INTENTIONS

This morning was going to be good.  I had every intention of it.  I had outfits laid out on the steps for the boys (I manage that about 4/7 days per week).  I had cleaned up birthdayness.  I usually save the icing in the fridge until Michael says weeks later, “You going to use this neon green icing for anything else?”  And then I reluctantly throw it away.  I hate throwing away food, especially food I make.  Anyway, it was in record time (same day) that I got rid of all unused icing.  I was ready to start this week on top of things.  

I got up, on the 2nd alarm (not too bad), and went get my coffee.  It didn’t make.  Grrrrr.  Behind 10 minutes.  After I got the coffee brewing I went downstairs to wake up Nolan.

“Time to get up sweetie” with a kiss on the forehead (and as perky as possible with no coffee in my system).

“Mom…the tooth fairy didn’t come” he said in a most disappointed voice.

“Oh, honey, really??? Are you sure?”      OH CRAP!!! I CAN’T BELIEVE I FORGOT THE DOLLAR!!!! HOW IN THE WORLD????  I KNOW HOW.  HE’S 7 AND HE LOOSES TEETH ALL THE TIME.  WHY CAN’T IT JUST BE A DOLLAR FOR THE FIRST TOOTH??? I CAN’T KEEP UP!  UGH!!  I HAVE NO IDEA HOW TO MAKE THIS NOT A REALITY.  I THOUGHT HE DIDN’T BELIEVE IN THE TOOTH FAIRY ANYMORE?  DIDN’T I TELL HIM YET??

IT’S ME!!!!!!!  

These are the thoughts running through my head as I obviously rush upstairs and take $1 from my other child’s birthday card…because I never have cash.  Never. Last week I wrote a check for $1 to the school for hat day.  I ran back downstairs and, as nonchalantly as I can, slip it between the mattress and the headboard.  Luckily it’s really dark in his room (because Michael has tinted the bedroom windows in an effort to keep the boys sleeping longer during daylight savings time) and I don’t think he saw me do it.

“Honey did you check all around even in the cracks?” I ask, holding my breath.  Not sure why I care if he knows the truth.  I’m not the one who told him the tooth fairy existed in the first place.  Culture did. But the mom in me intends for him to have a childhood….he’ll be grown up soon enough.  And it’s fun to sneak him a dollar when he looses his tooth.  Just fun.  So I do it. But this time I forgot the dollar!

“Here it is!” he announced. 

“Oh, good!” I reply.

The rest of the morning actually went off without a hitch. I was early to the doctor’s office for Zachary’s checkup.  Josiah was absolutely adorable preparing him for the experience.  

“They’re going to give you a shot, Zachary.  You have to be really brave. It’s going to hurt, but you’ll be ok, right mom?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

They talked the doctor’s ear off.  When he walked in, Josiah immediately said, “If I look familiar, it’s because you are the doctor who tried to take off my wart.”

“Oh?” asked the doctor.

“Yes, that’s right,” I say. This sparked a lengthy conversation between the doctor and my two boys about splinters, ninjas, and other things that are really important to write down in a 4-year-old’s medical chart, I’m sure.  Actually the doctor was quite amused and sang “Happy Birthday” to Zachary in Portuguese, to which Zachary replied “that’s not the real way.” And then proceeded to sing it ‘correctly’.  I took the opportunity to explain to Zachary what cultural relativism is, and we went on our merry way.

The evening was to be wrapped up at Josiah’s soccer game.  It started at 7.  Zachary ended up feeling a little grumpy and tired from the immunizations, so I decided to stay home with him.  After I got him settled, Michael called and said “are you sure the game started at 7?”  I double checked the schedule, and it said it did.  Long story short, the game was moved to Friday.  Apparently the coach texted me, but I didn’t get the text because my phone fell in the toilet on Saturday and is completely fried.  Which is another thing I spent a considerable amount of time on today, unintentionally. 

I did not have the day I had planned, but I rejoice in the day I was given.  I say that to myself a lot as a mother.  There are circumstances that the best of intentions cannot foresee. I don’t have any doubt that tomorrow will bring about a whole host of unplanned events that will have to be managed.  But I intend to rejoice, no matter what.  I get how big that statement is.  I get it.  I intend to rejoice, no matter what.

I rejoice in the gift of today.  I rejoice in the laughter with friends.  I rejoice in the game of wiffle ball I played with my boys.  I rejoice that my husband came home safely.  I rejoice that I was able to take my child to the doctor and pay for the bill.  I rejoice that I have one less tooth to manage, for the time being.

And I intend to rejoice again tomorrow, whatever tomorrow holds.

“Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say rejoice!”     -the apostle Paul, from prison (Phil. 4:4)