Your Turn

I have two sets of children- the ones I have to deal with alone and the ones they become when their father is home.

The children I deal with on a daily basis can be cute and sweet, but let’s face reality. Kids are kids and they aren’t going to be perfect all the time. Sometimes it seems I get the less than perfect children when I am alone with them. I know they love me and their acting up with me just shows that they know I love them unconditionally and they are comfortable with me, their mother. That is as it should be, but sometimes, I want to be to the unfamiliar one that they run to all excited because they haven’t seen me in days. I want to be the one for whom they are scrupulously well behaved. I want to be the fun parent and I do try to be, but when I am home alone with a one year old and a three year old for days and days on end without break excepting the hours between midnight and four in the morning, give or take, it starts to wear on a mother’s nerves! Things that crack up any other outside observer become increasingly annoying. The cute little comments that come out of my daughter’s mouth at nine at night when she is supposed to be in bed are no longer funny. My son’s screeching that sounds to me what I can only imagine a pterodactyl might have sounded, is no lounger amusing, but penetratingly shrill and needs to cease before it begins!

We are running into the tenth day of Daddy’s Trip. He was home briefly last night and has a day trip today, but should be home tonight to stay for six days and it’s a good thing. I am getting worn down and I need to see the other set of children. My husband’s set of children. They are funny and sweet and crack me up. Why? Because when Daddy is home and they act up, he gets to deal with it!

Here’s to holding my breathe until nightfall…