A Moment of Peace

This is just a quick post to document a rare occurrence in my household. Quiet.

Near absolute quiet.

Mazie had a typical Mazie morning. She cried and wailed and threw a fit because I wouldn't let her take a shower. (She had one last night.) Then she wailed over breakfast. Then she and Ethan were screaming at each other.

I was so hysterical by the time we should leave for church that I seriously wondered what I was doing taking them at all. How hypocritical of me to show up at church with four neatly dressed kids, looking like we're all put together, when I just had a screaming fit to beat all. Well, I took them anyway.

We made it through church, and I was able to attend Relief Society for the first time in years. It was great. I actually left church feeling like I'd been renewed, but wouldn't you know it, the moment we got to the car, Mazie threw a fit because I wouldn't give her a second piece of gum. And I wouldn't let her sit in the front seat because of the air bag. I am a terrible mother. Just ask her. She'll tell you how every one's mom is so much nicer.

I told her as of today I was reinstituting naps! She was going to nap everyday until kindergarten or until she stopped screaming at me over every little thing. She wailed, of course, and begged not to nap. I told her that as soon as she screamed and cried she was going to bed, and there would be no discussion.

She and Ethan made it a whole two hours without a major fight, and then came the wail. I was upstairs, where Josie was sleeping. I came down, shut off the game (which was the cause of the fight), sent Ethan up to his room and marched Mazie off to the spare bedroom where I laid with her until she was asleep. I came out and went to find Ethan. He was already asleep upstairs.

At the moment there are three children asleep in the house. Dylan, my angel child, is quietly playing a game. For once, there is peace, which I desperately need!