Symphony in G major

ALLEGRO

Pidder pat pidder pat
Which one is it? Ma-ma? You got him?  Thanks.  CRY.  Silence.  Drifting...
Pidder pat pidder pat
Mommy, I had a bad dream.  Back to bed.  Snuggle.  Drifting...
Wiggle.     Wiggle.     Wiggle wiggle wiggle.   Time for sleeping.  I can't.  You can.  Twitch.
Still.   Sharp CRY.   Up.   Get him out before others wake.  Is he pulling on his ear?   Where's the medicine dropper?   Mum mum!
Nurse nurse nurse.  Drifting...  STARTLE.  6:40. 

Wake up!  Wake up!  Long sleeves, cold day, sweats in wash, settle for jeans.  NO!  YES. 
Milk first, then honey.  Sausages.  Eat!  I am!
GRRRRRRinding coffee.  WHEEEE tea kettle.  Fish sticks and apple sauce.  Where have all the water bottles gone?  Shoes!  Shoes!  Eat!  Eat!  I am!  I am!  Brush teeth, jacket.  Backpack.  No time for fooling!  Let's go!  

Street, cold, dark, trash.  A bus.  Passes.  Another.  Another.  Cold, dark, windy.  Three maybe five minutes to find out what So-and-so did at lunch yesterday, or did you know we have to have Gym in our classrooms this week?  So unfair.
Blinking lights, hugs, kisses blown through the window, little faces disappear.

Can I have a snuggle on the coach?  Ma-ma!  More fish sticks and apple sauce.  Cheese sticks and pretzels.  Thermoses and little boxes.  Bananas bananas bananas.  I want a waffle!  How do you ask?  Please?  With maple syrup, and a sausage.  I want a boiled egg!  I want Shrek cereal!  Time to get dressed.  But I need a red shirt!  Harry Potter wears a red shirt when he's on his Quidditch!  

Why are we rushing?  Because we're late again!  Why are we always late?  I don't know.  Jackets!  Hats!  Backpacks!  In the stroller.  EW!  Tucker has a poop!  Do you have a poop?  No!  SNIFF.  Yes.  Jackets off.  Upstairs we go.  Wiggle wiggle, roll over, escape.  Pin.  SCREAM.  Wipe.   JACKETS.

In stroller we go.  NO!  Arch back arch back NO NO NO!  Run to the corner, then in.  Run run run run run, WIPE OUT.  Ahhhh!  Boo-boo check?  Kiss kiss, good as new.  Run run run run run. 

Billy on street corner.  VRRRRMMMM, bus.  Did you know that an octopus squirts ink to hide from the shark so he can't find him to eat him-  VRRRRRMMM, street cleaner. 

Park.  Joggers, bikers, strollers, scooters.   Breathe.   Sky.   Wind.   I spy with my eagle eye.   Knock knock, who's there?  Ach...   Gezuntit!  Hahahaha..  Mama, nana!  More banana? 

Drop off, good morning!  Who are we today?  Superman?  Harry Potter?  Welcome to Red town!  Blue town!  We're going to make challah!  Have a good day.  Bye bye Mama!  See you later!  I love you.  I love you.  I love you.

ANDANTE

Walk home. Walk.  Check email.  Walk.  Text.  Walk.

MODERATTO

Tea, desk, tap tap tap tap, blog blog, email email email.  Phone call this, phone call that. 

Change laundry.  Clean up kitchen.  Phone call this, phone call that.  Post office.  Change laundry.  Email email email email. 

Photos.  Still.  Sad boy.  Excited boy.  Laughing boy.  Big boy.  Tiny boy.   Hot on mountain top.  Cold in blizzard.  Chasing, flying, swinging, swimming.   I can see the boys they used to be.

Write.  Email.  Text.  Change laundry.

Jacket.   Walk walk walk.  Phone call.  Walk.  Pick up #1.  How was his day?  He ate beans, rice, grapes, yogurt... He make a poo poo.  Again?   Heavy lids.  Succumbs to stroller.  Out...

Bump up, bump up, bump up, bump up...  Wheel in house.  Deep breathing. 

Heat left-overs.  Email, text, email, bills, to-do.  Phone call.  Still sleeping.  Email, text, change laundry. 

2:55?!

PRESTO

BUMP BUMP BUMP, back down stairs stroller goes.

