Early Mornings and Naked Babies

There is a naked baby running around my bedroom.  I am not amused. I suppose I should be smiling and laughing as I watch Beth (3) giggle and scamper away from me.  But I’m not. 

It’s already seven thirty, Beth isn’t dressed.  It's already seven thirty and I still have to get dressed. And if we don’t get moving now I’m going to be late for work.  It’s only seven thirty and I already have a headache.

Have I mentioned that I’m not a morning person and that I still need a cup of coffee?

I try to be pleasant in the morning.  I force a smile and call Beth “sunshine” and “sweet pea” as I coax her out of bed.  When she rolls over and buries herself deeper under her blankey, I patiently peel it back and kiss her cheek and whisper “wake up.”

I try to be patient in the morning.  I inhale and watch as Emily (5) slowly yanks a sock onto her right foot and then takes it off because she had it inside out.  Then she starts over.  I know it would take half the time if I just did it for her. But she is big enough and I am forced to stand and wait.

I try to be calm.  I sigh as I sift through Eric’s (8) closet searching for a pair of jeans that have a snap and not a button.  I had instructed Eric to get dressed ten minutes ago and was a bit miffed when I walked into his room and found him in his jammies.  But Eric hates buttons and is getting ready to cry because the only jeans in his closet have buttons instead of snaps.  I try not to snap as I pull out pants after pants looking for just the right one.  

I try.  I really, really try. But sometimes, I fail.  That’s what happened today.

Naked baby.  Cranky mom.  Early morning.  Need coffee.  Late for work. A bad combination all around.

“Get over here right now!” I yell.  Beth stops in her tracks.  Her eyes grow wide.  Her cheeks turn red.

I snatch her towards me and start to force her shirt over her head.  She screams and kicks.  I pull her pants onto her legs.  She squirms out of them and cries  Tears run down her face. 

The more I try to force things, the worse it gets.  And now I have a partially naked, crying baby and an angry Mom.  Lucky for me, Ken walks into the room just then.  “You go ahead and get dressed.” He says.  “I’ll take care of Beth.”

Ten minutes later, I am dressed and so is Beth. 

“Go tell your Mommy what we talked about.”  Ken says as he nudges Beth towards me.

Beth glances at the floor.  “I’m sorry Mommy.” She mumbles. “I’ll do better next time.”

I reach out my arms and fold her onto my lap.  “I’m sorry Jelly Bean.” I say. “I’ll do better next time too.”

At least now, we are both smiling, for real.