Pushing the reset button

Unfortunately for my children, bed time came about an hour after my patience department checked out. And ya know, the last hour of bed time, is the least convenient time to be left with a disintegrated amount amount of patience.

I was a less than perfect mother. So, with my patient-less self, there were a few casualties along the way: bath time, story time, song time, dance time. After dinner, it was scriptures, then off to bed. The end.

Since my soldiers are related to their Mother, they are also just as stubborn. They decided they would fight a good fight (it's not over until the fat lady sings...). It got ugly. We are talking, weeping and wailing, and gnashing of teeth.

"NOOOOOO! I want to take a bath! I have germs on my body. GERMS!" came from my overly-concerned-on-all-matters-of-life two year old.
"Please! PlEEASE!"
"Just one story!!"
"But I need to be a Child of God song!!"
And my baby just ran around in circles squeeling with delight.

And because I felt like embracing my German ancestry, I couldn't help but be a Nazi-mother.

"No."

And off to bed they went. Since the older guy was not cooperating with putting his pajamas on, he went to bed naked. I'm serious.

Once I heard the surrendering of death cries from their room, I sat on my couch feeling like a pretty big loser. I let my heart get to my throat, before I decided to do anything about it. I picked my guilt off the floor, and lugged the heavy sucker down the hall to the cell where I had last seem my offspring.

My baby was out cold in is bed.
My older baby was sitting in his bed. Naked.

"I would like to make good choices... Can I wear some pajamas..." he quietly mumbled, "...and some underwear?..." If I knew that I wouldn't be delivered the You Suck Mom award before this point, I knew it now. I reached into his closet and pulled out both requests. I clothed the grateful beast then I crawled under the covers, and gave him a big hug.

"I'm sorry that I was not a very happy Momma earlier. I love you."

Without skipping a beat, "Oh, look Mom! I have a big smile on my face now! Look! You made me happy Mom!"

"Thank you for being so patient with me. I'm still learning J. I've never been a Mom before..."

"I know Mom. It's ok. You can try again next time!" Then he grabbed my face with both his hands, and gave me a famous two-hand-kiss. "You are a good girl. Good night."

And that was that. All was forgiven.



Ya, I know.