The coincidences continued. Right after I wrote that I had not done any babysitting, the lady called to ask if I could watch her kids again on Thursday.
Tuesday night when I picked up Grant and Abbie, I wasn't very happy with what I found. Abbie was Grant was as usual, but Abbie was sleeping in a poorly applied diaper and nothing else. When I tried to get her ready to leave, she made angry noises in her sleep. Finally, she woke up in earnest as I was putting her in the car, but all I found out was something about a cold bath and Mariah put the diaper on. It was confusing and worrisome. But all mystery dissolved in the morning. According to Grant, Abbie was, "Very VERY bad at Grandma's." Bits and pieces of the story came without my asking. She had a fit of violent hysteria (she does, occasionally) that was triggered by the bath water being the wrong temperature. They called Josh to ask permission to spank her. No one called me. As it happens, spankings do no good when she is in that state. I asked Josh why he said yes. "Well, it probably made my parents feel better." Ah.
So, then Wednesday, I was not really so very happy. It was Josh's last day of working at Lowes and then Coke, so I was alone with Grant and Abbie all day and all night. I got zero sleep. I told myself that I was bracing myself for what would be some unpleasantness on the part of our unwilling twice a week childcare. What I was really doing was working myself into an absolute frenzy. I was petrified of going back there. Especially since I sent an email to Josh's parents saying, "Grant told on Abbie this morning and I'm very sorry. I hope it won't happen again," and received no answer. In the evening, we cleaned.
Thursday morning I watched a screaming baby, a wild 3 year old, and my two kids, who did not handle the situation very well. Josh was asleep downstairs, so I took them in the front yard as long as I could. It wasn't worth the 15 bucks, but I need it.
I spent the rest of the day on the verge of tears, picturing my kids stuck in a house full of dislike. I was a wreck. I ate 3/4 of a movie theater sized box of Dots candy. Yikes. I did everything I could - I even coaxed the kids into afternoon naps. My every nerve was exposed as I got the diaper bag ready when it was time to go. But, somehow, the drive saved me. I was trying hard to get a grip, and it worked, for the most part. I was super early, because I needed to gas up the car, and traffic was lighter than I expected. I talked to Mariah for a few minutes before her dad came in with his commentary on Tuesday evening. Wish you could have seen me! I should get an academy award. I was sympathetic, but mellow. And then, I kissed my kids and made my escape. I was still dreading picking them up. What things were they saying and doing in my absence??? Were they making it even more unpleasant? What would I do if Josh's parents refused to watch them again?
But it was fine. They are fine. I am fine. It's fine. And I don't have to leave them there so long anymore (until the next job change, but I am trying not to think about that).
Friday was good. I had my little plans to watch movies with Josh after the kids went to bed. But he changed his schedule and wasn't even getting off until 10, putting him home at 11, starting the movie at 11:30....and I just couldn't stay up that late after this week. Being that upset is very tiring.
This morning was also the first morning in months that there wasn't a necessity for me to feed the kids while Josh slept. He hadn't worked a night shift and didn't have to be back until 10. I told him it was his turn to be on pop-tart duty. That didn't work well. You see, if Josh is sleeping the kids have to be quiet. Apparently, if I am trying to sleep, they can be loud. The next thing I found out was that Josh had invited everyone he knows to our house tonight. I'm not sure who is going to be able to make it, what with the short notice and it being Mothers' Day weekend.
It was a rough morning, but the result is that Josh feels much better and is perfectly happy. He's off to work until 2, and then we're going to get pizza or chicken (he hasn't decided yet) and have friends over, and then tomorrow we will go to the zoo first thing in the morning.
I'm going to make cookies today. And buy groceries. We are almost out of milk. Yikes! I'd better make sure my recipe doesn't call for any. I was going to do that first! I wanted to go to the library, but I might save that for another day. Today is busy. So far, Heather can't make it tonight, but the Shermans can, I think. I don't know what to get as snacks....
But first! A shower.
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