The brake lights flashed in front of me and everyone came to a quick stop. Craning my neck to see around the other cars, the construction vehicles plugged away at their slow-motion activity. The frustration welled up in my throat and my right foot stuck to the brake pedal.
“Why didn’t you know about this? …Why didn’t you take another route? ….This is so irritating…” The thought darts just piled on top of one another, shot straight from the heart of my ugliness… the worst part of me. I furrowed my brow and took a look in the rear view mirror at the boys.
Sammy’s eyebrows shot straight up and his whole face lit with glee. “Woooook! A TWUUUUCK!!!!” Josh looked around and commented, “Mommy, a TWUCK! And wook over there- A FIRE ENGINE!!!!”
My brow came unknotted and I relaxed into a grin as we recognized and named the amazing vehicles, all doing their various jobs. More importantly, we commented on the hard-working people who were running the machines. We were all laughing and we waved at the people who were doing the best they could to do their job and still keep traffic flowing.
How often do I sacrifice attitude on the altar of convenience and schedule? Ashamedly, too many times a day to even keep track of. My boys have no idea that they change me as much as I am sent to guide them. If you’re ever with me in the car and I suddenly yell “TWUUUUUCCCCK!” I’m not using an alternative expletive, I promise. Just know that I’m working on bypassing the frustration and going straight to the joy.
An American humorist, writer and author. When boiling down the chicken soup of life, she finds those golden, fried nuggets of truth & writes them long after the kids go to bed.
