So, here's how it goes. I'm in the grocery store with all three of my darling offspring - something I try to avoid these days. Not because I don't enjoy their presence, but a grocery store isn't exactly the optimal place for bonding time between a mother and her children. It takes me about twice as long to grab the 11 items I went in for because I'm either looking for a misplaced (i.e. 'lost') child, breaking up a fight between the boys, or restocking shelves, like I'm an employee, thanks to the 27+ items that have made their way into my cart, unbeknownst to me. They're very skillfully and stealthy placed there by six little hands that think I'm actually NOT going to notice the extra eight boxes of gummy candy, Red Bull, every new flavor of Pop Tarts, Hot Wheels (9 of them), Bubble Tape bubble gum (only to name a few), speeding down the conveyer belt towards the register. So, I'm scrambling at the last minute to shove and hide these items in the gum/candy/magazine section before I get in 'trouble' by the 16 year old scanning my groceries because I'm 'making more work for her' by not putting these random cavity inducing 'needs', as my children refer to them, back in their appropriate homes, peppered around the grocery store. No. I am not retracing all my steps, because there were a LOT of extra and unanticipated ones. We'd be here for two more hours. And, frankly, my nerve has had about all it can handle and, honestly Sweetie, you'd REALLY be better off doing it yourself than having us stand in your line, creating any more commotion than we already are. Trust me. You're ready for us to bail. Just like we are.
So, the lady in front of me watching all this craziness ensue, dressed to the nines and clearly childless, looks back and me and says in quite the dry tone, "Boy! You sure have your hands full, dontcha?!" My mind goes quickly to places it shouldn't, but I hold my tongue. And, I reply with a smile . . . "Well, obviously, I do. However, my heart is even fuller because of these three. I'm a super lucky Mama." Which I indeed am. She says nothing more. And my kids smile at me. I smile back and rub their little noggins. Because even when I'm pulling my hair out by the hand full, shaking like a leaf and feel like my head might explode at any minute, I can look at my little guys and still see their precious little spirits that are just having temporary moments of insanity. Just like their mother, from time to time. Yes, it's true. I DO lose my marbles on occasion, as shocking as that may be to hear . . .
We walk out, looking both ways and holding hands, heading to the car. Yup, it was trying and frustrating, but it was just a short little shopping trip that we all survived. Small potatoes in the grand scheme of things. And one day, I'll have all the time in the world to grocery shop by myself . . . And I just might feel a tinge of sadness that I don't have to hide three boxes of Fruit Roll-Ups in the check-out line anymore. Or I might just buy some for old time's sake.
My Mama says, "Days are long, but years are short". She's a wise woman. They'll be all growed up before I know it. I'm working on relaxing, slowing down and enjoying the craziness that comes along with sweet times as well . . . Got a long way to go, but I'm really trying to stop and smell the roses. Or the burning popcorn that those kiddos are currently making sans my permission. Oh, boy - here we go again . . .
