Trying to go anywhere with 4 children can be a challenge, the biggest hurdle of that challenge, is actually getting out of the house. Typically it goes something like this...
I yell- "Everyone get your shoes on!!!" I listen carefully for the pitter patter of 8 feet running to the closet to get their shoes on...I hear nothing. I call again "Everyone get your shoes on!" This is typically followed by the sound of at least 2 of the kids arguing about putting whatever is they're doing away, because mommy has asked them to put their shoes on. One child has disappeared, and one is looking for their shoes.
It is at this point I think...maybe they should go to the bathroom. So I seperate the 2 that are fighting (usually Lauren and Julie) and send them each to a bathroom. When the kid in the upstairs bathroom comes out, I send them to get their shoes on, and send Carter to the bathroom, all while I change Maya so she is fresh for the car ride. By this point, both Lauren and Julie usually have shoes on. I ask them to help Maya get her shoes on, while I make sure Carter washes his hands. While I am standing at the sink with Carter, I realize I still need to brush my teeth, so I reach for my toothbrush as I send Carter to get his shoes on. It is at this point that Carter announces that he doesn't want to go with us, so he is not going to put his shoes on.
Maya, who can now open doors, is so excited about going in the car that she is trying to escape out the front door, the girls are trying to keep her inside, and I am standing in Carter's room with a toothbrush in one hand and his shoes in the other demanding that he get them on, because he is going with us. He takes his shoes, and reluctantly starts to put them on. I go out to the entrance to check on the girls, and find that Lauren has chosen to wear rubber boots that are a size too small on the hottest day of the year, with the sun shining bright, "because that's all she could find". Julie on the other hand is wearing flip flops that barely stay on her feet. I get on my hands and knees and start digging through the hall closet for something appropriate for each of them, only to find 3 left shoes, and 4 right, none matching. Carter is still staring at his shoes, saying he isn't going. I finally find the appropriate shoes, just in time to catch Maya as she heads out the front door to play in the street. The girls are ready to go. I take them out to the van and strap them in their seats. I come back to the house to get Carter, he is still refusing to put his shoes on...after 5 minutes of pleading he finally agrees. I run out to check on the kids, Carter comes behind me, shoes on the wrong feet (but atleast they are on). I get everyone strapped in the van. I run back in the house for the one thing I have ineveitably forgotten. Come back to the van, climb in, start it up, begin to back down the driveway...that's when the smell hits me! Maya has conveniently pooped since I strapped her in...
Now, the whole process takes generaly 15 minutes on the best of days. On these days my house is left in whatever state it finds itself in from the daily living of a family of 6. Our house is currently on the market. I can get a call at anytime that someone wants to see our house. This means we have to leave, and the house has to be CLEAN when I do. I hope it sells quickly!
