Children’s book
This is a story that’s just for you, and maybe a little something for parents too.
Each day the sun rises and shines through the sky, over mountains and trees and seas from on high. It beams on your house and peaks through your blinds, saying “wake up! It’s morning time.”
You watched the sunset with a glass of red wine, high hopes of good sleep and some time to unwind, but the kids were restless- no dreams for you and that blasted sun woke them at 6:42.
Kick off those blankets, and put on some clothes, stripes and pokadots, rain boots and hair bows. It’s a wonderful day maybe try on a dress, good outfits are found in the midst of a mess. Don’t forget little brother he needs clothes too, a romper and slip-on running fast shoes.
Who’s turn is it this time? You debate for a minute, it’s one of those days you’ve both reached your limit. And then a big crash and a bang ring out- “kiiids!” yelled in unison from both of your mouths.
Hot fluffy pancakes drizzled with syrup and butter, bright yellow eggs with salt and no pepper- almond milk in the pink and blue cups, bendy straws, placemats, feeding scraps to the pup. You eat quickly, pancakes in shapes of all kinds- you call out to dad “make a heart this time”
You use as little syrup as humanly possible, for the inevitable sugar rush is a disaster unstoppable. Hoping they both keep the food on their plates and the milk in the cups for goodness sake. They finish quickly and stomp out of the room while you’re left on hands and knees with dustpan and broom.
What great adventures are awaiting today. Off to the garden to put on a play. First we must go and build a stage, chairs for the audience, a flower path parade. Streamers and decorations, you’ll paint up some signs, and write out programs for guests waiting in line. It will be more than a play it will be a party, a ballet, a concert, and brother demonstrating karate.
Just as you started a great conversation, you hear the kids screaming to get your attention. “We’ve made a surprise” said with big batting eyes, and your heart does a backflip as you try to compromise. They’re so sweet and cute, and proud of their show, But it’s only act 1 with 9 acts to go.
Go dig a trench, and turn on the hose, bare foot with mud squished between toes. Looking for earth worms and picking warm veggies, put in a bucket with dirt making garden spaghetti.
In they come dripping, covered head to feet, tracking sloppy foot prints through the kitchen just cleaned. They ask you to try their recipe, so you grab the spoon pretending it’s oh so yummy. The tomatoes they picked were not quite ripe, but you disguise disappointment and send them outside.
You’ve jumped on the trampoline, and swung on the swing, hid in the teepee and ran from a bee. Just as you think there is nothing left to do, mom tells you it’s lunch time and brings a picnic for two. It doesn’t get much better than sandwiches in the grass with the cool breeze whispering it’s time to relax.
Do you think that it’s possible they will take a nap, you can see in their eyes they are about to collapse. So you clean them up after lunch and you lay them both down but the struggle is real when the gardeners come around, the mower is loud and the blower won’t quit so you decide on a car ride, parents’ secret trick.
The car bumps and wakes you, you ask mom “was I snoozing?”, wipe the drool off your face and see brother smiling while cruising. Car rides are great for sing-a-longs and I spy, the sun follows us from high up in the sky. Stare at the clouds and imagine their shapes like dragons, unicorns, castles and snakes.
Turn on the music and take a deep breath, the kids are strapped in and quiet- now rest. The outings are good for us grownups too, some time to think clearly before chaos ensues. So we drive up the coast and park at the beach to burn off some energy and get some relief.
Look in the tide pools and spot some starfish, collect the sea glass and shells for a dish to decorate the table for the banquet tonight, lots of fine treasures buried in plain sight. We run and we splash as the sand fills our shoes drawing pictures with driftwood and seaweed is good.
Us parents hold hands as we watch the kids play, the madness and shrieks of the day fade away, while we watch our babies discover the simplist pleasures of life it all seems to make sense and well worth the strife. Of course they fight us again when it’s time to go but we’re thankful and happy and sort of sad seeing them grow.
You get home and take baths and put the sea treasures aside, talk about the garden and performances and sing lullabys. You’ve ate dinner and brushed teeth, pajamas and snuggles there’s promises tomorrow of science experiments with bubbles. You love mom and dad, say prayers for your cousins, grandparents, Your friends, aunts, uncles and all loved ones. Two books have been read and the lights go out. Good dreams tonight in the little beach house.
They fall asleep quick and we take a moment to fawn as they breathe in and out peacefully, our creations, our family our spawns. The love we feel overcomes the most difficult of days, it’s all worth it, just please let us get some sleep for a change.