October 2, 2006
next time, just kick Mommy–it’s faster and cheaper and it won’t hurt so much
On Friday, both of my kids went to After Care at their respective schools, so that I could have a drink with lunch get some stuff done. Also because at the end of next week, I’m going to Kansas City for a girls’ weekend with some friends and we thought it would be a good idea to preview the After Care situation before I actually left town.
Henry, the child I was most worried about, was fine with the idea (he didn’t really seem to care one way or the other, which was good) and Charlie was TOTALLY excited, so much so that on Thursday night at dinner he announced, “I want to go to After Care EVERY DAY. Can I?”
I could see Wade fighting the urge to say, “Yes! And Mommy could get a JOB!” Yeah, like THAT’S going to happen.
As it turns out, After Care was not what Charlie had hoped, whatever that might have been. Oh, everyone was INCREDIBLY nice, but he cried the ENTIRE time anyway. The director let him sit in her office for a while, but finally she had to go outside to help hand out snacks; she asked Charlie if he wanted a snack and if he wanted to help her, and he said, “No, I just want to be sad.” She told me that she asked the other kids from his class what they did when Charlie cried during the school day, and one of them said, “But Charlie never cries!” When I came to get him, he was sitting on the playground with tears running down his face. He ran over to me and wrapped his arms around my neck and sobbed.
So that was good.
Then we went to get Henry, who was out on the playground. When he saw me, he came running toward me and I could see that he had a bandaid on his knee. He was talking when he got to me, explaining that he had been running to the bathroom and he fell down and scraped his knee. “At first it didn’t hurt,” he said, “but then it felt wet and when I touched it I was BLEEDING.” By now he was crying, too.
I was sure I would be next.
One day last week, Henry asked me to fix a toy for him; when I was done, he gave me a gigantic hug and kneed me in the solar plexus. It knocked the wind out of me and hurt like hell, at the same time that it was incredibly sweet and loving.
Friday afternoon felt a lot like that.
By the time we got home, everyone was recovering. I gave each kid a Pop Tart, even though it was nearly 4:30, because Pop Tarts make everything better. And then we got on with our lives. Mostly. But my stomach hurt all weekend.
The upside is that this TOTALLY strengthens my I-can’t-get-a-job argument. Because our kids would be WRECKS! Or something like that. And unless someone loses a limb this week, I’m still going to Kansas City. But I will probably call home three hundred times in three days. Just in case.
Posted by Susan @ 12:49 pm • Uncategorized
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October 2nd, 2006 at 1:46 pm, Tiffany Says:
Have fun in kansas city! There is alot of fun stuff to do. Also some nice bars to have a nice kid-free drink at!
October 2nd, 2006 at 1:47 pm, Undercover Mutha Says:
Dear God, please take me with you.
October 2nd, 2006 at 1:59 pm, M&Co. Says:
What undercover mutha said.
October 2nd, 2006 at 2:07 pm, brookeraymond Says:
i live in kansas city! if you need any tips of great/fun things to do, just let me know. i am full of good suggestions!
October 2nd, 2006 at 2:22 pm, Melissa Says:
Mmm, pop tarts.
You will have so much relaxing fun in Kansas City. I bet no one will kick or knee you anywhere at all.
October 2nd, 2006 at 2:51 pm, Laura Says:
Have a wonderful time! Glad today is better than Friday.
October 2nd, 2006 at 3:14 pm, sarcastic journalist Says:
Don’t even try to cancel out on Short Hair Lesbian Fest for some bleeding kids.
October 2nd, 2006 at 4:06 pm, Mir Says:
Hey, I have short hair! I wanna come!!
Change is hard. Particularly when you’re little. Don’t you dare cancel your weekend, and the boys will be fine. I promise.
October 2nd, 2006 at 4:12 pm, mamatulip Says:
Yup. The boys will be fine. And you’ll have tons of short hair lesbian fun.
October 2nd, 2006 at 4:22 pm, Susan Says:
I know change is hard. I’m trying to get used to it.
Oh, wait, Mir meant my KIDS, not me, didn’t she? Oops.
October 2nd, 2006 at 5:58 pm, Tara Says:
Pop tarts do, in fact, make everything better. I probably engage in pop-tart therapy a bit too much.
Enjoy your getaway!!
October 2nd, 2006 at 7:37 pm, Kristen Says:
Oh man. Poor Charlie. I was glad Henry was happy up until the bleeding incident, though.
Lately Quinn and Bryce have switched roles too, but in less “sad” ways and more “me wanting to blow my head off” ways. Hence my latest post. Sigh.
October 2nd, 2006 at 10:37 pm, Andie D. Says:
It must be a boy thing - the sweet affection that comes at you full force and feels so sweet yet can knock you on your ass. Literally.
Mine cannot give me a “normal” hug while I am sitting on the floor. He has to, he MUST tacklehug. I’ve begged, pleaded, positive reinforced, yelled, dodged…. To no avail.
Hell, at this point, I should just be glad that the boy still loves me.
October 2nd, 2006 at 11:15 pm, Jenorama Says:
I was feeling verrrry guilty about being responsible for After Care hell until I read SJ’s comment and then I laughed.
Of course you will be fine. I got the room with the fully stocked minibar.
Hey, can you ask Christa if she has a carseat we can borrow for Sam???