This Motherhood Thing is Really Kicking My Trash

Score Yesterday
Bella: 5
Emilee: 0

 I promise that at one point yesterday, Annabel:
1) did not require a band-aid on her cheek
2) had a clean, non-chapped, non-boogery nose
3) was dressed in something other than her sister's dance class leotard
4) was pink-faced
5) had straight, neat pigtails (with a little braid, even.  She looked pretty cute.)

However, in the epic daily battle that is me vs. my two-year old, she definitely got me yesterday.

I would like to be able to demonstrate that yesterday was an isolated incident, but here's what happened today.

My two oldest children are delightfully responsible.  They really are.  They get themselves up to an alarm at 6:45 every morning.  They get themselves dressed.  They put their lunches (from the fridge, where I try to place them after packing them the night before) into their backpacks, next to their homework.  They get breakfast started (cold cereal for Olivia--her favorite, toast or applesauce or both for Naomi), and I show up at 7:15 or 7:20 after nursing Madeline for the 7000th time out of my precious 8 sleeptime hours and retrieving a demanding, yelling Bella from her crib.  Then I do their hair and kiss their cute cheeks and send them off on the bus.  This indepence occasionally leads to some . . .ahem. . .creative outfits, but I figure their teachers know that they are getting themselves dressed and they are developing an individual sense of style.  Plus, I kind of like the hotchpotch look.

This morning was no different.  When the girls came down, I did have a fleeting thought cross my mind that their looks were even more eclectic than usual, and I even verbally expressed that although their drawers were a bit barren, there was a stack of clean clothes for each of them in the laundry room.  They both expressed surprise that I would consider a change necessary.  I let it go, quickly tossed some pigtails in each of their roller-bump-ridden hair, and sent them off with a hug and a kiss.  Let us pause for a photo.

Olivia's look is comprised of a race t-shirt, some a-line capris (which I love), some brown floral knee-highs, and her favorite sneakers.

Naomi sports a free grey-and-red elementary-mascot tee, her favorite navy-and-pink running shorts, ankle socks, and her red boots.  

 At 9:22 precisely, the phone rang, and I answered it to hear the voice of Naomi's teacher, Miss K, who informed me that Naomi was very upset that today was picture day and she was not ready.  PICTURE DAY!  Picture Day.  She also was sobbing because when she had opened her backpack, she hadn't found her lunch.  At this point, I glanced near the front door and spotted the lunch where I had placed it this morning, having not remembered to pack it last night AND having not remembered to inform Naomi of the change of location.*

I win "Bad Mother of the Day", and I am certainly still in the running for "Bad Mother of the Year."

So nobody thinks Bella was left out of the Sweet Outfits Competition today, I present her in the ensemble she has been wearing since naptime.  I think polka-dot diapers are underutilized in fashion as a whole.  And yes, she has been playing outside with her sisters since school got out. (Actually, for most of the time, she's also been wearing a tutu. It's nice outside.  Does anyone have a problem with this?  Take it up with Child Protective Services.)

*In my defense, so no one thinks me completely heartless, I did walk with Bella in the stroller and Madeline in the wrap to the school to deliver Mimi's lunch to her and offer her a hug of consolation.  By the time I arrived, her mercurial little self had completely recovered, and she was delighted to show her class her two baby sisters.  Thank heavens for a kindergarten teacher who already knows me.