Yesterday while at a pool party my little red headed spitfire of a baby threw the mother of all tantrums. She was doing great considering we’ve just gotten back from vacation and an erratic sleep schedule. It’s amazing how the smallest thing can set them off. All I did was take away the open water bottle that she was attempting to bring in the pool with her which prompted her hissy fit which caused her to rub her tired eyes which caused her to rub sun block in them. Whoever deemed that lotion tear free obviously has never rubbed it in their eyes.

She proceeds to scream bloody murder as I keep trying to plug her up with her pacifier which would prompt her to throw it and me chase it. After about four times of that I give up and figure this would be a good time to round the kids up and mosey on out. I gather our stuff with Marigrace on my hip and screaming as if I was abusing her. I can feel the other mothers watching as Marigrace completely loses it. I even tried to give her a sip of my soda which of course another mom had to make a remark about which I respond with, “Whatever gets you through your day.” Or in this case, whatever gets you through the minute. What do you expect? I am a slacker mom and a little soda isn’t going to do her harm. I drank Kool-Aid from a bottle at her age and I turned out fine. She didn’t want it anyway. This was one of those times where only milk and her bed would stop her meltdown.

It was my childless girlfriend that actually helped me change Marigrace out of her suit as she had her hissy fit. Isn’t that interesting? All of this was happening in a time span of maybe five minutes but it felt like hours. I put Marigrace on a lounge chair so I can find Isabelle’s flip flops in my bag. Of course they are at the bottom so I have to take everything out to get to them. Meanwhile Marigrace is still screaming and thrashing about when she falls off the chair and I catch her by the leg just before her head hits the concrete.

I’m finally packed and have all kids in tow when the strap on my flip flop breaks. Have you ever tried to walk with a broken flip flop? You can’t. It was nearly 100 degrees so the concrete is scorching hot so I decide one hot foot is better than two burning feet and I walk out with one flip flop on. I must have been quite a sight with a screaming baby on my hip and my lopsided walk caused by the high wedge flip flop.

To top everything off I ended up with a raging sunburn. I was so worried about my little red headed demon getting burned that I neglected my own sunscreen. What’s so ironic about that is I was so diligent about sunscreen on vacation that I actually came back as pale as I left.

So you ask why I am thankful for this tantrum? Because my spirited baby is alive and well. The tantrum passes and my demon turns back into my little slice of Heaven. I can caress her soft skin, smell her yummy hair, and send her into a fit of giggles by kissing her neck.

A near tragedy put this in perspective for me. My hubby’s niece has a six year old son that I will call “J” who is in the final stages of cancer. They also have an adopted baby the same age as Marigrace. I will call her “A”.

J is on a very high dose of Methadone for pain. His dad prepared a dose for him but J fell asleep before his dad could give it to him. He placed the medicine cup on a high dresser behind a picture frame before he left the room. A short time later by the grace of God J woke up to find A drinking his medicine. She had managed to climb up and get the medicine cup. Just goes to show that they are watching when we think they are not.

Poison control was called and they immediately sent out an ambulance. At the hospital her heart rate dropped to ten beats per minute and it was real touch and go if they were going to save her. Her parents of course were beside themselves. I can’t stop thinking about my hubby’s niece with two fists of hair and screaming, “OMG, I’m going to lose both my babies!” Fortunately A is alive and well and went home today. I’m sick at the thought of how tragic this could have been. Their family has been through so much. I’m just so thankful that it had a good outcome.

Stories like this remind me of just how fragile and precious life is until I forget again and then something will happen to remind me again. Life is funny like that.

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