Witching Hour

The majority of mornings we all wake up with smiles lots of hugs and I think to myself....I have such wonderful children. In those minutes they can do no wrong. As the day goes on we all get a little more tired and a little more fussy. Nap time brings a needed break for all. Though only Kellen naps Brennan is usually at school and on days that he is not he usually plays quietly. I honestly think he enjoys that he has some alone time and that he doesn't have to share toys or be bugged by his brothers.

After nap things are much happier again....but things go downhill much faster than they do in the morning. It's as if we are running full speed into crankiness. I find myself saying...please can you find something quiet to play with...didn't I just say that running through the house and bouncing balls is not quiet? My answers are shorter, my patience is thin, and my answer to almost everything is "no". For the kids sharing becomes nearly impossible, their toys are "boring", and rather than using words it just easier to hit and take whatever they wanted.

Around 5 PM I find myself checking the clock and beginning the countdown....30 more minutes and daddy will be home. The problem with this thinking is that it is usually "a best case scenario" reality is it will probably be longer than that until daddy other wise known as the cavalry is home. I think living away from family puts a whole new spin on this. I don't have the option of calling my mom and having her take the kids for a few hours during the week so I can run to the store. No dropping the kids of at my sisters so I can head to an appointment in peace. I have a couple of friends that are willing to take the kids-but those "favors" are saved for emergencies when I absolutely can't take the kids with me.

Most days we are together ALL day long we go to appointments. together, shopping together, carpool pick-up together, eat together, you get the idea....a lot of together time. Which don't get me wrong most of the time I love it. I love being with my kids. I love the silly jokes they tell me. I love their chubby hands grabbing my face to give me a kiss. But at 5 PM it is just a little too much "togetherness" for everyone. We are at the end of our rope and need the cavalry to get home.

I don't know what it is about Daddy coming home but it makes everyone soooo happy. For a few minutes at least all is right in the world. Depending on the day this reprieve can be about an hour but other days it is short lived. You see we are all still cranky, tired, and hungry. It is about this point Dan says out of earshot of the kids, "oh my goodness....our kids are horrible!" I usually reply back, "no they aren't you just see them at their worst." At first he didn't believe me and he would just shake his head...but after one of our recent vacations he said, "you know you are right we have some pretty great kids most of the day....until about dinner time...then they become little monsters." Poor Dan sees the worst of our kids Monday-Friday.

In the past six months we discovered the Sprout channel which has revolutioned our night-time witching hour. You see the Sprout channel plays kids programs late at night and has a good-night show and song that my kids love. It is calming for all. When we hit the end of our ropes we shout...lets watch Sprout. The boys happily scramble up on our bed...and the peace begins. Dan and I quickly get PJ's on, teeth brushed, lunches packed, and dishes washed-all while our children are quiet. I used to feel guilty for this night-time babysitter but now I just enjoy the quiet even if it does mean I have kids songs stuck in my head :)