Single Parenting Day 8
/Yesterday was Valentine's Day also known as "Single Parenting Day 8". As I type that sentence, I think, "Really? Only EIGHT days?" It seems like it's been longer than that but I am quite proficient at counting on my fingers and my fingers say 8. The day started out well. I woke up before the alarm went off which was good because Miguel was asleep in my bed. He'd had trouble sleeping the night before and had come into my bed. So, waking up before the alarm meant that he would remain asleep.
ONE POINT TO VIKKI!
I went downstairs and was two cups of coffee into the day when I looked at my watch and it said 5:05 a.m. I figured it must have stopped because I had been up for awhile as evidenced by the number of cups of coffee consumed. I flicked my watch only to notice that the second hand was moving after all. I was confused. If I got up at 5:45 then how could it be 5:05? I briefly considered the following possibilities:
1. I was dreaming.
2. I'd finally had a psychotic break.
3. I was a secret time traveler.
I was hoping for #3 when the explanation became obvious. I'd actually gotten up at 4:45 instead of 5:45.
ONE POINT TO THE UNIVERSE!
I woke the kids and told the kids to get dressed and told them to make their beds and then I made the lunches and started breakfast and then yelled upstairs to tell the kids to come down to eat and they did and they saw the lovely Valentine's Day bounty that I had laid out for them - cards and chocolates and blow pops and an iTunes card for Miguel and special yarn for Zeca. They were giddy and grateful. They were cooperative for the rest of the morning and then I loaded them into the car with their class Valentines and their decorated shoe boxes and everything else they needed for the day and dropped them at school...on time.
ONE POINT TO VIKKI!
After school, I gave both kids baths and made dinner. Then, I decided to do some laundry because a) I was so on top of all this parenting/household running biz and b) Miguel was out of pants. I sorted the laundry with skill and efficiency and was carrying two enormous baskets of clothes down the stairs when I missed a stair and went crashing down to the landing with the laundry baskets smashing into my left shin. It hurt. I cursed. Miguel came running over and said, "You ok?" I barely had time to nod and he said, "Can we get on iTunes now? Can we download music?" Such a thoughtful kid.
ONE POINT TO THE UNIVERSE!
We made it through the evening and I tucked the children into their beds and sighed deeply at having gotten through another day - one made more complicated by trying to make it "special" for the kids. I got a glass of ice water (living on the edge) and laid down on the couch to do a whole lotta nothin' and then? I started my period.
ONE POINT TO THE UNIVERSE!
You won, Universe. Well played.