I’m feeling the need to take a small break from life, work, blog cycle. A small one. But I need some levity. So let’s share some moments that are so mundanely funny that we have to laugh!
I know you have these moments too. And you think nobody wants to hear because they are so silly, so odd, yet so normal. Share! I want to hear. Tell me about your mundane miracles of life.
So, let me get you started. And then use the comments section below to share yours!
Today:
In a moment where I lost track of what day of the week it was, trying to be a GREAT mom (and break up the already-annoying summer sibling rivalries), I promised my daughters a trip to Calaway Park today after their swimming lessons. (p.s. Hey honey, third time… we’ve got our use out of those passes already!). And, I’ve been putting in lots of long hours and hard work on my business in the past 8 weeks. Daily. So I thought it would be a good break. Then I realized I’d miss the last call of a fantastic program I’ve been involved in to evolve my business with fantastic Gina Bell. Boo hoo. And then also realized I would miss a class I registered for with PR In Your Pajamas’ Elena Verlee. Boo hoo hoo.
But, I am always mom first. Business second. Always. It feels as good as wearing comfortable shoes to have this mindset. So I tucked the Blackberry away at 10:00 a.m. and there it stayed for most of the day. And, other than a misguided choice to stop at Gap Generation mid-day with three hot, hungry kids excited to get to Calaway, it was a really really great day with ‘just the girls’ (if you’ve lost track, the girls are me + 7, 4, and 2 year old daughters).
All three daughters are adrenaline junkies (that comes from motorcycle racing dad!). And for better or worse, are tall for their ages (foreshadowing: for (my) worse). Meaning they “are allowed” on rides they have no business going on for their ages. Certainly, the 2 year old (albeit nearly 3) should not be getting on drop of doom type amusements by sheer millimetres. But she can. And she does.
In a moment of pure joy at having a completely untethered day of fun focused on my daughters, I found myself on the Wave Rider (because 2 and 4 year old were adamant, and REQUIRED an adult). And on the second spin around the pivoting and undulating ride, I wanted off. I really needed off. I lost concentration and concern over my daughters’ happiness and safety and completely focused on deep breathing and prayer (I don’t pray often). I NEEDED off.
By some miracle I wasn’t the statistic on the ride (dear husband informed me this evening that particular ride is THE ride at the park that the staff avoid working at all costs because of at least one unpleasant clean up duty a day… if you get my pukey drift).
As it ended, I shouted to my SEVEN YEAR OLD daughter – get your sisters off the ride! Mommy can’t mommy right now! I continued my measured breathing and dared open one eye just enough to find the exit. And I unlocked my concentration on containing my stomach enough to sense that my 3 ducklings were following me away from the devil-ride.
I was aware that I may have looked the picture of the insane mother as I shouted at my kids “I don’t care how thirsty you are right now! Mommy gets the water!” My often willfully independent children realized mom was cracking up and obediently embraced their empathy gene as they waited on a nearby bench while I settled my stomach and got a grip!
Then I shipped them off to the kiddy swings which, now “boring” and my oldest is nearly too tall to ride, the girls were obliging enough to hop on to give me a break. Or they wanted to get away. Either way, they were safe in the care of a paid employee for a few minutes and I got to drink all the water and find some shade.
And my Blackberry. Because I can’t keep an experience like that to myself for long. I Blackberry Messengered my husband an SOS – in case he needed to come rescue me. Then checked my email.
A favourite client/new friend, Gloria Christie of Ultimate Chicktrips (who has humour in spades) had just messaged me some questions about an error I made on some event dates (because imperfection is my new calling card). I responded and told Glo where I was. She replied back how I have more fun than she does these days.
I laughed when I read that. HER calling card? The Facilitator of Fun. This is a title she was BORN to bear. She is so fun I want to be beside her, if I can’t be her. And to remind her of that, I told her I am certain we’d both rather be doing what she was doing than what I was doing at the amusement park! (Because I had the inside track… if she wasn’t hanging at home drinking a glass of wine I’d put myself back on that ride!).
She was at home having a glass of wine. I told her I made a hugely miscalculated decision to go on a really nasty ride and was paying the price at that moment (in fewer words tapped out on the bberry- thanks for listening Glo!). And in the process of sharing a moment in time, we sorted some work bits and pieces out.
Okay, so let’s wrap this up. I became a better mom again shortly after my email exchange/the kids’ boring swing ride. I massaged the mommy guilt by a stop in the candy store on the way out of the Park. I managed to drive home with concentrated care and caution. And after sitting for a few hours with a bowl by my side, I’m feeling much better thank you!
I haven’t sent the emails I promised to send today. And am ignoring some important inquiries (sorry!). But I did connect with Glo in one of those ‘get-personal-with-your-customers’ kind of ways (well, not the way any expert but me would recommend!). But I’ve been sick. So all will be forgiven!
I guess we can now say a mompreneurs’ day in the office is (not) a walk in the park! (groan)
Your turn!
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Well first of all – your blog made me cry. Yes, I am fun AND sensitive. Really, how can anyone not want to be around me for hours on end knowing full well that I will laugh with you and cry with you in the span of 10 minutes while drinking a glass of wine.
Second – what the hell were you thinking??? When my kids were little I just told them “mommy doesn’t do rides like that” and passed them off to daddy, but I suppose you were in a bit of a jackpot doing this adventure single handedly. Kudos to you – I couldn’t have done it! Just like I can’t do/fix/attend to bleeding noses. That’s another story. I make great margaritas though.