RUN MAMA RUN.  Slalom stroller through Bishop Ford kids.  Past park.  Joggers, bikers, blurr.  Check clock.   Text while running.  Sweat.  

PICK UP #2.  How was your day?  Good.  We made Rainbow cake, and ate TWO pieces!  Great!

Bananas bananas yogurt yogurt granola bars.  Playground.  Blast-off!  No throwing sand!  Share!  Cheese sticks.  Veggie booty.  Five more minutes!

HUSTLE.  Park.  Joggers, bikers, blurr.  Sun in eyes.  Mommy, my chicks!  Yellow buses pass.  Duncan's?  HUSTLE HUSTLE.  Check clock.  HUSTLE.  Text - r u at bus stop?  Running late.  No answer.  Sweat.

Joe's Pizza.  Blinking lights.  Hi, sweetie!  How was your day?  Good.  Can we have a playdate with Ava?  Can we play Zoombinis?  Can I have a playdate with Charlie?  Can we watch Nemo?

ADAGIO

First, snack.  Then homework.  AW!  Rice cakes, cheese sticks, carrots, grapes.  Sharpen pencil.  Head bowed over table.

Superman makes a rescue, or Harry Potter flies a car while Lou disassembles the fridge or steals iphone ("po") for a TED talk or music video. 

Markers and coloring books.  Playdough and clay.  Dry ingredients and wet ingredients.  Cookies.  What should we make for-

ALLEGRETTO

He took my-!  He hit my-!  GIVE ME THAT! CRY.  Is that how we handle it?  Do you need a time out?  Try again nicely.  Offer a trade.  Let him have a turn.  Try that again?  How can you ask nicely?  You can solve this problem.  If you don't find a way to work it out, there won't be any XYZ...  When is Daddy getting home?  Soon.  AW.

Itadakimasu, Yoedvadyotkivanuk.  Dinner.  Use a utensil.  Knees stay under the table.  Don't lean on me.  Did we say thank you for this great dinner?  Thank you.  But it's not my taste.  Can I have more milk?  Three more bites.  How many?  Snarf.  But I don't like peas!  Have you been excused?  I have to use the bathroom!  Can I have some more milk?  You just had some-  Tucker, milk is not for pouring on your dinner!  Giggles giggles.  Eat.  How was your day?  Mortgage this, boss that, teachers-- Daddy!   Did you notice he was talking?  Sorry!  Remember to say excuse me.  Work this, that- EXCUSE ME!  And wait for an opening-  GUESS WHAT?!  (surrender) What?  (More wine?)

Bath time!  Five more minutes!  Legos.  Markers.  Flying cars and quidditch sticks.  Bath time!  But we had a bath last night!  Bath time.  Aw. 

Splash splash splash.  Bum bum this, bum bum that.  Spit.  NO SPITTING.  Shampoo.  But my boo-boo hurts!  Brush teeth.  Open up... Wiggle wiggle roll, pig pile!  Hahahaha!  Open so I can reach back teeth.  Tongue?  Enough, out.  Out!  No jumping, slippery!  Pajamas.  But I can't find my superman undies! 

Choose your books.  SNOW.  Wow, you read it yourself, Reeve!  Wiggle wiggle.  Mummum!  Mummum!  Pig pile.  Doggie Peekaboo.  That's right, there's silly doggie!   HP3.  What's that word?  "Persuade."  Daddy, I read the first page of chapter twelve by myself!  Wiggle wiggle.  Lunge.  Fly. But I want a snuggle!  You will have one.  That's all for tonight.  Just two more pages!  PLEASE!  Grimace.  Protest protest.  Bed time.

LARGO

Lou dinner take 2 with Choo Choo downstairs with Daddy.  Big boys in Bed.  Sing- I Love you, Reevie- I mean, Harry!  I love you, Harry!.... Shalom Aleichem.  Snuggle snuggle, I'm sorry for when we had tough words this afternoon, me too, I love you, I love you too, sweet dreams.  Sing again- I love you, Duncan, I love you, I love ... I need tissues!  Water.  Have to go pee pee.  Snuggle snuggle.  I love you, I love you too. 

Lou.  Mum mum.  Snuggle.  Water bottle.  Climb, crawl, giggle, lunge, sigh, lie, sleep.

Sleep.

Pidder pat pidder pat...