Today started out like any other day, I woke up a little too late, the kids and I ran around getting ready for school, as is our routine and we had ten minutes to spare. Just like everyday. I had a full list of to-dos today, which included my job, a huge side project that isn’t a side project at all, a showing at our house and being a Mom and a Wife.
We dropped Racecar off at school, picked up a cup of coffee from McDonald’s and headed home. I was busily preparing my massive to-do list in my head, knowing that I’d forget something if I didn’t write it down.
We pulled into the driveway, I couldn’t spare a second, I had so much to do. Deadlines! House to clean! Blog! I opened the garage door with the opener, we jumped out of the car, approached the door. And it was locked. but that’s okay! I have a house key! I retrieved my keys from my messy purse, "I don’t have time for this!" I say to myself. I slid the key into the lock. No good, still locked. I slid a different into the lock; still locked.
We were locked out of the house.
All I could think about was my laptop sitting on the table and I was unable to access it. Sure, I had access to my blackberry, but there wasn’t much I could do with that. So, I called my realtor, I knew she would be able to open our lock box and get us in. I called. No answer. I left a voicemail. I e-mailed her. In the meantime, poor Ariel was starving as she hadn’t had breakfast, yet. We drove through the McDonald’s drive-thru, we parked and ate and waited for a return phone call.
"Could this day get any worse?" I thought to myself.
We drove back home, parked in the garage, I sent a few e-mails, cleaned out the car, while Ariel rode her bike and drew on the driveway with sidewalk chalk. Suddenly, she comes running towards me with her hand behind her back, she screamed at me concerned "I HAVE TO POOP! I HAVE TO POOP! I HAVE TO POOP! IT’S COMING OUT!"
oh dear.
"Ariel, you are going to have to hold it."
She shot me a look like "honey, they’re ain’t no holdin’ this shit in."
I read her look, got the message, and told her to get into her car seat, "sitting down will help you" and "I’ll drive us to the gas station." "Okay, Mama," she replied. I rush her, "hurry, honey! HURRY!"
We went into reverse.
And I ran over her bike.
Are you freaking kidding me? The only thing worse than running over your child’s bike, is if they are with you when you run over their bike. She watched heard ME massacre HER bike? Suddenly she wasn’t worried about poop any longer.
And I started looking for hidden cameras and Ashton Kutcher hiding behind the bushes.
No camera. No Ashton.
We drove to the gas station, did our business and started heading home to, I don’t know, sit in the driveway and stare at the broken bike. But instead, I turned in the other direction. My mood suddenly shifted.
I surrendered. I quickly realized that sitting in my garage isn’t going to make my realtor call back any sooner. Instead, I embraced the bad moments of the morning and set out to make our morning better. We drove to the Dunes and went for a long walk, or adventure as we like to call it. We sat at every bench on the trail, but only for a moment on each as we had lots to see. We talked. I smelled spring. I listened to those birds singing their amazing songs. I felt the softness of my daughter’s hand inside of mine. No computers. No cell phones. No blackberries. Just she and I, and James and Jake.
I felt them. I was filled with emotion, sadness and love mixed with anger and delight, but I felt the peace of my life during those moments. Walking hand in hand with my daughter, I missed my sons so much. Her touch providing the strength I needed.
During those moments, while surrounded by trees and birds and flowers and sun and love, so much love, I felt like James and Jake had wrapped a gift up for me, wrapped in a bad morning, but inside that bad morning was glory and goodness. We have decided, Ariel and I, that on Mother’s Day we will walk through the Dunes with Brian and Racecar by our sides. And I know, I just know James and Jake will be above us, smiling.
I can’t wait to do it every single year. I am so glad we were locked out today, it is one of the greatest things that has ever happened to me.
One minute I’m cracking up about the Ashton reference and the next minute I’m biting my lip because I want to cry. That was a great post!
One minute I’m cracking up about the Ashton reference and the next minute I’m biting my lip because I want to cry. That was a great post!
I’m leaving you another comment because I wanted to tell you that you are loved.
I now see the world in a different way because of you. You made your lemonade and that is great, it’s was the best drink I’m sure.
All my blogging love,
CE
I’m leaving you another comment because I wanted to tell you that you are loved.
I now see the world in a different way because of you. You made your lemonade and that is great, it’s was the best drink I’m sure.
All my blogging love,
CE
I am sitting at my desk…CRYING. You are so sweet.
James and Jake WILL be there on Sunday and what a perfect Mother’s Day gift to give yourself.
Hugs to you and your family.
I am sitting at my desk…CRYING. You are so sweet.
James and Jake WILL be there on Sunday and what a perfect Mother’s Day gift to give yourself.
Hugs to you and your family.
I am so touched by your story. You continue to amaze me with how you choose to make the best out of situations in your life.
I am so touched by your story. You continue to amaze me with how you choose to make the best out of situations in your life.
I love this post. So many times I find myself caught up in doing dishes, paying bills, checking emails, etc. I forget that I need to focus MORE on my son. He is 6 and will never be the boy he is today ever again. We must take time to be with our kids and step away from the craziness of daily life. What memories do we want them to have? Taking walks and looking at bugs with their parents OR watching mom and dad run around doing errands, not spending enough time with them? THanks for the reminder, Beth. Your day didn’t start the way you wanted it to but think of the story you and Ariel have to share for years to come and the new tradition you have created.
I love this post. So many times I find myself caught up in doing dishes, paying bills, checking emails, etc. I forget that I need to focus MORE on my son. He is 6 and will never be the boy he is today ever again. We must take time to be with our kids and step away from the craziness of daily life. What memories do we want them to have? Taking walks and looking at bugs with their parents OR watching mom and dad run around doing errands, not spending enough time with them? THanks for the reminder, Beth. Your day didn’t start the way you wanted it to but think of the story you and Ariel have to share for years to come and the new tradition you have created.
