This is obviously a unique day because of Halloween – but it is also unique to me because I managed to steal time from a work-day to do activities with each of the kids and actually feel like a Mom.
Highlights of the Morning and Commute:
- Big Bro woke up and was in our room first. This is because I mentioned to him the night before that if he was able to get ready quickly this morning, we would RIDE HIS BIKE to school today. Apparently there is a crowd of kids his age that get to school this way each day and I learned of this from my neighbor over the weekend. I was going to work from home anyway today because of Halloween so I figured we would try out the bike ride thing. Big Bro was soooooooooooo excited that he was up first.
- The morning was typical – breakfast for four and getting everyone ready and out of the house. I had Halloween shirts out for everyone. I love Halloween.
- Then the out-of-the-ordinary began. I got the Twins dressed and ready and in the stroller. Big Bro got his helmet on. The three of us were ready to go! Red went with Hubby today.
- We met the gang of kids and literally there were 10 kids in total, including the Twins. Everyone was on big bikes. Big Bro was the only one in training wheels but these kids are 1-2 years older than him. I could sense that he was a bit shy about going but still excited. Off we went. The kids were really well-trained. They zoomed ahead but all knew the spots where to stop and wait for the adults (me and my neighbor). I was so proud and yes a bit anxious for Big Bro. He was new to this scene and he was trying real hard to keep up with them. I was so proud of my little kindergartener. And I couldn’t believe that I was strolling him (and the Twins) to school — with a coffee in hand. There was a few times that he lagged behind the group – but there were also a few times when he had a good start off the blocks and swerved around a kid or two to get in a good position. They all beat us to the school and parked their bikes. Big Bro came running up to me through the playground and I could not believe the look of joy on his face. I couldn’t snap a picture fast enough but I’ll remember that face for a lifetime (I hope). We headed to the yard line up and I gave him a HUGE hug and we made plans for me to be there later that day and also for me to pick him up with his bike.
- I then strolled the Twins to their daycare. They enjoyed the drop off and were proud of their Halloween shirts. I then walked home to work. I enjoyed the walk. The quiet. The dew on the grass. The look of the leaves on the trees. Knowing that today was Halloween. And feeling privileged to have had the opportunity to drop the kids off the way I did this morning. I always saw all the kids on bikes/scooters, etc. It’s like a parade around here each morning. I just never dreamed that I would ever actually take part in any of it. I just always assumed that I was doomed to the mini-van drop off and the ferry commute to work. I consciously took a lot of deep breadths on the walk home this morning – taking it all in. I saw many lone parents walking back to their homes too. I felt like a mom.
Highlights of My Working Day:
- I essentially worked a 1/2 day today and will take the other 1/2 off as personal time.
- I got home at 9 AM and got another coffee and set up. I immediately started working on a proposal that we need to submit by Thursday. This is the proposal for the lead I cultivated so I feel a sense of ownership for this one.
- After an hour I took a break since I wanted to participate in Big Bro’s Halloween festivities at school. They spent an hour decorating cupcakes and doing other arts and crafts in the class. Once again, I felt like a Mom. There were other parents there too, volunteering. I was on cupcake duty. I had so much fun with the kids helping them ice and decorate their cupcakes. Tyler was doing great too – he did not seem anxious at all. They sent 4-5 kids at a time to the cupcake table and I saw him about halfway through. He seemed to be doing great with the other activities and did not seem upset or anxious that I was there. I loved having him at the table during cupcake time. I loved having the kids laugh with me. I loved hearing them call me “[Big Bro]’s mommy”. It was interesting to see the very different personalities of all the kids. One child came to the table in tears because she was scared we were going to run out of cupcakes…. I spent some extra time with her and towards the end she was laughing. Towards the end of the hour she was even following me around and taking my hand – I connected with her. And Big Bro was still busy with all the different crafts. I loved being there. The other moms couldn’t believe I was actually going back to work afterwards….
- I then walked over to the Twins daycare since I left my car keys in the stroller! I had the GREAT opportunity to see them in action during the day. Playing with the daycare toys. We went for a quick walk to the corner where I said goodbye to them. I just can’t take it they are so cute. As they were walking they were busy saying words and looking around. And then I had my second walk home today. Again the breathing. Again taking it all in. Again feeling good that I am a mom and so closeby to all of my kids today. Knowing that I was able to have special time with each of them today. Knowing that there is a life outside of the haggard 3-drop off race to the ferry race to the office race back home routine. I never knew I could have a day like this.
- Back at home, I finished what I had to do for proposal #1, and then started to re-work a separate proposal. What happens if we win all of this work? I cannot deliver against it….. I have fun selling it but I want to pass it off to others to deliver…… we’ll see what happens….
- I also did admin-related items like set up some meetings and also get my timesheet together.
- Then it was time for Red. She is having a Halloween parade today. I picked up Big Bro and he was so excited to show me his bag of arts and crafts – and his favorite prize was his Halloween pencil. I was actually taken a bit back by how thrilled he was over a pencil. Then together we gathered his bike into the van (his request was that he wanted to do that with me). We head over to Red’s pre-school to see her parade and hand out candy.
- Red was a little princess dressed as Snow White and proudly holding her teacher’s hand as she made her way around the parade and getting candy from the parent volunteers. I had Big Bro hand out our candy. The sun was shining and my kids were happy.
Dinner and Bedtime:
- I picked up some rotissarie chicken at the grocery store with my Batman and Snow White. We picked up the Twins. We ate quickly and dressed quickly.
- We made it out without too much trouble. Twin Crazy was a little princess/fairy and Twin Husky was a skeleton. Kids were great trick or treating – Red kept holding Twin Crazy’s hand; Big Bro would run ahead but wait for the rest of us at each house; Twin Crazy would keep taking candy until the bowl was pulled back from her; Twin Husky wanted NO PART of candy, however he couldn’t stop touching the decorations, pulling at the lanterns, or picking up and throwing pumpkins. He really was too much. The kid was seriously running from house to house destroying the decorations and busting pumpkins. I drank beer. It was great. At home the kids again had more fun giving candy to the trick-or-treaters. All ate lots of candy tonight and the Twins had their first lollipops.
Everyone had so much fun today; I feel elated since I was able to steal away special time with each child during the day. This was a day that I didn’t want to end – there were too many special moments. I’m glad I’m able to capture this here but honestly this really only describes a small sense of how I’m feeling. There is nothing like seeing your child’s face as he runs up to you to see if you are proud of him, nothing like consoling a child who is scared at the plastic monster with smoke coming out of its mouth, laughing at your toddler as he runs through the neighbors’ yards throwing pumpkins, or seeing your child smile as she sees that you made the trip to see her in her parade. This was the Twins’ first REAL Halloween where they were able to experience the fun – and the four of them were amazing at staying together and looking out for each other.
Although I don’t want this day to end, my body is aching and I am exhausted; I’m looking forward to winding down and getting ready for tomorrow.
Til tomorrow –
Mama K
Mama In Motion™ 
What a beautiful day!
I know – I’m addicted. I’m going to try to do the walk to school thing as much as I can – any day that I’m not taking a ferry. It is just too sweet. These are things that he will remember when he gets older and I want him to remember that I was there with him. I miss you!