The Eye of the Storm

As a kid I was kind of always one of those shy kids who hung out a little more on the fringe of the goings-on. I had a small group of really really great friends in high school and college, but I was never one that people would term popular.

Well! Being "the mom" is all kinds of different. In the social circle of my family--and all families, I am guessing--being "the mom" is a little like being a rock star. I also guess this might change as the kids get older, but I really hope not. In fact, Garrett has been telling me lately, "You de supahewo." Awwww. I'm saving these moments up for when they hit teenagerdom. But I am noticing, even with all my failings as a mom (see my post re: Ella's boo boo), home life really does revolve around moms. It is kind of still a shock to this former shy girl.

Why am I posting about this at 3 am? Because being the superhero, rockstar mom is not without it's price. Michael, McKay, Hannah and Garrett were watching Scooby Doo together on YouTube a little before bedtime and aparantly they all found the "ghost" of the particular episode a bit scary. What makes me think this? My bed is full of all of them. Plus a healing Crookshanks and a well McGonagall. They are also all on MY side of the bed. That is kind of a lot of sweet little bodies in a pretty small space. So I laid there and smiled until I realized I needed a drink and now I am pondering whether I ought to move everyone back to their beds and see if they return to mine tonight, if I should try and just find a spot to get back in the bed and see if I can sleep in the meelee, or if I should give up and go sleep in one of the vacated beds and see if anyone follows me.

I should point out here that Darwin is ALSO the eye of the storm, so to speak, whenever he is home. He is often busy at work from early in the morning until about dinnertime, but the second he gets home, the kids all claim their share. Ella is becoming especially vociferous about her love of her daddy. If he puts her down she immediately protests. When she hears the chimes of the front door jingle (early door-opening warning for escape artists) she perks up and looks around. So Darwin is by no means excluded.

Anyway, it was humbling to realize that even though my bed is only a little ways from theirs, my kids, they trust that mom and dad can keep them safe from all of the Scooby Doo monsters all the better if they are just that much closer.

At least if any Scooby Doo monsters DO come visit my room, I know its always just a mask and they just want to scare us away because they know there are diamonds or something buried under our house. ;)