aag

26th Jun, 2008

Soaked Through

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A scant five minutes I budgeted into my morning schedule for watering the plants on the deck. I set the toddlers up with toys inside the house, but the pull of What’s Mommy Doing? was much more interesting that some silly blocks. The rushed the door with repeated requests to “help.”

We started sedately enough with me wielding a hose with a nearly broken sprayer. But the little ones’ version of “help” meant that they thrust their miniature watering cans into the stream until the already wonky spray shot everywhere.

This sent them scurrying away, but they didn’t stay gone for long. The temptation of water overtook their fear; the cumulative effect of repeated trips eventually soaked them. And me.

Then they climbed into the sand box.

Perhaps your standard-issue mommy would have discouraged such fun, but I let them go. Though we certainly weren’t dressed for water play, I sat under the tree with the hose and allowed anyone annoyed by excess sticky sand to rinse himself or herself off. They did this at first haltingly, but then more enthusiastically.

Then they plonked themselves into my lap for talk, cuddles and the brushing of sand off of bellies. A five minute watering job stretched into an hour-long adventure, one that required a full strip-down and toweling off before we reentered the house. For them, not for me. I stripped down in private, for which I’m certain my neighbors were profoundly grateful.

Considering episodes such as this, I really shouldn’t wonder why it seems that I’m horribly busy ever single second of every single day, but nothing ever gets done.

Posted by: aag

Categories:

family

Responses

This is why my plants all die. Whenever I think about watering them, and then think about the fact that a simple plant watering is going to take about 45 minutes and require me to dry off and redress all 3 of us, plus the added laundry….. eh, the plants can just wait for the next thunderstorm!

By: Ruth on June 26th, 2008
at 12:29 am

Being the oldest of five… I can attest to the time children take up. But, fufilling time.

By: Athena on June 26th, 2008
at 4:17 am

Yes, but they are having so much fun with so much love…………

mothers like you put therapists out of business!

By: edwardotk on June 26th, 2008
at 7:32 am

That’s the joy of kids, they can put fun in the most mundane of tasks!

Sometimes it’s hard to reign in the mom who wants to stick to a schedule and just run with the moment.

By: mommydee on June 26th, 2008
at 9:26 am

It’s all about having a “moment”. Remember these moments when life sucks you back into the hole called reality.

By: Rob on June 26th, 2008
at 9:45 am

You just described my life, always busy with my three, getting very little done, but having a blast while doing it…sounds like a great afternoon by all.

By: the little sister on June 26th, 2008
at 10:14 am

awww what a great way to ‘waste’ an hour

wait no, i mean spend.

i would spend my minutes on that in a heartbeat

every single time :)

By: badinfluencegirl on June 26th, 2008
at 10:34 am

I don’t think the time was wasted. The plants did get watered and the kids got to spend time having fun with Mom and learning the value of parental love.

No, it was time well spent if you ask me…which you didn’t, but I’m pushy that way.

By: Omnipotent Poobah on June 26th, 2008
at 10:41 am

But it’s oh-so-worth it, isn’t it?

By: Finn on June 26th, 2008
at 10:41 am

Worth it? Most days I’d say yes. :)

By: aag on June 26th, 2008
at 10:49 am

“nothing ever gets done” Oh, I disagre with you. You created memories. For yourself and your wee ones. Much more important than laundry or dishes or any of that other crap that fills our day.

By: kc_bkwrm on June 26th, 2008
at 11:21 am