A Conversation in My Kitchen

Ok, I'll admit it. Summer is kicking my butt. We had a great summer vacation but I think the girls had the best time of all. There were a thousand things to do and they had all sorts of relatives visiting them and doting over them all the time. There was never a dull moment.

Since we've been back home, things have gone downhill fast. DH has been in and out of town so it's pretty much me and them all the time. They are bored with their stuff and tired of one another's company and are generally going bonkers. Subsequently, I am becoming tired and impatient. I have enrolled them in swimming lessons. I put them in day camp from time to time so we can get a break from each other. I've set up as many play dates and outings as I can manage with Daniel in tow. I'm trying. But I'm failing.

They don't think too much of me these days either. Apparently, I am the one thing standing between them and the time of their lives. That great time would pretty much look like two girls gazing vacantly at Playhouse Disney from fortresses made of Oreos, gummi bears and crackers of all ilk. They have become focussed on food and television and will pester me from daylight till dark for snacks and shows. Every sentence that comes from their mouths is delivered in "outdoor voice" and starts with "Mommmmmmmmy-ahhhhhh?" (which is the way I know it is going to be a nagging request) or "Claire/Jillian won't let me/told me/hit me".

Honestly, from the time their eyes open till their eyes close they nag. I set up elaborate activites I think will keep them going for an hour or so but last about 10 minutes before they are back at the pestering. I set up an outing I think will be fun and they moan about the weather or some other trivial issue within three minutes of leaving the house. I'm out of ideas and there is still almost a month till school starts.

I don't blame them for being done with me. I don't blame me for being done with them. Honestly. I expected summer would look kind of like this so I'm not alarmed. I'm just trying to stay as patient as I can and understand that to three- and four-year-old kids a summer stretches on for a lifetime and coming up with ways to keep busy is hard. That being said, I must be much less together than normal and I'm sure I sound like a broken record to them. I just had this conversation with Jillian:

Jillian: Can I do a puzzle?
Me (dealing with Daniel): Sure. Just gimme a sec and I'll get you one.
Jillian: I want a puzzle.
Me: Uh-huh
Jillian: Mommy, get me a puzzle.
Jillian: Can I have a puzzle?
Jillian: Puzzle.
Me: Jillian? You are nagging! What has nagging ever gotten you?

The standard response to this question is "nothing" and I find it helps the girls see that they are nagging and makes them stop it. It is often followed up by Mommy Tirade 11a which starts with "patience is a virtue" and ends a little later with "besides, nagging is rude" (it's closely related to Mommy Tirade 11b which is about "when Mommy is talking on the telephone..."). Today, the answer was a bit more interesting:

Jillian: Well, usually nothing but sometimes it gets me in trouble.

Yup. I think it's about time I start in on those Oreo fortresses. I wonder if peanut butter or honey would make a better mortar to keep 'em together?

She's lucky she's cute:


Posing with her bandage.