As many working moms these days, I want it all. I have a busy schedule and no one else seems to understand that more than other working moms. I get up at 5 AM, already with a million tasks on my mind. I move at lightening speed (at least it feels that way to me!) and I still go to bed around 11 pm or midnight, with a million other things still on my to do list.
Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays are the hardest. On these days, it's tag team for my husband and me. I am up at 5 AM, at the bus stop a little before 7 am, at work from 8 am to 3 pm, at the bus stop again by 3:30 pm (competing with a 35 minute commute), at home by 3:45 pm because Danny has to be in to work at 4 pm, and all over the place after that since I have the kids all to myself till 9:30 pm. I get from 9:30 pm to whenever I go to sleep to get lunches ready for the next day, make sure laundry is sufficient and to clean up what I can for the night. Somewhere in there I do shower, I promise!
So today, was one of those days. I was having issues left and right all day ... I woke up late, got Lito up late, missed the bus, got to work on time but had PC issues all day, went out for lunch and took longer than expected, etc. Since I was running late even coming home from work, I called Danny to ask him to be at the bus stop (which he missed by the way!). I decided I had to take the toll road (somewhat of a short cut); otherwise Danny would be late for work.
As I jumped on the toll road, I was multi tasking, scrounging for change. If you saw me swerving in the lane, I am so very sorry! I always talk bad about "those people"!!! As I was nearing the toll, I could have sworn I had enough change. I had a dollar bill, a quarter, a nickel, and ten pennies. How that added up to $1.50 in my haste, I'll never know. While the lady at the toll waited, I scrounged up another 8 pennies. Being only two pennies away from te total toll amount due, I was sure she would give me a pass!
She looked at me and as she was reaching to return my cash, she said, "Since you don't have the full amount, I can give you the information to call and pay in full later." I was so shocked! Really, for two cents??!! Instead of saying what I felt, I looked back down into my wallet, opened a few more sections and by the grace of God, I found a dime!
As I gave it to her, I wondered why she was being so cold. It shouldn't surprise me, this world is full of people who live out their lives with no hopes or dreams. They only see the lemons and sour up others' lemonade. I felt sorry for her; she probably hated her job. We all have those days. I watched her count out my money. When she realized I had given her 8 extra cents, she reached to give it back to me.
I said, "Keep it, in case any else needs a few cents! Thank you so much!!"
I flashed a big smile and drove on to my mission ... I got home on time (barely) for Danny to get to work. As I played with my kids the rest of the evening, I thought about that lady. I hope my kids will learn to make and enjoy their own lemonade. I hope that when they catch themselves in a sour mood, that they have enough sense to actively chantge their approach to life. It's much too short to not enjoy it, every step of the way!!! And I hope they don't beat themselves up over it when they get sour, it happens to all of us and even I have to remind myself that life isn't as bad as we can make it seem. Love, live, laugh ...
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