Let's Call It A Wash

The boys had skating lessons last night (the ice/hockey kind). It wasn't worth much.

It started when Matthew came home from school and seemed a little tired. Although we had friends over that he loves he sat on the couch curled in my lap (or what's left of it). He told me a little about his day while I rubbed his legs and teased his hair. When I got up to answer the door I returned to find him sound asleep. Then he had no appetite dinner so it was decided he wouldn't go to lessons--he still had to come with me poor kid, but he was just going to sit with me.

When we arrived at skating Joseph had fallen asleep in the car. I went around to his door, gently woke him up, unbuckled him from his car seat, and stood him up in the car. Then I went to retrieve the bag of gear out of the back only to hear a wail and find that Joseph, too sleepy to stand on his own, had fallen face first out of the car. The poor kid was laying head down on the black top with one foot still in the car. Ahhhhh. Luckily he had on his heavy coat with hood, thick gloves, and snow pants and received nary a scratch--can't believe his face didn't show something. Whew.

We pressed on.

We got in the building, grabbed our skates, and realized we had forgot our helmets--no problem, we just borrowed a couple from the skate rental desk. While I was kneeling in front of Will lacing his skates, he was anxious to get on the ice and tried to get up before I was done--I got a toe pick in the knee. Arrrr. Luckily it was my left knee, the right knee had already taken a solid hit earlier in the day from a hammer wielded by a three year old*. I sent Will onto the ice, and then fixed Joseph up. Matthew and I escorted Joseph to his class and then limped our way around the rink to sit and watch for our remaining 25 min. I sat down, said hello to some friends, and then scanned the ice for my own little students. Joseph was with his group, marching along behind orange safety cones, but I couldn't see any orange coat containing Will. After a couple glances around I was just about to tell Matthew to sit tight while I checked the bathrooms when I saw him sitting in the team box with his teacher, crying.

I hurried over. Will had taken a bad fall, and banged his head on the inside of his "too big" hockey helmet.

3 for 3.

His teacher, the main instructor, and another very nice man came over to check on him and assured me if he wanted to sit this one out he could come for a make-up on Thursday. When I mentioned I had another out sick they kindly said he could come too. Then the nice man went and arranged for all three boys to come on Thursday, Joseph would get an extra class (and he can use it). He also made sure I got some extra skate rental tickets to cover our make up class. Everyone was very kind--perhaps it was the lone parent, visibly protruding belly, and three injured children, but I was happy to accept their kindness and ever so grateful. By the time I finished consoling Will and worked out our Thursday return, Joseph's class was about over. I thanked everyone profusely, gathered my three boys, and kept them ever so close to me as we made our way back through the parking lot to the car.

We had one stop to make before heading home. Some friends are moving away to Boston and a little farewell party was happening. We arrived at the party, took in our treats, each of the boys had a little snack, and then got up to play. Ten seconds later I heard the sound of craniums colliding. William was unfazed but Matthew was in tears. I decided it was time to leave.

I hurried home and put everyone in bed before we all spontaneously combusted.

There wasn't much to do besides think of my dear Scarlet O'Hara and wish happy thoughts for the morning. Because "after all . . ."

Today has been okay so far, of course, I am sitting in a doctors office taking a 3 hour blood glucose test while my kids are at school and a neighbors, and I have no phone service. So who knows.

*Joseph and I were putting together some little go carts that needed a couple hits from a rubber mallet. I don't have a rubber mallet, (you?)so I did the "metal hammer over wood" technique. I had the cart balanced upside down between my knees with a long piece of wood laying over the wheels that needed pounding. I let Joseph pound the first wheel a then moved him to the second, "Great job Joseph but go a little easier so you don't hit my knee, okay." Wham--and not onto the wood, the kid has a good arm.