Staying Calm

I stayed calm last night and just let it ride - and played Brickbreaker. I know the happiness gurus would tell me to work a little harder or do something useful to overcome my mood. But you know what? I have two kids. I need to rest and stay as calm as possible so I don't take out my frustration on them.

I watched my TV shows, beat my Brickbreaker score (10,320) and just created pleasant conversation with my family. I knew if I went to bed too early, I'd just worry more, so I stayed up past my bedtime and gave myself a facial. In other words, I squeezed my face to get rid of all the pimples. My skin is in worse condition than when I was a teenager. I got to bed at 11:30.

Just past 1:30, my oldest woke up (she was in our bed) saying 'quickly, quickly' then we heard the sound that can wake any parent out of the deepest REM. Vomit. Everywhere. All over her, all over the sheets, all over me.

I had to give her a bath because her hair was covered (sorry to be gross but this is the tame version). By the time I was done my husband had changed the sheets and put the dirty ones in the laundry. That's why I love him. He takes care of the gross stuff and he's naturally calm in these situations. I've learned a lot from him. Everyone got back to sleep then my youngest woke-up. Luckily it was just a potty break and she went to sleep with Daddy in one room, while I slept in my bed with my oldest and a bucket.

We woke-up late and my husband and I are suffering from sympathy stomach pains. I've got sales calls today so staying home and indulging in this isn't possible. These are the times I wish I were a stay-at-home Mom. It drives me crazy when Oprah says being a stay-at-home Mom is the hardest job in the world. I'm a Mom. I take care of my kids. I get up when they vomit all over the place in the middle of the night and then I shower in the morning, put on make-up and decent clothes and answer to my boss. I'd love to be a stay-at-home Mom. Yes, it's mind-numbing but at least I'd be focusing on one thing not pulled in so many directions.

As I re-read my blog from last night, I decided to look at some of the things I've spent money on that maybe I shouldn't have. A shower curtain, a wastebasket that matches the shower curtain and a pair of sandals. I thought we had extra money - just like my husband did. Maybe it's not really a financial problem but a communication problem.