Daily Absurdities

“What is too absurd to be believed is believed because it is too absurd to be a lie.” 
― Robert Jordan, Lord of Chaos

My life is a study on contrasts- or maybe its just what existence is.

I woke early to read emails - what working Mom doesn't? And then quietly walked down the hall to crawl into my eight year old's bed to snuggle her awake. The day before, I had worked late and far away, and had gotten reports of naughtiness and then recieved insolent statements from her when I called home while stuck in gridlock.

In the early morning light, I rubbed her back and she smiled up at me upon waking to see me sharing her pillow.

We talked about the day before and what was to come. I held her and let her know how much I love her and then meted out the promised punishments of lost iPad privileges and suspended playdates. After some time with just the two of us watching the gray light of dawn warm to gold her 6-year old sister, Lala,  joined us in the small bed on the sun porch and we laid piled next to each other talking about the day and the week to come.

Sour dough toast for breakfast; what to write a homework essay about; which socks to wear; and who got to the dog's leash on our walk to school that day.

Today was the one day where I was not traveling for work. It was the one day where I could, if I played my card right, get Lala's feces to the Children's hospital lab within the 60-minute window the latest test required. The only problem - Lala's refusal to "let people see my poop".

The negotiations were beginning to span weeks. It had been easier to change language in a World Health Organization resolution and get it approved by the reticent Executive Committee - than to get my six year old to poop in a specimen jar. I kid- not!

And so it goes - these days of mine.