The Ugly Scream

You know the expression, "lulled into a false sense of security?"

Well that's what Friday did to me.

I made it through the whole work day until about 3, thinking, "I've got this.  It's almost the weekend."

And then it hit me.  There was no weekend.

My kids get off the school bus at 3:55.  My daughter has soccer practice on Fridays at 4.  I'm the coach.  

"Uh oh." I thought to myself, "I'd better get her gear ready."  I grabbed her cleats, socks, shorts, shirt and water bottle - then realized I needed to get the same gear together for my younger daughter who would be joining us at practice because my husband had to take the boys to football.

I grabbed all the gear and an unopened box of graham crackers because there was no way they'd have time to eat before we had to leave.

We got to practice at 4:10.  We were the second ones there.  Luckily the new bus schedule has thrown everyone for a loop.

Practice went really well.  It was our first practice and I learned everyone's name.  The only drama came when my kindergartener realized that she wasn't actually going to be on the second grade team.

Then I took the girls to the football field where they ran around like wild animals with the other little sisters.

Then we went home and realized that Saturday was going to be the weekend day that wasn't.

We had to get up at 7 to get everyone ready for their sporting events.  My boys had to be at the football field by 9 in full uniform for photos, then the bus ride to the league weigh in then back to the field for individual photos and a BBQ.

My kindergartener had a soccer game at 9.  (I'm her coach too.)  I met my adorable team and they did a great job.  After the game my daughters and I raced to Dunkin' Donuts for treats.  Then we raced to my other daughter's game.  We won!

Then we went to the football BBQ where my second grader BEGGED to be allowed into the dunk tank regardless of the fact that NO OTHER GIRLS were in the dunk tank.

We are totally screwed.

And no, we didn't let her.

Afterwards I went to the grocery store.  My grocery store recently redid the entire store with, I'm pretty sure, the sole purpose of ensuring that I can't ever find anything.

I got 3/4 of the way through the store and threw in the towel.  I have the worst sense of direction in the world and nothing is more stressful to me than being lost - even if it's in the grocery store.

When I finally got home I was SPENT.  I spent the rest of the afternoon doing a puzzle with my 8yo.  

Today was supposed to be a rest day.  My husband and I slept until 9:30!  (We didn't get up, however, until ten *wink, wink*)  We made a big breakfast with biscuits and gravy.  (For northerners this is pretty impressive!)

Then the kids asked me to ride around the block with them on their bikes.  As I did, I heard my neighbor screaming the ugly scream at her kids.  It went on for the 20 seconds it took me to cross in front of her house.

You might think that after the intense kid weekend that I'd had - and the fact that I'd come out on the other side of it as supermom - that I'd be judgey and self-righteous, but I wasn't.

I've been that ugly screamer and on those days I tuck my kids in bed and tell them that I love them and then I go into my bathroom and look myself in the eye and promise to try harder.

And all I can hope is that my kids remember Supermom more than they remember screamy mom.

And so as I rode by my neighbor's house, I hoped that for her too.

Comments

[kristy]

Ugh, the Ugly Scream. I've been there. Far too often if I'm being honest. Sadly, my kids definitely seem to remember screamy mom more than supermom. Every day is a chance to change that though, right?

And kudos to you for being so active with kids sports. It's all we can do over here to make it to ballet on time!

[Kana]

We used to have Pam From Up The Street. She had a sweet redheaded boy and an adorable little blonde girl. She expressed every feeling in a shreiking, throat-wounding bellow that we could hear 4 houses down. It was crazy, we were amazed. Then I turned 14. And suddenly, we couldn't hear Pam anymore...over our own opinion-expressing. Or maybe we'd scared her, and she was hiding behind the couch with her children, huddling to protect them from the terrible sounds emanating from Those People Down The Road.

[Beduwen]

Too funny and so true! I wonder if there's a focus group for screamy moms?
Keep up the good blogging!

[AHLondon_Tex]

We call it Ogre Mommy. She shows up most often around 530 during the summer and Sunday afternoon during the school year...or in the car when shuttling to activities. This is my first year attempting travel to activities for all 4. I've got a post in draft about the insanity of it. I prefer our afternoon mass playdates. No contest.

[Sheryl]

Fantastic post, especially the ending! I like to think that I can ride both sides of the fence, too.

PS Do you shop at my Stop and Shop? Because it is TOTALLY un-navigable right now and I yearn for it to be over!