Such is the life of a Mega mom…having to juggle all ages of kids simultaneously. Tonight was the epitome of such a time. All day I’ve been stuck in my chair with Sean who’s sick. He’s running a fever, miserable, nodding on and off all day. When he’s not napping he’s wimpering. (there’s nothing more heartbreaking then a wimpering sick infant). Knowing Drew didn’t have to work today I managed to convince him to drive Michelle to work for 4pm. I relaxed knowing she was taken care of (Tom would pick her up at 9).
Then the phone rang. It was a number I didn’t recognize. When I answered the phone I hear Pat on the other end. Mom…the car broke down, I’m on the Thruway. I don’t have my phone (it’s broke, he’s eligible for a new one on our plan TODAY!), I’m using a troopers phone to call you. Can you call someone and get me some help.
I call Drew who’s just dropping Michelle off. It’ll take a while for him to get there, especially since he’ll have to backtrack on the Thruway so he can be on the side Pat’s broke down on. I call Tom, he’ll lock up the shop and head home that way. I call Pat’s work and let them know he won’t be in when he’s suppose to be. Tom, Drew and I play phone tag for quite a while. I change Sean and Danielle’s diapers.
Pat calls to tell me that he had the car towed and no one needs to get him on the Thruway. Too late, Drew’s already passed where Pat towed the car to and is headed in the opposite direction on the Thruway. Tom luckily is just getting to where Pat was suppose to be and isn’t too far from where Pat is now.
During all this I’m rocking, patting and comforting Sean. Danielle is asking for something to drink. The rest of the kids are getting off the bus, looking for a snack and waiting to show me their work and tell me about their day. WHERE is my cloning gun when I need it!?!
It’s one the harder aspects of parenting a mega family…trying to juggle needs of different age groups at the same time. You can’t talk to a 2yo the same way you’d talk to a 21yo. You can’t treat a 21yo like you would a 2yo. (even if they are acting like the 2yo lol)
Today’s scenario isn’t a typical one. Normally things come at me one at a time. Normally I have time to breathe between each crisis. I admit though, when days like today happen I wonder….WHAT was I thinking?!?!?! Luckily that feeling doesn’t come up very much or last very long.
Oh no, the phone is ringing again! Don’t answer it!!!!!!!!!
I’m not quite there, since my span is a 12 year old at the one end, and a 1 year old at the other, but I can sympathize somewhat. Particularly when one end of the spectrum can’t understand (or respect) the needs of the other. Though most of the time the kids are okay with it and can appreciate their siblings, other times it’s easy for the oldest to get jealous of the youngest. And they don’t want to hear, “well you got the same treatment when YOU were a baby.”
(((HUGS))) on the cruddy day. Hope things are better soon, and hope Sean gets well fast.
Comment by mirz123 — January 18, 2008 @ 4:08 am