The trip home for Thanksgiving is always an adventure. I took the kids home to my parents by myself this year. Matt had just returned from a week long business trip to Europe and was not only jet-lagged, but swamped with work, so I loaded the kids up and left early so that the kids could have more time hanging with their cousins.
Does anyone else with mutliple kids ever feel like the circus is in town whenever they venture out with their kids?
Let me begin by setting the scene for you. We are outside of Birmingham about 45 minutes, traveling at pretty good speed, when we come to a screeching halt. A STANDSTILL!! All I can see ahead of me are lights. Who know how far we are from it opening back up again? Thank you Lord for whoever invented the DVD player for cars. But even with that, my kids are not the best travelers and neither am I!
Of course, a bathroom break was needed while we sat about 15 miles from any exit, which would take hours to get to at the snail pace we were moving. I almost skipped out on going to Atlanta for Christmas. Really! I almost crossed over the grass to make a u turn, but I was too scared that instead of being stuck in traffic, we would then be stuck in the mud!
When we finally reached the exit, I saw what is a gloroious sign to most men up ahead...WAFFLE HOUSE. For the record, I don't care for Waffle House. I am not much of a breakfast person, so Matt usually frequents this place while he is out of town or working late. On occasion he has taken the kids to eat there and they seem to love it like their Daddy!
My options were limited. It was a gas station Taco Bell or Waffle House. I chose the latter.
Once we got in a settled into our cozy booth, we quite enjoyed ourselves. In fact, I think almost everyone in there enjoyed us too! We were the most exciting thing to come through those doors that night.
Gray and his glorious 2 year old "No" screaming, multiple trips to the public potty to either use it or get a "talking to", quarters in the Jukebox so we can make the place a little louder with random songs noone has ever heard of, a few spills here and there, and some spinning fun on the seats up at the bar. Our sweet waitress was great. She didn't blink an eye when Owen called her over and said, "Could you make me some more eggs?"....(just like home!)
The point of this story is that I have found people are generally very kind to me when I am out alone with my kids. I usually get the sympathetic look of, "been there, done that" or encouragement like, "It only gets harder" (insert sarcasm here) or the classic original line, "I don't know how you do it, bless you", or the nice way of saying your kids are unruly, "Kids have so much energy".
Regardless, I appreciate all those remarks because what you see is what you get. My kids are not perfect. I am not supermom. My kids are spirited and energetic and I am a mom trying to do a job that noone could possible prepare you for or teach you do. A job much harder than ever thought it would be.
But I think you will agree that no matter how tiring your day may be and no matter where you end up......(Waffle House) there are always plenty of blessings to count and so many things to be Thankful for.
I am so thankful that God trusted me, and gave me four precious children, and allowed me to be their mommy!
In our corner booth
In Fact, I just might make this a yearly tradition.
Our Waffle House Stop in Ranburne Alabama!
See you next year!
