Oh yes, I forgot in the midst of all this that I am scheduled for a call from the university. I answer, hand my son Cheerios, and walk down the hall. The lady informs me this will take about 20 minutes. “Are you KIDDING me?” I think to myself. I don’t have that kind of time! I have buhs to change, snacks to fill, dogs to tend to, mail to prepare.. I say a silent prayer, “Lord, please….” And I don’t know what the rest of the prayer is because, well, I can’t think straight. As my pulse quickens, I look behind me to find a little boy and dog following.
Cheerios falling as if they were manna being dropped from Heaven. I am thankful for this moment; I smile.
I conclude the call and look down at my phone to find an email that I began replying to about an hour ago. Do I dare to try to finish it now? Another interruption from a buh comes, and finally, “send.”
Ah. Finally. The clock tells me it is 1100 and I ponder the idea of taking a shower. It’s definitely time, but I wonder if someone will allow me to such a privilege while he is awake… I take the dare. I’ve done this before without him “contained” and I want the little one to have some independence, so I know the drill. Remove all perfumes from the bathroom. Lock the cabinet door. Put the trash can, plunger, and toilet paper in the locked up laundry room. Push all lotions at least four inches from the edge of the counter top. Give the boy a full snack cup of Cheerios and show him the bathroom rug to sit on.
He does… for a moment.
I am prepared for this though. I just talk to him from the shower, “I trust you!” and “ You are such a good boy!” are often my remarks. So far so good. My hair is full of fresh feeling suds, eyes are closed as to not get soap in them, shower is nice and hot… and then there is this draft… I wipe my face and look behind me to find a little boy, snack cup in hand, with the shower door slid open and taking in a view of all the goods mommy has to offer. “Hi!” We smile, and I tell him again to go get the dog while I shut the shower door. Things seem to be going well for a moment and it’s then that my eyes meet my razor… oh yes! I do have one of those! I had forgotten what shaved legs feel like!
The boy is in the hallway tossing Cheerios to the dog, so yes, I dare to shave my legs! You see, the week has yet to allow me the time to do this, but I am not too concerned because, like I said, my husband is in Afghanistan.
