“I want Olaf in my backpack!”
This was shouted to me at 8:30 am on a Friday morning by my 5 year old.
Of course, she couldn’t put this Olaf in her backpack, but still Olaf is king in our house.
Mind you she had been up, getting ready for about 45 minutes and picked 5 minutes before we needed to be outside to catch the morning school bus for school.
Did I mention this Friday morning in particular, it was snowing again? OK, we all know just how much I don’t love the snow from here and here.
Nevertheless, it was snowing and she still needed to get on her winter coat, hat, gloves and snow boots to trek to the end of our block to get on the bus.
Fridays, in theory, are supposed to be great days that lead into the more relaxed slower paced weekends.
Said no mom ever – when realizing all she had to do on a typical Friday or any day for that matter!
So, didn’t she get the memo that Friday mornings aren’t for adding to my stress level or gray hairs on my already graying head?
I guess not! Fridays and weekends, I guess don’t really exist when you are a mom, but just some urban legend that vaguely I can recall from B.C. (Before Children).
Somehow though by the grace of god, she found Olaf, got dressed for the winter snow event occurring right outside our house and made it just in the nick of time for the bus, but not without tears (from her) and downright panic (from me).
I should have been able to breath a sigh of relief when she did get on the bus, but next it was onto round two – I had to get the pre-schooler, off to school.
She had just woken up right before the aforementioned meltdown by her sister. This kid is me and definitely not a morning person (think the exorcist right before her head spins when she first wakes).
What Lily Usually Looks Like in the Morning! But thankfully she was in a better mood this morning until the dreaded show and tell toy reared its ugly head.
Yet, at this point, she actually was the happier of my two kids.
But still I left her warm and sitting watching Disney Junior’s Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, while I did run out for those two minutes to the bus.
When I returned from the bus drop off, it was game on with helping daughter #2 get dressed, fed, hair done, backpack filled with snack and a toy for this week’s how and tell, which is where the next set of tears occurred.
Why you may ask?
Because at the last minute she decided to take her Elsa singing wand to school for show and tell (or as I like to call it another chore for mommy to remember on a Friday morning!) and couldn’t find it.
This was the wand in question!
Somehow though, I once again, got out the door on time as she opted for Santa Olaf (yes it is February and Christmas is indeed over for almost 2 months now), on top of both of us dressed again for what seemed like the year’s 100th snow happening (maybe spring will get here soon).
Here is the thing, I should have been in the home stretch once I did watch Lily disappear into her classroom that morning, but I knew better as this was not the first morning like this nor will this be the last.
By the way, it was only 9:30 in the morning now and I was wiped out!
Again, why?
Because plain and simple, I am a mother and mornings (Friday or not) will never be easy (they weren’t before kids so why should they be any easier after) – not as long as I am a mother and my kids are kids, because kids are just not built for mornings or helping moms being on time ever for anything!
[Tweet “Happy Friday Moms or maybe NOT!”]
Happy Friday Moms or maybe NOT!
Allie says
I feel your pain!! There is no such thing as Friday in mommy land. BUT, someday we will think we want these days back…someday that is very far away from the actual day that is happening right now 🙂 Hang in there and I hope it’s a happy Friday!!
Janine says
Thanks Allie and I hope it is for you, too as well.
Liza Hawkins says
Haha – I STILL remember my younger sister crying endlessly because of a seam on her sock before school on MORE than one occasion. KIDS. #TGIF
Confessions of A Mommyaholic says
I know, Liza, KIDS!!! #TGIF
Ginny Marie says
Ha! What a rough morning! Our Tuesday and Thursday mornings are rough because we have to get Lily out the door early for orchestra practice! It’s not easy trying to get two little girls up and going before 8:00!
Janine says
I agree it seriously not easy getting two little girls out there door here at all!
Diane Roark says
Janine,
It is just so hard to be a mom and make everyone happy. Diana has to be out the door at 6:50am and Casey has to be out by 7:20 am. The older they get the later they want to stay up or have to stay up doing homework. Casey is up until midnight most night doing homework after baseball games and Drama practice (thank God the play is next week and he will not have Drama anymore). Anyway, they do not get enough sleep. Even though this year has been difficult, I will miss him. Casey decided on a college yesterday. It is two hours away. DOES HE HAVE TO GROW UP! I miss him already.
Give your babies lots of hugs. They will be gone before you know it.
