What We Call A Day - 4 years later

A Day In The Life

I wake up sleepy and get to the kitchen table to study scriptures. I’m trying to change my life, you know, and be most intentional about being with the Lord as early as I can in the morning. I finish studying and stand up (not super enthusiastically) to start my workout and a smooshed fly on the glass window catches my glance. I promptly roll my eyes because living with boys can be really gross sometimes. (We have lectures on smearing boogers on walls too often) It’s ten to 7 and still completely silent - not common. I quickly get to exercising in hopes to finish before the silence turns into, well, less silence.

Wade and Hank rise first, I hear Wade making loud sound effects in their room. It’s hard to remember to be quiet when others are still sleeping so I prompt them to come out and sit while I finish. Thomas is up next, and Davey last—Just like usual. There’s a hustle of dirty pull ups and “Did you make your bed?”s and somewhere in between I water the garden and start making breakfast. I love a good challenge of using up and there was one cup of bisquick mix left from when Mom was here and I stretch that to make 8 mini waffles. Only two throwing-egg-in-anger incidents and we’ve started the day!

A text from a friend Talya and we’ve got a slip ‘n slide date at our house, so we rush everyone out the door to Target. I try to be fun and tell them they’re soldiers on a secret mission and must remember the 4 items we need and look at nothing else, but they were SQUIRRELING their lives away at every aisle. I’m sorry to say I have a bad ‘tude afterward and told them they weren’t good soldiers. Yikes. Lucky for me, nothing cures a sour feeling than a gathering with friends. Our outdoor play date is awesome, it’s cloudy and even a bit rainy but we love every minute!

Our friends leave and I admit I’m feeling relieved it’s pouring rain, I love a good sit on the couch, lounging watching a movie. We’re halfway through The Music Man and it proves long still for these wiggle worms. I sneak in a phone call with my dear friend in MN, Alex. We put in a second movie (still pouring rain), The Parent Trap, and keep cozy.  I manage a while longer on that couch, but the requirement for dinner gets me up and into the place I spend most time: the kitchen. A delicious kale artichoke cheese dip + veggies + fruit + strawberry lemonade made for an easy dinner. I enjoy a nice FaceTime chat with Maddy during prep time, and she kindly takes me through her closet to choose some hand me downs. My favorite. Dinner is going well until #2 is given an insufficient number of crackers for dipping and strongly protests by dumping his glass of strawberry lemonade onto his plate. Much yelling and destruction can follow these events, and not by me. We’ve got some serious rage going on sometimes. Perris takes over for approximately 3 minutes before needing me to sub for him. We have really gotten good at knowing when we’ve reached our limit and tapping out! Ten more minutes and Per’s ready to return and I go back to dinner. 

Whilst the child aforementioned calms in his room, Davey and I discuss important answers to life’s questions such as, “Mom, why don’t you get stuff on your lip when you drink?” Many demonstrations ensue, and he, I believe, is thoroughly impressed. No-longer-angry-Child returns with an apology and we enjoy the rest of dinner all 6 of us. Thomas sticks crackers to his eyelid, Hank tries not to smile when I grin at him, Perris devours the delicious dip (he’s been at scout camp so home food tastes extra good right now), Wade expresses how strongly he feels about not dipping his crackers, and Davey is the first one done, ready for his cookie. 

Tub time passes without much incident and we get in a few songs at the piano (we, as in, me), scriptures, and one book before I must leave them to the care of Great British Bake-off for my phone primary meeting, as Perris has again retreated to the beck-and-call of work in the basement. A long day for him. 

I feel great love for the 3 women on the other end of the line and only twice mute the phone to go settle that little herd of wild boys in the living room. An hour later Perris returns and gets them into bed. Nighttime hugs are the best, as somehow nighttime fatigue brings out tender feelings for Mom. I find myself in bed ready to watch some James Corden crosswalk musicals while Perris goes to the living room and finishes a superhero movie that exceeds my intensity limits. 

We have good boys. Most days I find myself hoping they will become good men, wondering what control I really have over that outcome. But I’m holding onto all chance that they will follow the counsel and guidance we offer them because that path is paved in nothing but love.