Today was one of those days that started out looking like it was going to be rough, but managed to spit me out the other side alive and well. Is that a weird phrasing? Spit me out? I sort of like the way it sounds, I think I'll leave it.
For some reason, there are days when Peter woke up on the wrong side of the bed or something. He always has a pretty low bar for something to be upsetting (or exciting/awesome/hilarious for that matter) but on days like today that bar was even lower. Things that might ordinarily only cause a ripple in his mood provoke an all out meltdown instead.
This morning we had plans to meet up with Grandma Cluff to go to the aquarium. Grandma Cluff loves things like that; zoos, aquariums, you name is. She has this zest for life that I don't know if I ever had, I really love that about her. We met up at the aquarium around 10, and by that point Peter had already had an all out meltdown four or five times. And he had only been awake since 8. In fact, we were late because Peter had a meltdown because... he got mad at his shoes? I think? Lately he wants to put on his own shoes, so I told him to put his shoes on and next thing I knew he was crying and throwing his shoes and seemed quite upset at them. We've all been there, right?
I was worried about tainting our aquarium experience by taking him on a day that he was so sensitive, especially after our trip there went so well last week, but Grandma had driven 40 minutes to come with us so we went. Peter was wonderful while we were there! Apparently as upsetting as shoes can be, sharks and grandmas and Dory fish are not at all upsetting. That trip ate up the remainder of our morning and we made it to nap time without incident.
After nap time, more melt downs. He wanted to wear hats today. He wanted to wear his fedora to the aquarium, but he did NOT want to wear the fedora this afternoon, he wanted to wear a beanie. Even though it was 80 degrees outside. Sure, fine, wear the beanie.
We had a play date scheduled today with a friend around the corner, and as we were walking over I was thinking about what a grumpy mood I was in and how the last thing I felt like doing was going on a play date. Then we got there and Peter was an angel toddler again. An hour or so in, I happened to notice that I was utterly free of grumpiness and was now feeling quite happy. This folks, this is why weekly play dates are one of the best things I've done for myself. The days that I need them the most are the days when I am least likely to seek them out, and having them on the calendar has saved me many a time.
Finally, after the play date, we went to Sprouts for one last round of cheap strawberries because today was the last day of the sale. Usually I put Peter in the cart basket and Carolyn in a baby carrier, but Carolyn was hungry and I wanted her to be able to snack and not get crumbs all over me so I put her in the basket instead and let Peter walk free. I almost never let him do that because he wants to put everything in the store in the basket but it was going to be a quick trip, so I risked it. We had a couple of close calls, but again, no meltdowns. The last time that we were at Sprouts, a worker was giving out free cookie samples, so as we were checking out Peter kept asking for a cookie and the cashier heard and had someone grab him a box of cookies. Scooooore! Way to go Peter! And that's why you have kids. Because they'll ask for things (and receive things) that you would love but would never ask for.
The next thing I knew we were eating some dinner and I was putting the kids to bed. I was pooped, but not irritated, or emotionally exhausted, or crying or anything like that. As sure as I was that today was going to be awful, I had thankfully been proven wrong.
I remember a return missionary speaking in our ward once, and saying that on her mission she had learned that God is really good at logistics. I feel like today was evidence of that for me. I may not have been strong enough for today all by myself, but my calendar happened to be full of all of the saving graces I would need on the day that I would need them.Labels: Faith, Family, Motherhood