The Stalker, Part Two

 I always welcomed any chance to go to Minnesota and see my kids. Of course, this meant I had to leave my husband in charge at the kampground. This was always an iffy proposition for me. I love my husband, but he is the least organized person I know. After I banned him from taking reservations, he was happy to leave it all to me. So, we compromised and forwarded the business line to my cell phone. This meant that when I traveled, I also took reservations. Driving, flying, walking. I rarely messed up the bookings, while my husband would assign the same site to two, sometimes three different parties. It was easier to just do it myself.

I can multitask, like most women who run a household. I flew to Minnesota to take care of three little girls. It would be a vacation, right?

The first day I woke to find my son in the kitchen, the first grader on his lap, dressed for school while he spoon fed her breakfast. He told my raised eyebrows that she wouldn't eat breakfast unless he fed her. While doing that. he had sausage in a pan on low and fresh fruit cut up for the younger ones to eat.

"Where's your wife?" I ask. She was still sleeping and would not be down until she was ready for work. She could not be disturbed while getting ready for work, it seems that she got all stressed out if she was interrupted while getting ready for work. He told me he would leave for his job as soon as he put Child One on the bus. The breakfast for the other two was ready except for pancakes or eggs. Lunch was whatever I could make from the contents of the fridge. I took a peek, and it was slim pickings in the fridge. I figured that maybe a trip to the grocery might be something I should do.

When she finally came down in her black outfit with her hair perfectly styled, she confided in her sweeter than sugar voice that I should have Child Two ready for the bus at least 20 minutes early because she would be having a small fit before being walked to the bus stop one house down. "A small fit?" "Oh, she does it every day and I just let her kick and scream until she is done. It will be something she doesn't like, her outfit or her shoes, you know, something like that." I think I must have just stood there with my lower jaw hanging as I scooped eggs and sausage onto plates.

The mother of the children left. I was still in my pajamas as I went to clear the table of breakfast dishes. Turns out, I could have just dumped all the food onto one plate since Child Three climbed out of her highchair and squatted on table and ate off her sister's plate. She wasn't quite 2.

I checked the time and realized my shower would have to wait until Child Two was on the bus and headed to school. I raced up the stairs to help choose clothes appropriate for a kindergarten child. Chaos ruled the closet and dresser. She was trying to convince me to let her wear an outfit for summer while there was knee deep snow outside. I finally got a long-sleeved shirt and jumper that I had made for her on her body, telling her it would hurt my feelings if she didn't wear it. Down the stairs to get her boots and coat on ..... and I couldn't find the baby.

Child Two would not help me look for Child Three. She was deep in the coat closet as I went back up the stairs and then down to the basement looking for the baby. I finally heard a giggle and located her in a lower cabinet inside the spaghetti pot. I returned to find Child Two with her socks off and sandals on her feet. I was running out of time! I forcefully removed the sandals and got her socks and boots on with her screaming all the while. As soon as I was done, she started pounding her booted feet on the floor and the volume rose as she screamed.

I was already exhausted! I looked down at the beautiful little girl and asked her if she knew who I was. My youngest daughter would tend to the girls on occasion. She does not allow this behavior in her house. When she said that I was her Dad's Mom, I looked her in the eye and told her that I was also Adrienne's mom and that I knew she did not pull this stunt when Adrienne got her ready for school.

She immediately stopped her fit and I grabbed my coat and slipped my boots on, picked up the baby wrapped in a blanket, and we headed to the bus stop where the bus waiting. Child Two said we were going to miss the bus, and I told her that she was going to school even if I had to piggyback her there!

The baby fell asleep on my shoulder as I walked back after putting her sister on the bus. I showered quickly and put the dishes in the dishwasher and was dozing on the couch when my daughter-in -law arrived home.

She was so tired, she said, and the bus would bring the girls home soon. Then she began complaining about having to supervise homework and that my son did very little for the children, while she had all the responsibility while he worked!

When I asked about supper and wanted to know if we should make a trip to a grocery store, she said her mom should be there soon. I failed to fully understand the significance of her arrival. The bus delivered the girls and while the mother of the girls was helping the oldest child with homework, I took the screamer upstairs to choose the outfit for the next day. I had already put three together for her to choose from. 

The other Gramma arrived with groceries in tow and proceeded to make the evening meal. The daughter-in-law disappeared to have a nap while I helped with the food prep and feeding the girls. Once again, the baby climbed to the table and ate off everyone's plate. Well, everyone except the mother of the children, she was still resting from her strenuous efforts of homework. 

I cleaned the kitchen, and other Gramma bathed the girls and readied them for bed. Daughter-in-law picked at some food and complained the brand of spaghetti sauce her mom bought and prepared. I asked what time the girls went to bed ......

There was NO BEDTIME!! In order to put them to bed, one had to get in bed with them. Wait, there is more .....