Sounds like you two had a great day after all.
And good for you for taking the bad and making good…after running over the bike, I would have been done.
Sounds like you two had a great day after all.
And good for you for taking the bad and making good…after running over the bike, I would have been done.
Wahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! You are making me cry AGAIN. I am so glad you got to spend that quality time with Ariel.
Wahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! You are making me cry AGAIN. I am so glad you got to spend that quality time with Ariel.
LEMONADE for sure my dear…for sure.
beautiful!
LEMONADE for sure my dear…for sure.
beautiful!
You made me tear up. It is nice to read about turning something that could have been just an annoyed, bad morning into something so sweet. Just slowing down and just being.
You made me tear up. It is nice to read about turning something that could have been just an annoyed, bad morning into something so sweet. Just slowing down and just being.
Thanks for sharing this. I was known for some time (you know, like 10-15 years ago) as being a silver lining person. I’m not exactly sure when it stopped, but Im more of a “figures this would happen” kinda gal. I definitely need to re-enter the world of “my God is sovereign and He knows best!” Thanks for the reminder!
Thanks for sharing this. I was known for some time (you know, like 10-15 years ago) as being a silver lining person. I’m not exactly sure when it stopped, but Im more of a “figures this would happen” kinda gal. I definitely need to re-enter the world of “my God is sovereign and He knows best!” Thanks for the reminder!
Ah, Beth… it never is the Disney Worlds or the parties… it is the moment when time makes you richer, enveloped in the blessing of the pure joy of it all!
Beautiful, beautiful post, and reminder for the rest of us as we celebrate Mother’s Day.
Happy, Happy Mother’s Day to you…
xo-
Sharon
Ah, Beth… it never is the Disney Worlds or the parties… it is the moment when time makes you richer, enveloped in the blessing of the pure joy of it all!
Beautiful, beautiful post, and reminder for the rest of us as we celebrate Mother’s Day.
Happy, Happy Mother’s Day to you…
xo-
Sharon
Go you for making some wonderful lemonade with your day. I’m so happy you got to spend the day with your little girl and feel the presence of you two little boys too. It sounds like you have a wonderful plan for Mother’s Day. Enjoy!
Go you for making some wonderful lemonade with your day. I’m so happy you got to spend the day with your little girl and feel the presence of you two little boys too. It sounds like you have a wonderful plan for Mother’s Day. Enjoy!
This was a beautiful post. I firmly believe that things do happen for a reason…I’ve had too many things randomly happen (both good and bad) that changed by life perfectly to not believe in it.
This was a beautiful post. I firmly believe that things do happen for a reason…I’ve had too many things randomly happen (both good and bad) that changed by life perfectly to not believe in it.
Wow! It is amazing how a day can turn completely around! The blessings that so often go unnoticed. I am glad you had such a beautiful day.
Wow! It is amazing how a day can turn completely around! The blessings that so often go unnoticed. I am glad you had such a beautiful day.
When you described the feeling of knowing your laptop was sitting on the table while you were locked outside, I sympathized with your frustration. When you talked about the look on Ariel’s face when she needed to poop, I laughed out loud. When you said you backed out of the garage and hit Ariel’s bike, I said “Oh my God” out loud. When you said Ariel gave you the comfort you needed while feeling said thinking about missing James and Jakes, I cried.
This was the best post ever. So hilarious, emotional and enlightening all at the same time. I will think about this post whenever I have a bad day; your strength and courage are an inspiration to me, and others I’m certain.
P.S. Your blog is the bomb…
When you described the feeling of knowing your laptop was sitting on the table while you were locked outside, I sympathized with your frustration. When you talked about the look on Ariel’s face when she needed to poop, I laughed out loud. When you said you backed out of the garage and hit Ariel’s bike, I said “Oh my God” out loud. When you said Ariel gave you the comfort you needed while feeling said thinking about missing James and Jakes, I cried.
This was the best post ever. So hilarious, emotional and enlightening all at the same time. I will think about this post whenever I have a bad day; your strength and courage are an inspiration to me, and others I’m certain.
P.S. Your blog is the bomb…
This post really moved me. I like Jdude’s comment about forgetting to notice the blessings when we are “locked out.” I am so glad you were able to see and feel the blessing of the day.
This post really moved me. I like Jdude’s comment about forgetting to notice the blessings when we are “locked out.” I am so glad you were able to see and feel the blessing of the day.
What a beautiful post! I know there are unexpected times when I feel close with our first daughter, and I am so thankful.
Thanks for sharing, Beth!
What a beautiful post! I know there are unexpected times when I feel close with our first daughter, and I am so thankful.
Thanks for sharing, Beth!
That was a beautiful post. What a way to make the bad morning better.
That was a beautiful post. What a way to make the bad morning better.
I’m so glad you got to do this on this day, since today is cold and rainy. It’s still an incredible tradition, and I think we’ll borrow it from you (and if you say I can’t borrow it then I’ll just steal it. so there.).
I’m so glad you got to do this on this day, since today is cold and rainy. It’s still an incredible tradition, and I think we’ll borrow it from you (and if you say I can’t borrow it then I’ll just steal it. so there.).
What a beautiful post and thanks so much for sharing your most tender thoughts. You are truly gifted.
What a beautiful post and thanks so much for sharing your most tender thoughts. You are truly gifted.
What a beautiful post! Thank you
What a beautiful post! Thank you
What a beautifull post! It made me laugh, and made me cry and gave me goosebumps! I’m so glad that you were able to make lemonade! I LOVE lemonade! I just need to remember to make it more often…. lol I’m glad to see you were able to get back into your house too! hehe. And what a special thing to do on Mothers Day!