$2 Tuesdays

A local roller rink has had $2 Tuesdays all summer long. I found out about this a few weeks ago and decided to brave it and take my kids there and see if we could have a good time. It was such a hit! Even Spencer loved it. Danielle and Spencer mostly skated around on the carpeted area and Taneal and Camie hugged the walls in the rink, but we lasted the full three hours and had so much fun. Nathan cooperated and ate his fill of gold fish. We left determined to go back soon.

Today was the day we went back. Not so good. I brought water bottles because I would rather the kids drink from my water bottles then a public drinking fountain. Spencer decided he was thirsty and because I was watching all my kids in a crowded area, I didn't realize that that little three-year-old somehow managed to drink two water bottles in the first half hour we were there. After two trips to the bathroom and him REALLY going, I realized what happened. I was taking him to the bathroom every fifteen minutes. And, the bathroom was a public restroom, so not so clean. The floors in the restroom were tile and extremely slippery with skates on. Of course taking off the skates and putting shoes on every 15 minutes didn't seem like the easy way out. So, I somehow pushed the stroller, managed to keep Spencer from falling, pulled down his pants, helped him on the toilet, had to pull his pants back up (tugging causes slipping and sliding), getting out of the stall with baby and Spencer, washing hands, etc. Not fun. Nathan had had it, wanted out of the stroller and the gold fish weren't doing their trick. Spencer was too tired by this point and started the tantrums. TIME TO GO!

Now to get the girls off the rink. A very nice lady comes and sits next to me and comments that I have my hands full (why does that comment bother me? I do have my hands full). She then explains to me in a "I'm trying to be compassionate" sort of way, how sad it is that I have so many children and so I can't be out on the rink helping my children learn to skate because I have to tend to the little ones on the bench. (Sorry about the run-on sentence there.) I just grit my teeth and try to flag down my kids that we REALLY need to go. So, this lady goes onto the rink, asks Danielle if she can take her out on the floor and help her skate. Danielle comes and asks, and of course I'm feeling somewhat less then a great mom at that moment and so I grant permission. Spencer on the bench screaming, Nathan squirming in my arms, Taneal and Camie zooming around the rink not paying attention to me, and some stranger hand in hand with my little girl.

When I finally got my girls attention that we needed to go, we were out of there within a minute or less. We piled into my van and drove home. I promised that we would NEVER do that again. Taneal's comment was great, "of course we won't, Mom. School starts on Monday and $2 Tuesdays will be over." I love that she know me and still loves me and can find humor in a bad situation.

And all I was trying to do was be a good mom and take my kids skating.

So to change the perspective. I love being a mom of 5 children. If I could, I would have a dozen more. My children are my life and bring me so much happiness and joy. They are the reason I get out of bed every morning. They are the reason I have an added skip in my step. They are the reason I cook and clean and shop and sing and smile. They are the reason I am so grateful for Jesus Christ and his atoning sacrifice and example that allows me to try to be a better person each day. I am so thankful for temples that have allowed my family to be a family forever, and not just for our time here on earth. I have a great husband that supports me and works so hard to provide for all these mouths to feed, and occasionally changes diapers, too. We feel so blessed to have these five truly amazing children with us each and every day. I do have my hand full and I wouldn't want it any other way.