Rainy Afternoon

It has been rainy for three days now. Plus foggy, or froggy, as our three-year-old calls it. It has made us all draggy and saggy, not wanting to get out of bed, not wanting to do anything!

Today we were ALL tired before riding. At naptime I so could have stayed asleep with the baby in the handed-down, mint green rocking chair we have used for all our children. I really felt compelled to get enough rest! But, hey, we signed up for this. So I went to pick-up, with the boys' riding stuff, snacks, and trying to be le plus cheerful. It didn't work. Why do we have to go today!? Petros (six) asked angrily, accusingly. Theodore (also six), who normally tries to make my path smoother, wasn't helping any. I wanted to blurt out, Hey, back off here. But I am on some new kick about never raising my voice, never shaming. I know it's the right way to go. Once you raise your voice they are no longer listening. And you are being a bully, which is kind of unfair.

Anyway, we were spent. But then the mood lifted as I drove closer to Folly Farm. Past all the pretty scenery of Simsbury. Look, a school bus! No one waiting for that boy there at that nice white house with the pumpkins. (Note to self: take them to the Pickin' Patch to get pumpkins!) Maybe his mom is at the window, Theodore suggested, while my mind imagined her perhaps at work. He a latch-key buser. Once we got there I had the brilliant idea to then bribe them with peanut M&M's (not part of the packed snack, but rather handily bought at the gas station for me, to be honest). And -- it worked! After each having two requisite slices of cheese for the sake of "protein," I was so obviously and in full view the (horrid) junk food pushing mom. Everyone could see them walking towards the stables with their ripped open, taxi yellow packets. They were now cheerful. As was I. We were back on course.

You pay, you bribe, you want to take a pass on your own life for the afternoon. Then you rally (pop some sugar) and jump back in the game.

Today they rode beautifully. Better than ever! Who knew? Somewhere, deep down, maybe I did.

Jennifer Dulos also blogs at www.fivemakesseven.com