MomTime TV

As school begins this week for all the year around schools in our area, I can only shake my head. Where oh where did the summer go?
My kids are a week and a half away from starting themselves and all back to school activities are in high gear. Yesterday we picked up books, lockers, id's and all sorts of stuff for high school. The kids have their schedules in place and a little bit of time to think about it. Oh cool, its a fresh start, the slate is clean! My son's competitive nature is taking hold. And my daughter who has her own brand of competitiveness appears up for the challenge.
As a mom (I'm so glad I'm done) I'm just proud of the kids for anticipating and making the effort it takes to do well and achieve. It's not easy. There's a huge group of really smart, diligent honor students and then there's an even larger group of kids who don't care. I'm proud of my kids who set their own course for success and go after it in their own ways, not worrying about what the others are doing. To me, that is the greatest lesson in schooling and will do so much to set them up for the rest of life. I'm definitely not one to ignore all the other things learned in school. The details of math and science, language and history may go away, but the character stays and the life lessons (though they may not see them at the time) will strengthen and grow.

Guilty! I did it.

We had just mailed some packages at the Postal Annex and while I strapped Ivan (20 mos) in his car seat, I threw my keys in the front seat so that he would stop grabbing for them and wiggling around.

What I hadn't realized, though, was that I somehow locked the doors with the remote. So, as you can imagine, when I shut his door, the car was completely locked.
When I went to open my door I realized what I had done. There the keys were, next to my purse and cell phone.

Yes, the first words out of my mouth were panicky expletives!

I looked around to see how many people were aware of what I had just done. Conveniently, or not so much so, there was a patio full of people having lunch.

I walked over to a woman and asked if I could borrow her cell phone, explaining what I had just done.

My first call was to my ex-husband, who lives in our neighborhood and has keys to our home. I knew, if he were home, he could go get my spare key and bring it to me. I was only 3 minutes from home. Grateful that he was home, I told him what happened and he was immediately jumping in his car to come help.

Then, I called my husband, who works 30 minutes away. After I explained what was going on, he informed me that the spare key was on his key ring... at work with him!

Yes, more profanity!

I called my ex back and told him he didn't need to go by my house after all. My husband was leaving work immediately to come unlock the door.

Up till now, I am not stressed, nor is Ivan. I am calmly playing peak-a-boo and knocking on the windows and roof of the car to keep him entertained.

10 minutes have gone by...

15 minutes have gone by...

The patio people have all realized what is going on....

New shoppers have entered the parking lot and ask if I need help....

A kind woman comes out of the store and has bought a bottle of water for me....

20 minutes have gone by...

And now, Ivan begins to cry.

Yes, *@#%!!!!

I am no longer calm. I borrow another phone and ask my husband where the ---- is he?! He is on his way and unfortunately cannot fly. I ask him how much longer and he says about 7-10 minutes.

I stand outside my car window and watch my sweet son in total frustration, strapped in his car seat and I can't do a thing about it.

I wanted to bust the window and hold him in my arms.

I wanted to dial 911 and get a policeman there immediately.

I wanted someone to take a black marker to my forehead and write BAD MOM across it.

Instead, I stood outside the car, with tears in my eyes and sang, "You are my sunshine" over and over again - praying that Mike would arrive any second and that Ivan would fall asleep.

Two of the older patio people happened to be parked in front of me. Even from the patio, I could tell that they were disgusted by what I had done. When they approached the car, the women just scowled and the man said, "you know, they have parking lot security and will likely have a tool to unlock your car."

I simply said, "thank you, my husband should be here any minute."

What I was really thinking was, why didn't you go get the parking lot security for me 20 minutes ago?!"

Sure enough, Mike was pulling up at that moment.

He unlocked the car. Ivan had just fallen asleep.

I fell apart.

What would you have done?

No it's not a new skin care system fighting off wrinkles and other bad things (though that's nice too).
It's the renewal of living in the desert and waking up to steady rain. Feels so good and clean, like putting on a new pair of contact lenses. Everything becomes clear,
everything stands out. You look through new eyes. Looks good.
Funny how a change in weather can change your energy. My memories are of sunshine coming after the rain, and that being the energizing force, gloominess turning
to light, energy. I didn't expect to feel this energizing force coming from the rain, but I like the cleansing nature of it. Like a shower after a workout! Clean, fresh, invigorating!