Life's a beach

My husband is off on an 110km "fun ride" today. He left at 7:15, leaving me with two wide awake boys and a lingering resentment that he prioritizes fitness over family and I do not. Most of the time, I'm happy that he is fit and healthy and happy. Most of the time I do not begrudge the two hour rides he does every weekend morning.

Today was not one of those days.

Both boys had been monsters on Saturday. Spoiled, angry masses of energy destroying our condo and injuring each other. They were defiant and pushing every button to make their parents furious. The idea of solo parenting them until 4:00 in the afternoon filled me with dread.

I whined in email to a friend. I whined by Skype to my sister. I whined to my mother-in-law. (Thank god she doesn't hold it against me when I complain about her son.) And finally I sucked it up and decided to take them to the beach.

I packed up the sun tent and juice boxes, the sand toys and the small towels. DS1 took bug nets and DS2 rode his tricycle. We walked and triked the five blocks to the beach. And you know what? We had a good time.

I sat sheltered from the sun in my little cabana while they splashed in the shallows. They made sand castles and found sea glass and caught a crab with the nets they brought. I alternated between joining in their activities and being a passive observer. We stayed for almost three hours and they rarely fought or argued. I felt restored.

And now, I have parked them in front of the Disney Channel and I'm taking some time to blog. Life is good. (That, and Daddy should be home in another hour or so.)