Expect the unexpected.

You’d think I’d have learned this very important (and repetative) lesson by this point in my life as a mom. Reality TV show contestents might quake in their shoes at the mere thought of being told to “expect the unexpected.” We world-weary moms just sigh our world-weary sighs and move on with our world-weary days. Well. Usually we do. For some reason I forgot that I already knew that this weekend and instead was all, “What up with that?”

The weather, for instance, was all summery and on the brink of “Ladies and gentlemen, start your air conditioners!” But then it turned cold and rainy and (get this) frosty. I was baffled and angry at the nerve of the weather, changing on me like that. But then I remembered that it was my fault for moving all of the girls’ heavy sweaters into my closet. Silly mommy. At least they were still accessible and not yet in the attic!

Then there was the thing with the stores. I had to run some errands on Friday to pick up a birthday present for the next party my social butterflies will be attending, and a baby quilt for one of my fertile friends. (No, no one is actually pregnant yet. But if I put off working on the quilt until the announcement, I just know three of them will get pregnant at the same time and then I will have to choose whose baby I like best. For the price of one way-early baby quilt kit, I can avoid that. I think. I will still feel better when I’m a quilt or two ahead. Darn it, I’ve digressed.) I was looking for a particular quilt pattern that was supposedly hard to find, but it was a perfect fit for one of my friends. I didn’t think I’d have much luck there. The store was right next to a Barnes and Noble, however, so I thought I’d take a peek anyway. Don’t'cha know I found the hard-to-find quilt in two minutes but Barnes and Noble was out of the popular little girls’ story that I needed to pick up? Figures. I could have picked another book…if I hadn’t already picked up several accessories to go with the book in question. That means I get to make another trip across town later this week. Awesome.

Oh, and my doctor’s office is in on the whole “Gotcha!” theme we have going on. I have a follow-up appointment with Dr. MIT to make sure all of the asteroids leftover from my planet have passed from my lonely little universe. Er…or you could say that I have another X-Ray and consultation scheduled for Tuesday. Remember how I’ve been less than confident with the level of service I’ve received from his staff? Well, when I had received an automated phone call reminding me of my appointment, but not any instructions regarding any necessary preparations for the X-Rays, I went ahead and gave the office a call. Because, hello! if I can avoid the joyfest of laxatives and fasting that I so enjoyed last time, that would be lovely. Imagine my surprise when Dr. MIT’s receptionist assured me that I would not need to do anything other than show up for the X-Ray. (Note: if I show up for my X-Ray and it turns out that I’ve been once again led astray, I retain the right to remove this entry in my What Up With That? post.)

Finally, there was Bee. Oh, hush – sometimes a toddler’s mood can too be predictable! I swear! Just not Bee’s and just not on Saturday. We had the first of many, many birthdays parties that are currently looming. One of her best buddies from daycare was turning three and his mom had graciously included Gracie on the party invite. The party, by the way, was being held at a ginormous indoor arcade/eatery/funfest that didn’t feature any giant costumed mice. We were all stoked. So much so that the party was useful as a bribe all week (“You have to go to bed if you want to go to Friend’s birthday party tomorrow!” “You better stop whining if you want to go to the party!” Etc, etc). Unfortunately, the party was scheduled during Bee’s usual naptime. I expected high spirits all morning, followed by a crash (both literal and emotional) right around cake time. Of course, what actually happened was that Bee screamed all.morning.long. It was so far beyond her new routine of Whiney McFussypants that I even considered canceling our plans. Bee was slightly warm to the touch, but that could have been from all the screaming. I thought maybe she didn’t feel well. And even if she wasn’t under the weather, the meltdown would only get worse without a nap. But, I didn’t want to be the parent who broke yet another promise to her children, and so once Bee pulled it together (after I made her lie down with the lights off for 30 minutes), we headed out to the party. Where Bee was an angel. She ate cake, gave her friend hug after hug, and sat nicely in her chair for an entire hour, waiting to be let loose in the game room. It was a shame we had to leave early, because I was really enjoying that version of Bee. Thankfully, I turned her over to her dad for the rest of the weekend, so I didn’t have to find out how many other expectations were going to be blown out of the water.

And that’s why I’m sitting here, not expecting anything for the rest of the week. Except, maybe, to get reprimanded by X-Ray techs tomorrow.

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Tags: motherhood, parenting, toddlers