The Battle of the Bed

It was nap time and we were struggling.

Really struggling.

Such as: We're at my parents and I'm doing this parenting thing by my lonesome, we're all ridiculously sleep deprived and locked in a little bedroom in the corner of the house (so as to better corral the children).

I've got one child crying uncontrollably, one child playing gymnastics off his brother's portacrib, another flinging mardi gras beads around his head like a helicopter, and yet another child (whoa, this four kid thing gets intense) doing unmentionable things to the inside of his diaper.

It was rough.

We're talking: "jump out of the window screaming your head off" rough.

In complete desperation I did the only thing one does in such situations: I bribed my children...

(I know the better moms out there never bribe their children and their children simply obey all the time; out of love and compassion for their mother. My children, unfortunately, left their love and compassion for me in Idaho... and it's been dire.)

Bribing a Bowen is most effectively done with candy, and so that was what I offered:

candy to the first Bowen asleep.

Within seconds all "uncontrollable" crying (you know, the crying the child swears up and down isn't voluntary and they have no power over controlling it) had stopped and the room was still.

The monkey child was snug in his bed with his arms pressed firmly to his side, eyes squinted closed, and still as a marble statue.

He was going to win that candy.

Kameryn was trying her best but could sense the air dripping with Landon's determination to win.

"Mom, I really want to fall asleep first but I'm afraid Landon is going to win me."

I tried to console her while keeping her competitive spirit alive:

"Kami, just keep trying your hardest. You're okay, Landon isn't asleep yet."

"Yes my is."

The cold hard truth stated calmly and confidently from the man himself.

You know, on days like today, when being a mother is unbearbly difficult I find these snid bits of "snort to yourself" laughter a balm to my weary soul. Regardless of how much I hate "this" (the fighting, the frustration, the disobedience, the exhaustion, the inadequacies...) I really do love my job. And I am grateful for a little boy who reminded me of how fantastic it is just by being his quirky little self. I surely needed the reminder.

Landon later went on to win the battle of the bed, with Kameryn snoring quickly on his heels. Even the baby showed true grit and determination.

In the end, there were only two left standing: the exhausted mother and the boy,

who finds it physically impossible to nap.

EVER.