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Tuesday
Oct072008
In review
October 7, 2008
Today I almost packed it in, curled into a ball, and had a grand old pity party. I mean, really. It was three in the afternoon and I was so tired, and I almost cried.
I think I did cry, a little. My eyes were wetter than normal, anyways, although I don't think any tears actually fell.
I was just tired. This morning I called a tanker again to get some water because no water had come for a few days, and our tank has a hole in it, so we need water every other day. At least this time I knew that I all I needed to do was call the tanker, pay him the equivalent of seven dollars, and have our tank filled with water that would seep out into the jungle. However, the hole is maybe a fifth of the way down the tank, so we have that one fifth left.
While the water seeped, we did everything we could to use it, before it left. Everyone got a shower whether they wanted one or not. Everyone had their hair washed, whether they wanted to or not. And actually, everyone needed all of the above, because, like I said, it had been a few days. But it meant that I spent the morning bathing everyone. Which is great! Except for the crying. And the whining. Do any of you have kids that act as though they are being tortured when REALLY what's going on is someone is pouring lovely warm water over their heads and then massaging their scalps gently with nice-smelling shampoo, and holding a towel kindly to their foreheads every few moments to make sure that no dreaded water gets into their eyes?
I mean, I would pay money for it. I would not stand there, naked and wailing and carrying on. But, I also would not spend half a day delighted by the antics of a caterpillar, so I guess it all evens out.
So. Everyone washed and all the laundry done and the dishes clean and the house somewhat picked up, and Jaya and I were ready to hit the market. I'm getting a lot better at the driving thing. You just have to grit your teeth, honk with the best of them, and drive into the tiniest spaces you've ever seen. Chinua was home with all the kids while we went.
We split up, did our shopping as quick as we could, and then walked around in the sun looking for each other for as long as it took us to shop. I told Jaya where to meet me, but then she wondered if she heard wrong, and we walked back and forth, missing each other.
Anyways, I'm losing my point. My point is, eventually we got home, and I found myself, in the afternoon, trying to help Kid A do some math, and realizing, look, Rae, it's the hottest part of the day, you won't get anyone to do anything now, so don't even try. So I told the kids just to play, put Leafy down for a nap, took the bucket of food scraps down to the neighbor's pigs, and set the bathroom trash on fire in the backyard. Just when I was sitting down with a cup of chai, ready to read for a half hour or so, I heard it. The baby crying.
I still had things to clean, emails to write, faxes to send.
And that is when my eyes got a little wet.
And that is also when I decided to chill the heck out. I picked up Solo, sat down, and hung out with him for an hour. We looked at each other and smiled and talked and I didn't cry. The kids played pretend stuff, and I listened and laughed. And when I finally had put the baby to bed, a sweet Italian/French couple with their two kids stopped by because they had heard about our family and they wanted to meet us. We made arrangements to get together on Saturday.
And oh, I don't hate my life, I love my life. I just need to slow down, sometimes, and look around at who I'm with.
I think I did cry, a little. My eyes were wetter than normal, anyways, although I don't think any tears actually fell.
I was just tired. This morning I called a tanker again to get some water because no water had come for a few days, and our tank has a hole in it, so we need water every other day. At least this time I knew that I all I needed to do was call the tanker, pay him the equivalent of seven dollars, and have our tank filled with water that would seep out into the jungle. However, the hole is maybe a fifth of the way down the tank, so we have that one fifth left.
While the water seeped, we did everything we could to use it, before it left. Everyone got a shower whether they wanted one or not. Everyone had their hair washed, whether they wanted to or not. And actually, everyone needed all of the above, because, like I said, it had been a few days. But it meant that I spent the morning bathing everyone. Which is great! Except for the crying. And the whining. Do any of you have kids that act as though they are being tortured when REALLY what's going on is someone is pouring lovely warm water over their heads and then massaging their scalps gently with nice-smelling shampoo, and holding a towel kindly to their foreheads every few moments to make sure that no dreaded water gets into their eyes?
I mean, I would pay money for it. I would not stand there, naked and wailing and carrying on. But, I also would not spend half a day delighted by the antics of a caterpillar, so I guess it all evens out.
So. Everyone washed and all the laundry done and the dishes clean and the house somewhat picked up, and Jaya and I were ready to hit the market. I'm getting a lot better at the driving thing. You just have to grit your teeth, honk with the best of them, and drive into the tiniest spaces you've ever seen. Chinua was home with all the kids while we went.
We split up, did our shopping as quick as we could, and then walked around in the sun looking for each other for as long as it took us to shop. I told Jaya where to meet me, but then she wondered if she heard wrong, and we walked back and forth, missing each other.
