Before I had children, I rode on the back of a friend's bike many a weekends and evenings. We'd find winding roads, country roads, highways, streets, and old beaten paths to travel. This was a bit of an adrenaline rush (no, not for an adrenaline junkie, but I'm not one of those) for me. Not being closed in and confined by the walls of a car was all I needed to feel free and alive. I don't think many of the people I know now would ever imagine me on the back of that bike, but I soooo loved the rush of energy running through my veins.
Before the kiddos came, I also picked up running as a hobby. Naturally, adrenaline is released during a run and I felt great at the end of my workout-- not to mention that I couldn't wait to do it again, (Yep, I need to pick that hobby back up-- I know people who know me now would never believe that)! Again, though, I loved the rush.
FAST FORWARD 5 YEARS...
and the adrenaline has ceased production in my body!
And in case you're wondering, "Gee, how could that ever happen? I didn't think that was possible!" Here's the facts.
I have 4 kids all under 4.
I have been pregnant 36 months+ of the past 52 months, and breastfeeding most of the remainder of those months. I spend much of my time with diapers and dishes, giving baths and hugs and pigtails, cleaning up toys and dirty faces, vacuuming and dusting, and lots of grocery shopping.
My days, though exciting to me because I love spending them with my kids, can be considered boring, dull, and mundane to people not in my shoes. I mean, let's face it, I'm not driving cattle on a ranch, or parachuting into war, or trying to make a deadline before I get canned or demoted. Nope, there's not much adrenaline being pumped through my motorcycle-riding, wannabe-runner veins.
That's why, when my hubby and I were watching a show the other night that left us wondering how we get our adrenaline rushes, I was left speechless and clueless.
Adrenaline rush, smadrenaline rush! I thought. My life is pretty ordinary!
When the next morning came, I was awakened by a sweet, tiny baby needing to be fed. I had overslept on accident and was in dire need to get myself cleaned up before my husband left, BUT that little gal needed food. So I fed her, giving myself about 5 minutes to get downstairs looking somewhat presentable so I could be seen in public later on that morning.
I arrive downstairs with 20 minutes to get 2 of the 4 fed, clothed and out the door with sunscreen on so they can go to soccer camp! I start finding sneakers for Brownie and Peach when I hear the Feed Me Now cry that only a young infant can produce. I skip the scrambling for shoes and hope that she's done in time for me to start again. Luckily, my oldest is quite resourceful and finds both pairs of shoes while my hands are tied--now if only I could be so resourceful and learn to help them tie their shoes while breastfeeding!
Baby's done eating and the older girls are out the door--ahhh now I can rest with having just the baby and..., ummm...,
the other baby-- she is still a baby at 19 mos, right?!
I go to the kitchen to clean up breakfast (which is a huge ordeal when you have 3 young cereal eaters, I.E. cheerios everywhere), load the dishes, and wash any bottles or pacifiers used in the night, when low and behold both my land line and cell start ringing.
Hey, Carrie, can I call you back- my other phone's (which doesn't have caller id) ringing.
No, I don't care for any life-insurance, thanks (as in, thanks for wasting my time)!
Ooops, Bug just spilled her milk.
Note to self: Call Carrie back later today.
I abandon what's left of my kitchen duties in order to prepare for our next outing in 30 minutes--SWIMMING LESSONS!
After grabbing the diaper bag and checking everything twice, you-know-who needs fed again!
While the baby is eating, Bug decides it'd be fun to leave her path of destruction for the hour(yes, this girl is called tiny tornado because she leaves a little path of destruction just about everywhere she goes) by throwing every shoe in sight throughout the main level of our house. While this may look like just another mess to be picked up later to the untrained eye, I know better because I know I'm going to have to hunt for the one pair of sandals that fit Bug.
Baby's done. The hunt begins after I put M in a safe spot out of Bug's reach. I enlist Bug's help and she complies after only 2 tries. We find her shoes and put away the others, but not with a moment to spare-- now the older two are back home and it's a rush to see how fast I can get Peach changed out of her soccer clothes and into her swimsuit.
With only three minutes to spare, we take 2 potty breaks, change one diaper, find a beach towel and flip flops, load four children into four car seats and make our quick trip to swim lessons.
In the two minutes it takes to drive there, I feel like I can finally breath for the first time that day. Then, something huge fell out of the sky and hit me like a ton of bricks--okay I'm speaking metaphorically here, folks!
This is my adrenaline rush.
I don't need a pair of boots and a horse, or a parachute and plane, or a computer and boss to feel a rush each day. I've got kids to drive, keep from jumping out of a plane (or car, or off the stairs), and... well, let's face it, they are my boss! They are my adrenaline rush!
My daily life may seem anything but extraordinary and full of high-voltage energy to the average person, but from where I
BUT...
Then there's nap time!!
2 comments:
amen sista! who needs bungy jumping and crap like that anyway!
LOVE IT!
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