Blessings,
Diane
Janine says
Aw, Diane congrats to Casey, but I know you are definitely going to miss him. And you are right, I complain, but I still know I will miss this time when it is over as crazy as it sounds.
Bill says
Oh you poor, dear woman. My heart goes out to you. 🙂
Happy Friday! Bev is home today, it’s going to be seventy, and all is right in the world in Olympia, Washington.
Have a great day despite the snow.
bill
Janine says
Thanks Bill and just finally getting a quiet moment to respond on this Friday morning. Enjoy your beautiful day and weekend, too!! 😉
Alexa says
I, for one, am thrilled it is Friday!!
Janine says
Alexa, don’t get me wrong, I still have a special place in my heart for Fridays!! 😉
Echo says
The only thing that excites me about Friday is that I usually treat myself to Starbucks while I grocery shop.
Janine says
That is a good thing to be excited about in my book 😉
James Oliver, Jr. (@jamesoliverjr) says
I know what you mean. I can’t ever seem to get the twins to daycare earlier than 9:20am, no matter how hard I try.
Janine says
James, I know it is like beat the clock and I lose each and every time!
Sarah Nenni Daher says
Oh, I’m so not looking forward to the hectic mornings when my little one starts preschool in the fall. Your Lily wakes up just like mine – not happy and not immediately. I foresee lots of these mornings in my future…
Fridays are still a little bit special to me: I get a bit of a break on Fridays because I let the kid have just cereal: no breakfast prep, no requests for additional protein consumption, no negotiations, and all smiles – I feel some of the stress from the week melt away. It’s back 10 minutes later when I want to wash her face and brush her teeth…
Janine says
Sarah, you Friday sounds a bit like heaven to me and wish just one Friday I could be on a more relaxed pace right now.
Carrie Groneman says
Happy Friday Janine! By the time I am reading this you are probably having lunch! Hope all is quiet on the home front there. Hugs and giggles to the crew—until they come home, heehee. Carrie, A Mother’s Shadow
Janine says
Aw, thanks Carrie and making lunch as I write this!! Happy Friday to you, too 😉
Seana Turner says
This reminds me of how I used to feel about vacation… like doing all the stuff I regularly had to do, except far away and without all my supplies at hand. Too funny:)
Janine says
Seana, I know sometimes you need a vacation from your vacation! 😉
Amanda @ Growing Up Madison says
Mine’s have gotten a bit more easier since the kids have gotten older. Now I just have to worry about my 3yr old and she’s a lot calmer than the others used to be. I’m hoping she remains that way because she starts school in September and I won’t be looking forward to Fridays then. 🙂
Janine says
I hope she stays easy going, but still Emma is the more easy going of the two and not so easy wanting to get up and go for school these days.
Sarah Coulter-Gremley says
Lol TGIMFF is my new fav thing this morning!
Confessions of A Mommyaholic says
Mine too!!!
Dana says
Whew. I hate mornings like that! For the past three years, one kid leaves for school as the other gets up, and that makes mornings long but relatively calm. Next year they’ll be going to school together, and I’m doubtful about that going so smoothly!
Janine says
Dana, same here as my girls will be going on the bus to school together. Emma will be in 1st grade and Lily in Kindergarten. So, god help me for what more I will be in for, too!
Jessica @ Absurd, She Wrote says
Morning meltdowns!! Yep, my 4 month old girl has them too and then I need a nap by 9 am, even if she isn’t interested in taking one.
Janine says
Jessica, I miss nap time so much!!
Chris Carter says
AHHH!!!! I could picture all of this unfold Janine!!! Oh, mornings- they KILL ME!!! My daughter was a mess just this morning, and I was in SO much pain from apparently putting my foot UNDER the covers for the first time in three months- it JACKED it bad. So I am hobbling around trying to meet her demands to help pack her lunch and do her hair and and and- I just LOST IT!! And so did she… thank goodness, by drop off (late) she got out of the car and walked around to my driver’s side and I hobbled out of the car and we just held each other. Ah…
Mornings are cruel.
Janine says
Mornings are so cruel and seriously I much rather the pickups, because I do have time to miss them and want to see their little faces once again here 😉
Jhanis says
It’s almost 2am, Saturday out here and I have been feeling wiped out since Friday morning. Had to run take the girl to school, make lunch, run downtown for errands, went to work and that’s where I am still right now! Finished 4 reports and I dread reading my emails because what if my boss found a mistake and I have to redo everything?!!! Hahahah Happy Friday Janine!
