There's Always Tomorrow...

This was a joyful, peaceful, refreshing scene this morning. Mug wanted to wake REW up and sing, "Rise and Shine" to her AND get into bed with her! Nice. I am blessed by these moments. Especially when they do not end with a right hook to REW's head. Yes, this was a much needed change from yesterday....

don't worry, he is not biting her here.

and yes, this is a hug. A sincere and moderately gentle one. We are finally learning.

...what I meant by the title of this post was there's always tomorrow for another swimming lesson. Blasted swimming lessons. Yesterday, I am sweating because I am bookin' it to get Tristan sunscreened up and out the door to his first lesson of the summer. Thankfully, Gigi offered to keep REW. This year, it is just Mug and his cousin, Colton. I thought they would learn more than they did last year if they had private lessons. He would be more advanced and mature. Who was I kidding? The kid woke up at 6:30am. Fine. But not for a 12:30 pm lesson. That rise and shine face needs a nap by 1 when he gets up that early. First mistake. What's the second mistake you ask? Just signing up for the dern things anyway. That's the second mistake.

I am bound and determined to not "get in" with him. No, no, he is much too advanced for mommy in the pool. C'mon. The minute he gets in with the instructor, he bawls. He fits. He screams. He runs around the yard like a tyrant. The. whole. 30. minutes. I sit there seething. I want to throw a tantrum myself. I give him the evil eye. The "you're gonna get it" eye. The "I paid $75 dollars for this week-o-fun so get your tiny hiney back in that pool and kick your legs" eye.

But, the battle was lost. Mug 1, Mama 0. Lovely to watch little Colton paddle by so compliant. I swoop the basket case up, run out like a raving looney and all but hit the popsicle out of the young teacher's hand on my way out the gate, "NO thanks, no popsicle for him today." I mumbled as I flew past her. I am now really sweating. I am so mad. I figure out another emotion I am feeling...embarrassment. Not sure of me feeling embarrassed of him, or if I am embarrassed that I am embarrassed. Car door closes. I start the car. "Mommy, why I didn't get a pasicle?" I reply, "Because, you cried the whole time." And I drive off in tears.

I was in a funk the whole day. Over what? A swim lesson gone bad? Am I a stage mom or something? Sheesh, lady! Get a GRIP! After several pep talks from good friends and an extremely rational husband, I have simmered. I sometimes forget that kids are kids. And this kid is a TODDLER! I think I forget all the little factors play into his "moods" like nap time, feeling well (he had a case of mild heat exhaustion on Saturday) and just plain being fearful and wanting his mommy! I messed up...again. Such a journey motherhood is! So today, Mug and I started our day praying outloud God's promises together from the Bible. Then, we prayed for his friends. Then, I prayed for the swim lesson. My attitude. My responses. Apparently, I am not unlike him when I do not get my way. I decided to take my camera and laugh about it. If it is a tantrum day, so be it. I will take pictures of that. These are them from today. They were better. Can't get much worse. He actually got in and swam on the noodle at the end of the lesson. With me. Actually, I conducted the entire lesson myself. Too bad we don't have a pool or I would have a lot of extra dough! Anyway, Mug got his "pasicle" today. Another lesson learned here at The Mommy Office.