Trifecta of Stress

Wow, the gods who conspire against working moms all came together today to make this quite the Monday morning. Although I officially came back to work on Friday, it was sort of a dress rehearsal for the real thing, as Fridays are generally a laid back day here, and the girls were staying home with Evan. So, today was like the real deal. Or, real ordeal, more accurately.

First off, it is pouring here. Complete downpour, which makes everything--from figuring out what the kids should wear (and trying to find last spring's raincoats, which barely fit anymore anyway, and were unceremoniously shoved deep in the back of the front closet on or about the last really rainy day last May)--to hustling the kids and all of our bags into the car, just that much more unpleasant.

Second, Eden is...wait for it...

Sick. Again.

No, I'm not kidding. I can't even blame it on daycare, as she hasn't been there. She caught a cold last week, and it has been hanging on and getting progressively worse. I'm guessing she's developed a sinus infection. So, she was extra cranky and whiney this morning (not that I blame her). Evan will be taking her in to the doctor later this afternoon, but for now, I have to live with the guilt of sending my not feeling well child to the sitter.

And, speaking of feeling guilty...Sadie was just a wreck this morning about going to Cindy's. She's been there a few times over the summer and not had a problem going, but I think she is really feeling anxious about all of the changes ahead (kindergarten), so there were lots of tears on and off this morning. She was also really tired, as I had to wake her (no more summertime sleeping in) to get us out of the house in time. So, when we got to Cindy's, it was a little chaotic, because Cindy was loading up the kids in her truck because she has to drop her son at work. So, in the midst of the pouring rain, Sadie is screaming and clinging to my leg and begging me not to go.

Definitely not a feel good morning. Sigh.

I know it will get easier, and we'll get back into the routine, but it was a cold slap of reality this morning.

In other news, our weekend was really good. Friday night, we met our friends, S and L and their kids out for dinner. We went to Kelly's Tavern and ate downstirs, which is a good place to take the kids because it is far from a white tablecloth establishment. There are video games everywhere and tons of kids running around, so the noise level is horrendous. Sounds awful doesn't it? Well, consider this...they have a bar and they make the best Ruben sandwich I've ever had. So, it's kind of a tradeoff...atmosphere v. good food and liquor and a place we can take the kids.

Saturday morning we took the girls to Atlantic Farms and they had a great time feeding the animals. Eden has absolutely no fear! She is such a different child than Sadie was at that age (or, is currently, for that matter). In the afternoon, we biked over to the beach and had a great day there, too.

Yesterday, we biked down to the Clearwater Festival in Asbury. They had a bunch of good music, a butterfly tent, facepainting, crafts for kids...so it was a good time.

So, the weekend was good, the Monday morning so far...not so much. Hopefully, things will look up as the week progresses.