I promised you here that I would share this. Oh how refreshing it is to take a break from all the hard work of writing and sharing healthy recipes and gardening tips… so that I can make myself look ridiculous.
Really. This story is ridiculous.
It happened on a day soon after we had moved back to Nebraska (about seven years ago). I was extremely exhausted from the move. I had three kids ages four and under. My youngest at the time was four months old. I blame this story all on post-partum brain. And whatever else I can possibly blame it on.
Matt and I, along with the kids, were in the home of some fellow church members. The husband was a Bible professor at the college…the wife a psychology professor. That means they are both smart. And also incredibly brilliant.
You know…the kind of people you want to sound intelligent in front of?
Anyway…we were getting ready to leave, and our kids were doing their kid thing, because they were ages four and two and four months old.
I don’t remember exactly what brought it up, but the wife and I got onto the subject of mothering…and how we have to always be on our toes in order to keep the kids under control.
And then I said it.
I said, “Yep, I’ve got some tricks up my sleeves.”
Doesn’t sound too bad does it?
That’s because I THOUGHT I said that I had tricks up my sleeves.
What actually came out of my mouth was,
“Yep, I’ve got sleeves.”
That’s all I said.
“I’ve….got….sleeves.”
Then I stood there nodding and looking all smug because I was a good mother with tricks up her sleeves. At least I thought I did. But no…apparently all I had was sleeves. Nothing up them. And certainly no tricks.
It took way too long for me to figure out what I had actually said…at which point I sort of lamely mumbled, “uumm…I mean tricks up my sleeves…”
The lady was kind enough to act like she didn’t really notice…even though I know she did. It didn’t help that I’m pretty sure I was wearing a sleeveless shirt that night. Good grief.
I’ll end this story with a word of encouragement and blessing to all you moms out there:
May you get enough rest to enable you to formulate entire sentences. May you always sound intelligent around those you wish to sound intelligent in front of. And more importantly…
May you always, always, forever and ever amen…have sleeves.
