Good Times
When the kids are good, they are really good. But when they’re bad, they’re awful. They have their moments. Of course, the excessively loud, tedious episodes seem to outnumber. Or at least those are easier to dwell on. The good, though, they can be great.
Maybe it’s because the bad times tend to happen in grand calamities. They consume me: my voice raised and eyes wide and body tense. They make me question and worry that I’m doing everything wrong because it shouldn’t be this hard. Why is it always so damn hard?
The good are smaller, quieter, blink and you’ll miss it. Like a brief reset to make it all bearable. Tiny flashes tucked inside my pocket. There usually isn’t much of a story to share when things are well.
Sometimes, though, like yesterday morning. Buzz and Abby are cuddled together in a hug. His arms are tight around her and she has her head on his chest. They’re both smiling up at me, not wanting to let the other go. He’d then give her a kiss on the forehead and she’d lift up to give him one back. Brother and sister. Little and littler. Simple and delicate and rare. For a few minutes it was almost the picture of perfect.
Almost.
The only way it could have been better is if my son had been wearing pants.
Good times. I’ll take ‘em however I can get ‘em.
I'm Crystal. A 30-something mom to 3 young kids living in the Midwest USA. When I'm not chasing my children, I'm a freelance writer and web designer. I like to tell stories from our days and share what we enjoy...
20 Responses
on February 17 2010
Well, I love this post. I can just relate to SO MUCH OF IT. Sometimes I just wonder how I am doing such a horrible job to have my children treat each other the way they do sometimes. To treat ME the way they do sometimes.
But then there are those moments…
And yesterday, I watched the two of them hug each other and give kisses, smiling up at me and being such good, GOOD brothers. And neither of them was wearing pants…or shirts:) Seriously.
.-= Beth – Total Mom Haircut´s latest blog post: Our Baby Is All Grown Up =-.
on February 17th, 2010
@Beth – Total Mom Haircut, My son wasn’t wearing a shirt, either. Maybe that’s the trick to happiness?
on February 17 2010
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.-= Annie´s latest blog post: Nuestro Día / Our Day =-.
on February 17 2010
If I succumb to the desire to have another child…I am officially blaming you! Quite playing Jedi Mind tricks with my uterus!(Just kidding!) Love this post! Very sweet!
.-= Tina´s latest blog post: Bedtime routine =-.
on February 17th, 2010
@Tina, UGH! I meant “quit”, not “Quite”. This is what happens when I eat lunch at type.
.-= Tina´s latest blog post: Bedtime routine =-.
on February 17th, 2010
@Tina, Maybe I should post a video next of what they’re really like the majority of the day. It’ll be all the birth control you’ll ever need.
on February 17 2010
LOL. I like the attitude of this post and the pantslessness too.
Sounds juuuust like my house.
on February 17th, 2010
@jesser, Gotta love the pantslessness.
on February 17 2010
C, I love your writing. Seriously. You are just so funny.
What a precious, precious moment, pants or not. We loved naked at our house. It can be somewhat disturbing but truthfully, the innocence of it is priceless.
I love how you expressed the fleeting good times and how they are so rare. You always keep it so real and I love that. Thank you.
.-= Natalie at Mommy on Fire´s latest blog post: Gray Areas =-.
on February 17th, 2010
@Natalie at Mommy on Fire, You? Are way too sweet. THANK YOU.
on February 17 2010
I was just waiting for you to say that one of them whopped the other one on the head. That’s what usually happens at our house! Maybe I need to make them go pantless …
.-= Stacia´s latest blog post: Living in Circles =-.
on February 17th, 2010
@Stacia, Well, it only lasted for a minute and then Abby walked away crying. Adding that in would have ruined the feel-good tone of the entry, though.
on February 18 2010
I try to conjure up those moments in my mind – the sweet ones, like when I see Julia reading to Oliver or them side by side on the couch, arms interlocked – when they’re ripping each other’s hair out.
on February 18th, 2010
@mamatulip, Exactly.
on February 18 2010
I would definitely take the good with that bad. At least he had underwear on, right?
.-= Krystyn´s latest blog post: Food Should Taste Good Review and Giveaway =-.
on February 18th, 2010
@Krystyn, Nope, no underwear.
on February 18 2010
OMG. I just about spit my coffee all over my laptop at that ‘no pants’ line. lol
Please tell me you got a picture.
.-= PrincessJenn´s latest blog post: May I Have This Dance? =-.
on February 18 2010
Beautiful. And just about like my house. Mine would be farting on the other one, but same difference.
.-= Aunt Becky´s latest blog post: Because Not Everyone Can Be A Ballerina =-.
on February 18 2010
Oh wow, that ending made me giggle!
on February 19 2010
Why is it always so damn hard?
I’ve thought the very same thing many a time. And then something sweet or cute or funny will happen and it refocuses me.
Nell