Remembering

 I remember:

• a time when waking up in the morning meant my sweet son would crawl in bed with me and cuddle until we were both ready to face the day. (Instead of grunting, dragging ass and missing the bus.)

• when snow meant a fun day building a snowman and making snow angels. (Instead of dragging out snowpants that don't fit and being afraid to drive...guess tax money didn't go to salt trucks.)

• when breakfast meant french toast or waffles or at the very least a bowl of cereal. (Instead of black olives, a bite of pb&j on toast and M&M's.)

• a house where mice didn't dwell. (Orkin came yesterday and gave us the all clear. This morning, while doing his treatment, Nico saw a mouse. I was in the other closet looking for pictures and words can't describe how I completely flipped out.)

• a time when something would go wrong in the house and Leo would jump up and fix it. (Ok, I don't know that he ever jumped up but at some point, he did fix things.)

• a time when Fridays meant the start of a relaxing weekend. (Instead of, "What's the plan?" "What are we doing tonight?" "Can I call someone?" "Can I get a ride?" "If we have nothing planned, do you care if I _____?")

• a time when I made dinner and people actually ate it when it came out of the oven. (Three nights this week, I made dinner and it sat on the stove...I'm about done.)

• a time when being sick meant you stayed in bed until you got better. (Fine, I admit...I'm fighting something or the kids got me sick but moms can't ever be sick so what is the point in admitting it?)

• a time when days didn't revolve around sports and 10 and 13 year old children's social lives. (We have 4 basketball games, two playdates and a birthday party plus two days off of school...God help me.)

• when I had a working computer that typed all the letters, let me chat with friends, let me play Words With Friends and had enough memory so I could write my books. (Just happy I have one but really sad remembering the one that worked so well.)

• when we only went to games that our kids were playing in (well, I still only do that). (Tired of hearing that it is for "scouting" or the "varsity coach asked us to".)

• a time when vacations meant going somewhere new and different and not to Boca Raton or Wisconsin Dells. (God, I miss this. I would love to travel like we used to.)

• a time when I didn't have to leave the house to relax. (If I stay home, even if I lock my door, Gia will cry if she isn't with me, the kids will come to me for things and Leo might feel compelled to go watch basketball because "I am home doing nothing so what is the big deal?")

I am remembering these times because this day was none of these things and yes, this is a very "glass half empty" way of looking at things (actually, it was nice remembering the first parts of these) but I am struggling today to find a reason to crawl out of my cave without causing too much damage to the psyches of my children and husband so bear with me and see if you can remember a time when things were a lot simpler and less aggravating.