So we are going camping this weekend and we are leaving tonight. Because of the way this day is going I am remembering my mother wrangling her 7 children, packing, cleaning, and trying to stay calm. There was chaos usually leading up to any kind of outing. My flustered, sweet dad would help load up the car. Before we hit the on ramp or before leaving city limits inevitably my dad would vow to turn the car around. I remember the threat of,"Dagnabit (or other real swears), we just won't go! If I hear another word...! We haven't even left town yet!" Sometimes he would even pull over. Super daring because what if one of us kept poking the other or worse? I don't remember EVER not going. Which is hilarious looking back because the countless times he used that very threat. I now know how desperate he was to just have a peaceful, fun drive to whatever destination, make it a fun trip and then to have the kids so passed out tired on the way home that he could listen to AM talk radio all the way home.
My parents really did a great job of creating great childhood memories. Even those car rides filled with poking, elbowing, pinching and tattling are fun to look back on. My parents would buy the big, family sized red and black licorice packages and bribe us with the quiet game or the Alphabet game or Pumpernickel Pickle (I have no idea what the heck that was but I remember shouting it out when we saw a lot of livestock(???)).
Flash forward to this afternoon. Clare being a complete nut job crawling all over my lap while I am nursing Elsie. Then Addie started screaming at Clare because she pulled the hair things off of her mermaids and Elsie starts crying again (with similar repeats all day long) and I am thinking to myself, 'Do I even want to get into the car? How did my mother do this with seven?' I have come to the conclusion that though my parents may have lost their cool at times, they were incredible! They somehow pulled the rabbit out of the hat and made every adventure memorable and sweet for me despite the fighting and chaos. So I am going to breathe deeply, count to ten and really make some magic of my own this weekend!
Shoot...That should have really got me going. Okay I am getting up!
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Pep Talks
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7 comments:
I love this post, Jen! This is our life right now, right? You are an incredible mom and I am sure you are making magic at that campground right now as I write this. I wish we could have joined you! I love ya!
It was awesome! I've been lobstafied though. I caught four fish and remembered how much I love to fish and camp and hike. It was so great!
ooh those long car rides! i wonder how mom and dad ever endured us. you wrote this so well Jen I love it! it really took me back. I agree with Amber, you make things so much more fun than you realize. Love you heaps lady!
Please or please post pictures from the camp out! But mostly have a great time and laugh a lot.
I still need to upload those but I will! Sandra, how are you? Are you loving Utah? We miss you!
We just took our first trip since Joan was born and by the end I felt like swearing off leaving the house for.e.ver. Can you please send me a pep talk again in 6 months and MAYBE I'll try again?!
Rachel, next try meeting up with us and going camping. I will give you some freak out time or some serenity time, which ever you choose. I mean it!
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