Some days are full of happiness, fun, and light. Today was not one of those days. I mean, it started well enough, having to go into work aside but that was necessary because I wasn't able to do my own work this week having spent the majority of my time solving everyone else's problems. But still, it was peaceful and productive so leaving I called home as I usually do to let Dyl know I'm on my way and if I need to stop and get anything since I'm already out. Nope, everything was good, kids watching cartoons and would be eating breakfast soon.
25 minutes later, I get home and he opened the front door with Noah in his arms looking absolutely stricken. Noah lunged for me, still wearing my jacket, backpack slung over one shoulder, heaving a great sigh of relief interspersed with hiccuping sobs. I handed him back to Dyl to divest myself of jacket and bag and oh my lands, the wailing and gnashing of teeth that commenced. What had set him off? Dyl turning off the TV to make them breakfast. What started as a tantrum (hello 18 months!) crescendoed into an out-of-control emotional breakdown for him. So I took him upstairs to change his diaper because that was a really good idea and the insane freakout continued. Oh my god, he is sick, he is hurt, he has the worst diaper rash in the history of Desitin...no, none of it. I wrapped him up in my arms and he finally put his head against my shoulder, small body shaking with the sobbing; rubbing his back and his head whispering over and over 'It's okay, Mama's here' until the sobs spaced out and his breathing deepened into an exhausted sleep.
And he slept for an hour and a half laying on my shoulder with me enjoying a closeness that we hadn't shared since he was 4 months old. I dozed a bit but he got heavy and my arm fell asleep. He finally woke up, looked at my smiled and gave me sloppy toddler kisses. I'll admit, those were nice. Poor Noelle though, I had barely been able to say 'hello' to her was barred from the room which did not help matters any. Dyl was frazzled, hungry and tired, I was bewildered and the kids were...grumpy. As the afternoon wore on, Noah took on more and more of the bratty little brother role and Noelle's tiredness (hi no nap) manifested as whining. I can handle tantrums and crying and attitude but the one thing that will set my teeth on edge and make me loony tunes is whining. And she has perfected it. Why is it that they can hone in on our red button behaviors? I'm convinced it's a gift.
And so it continued both day and night. Trying to remove Noah from my ankles while attempting to make dinner was a nonstarter. Have you ever tried to brown ground beef with onions and spices on the stove with one hand while holding your almost 30 pound toddler as he pushes microwave buttons and opens the door to collide with your nose/ear/head with the other? Not the most efficient way to cook we'll just say. The afternoon was a battle, dinner was a battle, after dinner was a battle then they both got riled up after baths as Noelle has a new favorite song 'I'm a Banana' or some such nonsense from YouTube. (I blame Tosh.0 for this one.) Finally (finally!) we got them to bed after much stalling with a drink and a story and read it again Mommy and brushing of teeth and putting on of slippers and brushing of hair and another bed time story but wait! I need a drink of water and tucking in but where's my doll and FOR THE LOVE OF PETE GOOD NIGHT ALREADY!
I can't believe that I almost forgot the best part. My mom called after dinner so I sat down in the family room to talk to her while Dyl, Noelle and Noah played in the living room. Not 2 minutes into the conversation, Noah comes running in wanting to push the buttons on the phone with Noelle quickly following behind him yelling something and bouncing on the couch, both reaching for the phone and holy crap did I get annoyed with them both, mostly with Noelle who knows enough to not be such a total brat when I'm on the phone. Bedtime came very quickly after that and not soon enough.
There is something about rainy winter days that just makes everyone tetchy. Tomorrow will be better. It has to be as I don't think that my patience reserves will be built back up enough again to deal with this a second day in a row. Oh, and a Superbowl party so at least we'll get out of the house for a bit.
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