Safe.

Yesterday, the Smith family had a trying day to say the least. Although we weren't directly involved in this, I was on the train behind it. I was running late and thankfully caught the next train at 4:45pm. Shoulda, coulda, woulda....

Here's the deal - Sean and I both work in downtown DC. Ciaran's daycare is in Olney, MD about 14 miles from work and 2 miles from home. It's a great system, because Sean does the drop off in the morning and I pick up in the evening. I'm usually out the door of the office at 4:30 and there by 5:30. We take public transportation and it's usually faster than driving, except for yesterday.

While staring at my watch wondering when the stupid train is going to start moving again, the conductor comes over the loudspeaker and explains what happened right in front of us. I happened to be talking to my mother on the phone and she immediately turned on CNN to see what was going on. I am grateful that I was unable to see anything ahead of us. So I then go into crisis mode - after all the wee man still has to be picked up and I have no idea how long I'm going to be stuck on the train. His school closes at 6:30 sharp. I call Katy to see if she can go get him - she is unfortunatly not home, but she says to call her husband Petey. Petey is BMOC and is the Chief of Police muckety muck for a certain important installation in DC/VA. Petey hops in his car, drives to Chinatown to pick up Sean and they both head to Glenmont to pick up the car. Of course it's rush hour and traffic is quadrupled because of the accidents. Sean makes it to Glenmont and then picks up C at 6:40. The lovely ladies at C's school were wonderfully understanding. I'm thankful everyday that he goes there.

I finally got home at 8:15 pm after being on a train, a bus, another train, and another bus. I am thankful and glad that I was late. To top it off, I came home to hear Ciaran say "IIIII WOVVVE YOUUU, MOMMY" over and over again (translation, I love you mommy".)

That's exactly what I needed!

Big ol Props to Uncle Petey and Aunt Katy for being on Red Alert.

Parent of the Year... NOT ME

So.... Yeah...
Drive home from Oma and Opa's. Left late to avoid the Holiday Traffic smooth sailing on the way home.. Little to no traffic the whole Team pushes on through without stopping.

Pull into the ol home stead. Mrs. Humanteam goes into the house to get the wee man's bed ready.

I get out of the car to get the wee man. Pulled his door handle locked. Open the Mrs. Door push the button and open his door shut the other door..

F.
F. F'ing F.

Just locked my kid in the car. FML.

Ok dont panic. Wait for the Mrs. to come out the house. Give her the bad news.
Ponder whether or not put my 4lb sledgehammer through the window.

Mrs HT wakes up our next door neighbor the Chief. Who unfortunately does not have his tools in his car. We try "slim Jim" the door, unfortunately in 09 that doesnt really work all that well with out the proper implements.

The wee man finally had enough and started to melt down due to the fact that he could see his milk but not reach it.

So about 20 mins later (Mrs. HT called roadside assistance) the Tow truck shows up. Which makes the wee man happy.

Takes him about 2 minutes to open the car.

Yeah.

Go me...

Silence... what's this?

For two years I have never been away from my little man for longer than a night or two. The only exception was for a big event that I did for work last year in New York and that was 4 days, until yesterday. Yesterday, the wee man went on an adventure. He happily got into Opa (grandpa) and Oma's (grandma) truck and headed to the beautiful mountains of West (by God) Virginia. He will be gone for SEVEN whole nights.

As I sit here in the quiet of my kitchen, I am amazed at how quiet and serene it is. Truthfully, it's quite unnerving. I keep looking and listening for the stomping of little feet and the insistent "Mommy, Mommy, Mommy" that usually follows. I woke up this morning not to "Mommy... up", but instead to the sound of my dear husband's light snoring and one of our cats howling for his breakfast. Other parents often told us that you learn to tune out the sounds of a child. I totally agree. But when you are faced with silence, it's weird, very weird!

I miss my little man. He's not a snuggler, so I love it when he lets me snuggle. I sat on the couch yesterday and vegged out all day. In the back of my mind I kept wondering when C was going to wake up from his nap. I then had to keep reminding myself that he wasn't here and I should relax. And I did relax!

I know he's having fun and will really enjoy hanging out with Oma and Opa. He's got a whole week of Camp Grandma/Grandpa ahead of him. It's good for him and it's good for us too. Thank you Oma and Opa!

And yes, I will sleep in, go to the movies, go to a concert, go to happy hour and generally socialize like I normally don't get to on week nights :).