I'm sitting here not knowing what to do and almost literally "wringing my hands". No, tiny droplets of glistening dots are not forming above my upper lip and around my hairline because I live in Florida and it's 85 degrees with 110% humidity. And no, it's not because I forgot to pay the Comcast bill and I'm afraid that my DVR will be cut off from recording this week's American Idol shows (besides, I've forgotten to pay before and the only thing that happens is that I get double the bill the next month - no worries).
Give up? Okay, I'll tell you. It's because apparently Mother's Day has visited our household a week early and I was not prepared for it. Well, I know it's not officially Mother's Day at the Go-Go Mommy household because I didn't get breakfast in bed (which was my request for this year) and I didn't get any homemade cards from Poppy and Sweet Pea. But it feels like Mother's Day because this morning KB put all the dirty dishes into the dishwasher (and there was a pile from last night that I just didn't get to) and took the girls to the park so I could "have some alone time."
Oh I enjoyed about the first twenty minutes or so of it. I decided to be lazy and lie on the couch with a cozy blanket and watch an old black and white Dorsey Brothers movie that was playing while I knitted my Mother's Day gift for my mommy. Then, I started getting restless so I thought that I'd better get up so I would have time for a shower followed by a pampering bath before everyone got home.
Things were going along well, I got to shower in peace without someone coming in wanting something to drink, needing to brush teeth, etc. And then I lazily settled into the warm bath water with thoughts of putting on my new hip outfit (courtesy of a Heritage 1981 shopping spree I recently treated myself to for spring/summer clothes), and lovingly slicing bananas and strawberries for KB and the girls so we could have a quick snack before heading out to our Farmers Market.
Ahhh. My world was perfect - just the right amount of time to myself to catch my breath and then get back on my white charger so I can save my family from their hunger. I was out of the bath and ready to dry my hair when the phone rang. The voice on the other end says; "Hey hon, it's me. I just got your car washed and we're heading to the park now so I hope you're getting your rest."
"What?! You're just going to the park now?" I answered. And that's when things started to crumble. "You mean I'm not going to see all of you bounding in the door soon as I'm slicing fruit and doing my best "Mrs. Cleaver" imitation?"; "You mean you were able to take my car to have it washed and cleaned from top to bottom with two little ones running around (a feat which I have yet to accomplish)?" I wanted to say all these things and more but I simply felt my lips moving as the words "Great. I'll see you guys after the park." involuntarily escaped from my mouth.
I hung up the phone and felt my heart beginning to race... where do I begin? Do I go back to working on my knitting? Do I start my birthday project for my sister, "G", who is getting a decorated felted purse that needs to be finished this month? (No one tell her please. She's not on the internet so if she finds out about it I'll know someone blabbed!) Do I get on-line and check my email or write a scathingly snarky blog about mommybloggers who are too attached to their kids? THAT'S IT! I'll be able to write a post about my near miss with an anxiety attack.
What is wrong with me?! Can I be pulled back from the world of Martha Stewart Living? Do I even want to be saved?
These questions, and more, are going through my head as I write this post and then, TA DA, salvation came to me. Not as some cataclysmic realization that I could be using this time to practice my 10 minutes of mindfullness a la Maria Shriver (although that is a good option). Instead, it came in the form of a ringing telephone with KB on the line saying; "Honey, we're here at the park but it's pretty cold and windy so I don't think we'll be here long. We'll see you in about 15 minutes."
Yeah! Mama's back in business! And yippee! I just heard the "beep" of the horn as KB locked the car and Poppy and Sweet Pea are now running up our long walkway to see me! (Ahh, a hug from them is like manna from heaven.)
Look's like it's time for me to go cut up those strawberries and bananas! BTW, I'll be ready for the real Mother's Day next week, KB, I promise!
Original version posted on Silicon Valley Moms Blog.
