Noah asked, “Did you hear Isaac screaming this morning at 7 a.m. about the YMCA?” I muttered that I had heard him screaming at 6 a.m.
When I rolled out of bed, Chris had breakfast waiting for me. He let me sleep in. He had warmed up crustless spinach quiche and bacon in the oven. It was served with berries and a hot mug of green tea. Isaac even poured me some coffee and delivered it.“Om’s offee,” he said, proudly. Noah brought me a glass of water. Henry played with his Nerf sword while he was wrapped in his camouflage robe.
The birthday cake I had baked yesterday for Henry’s ½ birthday was on the table. Someone mentioned maybe
we could cut into it. “It’s not necessarily even your cake, Mom!” Henry cried.
Isaac hummed the “Happy Birthday” song. I looked at Chris, and we smiled. I was surprised Isaac didn’t bust out the plates and the spatula.
It was time to open presents.
Isaac made a wreath of construction paper flowers and placed his photograph in the center. It is now hanging on our kitchen cabinet, but what struck me most about the gift was the name tag, written in his penmanship. I
know how hard he has worked at writing. I understand how carefully he formed those words.
always cold if it’s below 70 degrees, but that’s not the kind of warm I meant.”
that my hands are as smooth as a watermelon? Or that I am as smart as a dolphin? This kid loves animals. It’s not every day that someone tells me I am “lovely like a dog.” I’ll take it. At the bottom of Henry’s sheet it said,
“My mom loves me as much as Rossan.” While I’m not sure he got the spelling correct, Rossan is my nieces’ 3-legged dog. Henry played with Rossan last weekend when we were at their house. Henry loves that dog. The dog loves him. If I’m being compared to a dog’s unconditional love, I’m all over it.
Today I loved myself. I walked to the Rec Center. I sat in the 190 degree sauna for 30+ minutes, and the toxins poured out of me. I drank a ton of water. I walked home. After the twins left for respite and Henry went to the office with Chris, I pulled the shades and did Kundalini yoga. I ate a big bowl of organic veggies with hummus. I
started writing this blog. I read a few pages in my book. I called a friend and set up a time to see her this week. I exfoliated.
When Isaac and Noah returned, I hopped into the shower. As I was shaving the forest on my legs, Isaac yelled, “Water off!” That didn’t stop me, even when I saw him reach behind the shower curtain and put his hand on the faucet. When I got out of the shower, he said, “Lights off!” At that point I didn't need to see my leg hair anyway.
Chris came home with dinner. I didn’t have to cook. Tonight after the kids are asleep, we’ll watch a few of our favorite TV shows. I feel absolutely spoiled.
Tonight as I tucked the kids into bed, Noah said, “Mom, you’re so tenderhearted and full of TLC.” Henry didn’t want me to kiss him for too long. Isaac and I went through his “F Speech Words” on his speech generating device, and he said the word “face” with the most clarity I’ve ever heard. We talked about the YMCA and the next time he will be going. It's Wednesday this week, which is not a typical schedule, but he doesn't care.
Thanks to my family for the love I received today. I'll plan to carve out time to spoil myself a little more. Time is my most precious commodity. I’ll plan to get more sleep. I’ll plan to put myself first more often. It would be wonderful to feel more rested and balanced. Maybe someday when 6:08 a.m. comes, I can be the first one to yell “YMCA!”at the top of my lungs while I run down the hall.