Honest

*Disclaimer* POOP AHEAD

Let's just be honest. For one entire blog post. Parenting is hard. Really really hard. No one can really explain it to you until your in the thick of it; and by that point there is no turning back.

Today started like any other day. Early. That was okay though, because everyone was in a pretty good mood to start out. Both Lily and Drew had classes at the rec center today (which is a great resource, that I will tell you all about in a later post) Anyway, days that we have fun things to do generally go better than not.

I'm pretty rigid with the schedule around here. Every expert says that children thrive one a schedule. I have to have one so that I can have some organization to my day. My brain is pretty chaotic, so the schedule helps to keep everyone grounded. So, today, like every other day of basically their entire lives; after lunch is quiet time. It has been for as long as any of them can remember.

However, I've come to dread this once great hour of peaceful and quiet bliss in the middle of my hectic days. It is now such an hour of torture, that I'm not sure what to do with myself. Since Lily is older and dropped her nap many, many moons ago; she is just required to stay in her room to play quietly for an hour or so. Drew is to take a nap (which has started to become more of an issue recently.)

Today right after lunch I sent Lily to her room (what a joke, right?) Drew claimed to have to go to the bathroom in the toilet. He's been known to have some success, so I do my best effort to give him as long as he needs in the bathroom. He came out of the bathroom with the toilet empty and looking for a clean diaper, so off to bed he went.

Meanwhile, Lily came out of her room at least 8 times in 15 minutes. "I have a red spot in my mouth." "I have to go potty." "I need to find _______." "My hair fell out of the hair tie." "My leg hurts." You get the idea. I have no idea how to keep her in her room for just a little bit of time. I've tried taking every toy she owns. I've tried rewarding her with stickers, where when she gets 5 stickers she gets a special treat. I've tried candy, special time with mommy, yelling, screaming, dragging her back to her room repeatedly. Nothing seems to get it thought her head that mommy needs a little break.

So, while all of this is going on I hear Drew yelling from his room something about poop. Now, he's been known to use poop as the excuse to get up from his nap. Recently, however, he's been known to drop logs in his bed. Today was one of those days. Today I opened his bedroom door to a horrible stench and this:






So, for all of you childless people out there: Don't let all those cheery sweet parents who tell you it's great and sweet and the best thing ever fool you. Parenting is the most difficult thing you could live through. Nothing is really easy about it. Through all the giggles and grins, sweet bathtub pictures, and lessons on life. There is POOP and lots of it. Poop and tantrums, Vomit, and sleepless nights, Boogers, and crayon on the wall. It's hard work.

Everyday is completely different and painfully the same. I love being a mom more than any job I've ever had (yes, it is most definitely a job.) My kids are smart and funny and well worth the effort....but heaven help me make it through just one more day!!