I made breakfast for the kids. Then I made some for myself and put it on the counter with a plate on top to keep it warm. The baby required about 20 minutes of attention before I could get him settled and sit down to my not-so-hot-but-still-warm breakfast.
William: Mommy, Georgie ripped the book!
Me: Uh, oh. Tell him to come to Mommy.
Me: Georgie, don't rip the books. Wait...do you have a dirty diaper? Yep, let's go.
Me: Ok, all better, Georgie.
William: Mommy, can I have some milk?
Me: Here's some milk.
George: Juice!
Me: Georgie, here's some juice.
William: Can we sit with you?
Me: Honey, I really need you to go play so I can eat.
George: Bite? Bite?
Me: No, sweetie. You already had breakfast.
Me: Ok, guys. Mommy needs to eat, so you're going to have "room time" now.
William: Yay! I love room time!
Me: The gate stays up until Mommy finishes breakfast. Play quietly.
(Fighting, screaming, crying)
Me: That's enough, boys. Mommy said play quietly. You need to be kind and share. Now I'm going to back to the table, so you need to work it out yourselves.
William: Mommy, Mommy! Can you please help me be a ghost?
George: Me! Ghost, too!
Me: There. You are both ghosts. Now I'm going back to the table and I don't want you to call me again.
William: Mommy? Moooooooommy! I have to go pee.
Me: Ok, go potty and come right back.
George: Yay! Room time all done!
Me: No, Georgie. Room time isn't over yet. William will be right back. Play quietly.
George: Mommy. Mommy. Mommymommymommymommymommymommymommymo -
Me: WHAT????
George: ......Hi, Mommy.
William: Mommy, I'm all done going potty. I need you to let me back in the gate.
Me: Ok, now Mommy needs to finish breakfast. I need just ten minutes of alone, quiet time. PLEASE.
(Sigh)
Well, the quiet part never did work out. Neither did the "hot breakfast" part. But I figure I have many years of hot breakfasts ahead of me and only a handful of years to make ghosts and be called "Mommy." So I'll be happy with my cold clammy pancakes.
