Day 149

Not a great morning...but are you completely surprised? It all started off just fine. Some would even say perfectly. Homework was done, and I was serving up breakfast without problem. I had time to draw with Zach, and read some of "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" to Nathaniel. It was about 8:30 when things started to go wrong. I all of a sudden wasn't feeling good, so while the boys got ready, coats, shoes and bags, I went upstairs. (SO here I am thinking I'm doing well for time, and that it's only about 10 o'clock...turns out it's 10:40 and I should be asleep. So this won't be a long one). While I was upstairs, the boys began to fight, which did not help my stress levels, which in turn, did not help the way I was feeling. Then I get a stressed out Josh yelling up that it's 10 to. As if I didn't already have my eye on the clock. I eventually got downstairs, hardly able to walk, and we jumped in the car and drove to the school. I explained to them that in situations such as that, they needed to be able to be in the same room as each other, without supervision, for more than 2 minutes without fighting. Their excuse was that they didn't know I wasn't feeling well. While I know their comment was indeed true, I also know that's not why they were fighting. We got to the school and were walking up to the gate when the bell rang. Josh ran to class, and Nathaniel went off not long after. I didn't get a hug from either of them :( I felt terrible for starting their day in such a stressful manner. I hugged Zach, and he lined up to go in. I stood and had a conversation with Tina, and then headed home. I had a couple of things I had to quickly do before Jazzercise, and afraid I was going to be late for that now as well, I jumped in the car. I parked at the co-op, went to the bank, and walked across to the institute. I followed one of the other ladies into the hall, and it turned out we were the first 2 there. All that panic for no reason. I was early!

Jazzercise was more difficult today. A lot of the exercises were the same, but my calves were killing me, making it hard to move as much as I normally do. At the end of class, still feeling as though I accomplished SOMETHING, just not as much as usual, I walked up to the post office, and then back to the car. I drove home and showered. Then spent the rest of the day painting my nails and catching up on TV. I also got to speak to my Dad briefly on the phone which was nice. After an episode of Grey's Anatomy, and an episode of Big Bang Theory, it was time to go get the boys. The moment I stood up from the couch, I was frozen. I tried to bundle up, but it wasn't enough. It was a lovely day...I just hadn't prepared myself properly as I had been out in just a hoodie, no coat, just hours before. Odd.

I was early picking them up. I stood at the gate, again talking to Tina, and she could tell something was up. She told me my eyes didn't have the sparkle they normally do. Aww. I told her I was ok, and she asked if I was sure, at which point I almost broke into tears, but somehow managed to hold myself together and lie. I said I was fine. Josh came out first, still with a headache, and then Zach who wanted to know what time his mom would be home, then Nathaniel. Zach wanted a carry, and we made it through half of the first path before my arm started to bug me too much and I had to put him down.

When we got home, the boys grabbed a snack, and I let them have a sweet. Something I may get in trouble for. Josh told me later that when his mom asked what he had for snack...he lied. - Not exactly what I was going for... - I told him he didn't have to lie, and he could still have another snack...I don't know if he ended up telling her that he ate 3 fizzy fish or not. Anyways, after their snack Nathaniel and Zach got in the bath and I washed their hair while Josh read to me. They got in their PJ's and we all went downstairs to wait for the hairdresser. By this time, Heloise had already arrived. She made dinner and did Zach and Nathaniel's homework with them while I did Josh's with his and watched Zach draw.

The hairdresser showed up to give Nathaniel and Zach a trim, and Heloise headed off to parent/teacher interviews. When the boys hair was done, we sat down for dinner. Zach had a meltdown and flung a wobbler about eating his potato, and I am sure it was all because they were calling it bubble and squeak. He loves potato, but at the sound of this name, he wouldn't put it in his mouth. His attitude drives me sometimes. We sat there for ages waiting for him to eat, and nothing was working. I took away his DS and TV for tomorrow but as I'm only allowed to take things away a day at a time, I was running out of options fast, and had to think quickly on my toes. Not cool! I told him if he didn't start eating the potato in the next 5 minutes not only would he not be allowed sweets ever again as a treat during the week, but that he would be going to bed without fruit, dessert, or a story. (I felt like a monster). Do you think the threat worked though? Absolutely not. I marched a crying little boy up to his room, did his teeth and put him to bed. He came down and asked for water, I got it and brought it up to him. I sat downstairs and read to Nathaniel while Josh listened from the table. About half an hour later, it was time for them to go to bed. I went up to say goodnight, and sat down on Zach's bed to explain why I had punished him. I told him I would never make him sit there and eat something he didn't like, as I know there are things I wouldn't like to eat, but said knowing he liked potato, he was being silly throwing a tantrum about eating it. I knew it was cuz of the name, and because Nathaniel hadn't had any. I told him I don't punish him because I don't like him, I love him, but when I make rules, I stick to them, and that is why he went to bed without anything. He seemed to understand, and asked when his mom would be home. I was sure he'd get me in trouble with her, but I told him soon, and went downstairs.

When Heloise and Tim got in from the meeting I told her that I had said she'd go up to see him, and forewarned her about his punishment. She came back down saying he was already asleep. I wasn't really surprised. She couldn't believe the 3 of them were already in bed. Guess even though it was bumpy, it was a job well done.

I worked hard on some writing, and spoke to my Mom and my Brother, and now I am going to sleep...after taking my turn online in Scrabble. Good Night xx