When you’re a mom there are Mondays and then there are MONDAYS! And yesterday was an all caps Monday.

Every time I turned around something I had done was undone. Logan, who usually is awesome at getting himself dressed, was either naked or wearing something different every five minutes. Weston flopped around on the ground saying he needed help. For the love of Pete just get dressed and stay dressed! No more changing your mind!

Want to know how to make my mommy horns come out? Put your feet on my walls. Drives me batty and unfortunately the kids know that. When they want to tick me off their grimy little feet go all over my walls. MONDAY was no exception. Weston laid in the hallway with his feet all over my walls.

The clock kept ticking and no one was making progress in being ready for school. I FINALLY got Logan to stop changing his clothes and got Jaden to turn the cartoons off to get his backpack put together. Weston was still flopping around on the ground in the hallway. Ok Love and Logic don’t fail me now ….

“Weston, do you want to get dressed on your own or do you need help?”

“I don’t want to get dressed.”

“Ok mommy will help you.”

Weston runs in the opposite direction. Luckily I still run faster.

“Here is your shirt!”

“Me no want that shirt!”

“Then you can pick one, but hurry up please, Jaden is going to be late for school.”

Weston puts on a shirt. Then, freaks out because the sleeves are too short and throws it off. MONDAY!!

This dance lasted for much too long. I kept looking at the clock – Jaden was going to be late for school. That’s it, I’ve had enough! I picked up Weston (who was just in his underwear) and grabbed his clothes with the other hand and walked him right out the garage door and into his car seat. Here in Wi it’s about 40-50 degrees in the morning. A tad bit chilly for just whitey tighties.

Jaden was late for school – only by a minute or two. By the time we got to day care, Weston had a change of heart and got dressed sweetly in the van. I was thankful I didn’t have to explain why I was bringing Weston to school in just Thomas the Train undies.

But trying to get out of the car was still a struggle … Logan had no shoes on. Awesome. And to top it off their backpacks weren’t in the car. Double awesome. Please tell me I’m not the only mother this has happened to?

I kissed the boys goodbye in their room only to get in the car to head right back home. 20 mins later I was at daycare for the second time with Ninja Turtle shoes for Logan and two lunch boxes. Finally mom duties were fulfilled and I was on my way to work.

Work proved to be just as exhausting. I absolutely love my job. Some days are just easier than others. I survived and even found a smile for the car ride home.

These kinds of days are unavoidable as a mother. MONDAYS are inevitable. When tough times arise it’s more about breathing and surviving. Being a parent is (in my opinion) the hardest job on earth and certainly warrants hazard pay!

But parenthood isn’t a paying job. We are compensated in hugs and kisses. In sweet little hands slipping into ours at unexpected moments. In the “I love you mommy” whispers just as our little ones are drifting off to dreamland,

I survived my MONDAY. I expect I’ll have more MONDAYS. But I survived and you will too. One foot in front of the other. Inhale then exhale. Sometimes it’s the only thing we can do to survive … Wether we are surviving a MONDAY or if you are just trying to figure out which way is up in life, Just keep breathing.

Love, Mel