mama's time out

It's 4 o'clock. My husband calls to tell me he is working late and won't be home for dinner or putting the kids to bed. Sigh.


I look in the fridge and we're out of milk. Being that my littlest two use milk to settle in before bed, I know this means a trip to the store with all three rascals. Catching a glimpse of myself I grab a hat to hide the hair that hasn't seen a brush since the 6am wake up call. At least it's a cute hat, and I am not wearing sweats, but actual jeans, so maybe nobody will notice the lack of attention to self today.


I wrangle the kids, drive to the store, whip out the double stroller and head in. Milk and bread, check. I decide to swing through the wine section - this mama deserves a glass tonight. It's been a day. It's been a time out-brother brawling-sweep 14 times-3 cups of coffee-I don't wanna eat that-he hit me-I'm not gonna take a nap-every toy on the floor-mama's gonna lose it kind of day. And now I need a time out.


I grab a bottle of Mad Housewife Cabernet. That seems appropriate for this ridiculous day, I think to myself. Just so the checker won't judge me on my purchases, I also swing through the produce aisle for some apples. It's all about balance.


Back home it's peanut butter and jelly, apple slices and a cucumber for dinner. I don't have it in me to cook and even if I did, I would have three munchkins clinging to my legs in desperate need of anything they could think of before pushing one or both of their brothers to the floor.


I make it through. Tonight I am thankful my children can't tell time - the babies are in bed earlier than normal, but sound asleep. The oldest, my 4 year old, is brushing his teeth and not even fighting crawling under the covers for story time. Kisses, prayers, goodnight. 


Deep breath, quiet, relief. It's been a long day.
I wade through matchbox cars and bouncy balls, I ignore the dishes piled in the sink, and the unwanted dinner that's been thrown on the floor. I walk toward that lovely bottle waiting for me in the midst of crayons and trucks and books scattered all about.

Yeah, tonight is a Mad Housewife kind of night. I pour a glass, close my eyes and breathe. The dishes can wait.


(This was written for the Mad Housewife contest over at GirliChef.)