It was so quiet as the boys and I walked into the house. Strange to not hear noises in the big house. I'd started the dishwasher before leaving the house to walk kids home from school. I was not running. I flicked on the switch to turn on the light and nothing happened. So I tried another light switch to make sure it was not a fluke and the bulb was out. Nope, that light also didn't come on. Hmmm, I'd better call the power company to make sure I payed my bill and that they didn't just shut us off.
Power company said I paid the bill but the problem is there was an accident on the main road and a power line was down. I asked how long before power was back on. Response was two hours. Okay I guess it will be about 5 to 6 hours waiting until we have power once again. They asked if I'd like them to call me when the power comes back on. I said don't bother I think when the lights all come on will be a good enough clue that the power is back on. I remembered to say thank you to her before hanging up the phone.
Oh great 3 kids home and noting to keep them happy and out of my hair. First thing to do was to argue that now is the time to do homework. They agreed after I said if they don't do homework I'd take away the TV when the power was back on. Not sure what to call that parenting move other them desperation.
They really worked hard to finish up the homework the teachers give them. Great what now I thought. I said for them to find something to do. Play Legos or read a book. There are hundreds in the house they haven't read yet. They are more the see the move skip the reading part. I had figured out that I was going to watch a movie on the computer and wait. I told them they can disturb me if there is an emergency happened. We discussed what an emergency was. Bleeding, broken bones, not feeling well and throwing up, and a few other things. Then we went over what was not an emergency. Asking me to feed them, being bored and not knowing what to do, and telling on each other when it was not in an emergency category.
The movie was great. Love the action movies with witty dialog in it. I'd checked on the kids a few times as I was watching the movie. I have found out that if I don't check up on them who knows what they will get into. Also the knowledge that mom might check on them at anytime keeps them on their toes and for the most part out of trouble.
I was shutting down the computer when I noticed that my 8 year old child was trying to close the blinds to the back yard. That was unusual. The 6 year old was not anywhere I could see him. I found the 10 year old in his room actually reading a book. He looked up at me and said, "Mom did you know that book are fun to read?" I just smiled and said yeah I knew that and glad he'd figured it out. So back to the curtain that the 8 year old was attempting to close once again after I told him to stop.
My mother sense was starting to tingle. I know something outside in the backyard was not right and where was the 6 year old. So I decided to go into the back yard and check out what the 8 year old was trying to keep from me.
At first I didn't notice anything. I looked around and all looked okay. No new holes dug up. The fence was still up. So what is this kid trying to make sure I didn't see? I heard a noise above me. It sounded suspiciously like a child walking on a tin roof. I walked farther out to the yard so I could get a clear view of the patio roof. Sure enough I found my 6 year old son.
After he said hi to me. I asked what was going on. That is when the 8 year old told me that the 6 year old had climbed the bushes and tree by the fence to climb on to the roof. I asked why. I knew the answer but still felt the parental urge to ask that question. I don't know was the response they both gave me. I asked the 8 year old if he was just trying to keep his brother from getting into trouble. Yes and he was going to help get him down.
As I debated should I call the fire department or what exactly I should do. My other thought was wondering if the 6 year old was tying to escape the yard and play else where. I decide to see if I could help him down the way he climbed up.
After a bit of coaxing and a small bit of yelling the 6 year old was down from the roof. I tried to explain that I was not mad about the 6 year old on the roof or the 8 year old keeping the information about the younger brother, I went on to try and impress upon them the fact that someone actually being on the roof is an emergency .
We checked blood sugars for two of the boys. The 10 and 8 year old are type on diabetics. Their sugars were okay but it was time to figure out what to make for dinner. MacDonalds was the kids wanted. I had no way still of cooking food. It was 5:30 pm and the power was not on yet. My cellphone was dying. I figured I'd go into the van and plug in the phone to the charger there. I asked my mother if I could borrow money from her to buy food at MacDonalds. Payday was tomorrow and I had no money. I also had no way to cook the food I had to cook for dinner.
The kids and I went to the van to hang out and wait for my mom their grandma to bring food. We watched a kids show on Netflix on the tiny cellphone screen as we waited. I was also charging up my phone. The humor was funny and it was a cute episode of Dexter's Laboratory.
My mom pulled up in her car and they kids excitedly got out of the van and ran over to grandma. I was happy to see her. The kids were pretty hungry at that point. Plus I didn't want the diabetics to go low and have issues with low sugars.
We got the food into the house and the food divided up between the kids. I noticed that once again my mom had gotten exactly what I asked her to get for the kids but managed to mess up what I asked for myself to eat. Sadly I'm getting used to this. I was once sick throwing up and asked my mom to get me some Ginger Ail for my stomach. She got lots of diet soda for the kids but some how forgotten to get me some soda. I know where I stand with my mom. Grand-kids first then the mother to the grand-kids. So I just ate what was there and wrote a check to cover the amount.
After the not nutritious dinner was eaten I decided to play a game. It was getting dark and the kids had moved all the flash lights I had for emergencies and power outages. I had no idea where they could be. So we played where did you all put the flashlights.
Right after we found 3 flashlights the power came back on. The phone rang a few moments after it came on. It was the power company recording letting me know the power was on now. Just smile and enjoy the moment.
Kids and I sat down and watched some TV and then I put them to bed for the night and I enjoyed the peace and quiet. I have to say the kid's bedtime is my favorite time of my day.