Anyways, I'm losing my point. My point is, eventually we got home, and I found myself, in the afternoon, trying to help Kid A do some math, and realizing, look, Rae, it's the hottest part of the day, you won't get anyone to do anything now, so don't even try. So I told the kids just to play, put Leafy down for a nap, took the bucket of food scraps down to the neighbor's pigs, and set the bathroom trash on fire in the backyard. Just when I was sitting down with a cup of chai, ready to read for a half hour or so, I heard it. The baby crying.
I still had things to clean, emails to write, faxes to send.
And that is when my eyes got a little wet.
And that is also when I decided to chill the heck out. I picked up Solo, sat down, and hung out with him for an hour. We looked at each other and smiled and talked and I didn't cry. The kids played pretend stuff, and I listened and laughed. And when I finally had put the baby to bed, a sweet Italian/French couple with their two kids stopped by because they had heard about our family and they wanted to meet us. We made arrangements to get together on Saturday.
And oh, I don't hate my life, I love my life. I just need to slow down, sometimes, and look around at who I'm with.
Reader Comments (19)
Hello. I found your blog through the lovely Sara at the livelightly tour.
Your day to day activities are a blessing, and I found myself helplessly scrolling through your older blogs. I'm sure my boss would be thrilled to know what he just paid me for.
Anyway, I added you to my own blogroll, so expect some traffic.
I find that my own children are horribly tortured by soap and water as well. They love to wash my new, puffy dreadlocks but when it's their turn its all shreiks and stomping.
Britt
I had a similar moment the other week when my dryer and dish washer both broke within days of one another, and a few days later the sink got clogged... and drano wasn't working...and the kids decided it would be a cry at the drop of a hat week...glad I'm in good company!
And Solo is getting cuter and cuter by the minute, you're blessed!
My 2-year-old adores his baths until I interrupt the merriment of splashing around with ships and foam letters to wash his hair. We even bought some fancy shmancy bucket thingy that's supposed to prevent the soap from getting in their eyes. Sigh... someday he'll understand how therapeutic a bath can be, just like us :) And I agree with April, Solo is adorable; it's been fun watching him get bigger!
Ooooooh...such great advice for all of us.
I love this post...
I know exactly what you're saying.
Long time reader, first time poster. I think what touched me about this post is the need I felt to reach out, hold your hand, and say "This is so perfectly, gloriously NORMAL." I'm sure you already know that, a mom of four, but to recognize it and honor it on a daily basis is something else entirely. So, consider yourself hugged and validated and supported by another mother, continents away.
Such a nice post. I am glad you could stop and relax.
I tend to feel like that at least once a day. Although you seem to handle it with much more grace than I. Definitely something I need to work on.
Judith, my 3 year-old, hates to get OUT of the bath. She would stay in there forever, no matter how cold the water got. And she enjoys washing her hair, wierdo.
I so relate to this, minus the India part. Slow down, relax, stop looking at the to-do list, just be. Bless you!
Wow, you are a busy lady! Solo is beautiful.....definitely have 4 different flavors in your household! You know what I mean! Thanks for the photo by the way, I simply am famished for them.
I had that kind of day today- was trying to explain something to my SH and in my inevitable way, tears started to run down my face while I talked, and that just irritates me so much! I want to talk without getting emotional!
2nd daughter and I did the same thing in Victoria, missing each other and wandering around and around not finding each other, realizing we had no way of contacting each other as she did not have a cell phone, and also wondering if she knew the way to my home..... but finally we connected!
Love your post today by the way!
Could you email me that picture of Solo? I'd love to print it out!
Hi sweet baby!
I remember days like that - days when I was too tired to even realize how tired I was. Somewhere along the line I decided to do one LESS thing each day...don't do the shopping and the bathing and the washing AND the math on the same day. Brilliant, aren't I?
Oh, I cry often, and in front of my kids! I figure it gives my eyes a good washing, and then we all feel better. If I held it in, I think I'd go up like a geiser, with disastrous results!
It does feel more practical to write a comment when I don't know what's been going on in your life, although not as funny. That sounds like a day that would make any momma cry. I miss you, I can't wait til you move on down to your pink house.
I wish I could relieve your stress and help out....we're so fasr away! Can't wait to see you though.
Hugs, hon. I'm glad you were able to step back and enjoy the day even though it was going South, quickly.
"I would pay money for it."
So would I. Also I would pay money to lay down and have someone tuck a blankie around my chin. I could drift off and slumber ...forever...or at least it would feel like it.
Beautiful baby Solo!!
You are a super MOM!!
"chill the heck out". Words to live by....