Remember when

Once upon a time I was a sane individual. No really! I did normal things, with other normal people that had relatively normal outcomes.


THEN...

Dinner meant that you sat down at a table and passed some nice hot food to other people at the table (who asked for it nicely) and used cutlery to put it in your mouth.

NOW...

Dinner is a word I yell four to five times that doesn't seem to have any real meaning. Three people find their way to the table in varying states of undress, the fourth has to be found and pried away from the television and placed in her seat at least twice. Four plates of nice hot food are served, passed on, argued over, measured and shoved. I sit down to hot food, only to rise again six times. Once for clean silverware,(the original having been dropped), twice for paper towels,(spilled drinks) once to remove the toy from under the butt of another diner,(no toy at the table rule) once more to wipe the hand of another diner who refuses to use her new silverware. And finally, once to reheat my formerly nice hot food.

THEN...

Bedtime was a time a bit after dinner when everyone retired to their room, took turns using the one bathroom and going to sleep.

NOW...

Bedtime is chasing three people (in varying states of undress) through the house yelling that if I step on one more toy I'm going to feed it to the dog. Three people fighting over one toilet,(even though there are two more available) and no one being able to remember who's toothbrush is which color. Three bodies flying through the air as I throw them in the general direction of their beds. Giggles, squeals and screams,(she touched me, that was mine, she farted) and demands of three different stories assail my ears. After about forty five minutes, snoring can be heard. Its mine. I am kicked and told to sing a song.

THEN...

Riding in the car was discussions of interesting topics, politics, most recent book read, how ones family was doing, or listening to music and singing. Often sightseeing was enjoyed.

NOW...

Everyone is already sweating from the struggle to get into the proper seat and belted into place. (God bless the person who made it legal to tie up my children!) No discussion is truly possible over the cries,(She touched me, that was mine, she farted) and demands of three different cd's to be played. The youngest can't really say what she wants, but the other two are yelling so she has to also. The only sights pointed out are pooping dogs, ugly people, and McDonalds, (there goes another one! you missed it again!)

THEN...

The Mall was cool. You went there to be seen and to see others. You did alot of your clothes shopping there. At least you wanted to. You sat on benches and drank fancy coffee, ate pretzels from the hot pretzel place, and watched people.

NOW...

The Mall is a den of terror. Way too easily three people (in varying states of undress) disappear from my view. One at a time, of course (this being the only time they take turns). Clothing racks are looked into instead of looked at as you drag one after another out of the middle (this being an enchanted place where the faeries must live and therefore must be repeatedly explored). We sit on benches to share a drink of pop and choke on pretzels which are half chewed and then spat back out (hopefully into a napkin) because too large a bite was taken. Shouts are heard (that was mine, she touched me, I want that, she farted). And now WE have become the people being watched.

THEN...

I had a normal life.

NOW...

I have a life that I love.







I have three daughters ages 8, 4, and 2. Plus a husband... (that makes four kids!)