I didn't really like that sweater anyway

I've discovered that motherhood is a matter of perspective.  I'm a successful mother depending on how I look at things.  For instance, if I choose to see the grass stains on the good pants instead of appreciating the fun my son had with a good buddy that he doesn't see often, I'm successful.  If I yell at my son for ruining his pants and curse the laundry detergent for not doing all the commercial promises it can, I'm not successful.  You get the picture.

Tim is in California visiting his parents.  We're sad the whole family couldn't go as we would like to have seen Grandma and Grandpa too, but a visit for all just wasn't in the cards right now.  We're glad Tim could go.  And we're attempting to manage the chaos that has occurred since he left. 

On Sunday, prior to Tim's leaving, I dressed the boys up in new clothes from Mum-Mum and Pop-Pop. The calm before the storm.  Thank you to them and to CUMC for having a consignment sale! By the way, they look a little cold because the temps dipped down into the upper 60s overnight from Saturday to Sunday.  Break out the parkas, fellow Floridians!!

But seriously, doesn't the word "dapper" just spring to mind when you see this picture?

Tim left Monday afternoon and all was well until Tuesday morning.  We made it a whole 18 hours before chaos erupted. I emailed a friend about my day so I thought I would copy it here for all to see:

• 7:45 - Dropped Liam off at daycare and took Micah to work with me
• 9:00 - Dropped Micah off at preschool
• 9:05 - Got message on my phone from daycare that they thought Liam had ringworm and I had to come get him
• 9:15 - Stop by the house to get things to entertain Liam at my work before the pediatrician appt
• 10:20 - Pediatrician appt; confirmed ringworm diagnosis at 11
• 11:20 - Dropped Liam back at daycare since he could go if area is covered and had note from doctor
• 12:05 - Five minutes late picking Micah up at preschool, but I had called to let them know I would be late and they were nice enough to be having a dance party with him when I got there.
• 12:15 - Dropped Micah off at daycare
• 12:20 - Stop at home to pack lunch for myself and grab pants for Liam since he won't keep the bandaid on the ringworm
• 12:30 - Dropped pants off at daycare
• 12:45 - Finally back at work for an extended period of time
• 5:15 - Picked boys up from daycare (where they have signs on the doors saying kids have been diagnosed with ringworm and watch your children for this contagious disease, which made me feel great!) and go to CVS to pick up medical cream for Liam. While at CVS, Liam is very lethargic and lays his head on my shoulder while I carried him through the store
• 6:15 - Liam throws up at home, all over himself, me, and the boys' bathroom; apparently it's unrelated to ringworm (according to a quick search at WebMD), and he has a fever of about 100
• 7:00 - Liam wakes up from sleeping on me for half an hour because I finally decide Micah needs to eat dinner at some point prior to bed and he's too little to get it for himself
• 7:15 - Micah gets dinner; Liam eats a little but complains of a stomachache, understandably.  After the boys are done eating, I let Liam play the iPad and then I finally get to help Micah build the track for the really long train he put together

• 8:00 - Bedtime for the boys
• 8:30 - Liam is asleep
• 9:45 - Micah is asleep
• 10:00 - Talked to a friend on the phone
• 10:45 - Talked to Tim in CA
• 11:15 - Collapsed into bed.  Not gonna lie - I didn't even brush my teeth.  Just took my contacts out and went to bed.

And that was my day. 

So I could look back at that day and weep for the insanity of it all and mourn the state of my house.  It would be easy to feel sorry for myself and maybe even somewhat justified.  But instead, I thought the following:

• Being a single parent is rare for me, and it's always for a relatively brief time.  God bless those who do it all the time, be it because of the military or sales jobs or whatever else frequently takes one parent away from a family.
• I have a great daycare and preschool who have offered all the support I could ever have asked for and then some.  Even thought I was only five minutes late picking up Micah from preschool and I had called to let them know, it was wonderful to know that he was safe while I was shown mercy.  God bless those who do not have such an incredible support system.
• I have a job that gives me great flexibility when I need it, and I work close to where my children go to school and daycare.  God bless those whose jobs are more rigid and unforgiving, and those who work too far away to come and care for their sick children in the middle of the day if needed.
• I have a friend who texted and said, "I'm bringing your kids happy meals tonight and you're not allowed to say no!"  I didn't, and she even allowed me to change the day she brings the happy meals.  God bless friends who watch out for me more than I watch out for myself.

I have been showered with undeserved blessings at every turn, and I am grateful.  So I could be really bitter about going through this stuff, or I could laugh through the craziness, look at the sweater that Liam threw up all over, and think, "I didn't really like that sweater anyway."

Update: both boys are doing great today.  And they're managing to be a little bit precious too.