Do you ever feel like a broken record?
If moms were paid for every time they said “no”, or “don’t do that”, we’d gain financial independence by the time our children turn two years old. Talk about feeling like it’s all worth it.
But those moments when we can’t say anything, should be worthy of just as much interest, if not more. Those moments when something has gone the completely wrong way and you’re left with no other option but to just give in and face the hurdle head on, rather than expend energy trying to fight it.
The other day I got a call from my son’s preschool. It’s never a good sign getting a call at work from your child’s school. Matthew wasn’t feeling well. I assured preschool that I’d be there soon and headed out from the office. I showed up and Matthew immediately wanted me to hold him. It was clear he was feeling punky at best. I held him and rocked as I clumsily gathered his backpack and lunchbox. I got to talking to one of the preschool assistants, not realizing that there would soon be a clean-up on aisle seven.
Mid conversation, Matthew lifted his head off of my shoulder. I thought for a split second maybe he wanted to get in on the conversation. I was wrong. About five seconds later, I could feel the warm liquid stream down and under my shirt, paint my pants, slip into my flip-flop, and then splash onto the tile floor.
My son had just thrown up all over me.
Here’s the part where I just stood there thinking, “so that just happened”. The preschool assistant looked at me and quickly asked what I’d like to do. Uh, go back to one minute ago and put my son down.
Okay that’s not true – I’m so glad I was there for him. AND I’m so glad he got that out NOT in the car. The truth was I didn’t know what to do for a second.
What should I do?
I actually started to think about how I had told my work that I would be back online as quickly as possible. I know, yuck.
Then, after looking (and smelling) Matthew, then me, I realized that this thought was lots of steps ahead and I just needed to focus on the tasks at hand – getting us back home and cleaned up. Work would have to wait (for emotional and logistical reasons).
We eventually got back home and hosed off. Matthew took a long nap, and I hopped online to check-in at work. To say life ended up going on as originally scheduled, is not the point of all of this.
Life will get in the way of what you have planned. It will interfere with your schedule on a small (throw-up, flat tire, bad traffic) and larger scale (death of a loved one, natural disaster). And giving into the challenge is sometimes the path of least resistance. Notice I didn’t say the easiest path.
You don’t always have to fight it. It wasn’t supposed to be this way. You know what, you are absolutely right.
And it’s okay to let the other stuff wait.
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