Janine says
I am wiped just reading this if I wasn’t already!! Happy Saturday, Jhanis 🙂
Kenya G. Johnson says
They will get a little easier – at least once that reach the grade/age of no show and tell. For that I was like THANK YOU! No matter what was picked out the night before, that wasn’t what he really wanted when it was time to leave the house.
Janine says
Kenya, thank god this will be over I believe next year with show and tell. And what is up with them changing their mind in last minute?!
lisacng @ expandng.com says
I hear ya. It’s as if the days you want to go the smoothest are the days that go the roughest. Oh well. Parenthood. Have a great weekend!
Janine says
Lisa, I know Parenthood – enough said! Have a great weekend, too!
Meredith Spidel says
By the time we get to Friday, I feel like we’ve fought a war!
Confessions of A Mommyaholic says
Same here, Meredith!!!
Kelly L McKenzie says
Gotta say I don’t miss those days at all. Not one weensy little bit. The drama of the last minute rush out the door. It’s absolutely exhausting. Laughed out loud at your TGIMMF. So, so true. Hope the rest of your day was a good one!
Janine says
Aw, thanks Kelly and wasn’t all that bad afterwards, but seriously mornings are so not my thing!
Jen says
Haha! Oh sheesh it never ends! This is why Mom’s are tired all of the time! One of my favorite memes is the one that says, “Hooray it’s the weekend! Oh wait, I am a Mom. Never mind”! Glad you made it to Friday. best wishes for a great weekend! Maybe with a little less snow.
Janine says
Thanks Jen and so far so good with less snow at the very least!! 😉
papa says
Ha! I just posted this meme on my twitter feed that says TGIF which stands for The Grind Includes Fridays, then came across this post. #parenthood The grind doesn’t end.
Janine says
Papa, The Grind never ends with parent, ever! So, glad you found me on twitter.
Jack says
Sometimes I wonder if I miss those days more than I ‘enjoy’ wrestling science projects into the car and then hearing angry children tell me I have bent their precious project.
Yeah, there was sarcasm said in that last line. Love being a father but there are moments where I want to scream.
I tell the big ones now that when they were little it was ok to be a dictator (it wasn’t) but now they should know better. Damn if I am not channeling my father.
Janine says
Jack, sadly I channel my dad way too often now, too!
Karyn Pickles says
Lol….preaching to the choir!!
Confessions of A Mommyaholic says
Then I am in great company!!! 🙂
Zully Hernandez says
Janine, I was pulling for you throughout the post. I only have one daughter, but can totally feel your pain. Next week my daughter’s picture day is on a Monday (I will need multiple reminders on my iPhone over the weekend to make sure she is photo ready Monday morning).
Janine says
Zully, I am totally pulling for you on Monday now, too 😉
Kim says
Every year the morning routine gets a little easier – we have found that minimal talking helps all of us in the mornings:)
Janine says
Kim, you just gave me hope!! Thank you 😉
April G says
Honestly and truly, over the past few weeks, Fridays have been less “I want to tear my hair out” and more “Let’s order pizza and watch a movie.” Can’t say true excitement, but not pure exhaustion. I’ve been taking this supplement and I really think it’s helping… a lot. A lot more things are rolling off my back. I hope the rest of your day went well and you are happily enjoying your evening.
Janine says
Thanks April and definitely a bit better as the day went on here 😉
Kristen Miller Hewitt says
LOVE this! And the last meme….you rock! Can’t wait for this day to be over…
Confessions of A Mommyaholic says
Thanks Kristen and almost there, but not quite yet!! 😉
Melanie Loveday Madamba says
I know this routine. Too well.
Confessions of A Mommyaholic says
Sorry you do, but thankful that I am not alone at the very least.
