Reality and the Kids

By Rosa Lee Richards

Years ago, as the mother of three school-age children, I still  thought of myself as, well, maybe not young but youthful. And possessed of a certain - what shall I call it – yes, cool! This  cool hung on in spite of nearly terminal  everyday exhaustion.  In fact I was so cool I actually talked the dentist’s secretary into giving all three children appointments at the same time.

At the dental office, the three children were welcomed by three starched dental hygienists and I was making up my mind which child to go in with, when the oldest hygienist held up her hand in the ‘stop right there right now’ position. ‘Mrs. R., relax. Stay right here in our extra-comfortable reception room. Children do better alone.’ So I picked out the comfiest chair and the newest magazine, the one with the article on current decorating trends, by Abigail Adams. What a pleasure to have a few minutes all to myself!

Suddenly I heard my daughter’s voice, ‘Mom, wake up! Mom, we’re all done. Wake up, you’re snoring!’ I heard my oldest son’s voice ‘Yeah, Mom, and you’re drooling all over the seat cushion.’ I used a tissue to try to dry the cushion, slunk up to the receptionist, handed her my credit card and have not felt cool again since. Now I’m working on ‘suave’!