Third – sharing stories – instead of rehashing I will refer you to my June 5th “Nothing is every easy” blog at ultimatechicktrips.blogspot.com….most of my stories now relate to my husband and his lack of “handyman” skills. I’m happy to announce that the washer and dryer are now installed and in working order, however, the cabinet that was attached to the wall (full of every laundry related item known to mankind) fell on top of me Sunday and pinned me in the corner of my laundry room with no one home to rescue me. Dear Husband neglected to attach the screws into the wall studs, but instead just screwed them into the drywall. The McDonald’s “I’m Lovin’ it” slogan did not come immediately to my mind. #thatsall
I cry often – happy cry, sad cry – it’s a great expression of emotion! I can’t believe you were pinned in your laundry room! I hope you asked for one of your Willows Lifestyle Spa pedicures (I know lots of fab women run spas and this is one south of Calgary, fyi) to compensate for the trauma… because clearly there is fault here. Even I know heavy objects must be attached to wall studs! I hope you recovered. xoxo
This is so funny!! I needed the laugh. I’ve been grumpy all morning and needed a blog break. Thanks for the laugh!! You ladies crack me up!!
Kim your story brought to mind an experience I had with my daughter twenty years ago (when she was two). We were living in High River at the time, and it was that time of year – early November, when we did our annual trek to Sears Portrait Studio. Despite the fact that my toddler was somewhat out of sorts that morning, I was determined to make our long-awaited appointment, and so after the bathing, the hair-washing (matching bow in hair also, of course), the leotards, the black patent Mary-Janes……..and feeling pleased with myself for having perfectly ironed (who irons?) fifty six yards in the organza dress and matching white lace pinnafore, off we went, Kerri safely tucked into her carseat. She normally fell asleep the moment we set off, but again I noted she was a little cranky – I thought – I know, I’ll bribe her with fruit rollups (strawberry)……….I know I know, no mother of the year award that year! Forty five minutes later, we pulled into the Sears parking lot – me hoping against hope they were on schedule in the portrait studio – no fun keeping a cranky toddler amused while waiting for an appt., as we all know – but as it turned out, I needn’t have worried, for the moment I released the belt in her car seat, she looked up at me, said Don’t feel good mummmmmm……and blechhhhhhhh – half digested red fruit rollup all over, and I mean all over. Never even made it out of the parking lot!
You are brave! I’m afraid my daughter will never experience Calaway as both my hubby and I get vicious motion sickness. Fun story though, I’m glad I came over from twitter for the read!
Glad to add some cheer to your day Lisa! Hope it got happier!
Oh my Bonnie! That is painful to read… I’ve certainly heard those stories and am counting my blessings I don’t think I’ve had one yet. And that it reminds me NEVER to iron for my kids! Great to hear from you & thanks for sharing this great story! Hope you are well!
Brave is another word for… ??? I’m coming to experience many benefits of having 3 children near in age. They don’t actually need ME to have fun (just to drive them to the fun). Next time, they can go on as many adult NOT REQUIRED rides as they like. Oh, and by the way, brave is another word for stupid. I get motion sickness in the backseat of a car every since becoming a mom. LOL. I’ve relearned my lesson.
Oh my I had an experience similar to this just this past spring break with my son.
I had a meeting prior to spring break that was important and I promised him that if he was good and didn’t make one peep the whole time that I would ride on roller coaster with him out in Las Vegas for spring break.
Well the time came to fulfill that promise and as I boarded the coaster my stomach started to get nervous and my nerves in general were starting to escalate. I am scared of heights and also have a motion sickness issue not sever but still an issue.
When the coaster started it ascent I decided to just close my eyes for the 30 sec it took to get the ride done and over with. By the time we were done with the ride and I got off I was shaking severely and just about had a breakdown. I told my son that I will never ride another coaster with him because there is a reason I don’t do roller coasters. He found out that reason when he saw me shaking after getting off the ride.
The rest of the time I made him ride rides that required no adult presence needed on the actual ride themselves.
@Gloria what kind of wine do you drink?? I am a self professed chardonnay snob
Oh my!! Yes, that’s how I was feeling. So glad you understand! What’s wrong with us that we forget? Just like in childbirth, you can actually remember the FEELING of pain (or sickness), just that you were (there… you can empathize with that now too).
Thanks for sharing. I’ll be sure to point out your question to Gloria!
Joe! I confess that if I was rich I would love to try ridiculously priced chardonnay. However, I am not. I am also a big fan of blends…actually, Joe, if it’s got a cork in it (well I suppose that doesn’t matter any more either) I’ll try it.
You see, I am a gal that is game for almost anything. Here are some of my inexpensive and sometimes a splurge favs – chardonnary and blends:
Cakebread – chardonnay (need wallet – does not happen often in my house)
Conundrum – blend
Evolution – blend
Toasted Head – Chardonnary
Gnarly Head – Chardonnay
No Brainer White – blend
Little Penguin (I know…but on the deck at 3:00 p.m. it works)
Bonterra – Chardonnay
Bogle – Chardonnay
That one with the French name (but it’s not really French) that suggests a threesome but I can’t spell it (Menage et toi?)
Wild Goose – what the hell was it – I picked it up when tasting wine in B.C. – a blend – it may have had something to do with a harvest – maybe Gold something (very helpful I know)
In the U.S. I’ve tried so many different Chardonnays that I can’t find here and I only recognize them by label. There’s a frog on one of my favourites. If I was on top of my game I’d write it down. Also, one that has the word Barn in it.
On reflection, I should not be writing this while under the influence of chardonnay….
so many wines so many choices me thinks I may have to go on a tasting spree