Daily Duel

DAILY DUEL

The morning starts, the day is here

I roll over, my duty is clear

Pressing snooze I start to doze

But 10 minutes later, my rest is deposed

I sigh, I groan, I shake my head

And my weary body I force out of bed

"Try to be brave, try to be strong"

My mantra runs through my head like a song

I shower, I wash, I go to the sink

And there I mix up my favourite drink

Coffee in hand, my hair in a towel

My kids start to stir and call my foul

I look at the clock, disbelief on my face

My kids must think this a marvelous race

They must know, they must sense, they must have a hunch

To irritate mommy, they'll beat me to the punch!

I try to tune out the sounds that I hear

At least it's not crying, a few minutes so dear

I sit at the table and squeak out a prayer

"Oh God help me not to pull out all my hair!"

I pad down the hallway and open their door

Their faces light up, and I know this is war

It starts off with smiles and cute little antics

And then there's the screaming 'til one of us panics

My heart in my throat in anticipation

I make them some breakfast, with great expectation

They look at my meal and snub down their nose

And on the floor their disdainful food goes

I take them downstairs and cleanup with a sigh

And think to myself: "how will I get by?"

I turn on the TV for a moment of peace

And but for a minute the fighting does cease

We color, we play, we frolic outside

They scream and they fight and their time they bide

Until, of course, their father walks in

Somehow they are perfect: they squeal, laugh and grin

I try to explain the day that I've had

He looks at their smiles and says "it can't be that bad"

And so I trudge my way to bedtime

And flop on the couch with a feeling sublime

The day is over, the deed is done

Now I just wait for another one!

I try not to think of the trials ahead

  As I sit and relax with my husband instead