It was one of those gorgeous, windy, perfect-temperature days outside that just didn’t match the household happenings. If the weather mirrored my day it would have been gray, humid, and still.

The fussy 3 year old needed to be reminded several times that fussing and screaming outside is not appropriate – especially on days when the neighbors are likely to have windows open.

Older kids needed to be reminded what it feels like to be 3 and playing happily on the steps outside and to have your older siblings whiz past you. “Oh no. I’m being left behind! Stop. Wait for me!” Except none of this was articulated. It came out in a big, unintelligible fuss.

If I could do it over again, would I have changed anything? Yes. I would have spent more time outside with them. Instead, this is what happened.They wanted to be outside. I did too. But there were a few relatively small things on my list I needed to do. Kids outside is the perfect time to handle those things. The house was nice and quiet. Here I’ll check my list again…get a drink of water…ok, now I’m getting settled to do that research before I make that Amazon order, when…the FUSS happens.

The patient mom calmly investigates. No one and everyone is at fault. We talk about established rules, kindness, considering others…. I bring the little ones in with me to have some calm down time. Then we try it again and again, interspersed with school, lunch, nursing the baby, snacks, diaper changes, phone calls, answering the door. Each time I don’t get very far with that order. I still haven’t placed that order.

Now evening is here and I feel impatient and tired.

The real question for me is how can I keep this from happening again. Unfortunately, I don’t think that’s realistic. People – especially children – go through lots of changes. These lessons will probably need to be reviewed again. But they will learn and “get it.” But then it will be time for some other lesson that will also cause interruptions and/or chaos.

Someday when I have an empty nest, I’ll probably be pining away for interruptions by little people whom I love. Oh for more patience today and to not wish away these difficult but very important days – for me and them alike.