Craig started work Monday and to say we are adjusting to a new normal is an understatement. Gabe misses his daddy. Daddy has been his favorite for some time now, and I freely admit to embracing that fact because, frankly, Gabe is a kid that needs constant hands-on fill-in-the-blank attention. So, when Craig was home for an extended period of time, daddy was the hands-on parent. But now? Now Craig is back to work and Gabe is having to go through a daddy-detox, and it's not always pretty.
I started my morning by brewing coffee and putting oatmeal on the stove for the kiddos. As things were heating up, I went to pop the top of my water kefir that had been 2nd fermenting for about 30 hours. I popped it about three times yesterday and it was barely a fizz, so I let it go overnight. The force in the grolsch bottle spewed sticky pomegranate water kefir in three rooms, up and down several walls, all over me, and the clean dishes I set out to dry on the drying rack last night. It was a mess. An hour and a half later, I'm reminded of the irony of me mopping the floors yesterday with each sticky step I take. For some reason, I think it's a good idea to let the kiddos paint while I'm cleaning up. Madeline is the epitome of clean and Gabe is the epitome of mess. Just the act of washing his hands incites a mini-struggle between him and me. But he has paint on his fingers and not a just bit of dirt (which I don't always wash off) and I do need to wash them.
The couch cushions are all over the floor - "It's a mud bed, mama", and Madeline is content playing with a set of blocks that have her create various shapes. I think to myself that she really is an amazing kiddo.
Gabe is bounding into my legs, hitting me, spitting, yelling and honestly just being a three-year-old. Oh, three. Terrible twos didn't exist with either of my kids, but three was rough. The difficult times of three and toddler opinions and trying to create an environment where obedience is attempted within the boundaries of letting a child explore and learn. I remember waking up one morning after Madeline was about three and a half and it hitting me that she had changed - things had been easier for a little bit. Gabe is three and a half now, and he's not letting up and the three monster is still around.
In reality, today isn't all that different from my other days. The couch cushions are always on the floor, there's always some sticky mess I step in, hands are always dirty, and the kiddos are expressing their opinions. I call these days the "dog days of three." The moments of sheer exhaustion and mess.
But lunch was served and veggies were consumed. A hummingbird flew to Madeline's zinnia she grew from a seed. The excitement both kids had shot through my messy house as I rushed over to try to get a glimpse of our shiny green friend. Maria and Tail, our squirrel friends, are near the glass door and the kiddos are happy to see them. I secretly hope to see the other critters that the kids have named, because it's just plain fun.
I found a smiley face sticker stuck to my wall and I chased Madeline around to try to stick it to her nose. Gabe joined the fun until the sticker lost all stick and the kiddos ran around playing chase with me, jumping over the mud bed and smearing the sticky floors a bit more. The kids went from room to room hiding from me until we were all sweaty and panting. As I put Gabe down for a nap, he goes through his normal routine of, "I need to give you another hug and kiss, mama!" He pulls me towards him and yanks my neck and plasters sweet toddler kisses all over my face. Madeline is in her room, for now. I'm about to put the couch cushions back and use a baby wipe to find a few sticky spots. I may even track down my coffee from this morning and finish the last dregs.
And in this brief moment, I know I can survive the "dog days of three" again.
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