Tuesday, August 17, 2010

White Lies and Red Shoulders


My car is incapacitated at this time.

Which makes it nearly impossible for me to take my children swimming. Which is the only goal I have this week: to swim as much as possible before all the local pools close.

Nearly, but not completely impossible.

Here's what we do:

1st: Climb, shove, pull our way into Ty's huge truck.
2nd: Fight over who gets to sit where until someone is crying (usually because Mom yells and/or pinches someone's leg).
3rd: Turn on the truck.
4th: Back out, completely going on faith that there is no one in the massive blind spots.
5th: Slam on brakes every two miles and threaten to drop children off on the side of the road if they don't stop freaking out.
6th: Drive the 15 minutes across town with the windows down, making it impossible to hear what the children are fighting about in the back seat, but not making it impossible to hear that they ARE fighting.
7th: Sweat off at least 10 pounds, because there is no AC (we are having car issues all around lately), and feel a little heat strokey.
8th: Wrestle children out of back seat, and beg them to stand "right HERE" while Mom fiddles with the silly key, trying to make the truck stop "ding"ing.

Swim ALL DAY, get sunburned, exhausted, and grouchy.

Start steps 1 through 8 all over again.

I think I might tell my children that the pools are closed tomorrow.




p.s. As I hit publish, our mechanic drove up to look at my car. Cross your fingers for a quick, easy fix...

7 comments:

Sharlee said...

You have a mechanic that makes house calls? What are you, a rock star?
You know, you're a great mom for wanting to get in all the swimming you can before the season's end. You're kids will always have great memories of summer because you're making that effort. We finally went to Bear Lake today. It actually went pretty well. We might try to sneak another trip in before school starts next week.

Sawdust Girl said...

Sounds like a blast!

I'd go through all that if I could sweat off 10 pounds in a fifteen minute drive.

The Kelly Variety said...

I don't comment much, but I'm with Sandra, "How do you sweat off at least ten pounds?" Is it possible to just do step 7? All the other steps are all too familiar.

Christy said...

Sounds fun.

hehe...you are a great mom for going through that every time. I would give up for sure, no turning back...well maybe for the ten pounds. ;)

Parley and Anna said...

You are one ambitious mother! I can't decide whether to feel guilty or inspired. I think I'll choose inspired--even if the process does involve a little pinching! Pinching is good for the skin; it increases the blood flow. Right? Here's hoping your car gets fixed and that you have AC soon. Seriously, I don't know how the pioneers survived.

Michelle said...

I think it is so funny to hear "mom" stories out of my friends! Funny and weird all wraped up together

Wishing you the best of luck on your car!

Amber said...

So not just a dead battery I take it. Grrr. And Sharlee, yes, Andrea IS a rock star. I figure you would know that being her sister and all! Sheesh!