I was feeling like a pretty crappy mom yesterday morning. It was Valentine’s Day, and the very first day I was to drop my kids off at all-day daycare. I started off the morning by giving G-man his valentine, a big ‘ol hunk of chocolate candy (hey, him being wound-up wasn’t going to be my problem), then dressed both kids and loaded them up in the car. As we walk up to the day care facility Graham looks up to me, “Mommy? Why am I here? Do you not want to spend Valentine’s Day with me?” Stab me in the heart.
We find Graham’s room, and I attempt to drop him off. Screaming, crying, and pulling on my pants ensues. Seeing his brother in a hot-mess starts Will off on a crying fit. Both of my children are falling apart on me. I feel myself about to turn into a pile of mush myself, then muster up every bit of will power I possess and walked out of the room. I plopped Will down in the baby room (he didn’t really seem to mind), then took a peek back in on Graham. No longer crying, but with puffy eyes and a tear-stained face, he looked like he’d manage.
I returned home feeling a crazy amount of guilt, but (somehow!) managed to get on with my day of meetings, writing, running, and shopping. I may have even watched a snippet of the Bachelor. Don’t judge. But, it got me thinking… when have I ever been so excited that I ran to someone when I saw them? Ben and his harem-gals are always running to each other whilst dramatic music plays in the background. And what about the fancy dates and gifts? Isn’t that buying “love?” The things I’m forced to think about…
Anywho, after I wrapped up my “work,” I went to go pick up the kids. Graham is lined up with the other kiddos along the hall waiting to be picked up by their parents. “MOMMY!!!! You came for me!!!” Graham squealed as he ran to me. There. I got my Valentine’s Day romantic dash to me, just like in the Bachelor. I don’t care that he’s my son and is only three years old. It was amazing. I picked him up then got the Will-ster. He was happy to see me, but didn’t really seem to mind whether he was staying or going. Oh well.
I strapped the kids into their seats. Graham peeps up from the back, “Mommy, why didn’t I have a folder with my name on it? I was the only kid that didn’t get a Valentine today.” Darn drop-in day-care. Shouldn’t they have valentine cards for the extra kids?
Well, let me take the bow for my Mommy of the Year Award right now. “Graham, you didn’t get cards at school, because your teacher knew that I had something extra special to give you in the car,” I explained as I pulled out a lollipop and Elmo Vday stickers. Yep. I totally bought my kid’s love with candy and stickers. Worked like a charm (apparently it does for Ben Bachelor too).
Is this my future as I evolve into a working mom? Crying, bribery and dashes to each other in the hallway like long-lost loves? I’ve got my work cut out for me. But at least I get a touch of what it feels like to be on the Bachelor.
And because now I can’t get this song out of my head, a “gift” for you:
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