the wrong side of crazy

There are some mornings when the kids wake up on the wrong side of crazy.  By that, I mean loud, hippity-hoppity, Tiggeriffic, cheerful, irritable, weepy, loud and hard of hearing all at once.  I understand that they have been lying relatively still for about 10 hours, but some mornings are more intense than others, and some mornings I am more equipped to deal than others.

I guess if I had woken up fully equipped to deal this morning, there would be no post.  There I was, in a serene garden, learning the secrets of the universe, and the next thing I knew, I was ripped from that world, into a world of a 6 year old shouting in my ear, "Mommy! He is jumping on the couch and I told him to stop but he won't, so you have to come upstairs now!"  (yes, she speaks in runon sentences).  I guess I should adjust my attitude right there, but I rarely have the presence of mind to do so.  I get upstairs, and I find a four year old, with no pants on, "free balling", jumping on the couch.  I tell him to cut it out and ask why he has no pants on.  "I pooped in the potty but there was no toilet paper" he says as he slides off the couch,  "You have to wipe my bum for me."  I make the mental note to disinfect and scrub the couch and herd him back into the bathroom to wipe.

Meanwhile, the girl is crying because her cereal is soggy because she got up to dance instead of eating it.  She has to be out the door for school in 10 minutes and she is still in her PJ's with bedhead.  Cereal dumped, toast made, girl dressed, girl eating toast as I brush her hair, she gets out the door on time.

The boy is cleaned and dressed, I feed him, make a pot of coffee, then consume the entire pot.  I feel somewhat human.  The youngest wakes, but she doesn't fuss, I hear her in her crib singing.  I go and say hi, she gives me her best, heart melting smile, hands me her lovey and then makes the pick me up sign.  I pick her up and she hugs me.  Her diaper is wet, as are her PJs, but she is not fussing, she is quiet and content.  How easy it is to clean that all up and redress her.  My day has come back into balance.

I guess it's safe to say I'm not much of a morning person.  I like to gradually transition into the morning, as does the youngest.  The older two are all energy and full volume in the morning.  Some days are easier to go with the flow than others.