Book Kitty Blog: Mother's Day

Divorce isn't easy, of course, and getting children through it brings on extra challenges. Sharing parenting time can be done, and I think we are pulling it off. But I also think that having my children only half the time has been the hardest thing to adjust to. It really makes me appreciate the time that we have together. That's why this Mother's Day was so special. It started with breakfast in bed and ended with cleaning up vomit, and I appreciated it all.

Luckily it started with breakfast and not barf. My oldest son is an official teenager now, so he slept in. Which worked out really well for me because when he woke up I don't think he realized that his brother had already made me breakfast (yogurt with oats and fruit, carmelized bananas, and coffee- lovely!) so I got to enjoy two breakfasts. It was so great seeing him being independent in the kitchen and experimenting with eggs. Then the boys helped me prepare vegetables for a barbecue at my mom's, and we left to spend the afternoon at Grammy's, eating and swimming. I am glad that we didn't try to do our usual brunch at my house. In past years all the grandmothers would come, and this year it would have been a painful reminder that Nana isn't with us anymore.

On the ride home I had some Mom Reality: a meltdown because of an upcoming Very Important Math Test. So we did a lot of talking and problem solving. Then some studying at home. At dinner-epiphany! I decided that I should make something that I actually wanted to eat instead of something that the boys will eat, which is usually not anything that I would make for myself. They did not eat my tuna steak with cabbage, even though I thoughtfully left the peanut sauce off of their portions. But I wasn't surprised or offended. Small steps.

At bedtime we enjoyed reading The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, even though Jaron had terrible hiccups. After trying unsuccessfully to banish them for almost an hour, he tried drinking upside down and actually threw up a little. No problem. Cleaned it up, tucked him in. Hiccups finally went away. Kids in bed, laundry started in the washer, lunches packed. Not yet time to sleep, first I had homework... watching training videos before volunteering for the 5th grade Junior Achievement Biztown field trip in the morning. I get to chaperone school trips with both of the boys this week. I really feel like a mom today. And I am appreciating it like I never have before. I was so happy by how much I appreciated getting to do mom things like cleaning up vomit, that I was finally inspired to write again.

Tomorrow the boys will be with their dad after school. I will miss them. Yet I will also appreciate the freedom of having an evening to myself. It's a strange combination of feelings. Months ago I felt much loneliness and guilt when they weren't with me, and that has gotten better with time. Hopefully it will continue to get easier for all of us. And hopefully I will continue to appreciate cleaning up vomit.

I fully admit that I do not feel the same way about cleaning up cat or dog vomit. It's a good thing those animals are so darn cute. And they keep me company when the kids are gone which I truly appreciate especially since I have adopted a new family member. I won't be changing the name of this blog to Book Kitty and Doggy Blog, even though she does look remarkably like Gloria in Officer Buckle and Gloria.

Officer Buckle says, "Never Stand on a Swivel Chair!"

She even has a red collar. Total coincidence. Really.

She is the sweetest dog. Gets along well with the cats. And since she is my first dog, I am trying to learn how to be a good doggy mom which means I'm actually reading some nonfiction...