Court Date Tomorrow, Part 2

Hopefully it will go more smoothly! I want to make my girls some promises when I kiss away their fears at night.

****the next morning****

This time, our court time is mid-afternoon, so we get to have a quiet morning at home to prepare. Or at least, that's the idea. We decided not to send the kids to school, because school is really pretty exhausting and we didn't want them to feel exhausted on top of everything else. Thus again, the supposed quiet morning at home.

What do we really have?

We had a sweet moment at 6:45 when Buttercup came into our bedroom with a little hopeful smile on her face, and quietly snuggled in between her parents for a while... instead of what she usually does, which is to play increasingly vigorously until she wakes everyone else up. Hibiscus slept a whole half hour further and woke up naturally, instead of getting poked by her little sister, which I would think would improve her feelings for the day.

Then we had giant meltdowns from Emerson. He saw markers (which were hidden away at the old house, but somehow visible here) and wanted to color with them. He whined and whined at me until I told him the discussion was over and ignored him, which made him mad. He thought Hibiscus was getting too much Daddy-time and he wanted his Daddy-time RIGHT NOW THIS SECOND. (With markers, of course.)  Then he didn't want to get dressed.  Then Hibiscus was very being very helpful -- if somewhat over-enthusiastic -- in getting breakfast ready with me, and Emerson wanted to do the exact job she was doing and not the job he was supposed to do.  Then he had to spend a while having a Sit in the bedroom, which involved a lot of screaming.  We made it through breakfast with a very nice Skype call from an auntie back home.  After breakfast, more screaming.  They didn't want to get dressed.  Hibiscus wanted to wear socks outside.  They disagreed about how to play Chutes and Ladders.  The plan is that the kids will play outside and get their wiggles out and free time in, while Daddy and I do the boring things, but the kids did not want to go outside.  They're tired, it's too hot, it's too boring, there's nothing to do, they don't like playing.  Really?  You don't like PLAYING?  Good grief.

It's probably nerves about the court date, or general unsettledness about being off our routine.  But it is not making for a peaceful morning at home.

Meanwhile, I've made some calls, written up our Family Sit Policy, organized clothes, and made lists.  Time to get packing.



The kids keep talking about what is going to happen next: Going to the zoo tomorrow.  Spending next Thanksgiving with Gramcy.  Going on the airplane.  Going to Waldorf School.  Playing with the dogs, Doney and Monaghan.  Taking swimming lessons at the Y.  Getting new pretty dresses (because both girls have grown an entire size in the last few months, and are bursting out of their clothes).

Oh, how I pray our "next" is coming.  And I pray we're taking the first step towards "next" today.