So, in my ongoing attempts to organize and contain our chaos, I tend to PLAN certain activities for times when I can set us all up for success. For example, I PLANNED my upcoming 4 year old's visit to the dentist when my mom is here to watch the two little ones. I can only imagine what kind of chaos we'd impose on our unsuspecting dentist's office if I brought my two curly haired little ones to their office to "watch" as our 4 year old got her teeth cleaned. Just thinking about it makes me shutter.
The doctor's office is another example. What crazy mom makes a routine check up at the doctor's office with a dozen kids in tow?! Seriously - that's a momma that's just ASKING for trouble!! Not this momma. Nope. I'd schedule that appointment for a time when whichever little ones weren't being poked and prodded could take their potential chaos to another place with another person. That's just the way I roll. I know my limitations and I'm okay with them.
But, what happens when an UNscheduled visit to a doctor has to happen? I know...the thought of it terrified me, too!! There was no time to call in reinforcements on such short notice, but after a call to speak to the nurse, she said I HAD to bring my blue eyed boy (MBEB) in to be seen...NOW!
But...
But...
Yep, all the "buts" in the world couldn't get me out of this. MBEB (my blue eyed boy) needed to be seen right away and I had no choice but to take MCHN along for the ride. And what a ride it was!
I was surprisingly calm while I got the kids and their stuff ready. (I'd call this The Calm Before the Storm.) I mean, I didn't really have a choice, right? So, it had to be done and I was the momma to do it. I sucked it up and trudged on, pushing the horrifying "what if" thoughts to the back crevices of my mind.
The waiting area was great - both kids dove right into all the toys. But, in no time at all, they called our name and Chaos #1 hit. MCHN had just discovered the puzzles and wasn't about to put them down yet. If you've ever tried to corral twins, it wouldn't surprise you that at the most inconvenient times, those twins will run in OPPOSITE directions. Yep. And FAST. There's no sense in trying to chase after them either. You HAVE to outsmart them to win, which isn't always easy. So, MBEB ran toward the nice nurse calling our name while MCHN threw a tantrum because she felt she was being forced to leave the puzzle table. Fabulous. Well, at least everyone knew we were there. I tried to smile.
We enter our little room - CLOSE THAT DOOR! Aaaahhh, containment and peace settles in. Two seconds later I hear, "Let's go see how much you weigh!" from the unsuspecting nurse to MBEB. Seriously?? Now, you know as well as I do that once we open that door, MCHN will beeline it to that damn puzzle table again. But, what could I do?? Again, I didn't have a choice. I sucked it up and trudged on.
As the door opened, MCHN was the first one out. She looked left, then right, as if looking for which way to dash first. The nurse said, "Let's go this way!" in a great, motivating kid-like voice and voila! MCHN followed right behind. Like the little girl who just threw the tantrum in the waiting room was an entirely different little girl. Amazing!
Weight done and back to the room we go. Whew!
Nurse leaves and says the doc will be in shortly. What is the definition of shortly? Seriously?!? In two seconds flat, Chaos #2 begins. The kids had all 30 books dumped out of the crate in our little room and found the big block to climb on to get up on the table. MBEB ran from table to the mini blinds, banging the metal slats against the window until they made enough noise to satisfy his curiosity, then back to the table top he climbed. MCHN followed quickly behind, not wanting to miss a minute of the fun. But whose fun was this really?
MCHN stepped in front of MBEB which obviously didn't sit well with him. Evidently since this was HIS doctor visit, he felt HE should be line leader in any ruckus that would ensue. I could see it coming...I could see trouble in his eyes. Uh-oh. I lunged toward MBEB as he reached his arms out towards MCHN and grabbed two handfuls of her curls and tugged. She screamed at the top of her lungs (not an unusual occurrence), and all talking that was going on in the office outside our door ceased. I'm sure they thought someone was about to die. In comes the doc.
From that moment on, they were the most well behaved little 22 month olds I had ever seen!! Even I was proud! Could it be possible they thought the blood curdling scream came from another room perhaps?? I could only hope.
 |
| HOORAY! |
We left the doctors office, script in hand to fix up MBEB, and off we went. I did it! I survived an unscheduled visit to the doctors office with two kids who throw temper tantrums at the drop of a hat. We were all still alive and I still had a smile on my face.
HOORAY!!
It's OK to basque in your own glory. God knows we all deserve it at times! But just remember that ounce of courage may propel you to take on yet another challenge that you otherwise might not have. CHOOSE YOUR CHALLENGES WISELY!! REMEMBER YOUR LIMITATIONS!!
I was floating on momma cloud nine, impressed that I had it in me to gracefully make our way through Chaos #1 and Chaos #2. Cloud nine gets me in trouble every time!
I decide I'll take the little ones to dinner. I mean, seriously, I just conquered the doctor's office, how hard could dinner be, right?! We walk in to a new sushi place that I just adore. We are the only ones in the restaurant and it is EXTREMELY quiet. I look at the host and say, "Wow, it's pretty quiet in here." He smiles and nods. "You guys are going to LOVE us here!" I say sarcastically, a little under my breath. The host laughs as does the two cooks behind the sushi bar. Wow, it really is quiet in there!
I've packed some goodies for the little ones, but figure they'll try what I'm eating too. When I bring sushi home, MBEB loves it, and seriously, what DOESN'T MCHN eat?! (Remember those chubby little thighs I talk about??) Anyway, I order from a waiter whose eyes are bugging outta his head looking at us all. I just smile at him, reassuring him that I've got this. At least I think I do...
Until MBEB decides he wants down. He never asks to get down at a restaurant! He's great in his highchair with food and toys! But no, this time he wants DOWN and DOWN NOW. I ignore him, hoping my strategy will work, and I get a bite of my volcano roll (one of his favorites) ready on my chopsticks for him. WHAM! He smacks it back at me and there goes conch, crab meat, rice and red tobiko flying. Where does it land? On my freshly pedicured toes resting innocently in the sandals I was so excited to wear. Now I have a wet, sticky mess in my shoe, between my toes and what does MBEB have to say about it? "DOWN". Ugh.
I speed up my own dinner, knowing this experience needs to come to a close quickly because Chaos #3 was just around the corner. I chug my Sapporo (go momma go!) and get things cleaned up. The kids haven't eaten 5 bites of anything between them...these two who usually eat me out of house and home. Go figure. They're chucking toys left and right as I'm trying to sign the check and put things back in my bag. Please God, just let me get out of here unscathed. I promise I won't try this again any time soon!!
That prayer was answered. I learned I was good (I made it through the doc visit!), but I wasn't THAT good. However, if I had quit while I was ahead, I would have never known my limitations. I'd rather try and fail than never have tried at all. Besides, I'm stubborn. I learn the hard way, remember? So, I'll be trying dinner with the "twins" again sometime...but not anytime soon!!
Mr. and Mrs. Innocent
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