Our world is a diverse breed, but what brings us all together are our experiences and common interests. For example,there are many parents out there that live in a 24 hour circus. Everything is eventful, loud and anxiety ridden and we always wonder what tomorrow may bring. These are my kind of people because I am one of them. It’s true; My house is a constant live sideshow with frills, the attitude, and entertainment for everyone, but me!

So, let me begin with the mornings in our house. I have one early riser, like a 6 am’er, and then one I need to shake to wake up. Now, if you look at the situation right here, you can notice that I have 2 polar opposites residing in my house. This is a dangerous combo and here’s why. You’ve got the early riser running through the house and then the sleepyhead totally crankified!!

Usually, we can get through the initial irritation of rising and getting dressed, but for some reason shoes have always been an issue. Usually this is where the show begins. “Get your shoes on, please.” “I asked you to get your shoes on, please do this.” “Okay, now I’m starting to get upset because you two aren’t listening to me, please put your shoes on.” I could keep on writing word for word of my one sided conversation, but it’s exhausting doing that.

Great, shoes are on! Now it’s time to eat breakfast. Both kids decide they hate all the food in the house and ask for cookies only. Naturally I say no which prompts the “whys” and then “you are mean.” I’m sure this is a common occurrence with most parents, but here’s where mine gets good. My tween abruptly gets in a bad mood, and if you are in her path, you become the victim. Unfortunately for my son, he usually fills that spot. It starts with the name calling, then the red faces, then the tears, and finally a screaming household of nuts. What I haven’t told you is where the catalyst lies. See, while I make their lunches that they throw away at school, my son becomes a live bug, poking and instigating the situation, until the wrath of my daughter emerges. I wonder why he is the victim?

Okay, so off to school they go, smacking each other in the back seat. It’s usually a continuation our morning. I don’t think there has been a day where my daughter hasn’t called my son some type of name like “idiot” or “stupid.” I’ve also heard the under breath words, but they think I’m the dummy and never hear any of the bad stuff. Obviously, we as parents know nothing and are old and lame. It’s a fun ride. Drop off is good because they get dumped on a teacher, and are perfect for them, so I hear.

Let’s just skip ahead to after school. Before the activities start, homework needs to be done. My kids are total nerds when it comes to video games and the computer, so when they get home, they always want to become victims to the screen. This usually doesn’t happen as soon as they’d like because homework get it’s the way. Oh, the hours we have spent chasing then around the house to come back and sit down. It’s a constant war between concentration and procrastination. There is always an excuse for them to get up and do something else. I know I’m not alone out here.

Then after Niagra’s tears, we get to the shower part of our night. It’s a fight to get them in, it’s a fight to get them out. When they are out, they are a bunch of runaway tushies! The screaming usually ensues again when it’s time to get ready for bed. It’s just more procrastination and more things that they just have to tell us right now!

After the kids are finally dressed, brushing the teeth comes up. Let’s face it, kids have the most disgusting teeth because they are incompetent when it comes time to cleaning these pearly yellows. This fight goes on for a long time in our house because I am in charge of quality control. Sometimes they think their toothbrushes are for chewing or combing their hair! I set them straight.

Getting into bed also takes awhile. Everything needs to be perfect with blankets, pillows, plushies, and whatever else they just need to go to sleep. I have never seen kids move so slow just getting into bed. I mean they stare at the bed, tricking me like they are going to get in, but then don’t. I usually get them in for them to get out again for some reason or another.

To complete this night, there is always having to get out of bed just once. I do have to say that my son had a real reason last night. A cockroach crawled on his back and up his head. Oh my god, the horror! A pure act out of the circus of the screaming clown running around frantic. Needless to say, he did go back to bed, but I was terrified.

We all live in some sort of circus. Life is one sideshow after another. Some of us have an eventful circus with lots of roaring animals and crazy people, and then some of us have some sort of form of peacefulness. I have no idea what that’s like, but I do know that I wouldn’t have my circus any other way. We are a great circus, with some flaws that make us the great show we are!