Sometimes I wonder what the neighbours think.

Last night was one of those... you know those scary evenings that just sneak up on you to catch you unawares and wrecks havoc. We had the most delightful dinner and bedtime on Tuesday night, but last night....

I got home late after phoning Lucy and feeling guilty about being late - as luck has it, I had The Lil Miss with me at the office the afternoon after ballet so at least I did not have drama at school. There was an accident on my way home, traffic was delayed and I have a terrible cold. I forgot my lifesaving cold medicine at work. So a stop at the local pharmacy made me even later.

Got home, threw something together for dinner as I forgot to give Lucy dinner to make for us the morning. I had a very tired girl sulking on the couch, crying because daddy was not home - truly no reason to do this, it's one night in how many that he was working late. Then I had a niggly Little man L dragging his chair to the kitchen counter and insisting to grab EVERYTHING in sight - sugar bowl, tin opener, espresso machine... and crying about it.

Back in the lounge mayhem broke loose when the DVD the other two were watching stopped working - on closer inspection due to a sticky tiny fingerprint on the surface. While trying to clean it, an all out fight broke loose between the boys - there was biting and wrestling and hitting involved. So I tried to separate the two into the two "naughty corners" but Little man L just insisted on dashing back to resume the fight. Eventually they both calmed down.

Dinner was a disaster - salmon lasagna was "gross" according to the Lil Miss - I had a mini fit. Little man C did not eat much but as he had a banana only an hour ago so I let it go. Little man L thankfully had a nice helping. Then he started crying while I was shouting explaining to his sister that food is never gross. I decided to loose the fight but proceed upstairs to win the battle on the bath side. Now I was carrying a hysterical Little man L up the stairs just to find the Lil Miss sobbing because she didn't "win" - getting upstairs first. While I am filling the bath and try to console L the other two decided that my craft cupboard has interesting offerings and they proceed to unpack it. I wrestle forcefully remove dangerous some items from them. I get all 3 in the bath - silence and play resumes for 5 minutes. Bliss.

The next moment hysteria - C was squirted in the face with water. I quickly do medicine, wash, toot brushing and get him out of the bath. He is sobbing. Now L is standing up in the bath, attempting to get out. I grab him and place him on the bed in a towel next to his brother. A is crying by now because she is last again (as if this matters) - so I get her out. At least she dries and dresses herself but then goes to sulk in her room. Now I have two crying wet naked boys. I dress the one that is the most hysterical  crying so loud the neighbors need earplugs , first. So off to bed, C still crying. L now Mr. friendly grin of perfect sweet child - nappy advert stuff.  With the promise of a story I manage to get the Lil Miss with us to do bible and prayers. As very short story and prayer follows.

Put the boys to bed, try to read a story to A. C is still hysterical, he wants his book. I manage to calm him down with another book. Now we have L running into the room every couple of minutes, laughing and grinning. Eventually I just say goodbye to all and head downstairs to catch the last half hour of Survivor and have some dinner.  It was not to be - a thunderstorm broke loose and between getting the puppies inside and consoling a hysterical little man C I made it in time to see the tribal council - and have a now reheated dinner.

At least I watched The Mentalist and the kids slept through. Not me though - was constantly worried about my sweet man, working and having to drive home. Woke at 1:30, read a couple of pages, woke when he got home at about 3:30, slept again until little man L woke up at 5:45.

It's not easy being a parent, and I know in a couple of years I will laugh at this - as I do now about those extreme baby evenings - they were way worse. But this too shall pass. Please God give me the strength not the be so upset about it. To embrace it. Hec, who am I kidding?