
“Mae, guess what? Your binder is at school. We’re good. But, you really need to get going honey, seriously.” I said shooing her to the bathroom.
We made it to the backdoor.
“I want to wear my new shoes. I can’t find the other one.” Mae said on the floor of the laundry room, with one shoe on – the wrong foot.
“We don’t have time, get your jacket on, we’re going to be late.” I said.
We made our way into the cold and quiet morning. En route to the bus stop we talked about our trip home and the friends she was excited to see.
No one was around.
Then, a car stopped next to us, rolled down their window, and said “School starts tomorrow.” I nervously laughed and said thank you.
“Dad! I could still be sleeping.” Mae said.
“Me too.” I shot back.
We all need a test-run right? Tomorrow should be smooth.
“Are we there yet?” Mae said, an hour into our six-hour trip. The words aren’t
hers; they’re passed down from generation to generation of youngster wanting to
drive their parents batty with their blindness to the passage of time and space.
With Haze parroting everything Mae says, the phrase, at every turn, became
a cacophonous echo bounding through the mini-van while I navigated my way
through exchanges and around rages, not mine. Well, not all.
And yet, it’s comforting to hear Mae and Haze say these words. They joined
the ‘things you need to say if you’re a kid’ club.
If there were a list for the club, these phrases would be at the top:
“But she/he gets one”. If I had a dime for every time this was said after gymnastics,
I’d have enough money to buy, and move, the freezer full of goodies from the entry
way.
“I think so?” In response to being asked if they did something, anything. Like flush
the toilet before a five-day road trip. I’m not sure why I ask, “Did you…” anymore. I
end up double-checking to make sure they did the activity I asked about. If I didn’t?
We would have to take out loans to pay our electric bill.
“You said if I…you would…” This is usually a complete misinterpretation of a series
of events we plan for them. But, there are times a “fact checker” has affirmed that
Mae was correct, I said that if we found every plastic bead on the floor I’d zap
myself into outer space and live there. Boy, did I disappoint them.
As much as these phrases may crawl under my skin, I realize their necessity. If kids
didn’t see things as unfair, we couldn’t teach what’s right. When we question their
completion of a task, it affirms that they have a duty and obligation to others. And,
it’s good to be held accountable for promises, though I wish they weren’t so excited
to see me live on the moon.
“Are we there yet?”
As parents, never, enjoy the ride, no matter how repetitious those bumps are.
papa sense 