It’s Friday afternoon and I’m beat. I’m done. The kids are done. We’re all done. Mark is still deployed, and being a real-life hero. I suppose I’m a bit of a hero, too, running the house and all, but really, I just feel tired. Very un-hero like. Very not the mom of the year type.
Tommy is having a meltdown because it’s Katie’s turn for movie night, and my parents are coming into town and sleeping in his room, so he has to sleep on the other couch, not the one in the TV room. Katie is not going to compromise, because she only gets one movie night a week. Tommy, twenty years old, mind you, gets several. However, the change in sleeping arrangements has set him off. We are in full scale, defcon five meltdown mode. I’ve sent him to the basement, and I’m hearing a lot of noise, but I’m pretty sure he’s just kicking one of the support structure pole things.
I’m having a glass of wine.
I was just asked (like, a few minutes ago, literally, I just got back home) if I wanted my flu shot while I was picking up meds at Target, and I jokingly replied, “Um, no, I think not… we have too much autism in our house.” Now, of course, I’m dealing with said diagnosis. I should have probably just replied, “no,” and not tempted any of the autism/meltdown fates. However, the pharmacy team and I have a good rapport, so I dared to be a little light and joking… Well, it’ll be a while before I joke about that again.
Here is a free public safety announcement from a mom with a little bit of experience: don’t ever (ever, like, never) assume that slight changes are ok. I’ve dealt with too loud, too bright, too soft, too rough, too everything for twenty years. Small changes can derail an otherwise great routine. Stick to the plan, is my advice. Also, once a decision is made, no matter what it is, you need to stick with it. Don’t waver! Inconsistencies are easily preyed upon by kids (all kids, not just the special ones). They will suck that (inconsistency) up and be manipulating little (or big) monsters. I’m just telling it true.
Also, Friday afternoons are the worst. We are all at the end of our (collective) rope. Everyone tends to be worn out, but excited for the weekend, but tired, but happy, and it tends to be the day that is just ripe for meltdowns. It’s like the witching hour on steroids. This week, especially, for example, we have been busting our tails trying to catch up with school (and we homeschool!), and dealing with all. the. work. Single moms are the bomb.com with all they do by themselves, I’m just saying! I’m only single here and there, and not for long periods of time… but those tend to be very exhausting time periods. I had to mow the lawn. My fitbit says I’ve made, like, twenty thousand steps. I better be skinny by tomorrow, at this rate. But, I digress.
Let us just continue to salute one another, parents! We need to support each other when things are good, and when things are not so good. Prayer works! Hang in there. Rely on your helpers. We are all called to this amazing and crazy journey called parenting.
Keep Calm, enjoy your weekend, and parent on!!!
