I lost my head!

I'll let you in on a little secret about my sweet family. When I say the "h" word, they fall to pieces. I try not to say it. In spite of my best intentions and well laid plans, it still happens. Everytime we are trying to get dressed and out of the house (for a morning event, in particular), that nasty "h" word slips out. I stare blankly at the clock wondering where the last hour went...then realize we're gonna be late....and I say it. "Oh! HHHHHurry!!!!!!!!!!! Get your shoes! Don't forget your socks. Yes, Butter, you have to wear underwear. Ray, what do you mean you don't know what top to WEAR! We have to leave in TWO MINUTES, People!" Shoes, hair brushes, and Burt's Bees tubes are flying everywhere, drawers and doors are jerked open and slammed shut! You'd think I'd know by now not to wait until the last second to comb the Doodle's curly mop! Honesty, I do not know what happens. It doesn't matter what clothes I lay out or how tangle free Doodle's hair is the night before. It doesn't matter how early we get up. It doesn't matter if the mama gets dressed first or last. It always happens. We are down to the wire every single time. I say it. And then, somebody cries. They cry bc they can't find the other shoe, cry bc mama is jerking the fire out of the tangled hair, cry bc mama is rushing around the house barking orders, cry bc they can't find the shirt they were going to wear, cry bc they hear the door open and think mama's leaving them (knowing I've never left them before.) It's a wonder we ever get anywhere all in one piece. (Please assure me I'm not alone here!)

Yesterday, we had a wonderful party with the homeschool co-op for Valentine's Day. We didn't have to be there until 10:00. You are thinking that surely I didn't have to say the H-word for a 10:00 party. Sorry. I had to say it. Yes, I laid out clothes but some disappeared in the night and some got terribly wrinkled and had to be ironed! At one point, two of the three children were crying and the third was on the verge.. And I hadn't even started stomping around yet! I just merely suggested that we would be leaving in 5 minutes....and to HURRY!! Yep, the house fell to pieces. You would never know it was Happy Hearts Day!

I heard a strange crying sound, said, "WHO is THAT?"

Ray said..."Butter."

"What's wrong?" I said, as I opened his door and saw him fully dressed and ready to go with no good reason to cry.

"I lost my head," he sniffs as he holds up a headless C3PO. He gets me every time. Rushing around like wild banshees is just not worth it. "I lost my head."

Me too, sweetness. Me too.

We weren't the last ones at the party by a longshot. We had a great time with the homeschoolers, as usual. This morning, we had to be out of the house by 8:30 for Peter Pan ballet matinee. Yep, you guessed it. I said "it" again. "HURRY!" Thankfully no tears, though. (But I spent the morning with my jeans unzipped, not on purpose.)

I wish I could say with confidence that I'd never use the H-word again and disturb the peace in our home. I will say with confidence that rushing, stomping, snapping, and crying never ever helps us get out of the door quicker.

Click here for more info on the art piece in the picture. Fascinating how they made it. No hurrying there!