Picture this- I’m in the shower. Wait! Don’t picture that. I’m in a swimsuit in the shower. Now, that’s just weird. Ok, back in the shower. In strolls my almost 2 year old. What does he do? Looks me in the straight in the eyes and starts screaming bloody murder. A show down is now in action- either get out and console this child (who currently, would like to disown) or try to finish as fast as I can. I chose the latter and took the fastest shower of my life.
I can see all the moms nodding in agreement as you read this. Whether an empty-nester or in the thick of it now- you’ve been there, for some earlier this morning. It could have been the shower, or while you tried to use the bathroom alone, or maybe the screaming happened because you took a sharp scissors away from a running toddler. I know why we do this- that love thing. But the bigger question still remains how in the hell do we do this everyday.
Let’s take a peak into the workings of Mom Brain- hope you can follow along it gets pretty crazy in there!
Alarm goes off… What I mean by alarm is screaming toddler.
What day is it? What time is it? 5 more minutes, just 5 more minutes.”
A checklist of the day starts running through head.
Daughter needs lunch money- whats my login for that again? Dang, I left the laundry in the dryer- the baby has no clean socks. Should I shower? Nope, no time… dry shampoo day again
Thoughts interrupted by baby screams…
Oh, I love when he reaches up for me in the morning from his crib… Dang he is soaking wet. Ugh, now my shirt is wet. Quick bath or wipe down with baby wipes… Baby wipes. La La La, La La La Elmo’s World, Elmo loves his Goldfish, his Crayons too. Will I ever get that song out of my head…
Dog got into the garbage… What time is it? Are the other kids up? They’re going to be late for school! Crap, school lunches, I’m out of baggies. My son is going to be so mad when he has to take a plastic grocery bag to school with his lunch.
Begins the quick process of getting ready for the day..
I should have washed my hair. Do I hear the baby screaming. Yep, there he is. Dang, he found me. Will I ever get a moment of privacy again? La La La, La La La, Elmo’s World, Elmo Love his Goldfish, his Crayons too. Is that a wrinkle… Oh, who cares just slap some make-up over it and call it good.
Make-up application comes to a halt as baby tears apart bathroom. 8-year old son enters bathroom…
Internal screaming begins… CAN I HAVE 5 MINUTES OF PRIVACY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Internal scream stops as 8 year-old says “Mom why are you so beautiful?”
Mom guilt begins after compliment. Maybe he’s right. I don’t look too bad… What time is it? We have to go…
La La La, La La La, Elmo’s World, Elmo Love his Goldfish, his Crayons too.
The day goes on and on and on…
Now that the inner mom dialogue has been observed and the tune to Elmo’s World is in your head, the question still remains- How do we do it? It’s already been concluded that we do it because we love those little buggers. But how? Here is the answer I came up with-we are the masters of multitasking. As a young girl I never dreamed I would have the ability to change a diaper… while helping with homework… while making dinner… as I vacuum the floor.. Ok, maybe the vacuuming went a little far, but you get the drift.
The Inner workings of the Mom Mind is a beautiful thing. It also shouldn’t be taken for granted. To much multitasking can lead to an overall shutdown. So to all the moms out there who go to battle daily- be easy on yourself, take time to re-boost, allow yourself to quiet your mind on occasion and enjoy silence. Last, but most important know at the end of the day, when those little arms wrap around you for goodnight kisses, it’s all worth it (even if they want water… a bedtime snack… and one more book).
Internal Screaming…. AHHHHHH
One more time just for fun: La La La, La La La, Elmo’s world. Elmo loves his goldfish his crayons too. That’s Elmo’s World.
Life is short but sweet for certain- DMB