[Photos: www.weheartit.com]
It was a morning of going in circles. Of dressing the two (almost three) year old, over and over again....only to turn around and find her naked. Of attempting to get ready and get out the door just 20 minutes late. Of bundling babies into raincoats and boots while they pulled them off and colored pictures, happily ignorant of the pressing schedule. Ignorant of the time. The lateness. Three times I calmed myself down. I took a personal time out to remind myself of what's important....
Close Eyes: Three. two. one. One. two. three. *Woosa* and all that.
Open Eyes: Kid pulling off her raincoat for the fourth time and school bag pulled apart.
I screamed.
I. Lost. It.
"KEEP IIIIIIIIT OOOOOON!!!!" spewed out of me. It surprised me and shocked me and shamed me. As I drug the barefooted, coatless babes to the car, in the pouring rain, I sort of fell apart.
A great way to start the day, no?
When we got to school I felt the need to tell the teacher what had happened. I, half-shamefully, half-indulgently explained how I had lost the plot over a coat and a bag and a poorly timed passion for coloring.....
Without missing a beat, her teacher looked at me and smiled and said "Welcome to the screaming club".
Thank you wonderful teacher. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
When we got to school I felt the need to tell the teacher what had happened. I, half-shamefully, half-indulgently explained how I had lost the plot over a coat and a bag and a poorly timed passion for coloring.....
Without missing a beat, her teacher looked at me and smiled and said "Welcome to the screaming club".
Thank you wonderful teacher. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
Love your honesty! We all need to share our true stories, so we know we
ReplyDeleteare not alone out here ;)
honest and authentic living isn't always perfect. we all have those sorts of screaming days!
ReplyDeleteEven the best of us join that club at some time I think.
ReplyDeleteFrom a teaching standpoint, imagine if your kids had never heard someone scream. Idylic yes, but practical no. How would they react if it came from someone they didn't trust and didn't have the opportunity to discuss and understand that love can still be there even in moments of frustration. And imagine if they believed that no matter how hard they work to get off task it didn't matter really (as a college teacher - I need them to understand escalation theory sometimes). So instead of seeing this as all negative, there's some great learning moments in there, for everyone.
And kknow that you are not alone.
I totally agree! I try to remember that it's how we handle the aftermath of these frustrating moments that counts......I think it's good for my kids to see me as a person with emotions that are strong...and that I can come back and focus and apologize and that I, of course, love them no matter what!
ReplyDeleteThanks guys:)
Oh goodness Jill I've been there except it was 'GO GET DRESSED NOW!!!!!'. It was so loud my throat hurt for the rest of the day. Anne-Marie
ReplyDelete