Mommy! Mommy!!
Not right now, I'm trying to sleep. If I hear just one more word from that little boy, I swear, I'll kill him. I haven't been able to get 3 consecutive hours of sleep in the past 3 weeks. My body is beginning to feel like it's someone else's.
'Catch me if you can'
'Hehe'
'I'm over here'
'Arhhhhh'
These chants and laughter have been on repeat since 'the kids' got back from school. I have just 30 minutes left off my 'break time' and then Mrs. A would come get me. I just wished that she would take him somewhere else to play.
I thought kids were supposed to take naps every afternoon?
Who is the evil person that changed the law and who gave extra energy to children?
I just can't!
Just only if I could rest a little and then they could continue for all I care.
STEPHANIE!!!
Whew! Not again!
Can this woman not allow someone chill sef, I muttered under my breathe for fear that she would hear me.
STEPHANIE! Can't you hear me?
I'm on my way, mom!
Usually, I knew when it was time to give the kids a bath and make dinner but with all of the excesses and the stuff happening around me, I had lost touch of time.
Heavy breathing and high pitched screeches were the signal that I had stayed in the room for too long so I quickly wore my shorts and tank top and then slipped out.
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My school was on strike again, extended holiday, as we called it, so I had been home for the last one month.
Other people are often like,
'Awwww, so you're spending some more time with your family.
Wow!
No place like home'
There's often the look on my face which expresses a mixture of disbelief and uneasiness because, I can't imagine that we all live this same life because staying home for anything more than one week is torture.
Katie, Jackson, it's time for a bath.
No, no, no, I still want to play.
Calm down Stephanie, close your eyes and count to five, take deep breathes baby girl, you can do this.
Yes, I need all of this pep talk so I don't eventually throw this kid across the fence.
With a see-through smile on my face, I manage to say, 'Okay hunnie, you can run across, just one more time and then you're going to have your bath.'
'Thanks Steph'.
_________________________________________
It's 9pm, the kids are already fast asleep, for the first time in a long while, I am done with the chores this early. I even had extra time to watch my favourite telenovela. Just as I'm beginning to think about jumping into my pjays and sleeping, my perfect moment is interrupted by a knock on the door.
'Can I come in?'
Sure, yes
"Sweetheart, I know that this last couple of weeks have been hard on you but I just wanted to thank you for spending them with us. I have been having a tough time doing everything by myself since your dad left. Jack is finally beginning to talk since you've been around. I know that it seems like I do not want you to have time to yourself but that's not it darling. We just love having you around"
Gently, tears streamed down my face with no interruptions and I managed to mutter the words, 'I love you mom'
'I'll never leave you'
