Mom Things

Yesterday was a sunny warm day after so many long and snowy ones, so I decided to take my two youngest on a walk after school across a pedestrian bridge with beautiful views of the Ohio River and the two waterfront cities that connect over it. It would have been great for my oldest to have also joined us, but she had her first ever job training and needed to try out a different city bus route than her usual.

Our walk started off really well. The waterfront area was full of people, ready for this little glimpse of spring. Bikes, roller skates, strollers, runners, dogs, kids, everyone out and about. We walked and chatted, fully taking in the unusual warmth. The ice cream and boba spots were closed, so we decided to go for the hibachi and sushi restaurant that also has boba. My kids had a little bit of a tough time sitting and showing restaurant manners, but things were going well and the food was good.

I can’t pinpoint the point of transition, but suddenly I found myself in a flustered state. My son’s stomach ached after trying sushi for the first time, my preschooler was coming undone at the seams, melting off her seat and later dropping her boba tea on the floor after trying to hop off a bar stool. I knew it was time to head back across the bridge, but we all needed to use the bathroom before heading back. While waiting for my son to finish using the bathroom, I randomly (and luckily!) opened my email on my phone to find out that we were going to be very late to a baseball evaluation for my son that completely fell through the cracks of my calendar (read: mind). I immediately called the phone number in the email and thankfully received a phone call back; my son could be placed at the end of the tryouts and it was fine. It would work out. I texted my husband concerned about attending the baseball evaluation with our youngest daughter because she seemed to be losing stamina. But he was busy picking up our oldest from her job training and getting dinner for the two of them.

Ok! That’s ok. I got this, I thought.

We walked the mile across the bridge quickly, my son slowing down each time he got a cramp in his side and me carrying my daughter every chance I could manage the extra 40 pounds. We made it to the car and drove off to the baseball field.

Once there, my timid son was overwhelmed with the amount of people and the lights. The sun was gone by this point, but bright lights illuminated the baseball field. Even I was overwhelmed! I stood there, looking at everyone, trying to figure out what I needed to do to get him on the long line of boys in baseball gear and feeling increased anxiety and embarrassment at the fact that I forgot about this event and that my son had none of the attire or equipment. While deep in thought, trying to process everything, I saw a figure walking toward me in the dark. I realized it was my student’s grandma. I truly feel that God sent her! I admitted that I felt flustered as I held my squirrelly preschooler’s hand tightly. My student’s grandma immediately offered to help. She led me to the right coach and also ended up letting us borrow a glove. My son was able to get out there, stomachache, anxiety, and all. He did it and I’m proud of him.

As we walked to the car I became keenly aware of all of those fleeting moments. Just like that, the peaceful and sunny afternoon turned evening anxious rush had then turned into a quiet car ride home.

I didn't catch a photo of the kids on the bridge or the beautiful and sunny view of the Ohio River. I didn’t catch a photo of my son trying sushi for the first time or even catching and throwing ground balls at his first ever baseball evaluation. I only have this one photo from this morning, when I wasn’t a flustered mom. I was a freshly caffeinated person looking out into serene stillness.