Our Kids

Sunday night, 11:30pm or so. The girls (all four of ‘em) are finally sleeping (see Mystique’s post, below).

I think about today and I cringe. It ended with a not-so-stellar parenting performance by myself after what really was an ok day with the girls. I went and got breakfast burritos and coffee with Piper and Lela (it’s becoming a Sunday tradition with us) and that went well enough. On the way home Piper was happily singing “The Saints go Marching In” way off key and butchering the lyrics, but I loved it. Lela was cracking me up with her now-very-common, “Pipe! Come on, Pipe!” I don’t know why that makes me smile, but it does.

Piper and I took off to Ikea to pick up a special order… that trip went well enough, too. Taking one of the girls to a store is literally 5 times as easy as bringing them all. No worries about attention, or who has who’s hand… just you and one little person, happily strolling around a store explaining things.

Got home, comforted Lela a bit (she had decided that she did want to go to Ikea about 10 minutes too late). Then we had a nice stretch where the girls played for a bit by themselves, giving Mystique and I some cleanup and email time.

After a yummy dinner of pizza the girls had a quick bath and then it was time for… bedtime. And that’s where I cringe. I still haven’t figured out bedtime and it just becomes a frustrating time of taking someone back to their bed where they’re either asking for another animal or crying because I’m being firm but gentle and not talking to them.

Anyhow, I failed… got frustrated with them… probably said a few things in, well, not my regular voice, and even though they’ve probably forgotten about tonight, I still feel terrible. So Sportscenter was delayed an hour. Big. Deal. I need to remember that the girls aren’t really trying to give me a hard time… they’re 3 1/2 yrs. old. That’s all they know… and really, they’re just acting their age.

So, just as with every day… the good times far outnumbered the tough times, but I forget that at times. I’ve got three very special daughters who make me smile and feel good about life more times in a day that I can count.

Lela’s infectious laugh, Piper’s gesture-filled conversations, and Landis’ neverending smile. That’s what I want to remember about today.

jason