One-on-One

I can be such a good mom...when I take on my children one at a time. It would be merciful if the kids would ask me for my assistance in turn. I would be able to care for them so much better. When I am summoned by all three at once, my brain can experience sensory overload. Unfortunately, when one of my kids is hyper, or teasing, or super silly, or crying the others usually join in synergistically. This energy usually reaches a peak between 5 and 7 p.m. That is when the kids start running laps around the house chasing each other until someone gets hurt and it is exactly when my energy is dwindling. I usually shuffle the kids outside to do their rough housing. Dave often doesn't get home until about 8 p.m. after they are fed, bathed, and ready for bed (if I'm on top of it). Maybe he plans to miss crazy hour on purpose?

Lately, I have really enjoyed having time with Lou by herself. With the boys at school, we have been able to have some fun one-on-one time. See? Look how happy she is.

Today, she wanted to go feed ducks at the pond on the south side of BYU campus. Usually the ducks there are so well fed that there is bread swollen and floating on the water. Today, however, they were starving. With autumn here, they must not be getting their regular rations. When we arrived, they came running for us and swarmed Lou.

She was a little nervous at times when they got too close.

The ducks had a hard time taking turns and they begged from Lou all at once. We noticed some biting and pecking.

After she fed them, she knew what to do. She chased them away to play. I think she had a lesson about being a mom today.