Aunt Gloria says
How true Janine…..every day is much the same when you’re a mom! But Kevin is home on weekends and maybe it will feel different. At least you don’t have to get up at the crack of dawn on Sat. and Sun. to get the girls off to school. So try to sleep in if you can and enjoy the weekend. See you soon….I’m on the road tomorrow! Love to all…..xxoo
Janine says
Thanks Aunt Gloria and see you soon now!! Xoxo 😉
Anonymous says
We had ‘Donuts with Mom’ on Thursday at the school. The school ran out so we went across the street to McDonald’s to have breakfast anyway. Not the same…because my son looks forward to the cafeteria thing at his school (you bring a book and stuffed animal in there too). He was a trooper though, and happily went along with after exclaiming a big, ‘oh no, we only get to do this once a year!’ When I took him back to the school for drop off, I realized we were in such a hurry to get his stuffie and book (that we didn’t even get to use) that we left his school backpack on the dining room table (with his lunch in it). So after dropping him off at school I went home to get it and take it back to the school. Whew. All happy. I get home…and his reading log is on the table (they can only turn it in on Thursday for a prize if they read X amount of time during the week. Grr… I was anticipating SATURDAY (not Friday). And hurrah, today it’s here. 🙂
Janine says
Aw, I was reading this and truly feeling your pain. Hugs and glad that all was well that ended well 😉
Cynthia says
Mornings aren’t really my thing, either. Nor is the snow. I’m with you all the way! Happy to have a little time this weekend to catch up on my buddies’ blogs a bit.
Can’t, can’t wait for spring. It’s coming right up. 😀
I also can’t believe how I’m watching your girls grow up right before my eyes! <3
Janine says
Cyndi, you really are watching my girls grow up and I love that you are!! Hope you are enjoying your weekend now, too 🙂 <3
Janine says
So far so good and hope yours is, too again
Robin (Masshole Mommy) says
We’ve had those mornings, too. It happens, but life wouldn’t be interesting if we didn’t have a little chaos every now and then.,
Janine says
Robin, I will definitely give you that and you said a mouthful!!;)
Alison says
1. I am not a morning person.
2. There is not enough coffee in the world to make me one.
3. Mornings here with four kids, is chaos.
🙂
Janine says
Alison, you totally got me beat hands down by two kids, but still so with you on not enough coffee in the world to make me a morning person either! 😉
Tamara says
I really like your shirt in the first photo. I’d totally want to borrow it if we were college roommates.
Sadly I missed reading this on Friday morning and tomorrow will be Monday. Boo!!
Scarlet is like me – not a morning person.
Des will get there..I hope.
Janine says
You could totally borrow anything out of my closet always!! Sadly, it is Monday tomorrow and I am exhausted as I was up late last night writing and so not ready for Monday morning by any means either!
Nellie @ Brooklyn Active Mama says
I miss Friday already! How did Monday get here so fast?!
Janine says
Nellie, I asked myself this same question when Kevin’s alarm just went off 20 minutes ago!
Anonymous says
Although I’m on graveyard shift, I’ve had rough mornings too when I am in a hurry and Reiko is apparently not. True enough, that’s gonna be the life we have as long as our kids are still kids but we always nail it. Right? Or most of the time, if not all. Hehehe. I hope you have a great weekend Janine! 🙂
Janine says
Aw, thanks Rea and hope you did, too 😉
Rea says
Although I’m on graveyard shift, I’ve had rough mornings too when I am in a hurry and Reiko is apparently not. True enough, that’s gonna be the life we have as long as our kids are still kids but we always nail it. Right? Or most of the time, if not all. Hehehe. I hope you have a great weekend Janine! 🙂
Janine says
Thanks again, Rea and hope you did, too 😉
Rabia @TheLiebers says
Benjamin has gotten into the habit of requesting a second breakfast as soon as I open the door to walk out to the van. This is actually an improvement from when he used to ask as soon as he was buckled in the carseat! Ugh! Mornings!!
Janine says
I know mornings – enough said!
The Pinterested Parent says
Oh god Janine! I have had these mornings. Mai has these often before I drop her to daycare. I need my purple tutu skirt. “It is dirty” is not a suitable response. Trying to reason with her that mommy has to be to work does not work either. They are so very particular about what they want, aren’t they. You are right there is no such thing as a weekend when you have munchkins. You are always on call. Lol!
Janine says
Totally always on call and it truly never stops, LOL! 😉
Camille says
Oh man, I feel your pain! The morning routine can be pretty ugly around here too. Depending on when Princess #2 wakes up, I may or may not need to let her whine for snuggles while I get Princess #1 to the bus stop on time. I’m a little scared of what mornings will be like once I have a toddler AND a newborn to take care of while trying to get the first grader off to school… I am only thankful that Princess #3 will be making her arrival in the Summer, so I have time to hopefully get into a good routine before school starts! lol
Janine says
Aw, Camille I got my fingers totally crossed for you with the morning routine once Princess #3 comes 😉