I had an interesting moment today after swim lessons. My 2 boys,Travis-6 and Peyton-5, started swim class this morning. I started it the way I generally do things, rushing in so we are not late.
I can't really explain how this happens. I had plenty of time this morning, I was watching the clock, I even thought- we should be early today. But I wanted to use the bathroom right before we left because I drank 2 cups of coffee and I hate using public restrooms with children. (Don't touch that! Just stand there. Please don't open the door. I said, please don't open that door. Shut the door. Right now. Yup, all the way-ok I will shut it myself. Get off the floor..I tell you every time don't sit on bathroom floors! Just don't touch anything in here!!)
So then I think I better grab a snack for Izzy and a water cup..oh and her little diaper bag just in case. I look out the window to see Travis is riding his bike in the rain. No sign of Izzy and Peyton. I rush downstairs and yank open the door, "where's Izzy?" Standard reply- I don't know. "Where's Peyton?" Buckled in already. So I rush back inside still carrying my purse and Izzy's diaper bag, box of graham crackers and water cup. "Izzy?!" No fear, she's upstairs trying to put her own shoes on. I run upstairs and take them off since they don't match and add her to my pile of things I'm carting around. Bend down to grab her pink crocs by the door and hold those with my free pinky.
Remember- it's pouring rain and I get to drive the car out in the driveway because my van that is normally parked in the garage had to have the front bumper fixed. Oh and look, Teddy is outside still. (Insert inner curses and death wishes on that dog.) By the time I'm buckled up and making sure we didn't forget swim goggles, towels, extra underwear and shorts we are crunched for time and I'm sweating with frizzy hair.
When class is over I send them into the men's locker room to change. Izzy and I wait...and wait and wait. I watch little boys come out and a man and some more little boys. I ask the next man if there are 2 little boys in there? No, he says. There is just someone in the stall. So I rush to the family locker room- no little boys. Back into the pool area- no Travis and Peyton. Back to the men's locker room, I call inside...no answer. I am not a panicky person. But I am hauling my 2 year old daughter around ready to start yelling. How could I lose my kids? I don't want to explain this one to Paul. I race back over to the family locker room to see if any of the teachers saw where my boys went. The door opens slowly and there they are. I can breath again.
I proceeded to show them where the exit for the men's locker room was and mentioned that I was a little worried when I couldn't find them. Tomorrow I can meet them outside that door, okay? They just looked at me. I probably had a crazed look in my eye, but I can take a deep breath now and calm my palpitating heart. It was just another "mom" moment.