is much like herding a bunch of crazy cats for a bath. Or at least trying to get kids ready for church. Oh you know what it is like, Monday through Friday everyone seems to get up fine you have your routine down, get dressed, eat breakfast, get your shoes on, brush your teeth and make sure you have any outstanding homework in your bags. Then all pile into the car to head off to school and me to my job (I work only when they are at school). I have coffee cup in hand, and everything goes relatively smoothly. Then Sunday arrives. Kids can not seem to get up, even after said parent first nicely comes into room saying “time to get up sleepy head”. Five minutes later, “come on you better get up or we will be late”. 10 minutes later said parent comes in and says, “if you don’t move your butt right now, said hand will be on your butt!!”. Oh starting Sunday off in the right tone.
The day before I could have just spent one child’s college fund going grocery shopping to feed this heard. But when Sunday arrives, “there is nothing to eat”. I list off at least 10 things they can make themselves (remember I have “almost teenagers”). But none of it is good enough for Sunday.
One child can not find a shoe; one child is caught playing a game instead of getting ready, and one child if playing with the dog. There are remarks made, and kids half dressed complaining, all pile into car off to Sunday school. While parents are trying not to pull all of their hair out, and trying to remain somewhat reasonable.
Now try to get those same three “soon to be teenagers” packed for a trip. “Mom I only have two pairs of jeans for the whole week.”, “Mom can I bring my power rangers outfit for Grandma and Grandpa?” “Look Mom the cat actually does fit in my suitcase, can he come?” And then I get all the clothes cleaned (secretly wishing they could run naked for a week because I know I will be up Friday night washing all the clothes once again). And for some reason one kid will want to wear EVERY outfit they own this particular week.
Five people, five suitcases. Three “soon to be teenagers”, three little carry on bags. One mother to pack it all!!! Somewhere the math went very wrong here. I know all this week I will be having nightmares of me trying to explain to some TSA agent what was found in one child’s pocket. “No sir, I did not know he was actually carrying nail clippers”, “yes I understand they are not
allowed”, “the funny thing is, I could never get the child to use them while at home, do you think I could get him to clip his nails right now before we go through security it might be my only chance”.
So just like when we arrive at church and sink into the pews trying to put on our happy face. I will be collapsing into my plane seat on Saturday, hoping they got all five suitcases, or at least mine. And trying to put on a happy face. But when I arrive, I know there will be very happy, refreshed pair of grandparents on the other side. Thank God for Grandparents!!!
PS- any burglars reading this blog, just know I have an attack cat on duty. Along with a 250lb biker dude watching the house. Just in case….
LOL!! You are living my life–! The suitcases and the nail clippers, oh yes
We do that same Math!
Chrissy (singalullaby.typepad)
Sometimes the getting out of town is the worst part of it all!
Hope you have a great trip!
Okay I will remember this the next time I complain about packing for me and my husband. I have it easy! Poor you! I guess you reminded me to enjoy this time in my life b/c I don’t have a clue how crazy it is going to get
Oh goodness, Laurel. I so hate to see you losing it. Hee hee.
Oh yeah, getting a trip together with kids involved is one of life’s greatest pleasures. I have so been there and done that.
Now. Relax. It will all work out. You’ll all get on board the plane with no arrests involved, arrive and the grandparents will take over. Thank goodness for grandparents, right? Because being one myself, I know for sure they’ll just snatch the kids up and you’ll finally be able to relax.
Just try to see that little grandparent light at the end of this tunnel.
I’m happy about your trip and I’m really happy to know you may actually get to eat this time!
I know EXACTLY how you feel LOL.
Once you get there, it will be all worth it.
Have a great trip!
PS is it selfish of me to hope that you will have Internet access on your holiday?
I figure when I’m gone, maybe the fairies will come in and clean it all up for me. Or at least scoop the catbox. Everything’s insured – and I could live without most of it anyway! Have a great trip – and lucky grandparents to have you all there.
I know how that feels! I don’t know which is better packing or unpacking… LOL
Oh, that nails clippers bit is too funny… Go have a blast and enjoy your time with family. (And try to do as much laundry as possible before you come home.
LOL! My fridge is always empty with just one teenage boy. I cannot imagine three! Not to mention the electric bill of the fridge light bulb constantly burning from the fridge door being open. :v) Have a wonderful trip!
Ah, yes. Traveling with children. Always an adventure in parenting! I always have much repenting to do once we are on the plane, LOL.
Praying for safe travels and hoping we’ll get to read how it all goes!
You are so funny lol
. I hope you have a good time with the grandparents. We are leaving town next week. We will be driving in a minivan for 10 hours. Your story is preparing me for next week.
Enjoy your week!
~Betty
Ah yes, the story of our Sundays. Makes me glad we seldom take trips and never fly with our kids–too expensive.
For Sundays my husband finally got sick of the yelling and blaring music (I put Swing Praise and Alan Root CDs on at top volume after I inite the children to wake up and then leave the room. It works.) My husband suggested we start having everything ready the night before, which means back packs in the car, shoes under kitchen chairs, coats on the backs, breakfast planned (toast or crackers) and if they don’t want it in the morning they go without (not such a big deal since after the first service and before the second is coffee and donuts, whcih they look forward to anyway.)
Goodness, didn’t mean to go off and write a novel on you. I was going to sugest something someone mentioned last time I packed for a trip. Put each outfit in a 2 quart ziplock bag so when they root throuh their bags looking for things the outfits don’t get mixed and matched–which with girl clothes means no match for the rest, so maybe you won’t have that problem. I do fold all outfits, including socks and underwear together so that all can be found.
So enough and now go relax and enjoy yourself. Worst case you can probaly get the grandparents to replace something if it gets left behind. My Inlaws do that all the time. ast time my daughter forgot to take pjs so instead of driving the 4 miles o our house my MIL tok her to Target and got her a new set. Go figure.
So relax and check all the pockets prior to the airport.
Very funny…and true!! Hope you have a wonderful trip and everything goes smoothly. I swear by the time I’m done planning and packing for our vacations, I need a vacation of my own (sans children:D)
You are too funny! I hope you have a great trip!!
Have a blessed trip!
I think most of us can relate to this! I can get myself and my kids out the door to go somewhere by 9am most days of the week. But Sunday? No way. Most of the time I am near tears by the time I get to church and wishing they just had a quiet room to sit in for parents who had a rough morning getting there.
Oh.. and by the way, have a great trip! Grandparents ARE wonderful, aren’t they!
You are too funny
– I can’t even imagine where to start with three (four) boys/men in my household. I already have enough laundry with only three in our household…
…
I can totally understand that you are looking forward seeing your family on the other side of the plane trip
I understand. I am now only having to pack for two, and I finally rebelled and told my husband if he will at least lay out what he wants to take I’ll pack it!! I was thinking about the days when I had to pack for five of us – not fun. However, as you said, it is definitely worth it. As a grandparent I can confidently say they won’t really care what the kids are wearing. You just seem to relax like that when you’re the grandparent. It’s a wonderful thing.
Have a wonderful, blessed time.