Monday, April 26, 2010

The Days That End With Wine

From time to time, our little family hits a Saturday where the kids just... seem to have this pent up, built up, need to be frustrating and annoying. They aren't being Bad. They are being kids- plain old, regular old kids. But about once every 2 months, they both hit a Saturday on the same day where they are a little extra demanding, a little extra clingy, a little extra questioning. This past weekend was one of those Saturdays. From the moment they woke up, it was one demand or request after another. And if the response wasn't what was wanted, there was whining. Not a lot- just enough to push the envelope. We had soccer Saturday morning- Teagan's first day in any sport, ever. She did awesome for most of it- and fell apart by the end. Given the demands and whiny-ness of the morning, I wasn't really surprised. Both kids took good naps in the afternoon. I think both are having growth spurts- I can't keep up with the food demands and there are the slightly annoyingly grating behaviors and they are both sleeping more... usually means growing. I headed out for the afternoon- a 2 hour Zumba for Autism event at a friend's gym. It was awesome and I might be completely hooked. Got home... kids were better than before but still pushy and demanding. Jeff was at his wit's end... so I showered, got dinner all set, took the kids out to run an errand and sent Jeff off for some alone time. I have to admit... it was just... one of those days... It's one of my favorite strategies, I have to admit. I get to take a few hours to myself and then give Jeff the chance to do the same. Or, we split the kids up. Then we each get some one on one time with the kids and each kid is infinitely better behaved when they are one on one with a parent. So while Jeff was gone, I got the kids in the tub. While the kids soaked in the tub, I enjoyed (immensely) a glass of Zinfandel Port. The wine had been a gift from Christy in celebration of the Race for the Cure. I was very relaxed as I sat in the bathroom, on the lid of the toilet, drinking my wine, reading my Sookie Stackhouse book while the kids enjoyed a good half hour in a bubble bath. They didn't fight or get crazy with splashing or bubble wars. Bedtime was so easy- I was a mixture of exhuasted from 2 hours of pretty intense cardio (did I mention I loved it??) and relaxed from that lovely wine. We read books, we tucked in, backs were rubbed... and then it was quiet and the day was over. It's hard for me to know if those kinds of days are more about the kids or more about us as the adults. Were Jeff and I just extra sensitive to the complaints and demands? Were we all feeling pent up because of the impending rainy day? Were the kids really in a synced up pattern of difficulty? Who knows, really. All I know is... it was one of those days that just ends better if Mommy gets a little something to take the edge off. Photobucket

13 comments:

Carli said...

I think about this all the time. How in the world will I have time to work out or do anything else for that matter once I have a family of my own? My hats off to all of you wives and mother who still make time to care for you and health. Thanks for using my podcasts!
Carli

Karen M. Peterson said...

I don't know if I'll ever get to be a mom, but I don't know how I would be able to handle it as well as you do. Especially since I don't drink alcohol!

Garret said...

Mmmmmmmmm wine. I've been acquiring a taste for it.

Eternal Lizdom said...

I really don't drink often- it isn't a nightly thing or even a weekly thing. Usually, a bottle lasts a couple of weeks and then it will be a couple of weeks before I even buy and open another bottle.

@Carli Now I feel like a superstar has visited my blog! YOU ROCK!! Such an inspiration!

@Karen I get through most hard days without wine so it is totally possible. Just... there are some days that a little wine... just... makes the end of a hard day glide a little bit.

@Garret Red? White? I'm generally a red fan and I tend to prefer spicier dry wines. The Zinfandel Port is a real treat- it comes from Trader Joe's. It's a small bottle, it's $10. It's higher in calories because it is a sweeter wine but it is so very complex. Yum!

Garret said...

I like both. I'm VERY new to the wine scene so I don't have any preferences yet.

CH_BeBestMe said...

We have those days too once in a while. And, like you, I often wonder if it's truly them or is it us as adults? I'm never quite sure. I'm not much of a drinker, but we tend to deal with it with humor. Hubby and I look each other in the eye and say "cue circus music." Or else one of us will just start humming it. It makes us laugh and instantly puts us back in a better mindset.

C. Beth said...

It sounds like the day ended up really great. And I'm sure you'll agree with me--a day that is mostly rough but ends up great, is SO much better than a day that starts out great but ends up mostly rough! :)

Liz Mays said...

I think moms and wines go hand in hand!

Alison said...

Started with whine, ended with wine...better than the other way around!

Anne said...

I have so many days that end with wine I thought about naming my blog "Me and Merlot", Don't steal that one, copyright is pending ;) We have those days, too, and whatever you can do to get through it is fantastic. ;)

Nancy C said...

I'm feeling ya. We often do the weekend trade-off so that we both get some alone time without kiddos.

Kori said...

It's funny how many people focus on the fact that you drank wine; why is that? I think, within reasn, whatever it takes-I like to get in a hot bath with or without bubbles and drink tea; unfortunately, we have only the one bathroom for all six of us, and often it isn't my turn until almost time for bed, so I don't typically indulge. Tea, almost always.

And you are great parents, you know?

mimbles said...

Alone time is not a luxury to me, it's a necessity! If I don't get a few hours of me at home in an empty house at least once a week I go a bit peculiar. Which is why I've swapped my working days around this week and am at home on my own right now, I missed out last week and I wasn't sure I'd last till Thursday.

We have a wine cellar (sort of, it's two walls of the downstairs study - we covet a dedicated space though) and we do love good wine. But we regularly go 2 or 3 weeks at a time without drinking any at all. In fact, the more stressed I am the less alcohol appeals to me, especially while the kids are still up. Weird hey? :-)