Can a mom quit?

Mom's aren't able to call in sick.  They don't get to take vacation days.  We can't step into the office at 9 and forget everything at 5.  We work non stop and around the clock.  We get "called in" at all hours.  We just can't say "I quit" and walk out.  And frankly it just sucks.

Yes, I said it.  Motherhood sometimes sucks.  It's great when the kids are happy.  When they are getting along or when they are asleep.  The times that they beg me to snuggle in bed with them or when they say things like, "you rock" or "your the best."  But that doesn't happen enough.  Instead, I spend most of my day arguing.  I'm telling you, I could beat the best of lawyers in any court room from the amount of practice I've had recently with my three boys.  And with the start of school, you would think it would be better right?  Heck, I've got 7 hours to myself.  I should be able to enjoy the silence and would be able to handle 5 hours after school.  WRONG!

You see, my boys make up for those 7 hours of quiet within 2 hours of being home.  They fight with me about homework.  They argue with me over everything.  Try sitting 3 boys around a table and working with each of them at the same time.  Throw in the fact that one is dyslexic and can't concentrate with any noise. Another one hates to read and will protest doing it and the third just wants to complain about the assignment. Now try to make dinner at the same time.  Oh, and forget about the fact that they probably won't eat what you make.  You have to have broccoli every night because it's the only green vegetable they will eat and they won't even eat it half the time.  The food fights start at breakfast though.  One won't eat ANY breakfast foods.  Another only wants something with sugar and the third changes his mind daily.  If you make muffins, he wanted biscuits.  If you make biscuits, he wanted muffins.  The only thing he hasn't changed his mind on is lunch.  He has taken Frosted Mini Wheats every day for the past 3 years.  He won't consider taking anything else and I give up trying to get him to try something.  The battle is not worth it.

Moving past the homework and food battles, and we're on to bedtime.  Noah hates to brush his teeth.  So much so, that we have considered having him work with a therapist.  It takes us 15 minutes of arguing just to accomplish the task.  Adam is a night owl who doesn't understand why he needs to go to bed by 9:00.  More battling.  Thank goodness Joshua usually gives me a break during bedtime.

Sports nights are even worse.  We have to fit homework and showers and bedtime in with practice.  They argue over putting on their socks and shin guards.  I have to pray that at every practice that Adam doesn't have one of his infamous meltdowns because he's angry that everything isn't "fair."  He is very black and white and doesn't understand a world of gray.  Just today on day 6 of school, his teacher informed me of a minor meltdown.  As she's discussing it with me in the front office at school, Joshua opens the door and yells, "come on mom!"  I could have curled up and died.  I didn't even get a chance to recover before Noah comes busting in with the same sort of demand.  I swear they have been taught better.  I just don't know where they're manners have gone.

Where is my husband during all of these battles?  He's at work.  He leaves around 8 am and comes home anywhere from 6-8 at night.  That leaves me.  All alone.  Fighting a battle against three very determined boys.  And they are winning.  I'm working on a battle plan though.  I may be down but I'm not out.  It's not going to be fun.  Taking away the technology has not worked.  The yelling or sending them to their rooms has not worked.  I'm not sure what's next but it has to work.  Or else I'm quitting.

Oh yeah.  I forgot.  Mom's can't quit.  I guess I'm off to battle then.  Wish me luck.