Wednesday, October 5, 2016

From Bath-time to Ballcaps

Last week had me questioning why I ever thought being a mom to a million children was a good idea. We're in that Coco screams a lot and Quinny screams a lot and Ever whines a lot and T doesn't listen a lot phase and look, I'm so tired. Just so ridiculously tired. Not to mention that for the first time EVER I was kept after school by a teacher to talk over a little naughty behavior. I just broke down in hopeless, desperate, devastated tears and she ended up consoling me, the poor lady! It wasn't even that big of a deal but that moment on top of so many other yucky moments from the week just pushed me right over the edge. Poor teacher. Poor me. Poor boys who got an earful. Poor girls who got an earful. Poor people in China who got an earful (because they could probably hear me all the way across the Pacific!)

When I look back at last week there were a whole lotta bad moments that I'd rather forget, but then there was this one good moment that I wouldn't mind remembering forever. It was quiet and simple and just so good.  We had just finished an early dinner and we didn't have any sports practices or other meetings so we went to the bathroom to clean up for bed. Both boys got in the shower and both girls got in the bathtub and I sat in the middle, washing heads of hair and reminding little humans to scrub between their toes and not to drink the bath water. No sooner were they in than they were out, each with their hooded towels on their head and begging for me to snuggle and keep them warm. I looked at these four beautiful human beings that somehow I created in my body and realized that they're growing up, and sure they cry, whine and talk back but in no time they're going to be married and have kids of their own--gulp. I took out my phone with wild urgency and begged them to come smile for a picture together. Ever didn't want to show his face and T's smile looks ever-so forced, but oh what a snapshot of my life at this time, with four babies small enough to wear hoody towels.

The boys bounced back to their room to get in pajamas and before long they returned in matching clothes...and backwards hats! "We're matching, Mom! We're completely and totally matching!" T said excitedly. "Yah," said Ever Knight, "We even aw weawing da same undoweah!" and before I could even give a reaction both boys had pulled down their flannels to show me their grey and black striped boxer briefs! Quinn was not about to let her brothers match without her. She knew the underwear was a non-starter, but she could still match in other ways. "Hat!" she screamed. "Pinny, hat!" So we headed back to her room to pick out a perfectly pink hat--and one for Coco of course. We reconvened on the couch where the boys snuggled their sisters and requested another picture, this time of them winking and doing thumbs up. They thought they were the coolest friends that ever existed and were thrilled with the "hat party." They finished the night with hugs and kisses in a round robbin until everyone was sufficiently lovey-ed and then it was off to bed.

I don't know, it kinda sounds like just another boring night as I write it all down here. But I guess sometimes the most normal times are the greatest times--it was in this case for sure. There were a thousand times last week when I thought otherwise, but on this day when I was taking these pictures, I couldn't have been more glad that I have a million kids to call my own!






4 comments:

  1. You have me in tears. This is beautiful.

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  2. Oh Sista, I feel your pain. My kids are in every one of those stages too... makes me feel more normal that I'm not the only one near tears every night. Seriously though, 4 kids is the real deal! So glad that you found beauty admist the chaos. Those are the Lord's tender mercies shining through! You got this momma!

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    1. four kids has been a game changer! There are moments of beauty, but most of the time I feel WAY underwater. Wish we were raising our babies (and binge-ing on sanity snacks) closer together. Loves!

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