Starting Over

This picture has nothing to do with my ramblings, but it's funny none the less.

Last night was horrific when it came to my kids. My kids are those people who love to close down a party. I dont doubt that they will, in the far off future, be the people hanging around after last call at a bar. So leaving a party is always a complete melt down and when doing it on my own it can be...stressful. The cyring and screaming and sometimes kicking from the boy is always a great way to leave a party.

We drove the very short, 30 second drive home and I stayed completly silent, while my kids all of a sudden became quiet. They knew. It's never a good thing when Mama goes quiet. It was either that or go comepletly crazy. We got in the house, still quiet. I got Arlo in his pajamas laid him in bed and gave him a kiss, without saying goodnight. Cece was still standing in the kitchen looking worried. I just pointed to her room and she quickly went to her room and climbed into bed. I went in, gave her a kiss and left. I then went right into my own room, sat down in my chair and took deep breathes. 

Single parenting during the week gets to me sometimes. It doesn't happen a lot, but there are times when it will drive me to go a bit crazy or the opposite extreme and get really sad. 

The upside of all this, is I knew tomorrow was going to be a new day and it was up to me to start it off right. I knew my kids were concerned with my behavior from the night and that showing them that it had passed was important.

I woke up at 6:30am and went right into the kitchen and started making french toast. Eggs, bread, milk a touch of cinnomon and the smells of the kitchen slowly woke my children up. Arlo first, because well there was food involved. He came in shirtless and wrapped in his blanket and still sleepy eyed. He sat on the floor and watched me work. Once I had two plates full of french toast and syrup, I see mint colored eyes peeking around the door. She was being cautious and I hated that. I just threw her a smile and she sat down next to Arlo on the floor. Her hair was going in every direction and she was also wrapped in a blanket. 

Plates were done and put at the table and the kiddos followed their food. They sat and started scarffing  down my peace offering. I pulled Cece's homework that we didn't get to the night before out and she started going to work, while dripping syrup on it. We practiced sight words and math and soon it was shower time. Cece first since Arlo was still eating. Arlo went in shortly after and Cece got ready for the day. I cleaned up breakfast and got Arlo dressed. 

I gave them extra hugs and a few more kisses. They accepted my apology without words and in return they gave me smiles and funny stories. It was a new day, a fresh start and sometimes that's the best part of any new day.