I am cured!

The other day I got a call on my cell while at work.  Typically speaking I don't answer my cell at work.  Unless I recognize the number and know what I am getting myself into.  The number popped up and I thought, "I should know this number."  But I didn't.  So I took a risk and answered it.

It was a friend.  She needed a babysitter for the evening -- ironically so she could go babysit other kids.

I had no reason to say no.  I had no plans.  And she has been fabulous about taking care of Ladybug when I have been in a pinch.  And I really like her girls.  And Ladybug would love it.

It is a nice match.  Her 2 girls are adopted.  One just younger than Ladybug.  One just older than Ladybug.  They have some similar behavioral issues as Ladybug.  And the mom is good about handling Ladybug's issues.  The least I could do was return the favor.

She called me on my drive to pick the girls up.  Her words were ... You are going to hate me.  I knew that meant one or both of her girls were having a bad day.  But then I thought back to those days I had dropped Ladybug with her at a time when I really wanted to just lock her in her room.  And then through the day I would get reports about how wonderful Ladybug was.  Maybe her girls would be the same.  Maybe they would be angels for me.

Let me just say that they really were fantastic for me.  There were no major behavioral issues -- well at least not from her girls.  But as a mother of an only child, there are things I just don't have to deal with and therefore just don't think about.

Ladybug is still in the back seat.  M sat in the front seat with me.  And she was ALL hands.  Changing the radio.  Turning on or off the heat.  Windows up.  Windows down.  Glove box opened.  Center compartment opened.  I did smack her hand once -- when she reached for the gear shift (while we were moving).  Luckily, I was able to verbally stop her as she reached for the emergency brake.  We talked about it each time.  But she would forget within minutes.  I locked the window controls.  It never even occurred to me that a child would be all hands just by being in the front seat.

Then we went to our new favorite pizza place for dinner.  TWENTY-FIVE minute wait.  Are you serious?  Do you think 3 hyper, excited, out of control kids are going to be able to wait 25 minutes without ripping up the joint?  I am not that stupid.  The hostess offered space at the pizza bar.  Me??  Sitting on stools at a bar???  With 3 hyper, excited, out of control, giggly girls.  I saw disaster written all over that.  So we left and went to our second favorite pizza joint.

We arrive and one of the doors won't open.  Really?  How did we break a car door during the trip?  Then I think maybe the child lock is on.  But even I can't open it from the outside.  And it is unlocked.  I checked.  But I have 3 hyper, excited, giggly, hungry girls.  So I don't care.  Crawl our any door you can and lets go have dinner.  Luckily this place has lots of games -- partial games.  So the kids play.  And bounce.  And laugh.  And ...

The woman next to me tells me I do really well with my triplets.  LOLOLOLOL  When I tell her they are not triplets she asks me which 2 are twins.  I must look haggard.

We make it through dinner and head out.  The door to the car opens -- without issue.  How did that happen.  Ladybug and L are in the back hitting and giggling and having fun.  And poking at M who is in the front seat.  M starts to talk to me.

M: You are way cooler than my mom.
Mama: I think Ladybug would disagree with you.
M: But you are fun and my mom is so serious.
Mama: Well it is hard work being a mom.
M: What is so hard about it?
Mama: Being a mom is the hardest job you will ever have.
M: You haven't told me why it is hard.
Mama: (smart kid)

So I go through all those things moms do for the children they love.  You know... cooking, dishes, cleaning, buying things, laundry, driving them places, playing games, taking them to doctors, helping with homework, etc.

She was not impressed.  How hard could it possibly be to do all those things?

She didn't want to be convinced.  So I gave up trying.

Home.  The girls ran upstairs to play Barbies.  Finally Ladybug has a playmate to play with all her Barbie stuff.  She was so excited.  But she had decided that she only liked M now.  L was a third wheel she didn't want.  I was downstairs (folding 3 weeks of laundry before their mom showed up and saw what a wreck my house was) listening to them. L was being so sweet.  So good.  No outbursts.  No problems.  M was playing along.  Not taking a lead.  Not sitting back.  Maybe trying to parent L a little but overall doing well.

Ladybug was just mean.  L couldn't touch her stuff.  L couldn't play with them.  L was too young.  I had to pull her out and have a talk.  Sibling rivalry.  Without having siblings.

Just 2.5 hours.  With good kids.  And no major disasters.  And yet I am beginning to think 1 child might just be my limit.

Mean Mama