Calgon, take me away!

Remember those old commercials?  It's the first thing that popped into my head this afternoon as I was trying to help Hope figure out a song on the keyboard she was getting VERY frustrated as she tried to pick out all the right notes and trying to help Ellis use the potty.  I mentioned in my last post that Ellis might be ready to potty train, but me, not so much.  She still just enjoys the novelty of it - and the M&M she gets when something "comes out".  Anytime we're at home, she wants to be naked.  Quicker access to the M&M, I guess.  She gets very upset when I try to put a diaper on her, unless we're leaving the house or she's going to bed.  Anyway, I digress.   It went something like this:

Hope: You already showed me that part, Mom!  I need the next part!
"Do Do Do Do Do Do Do Do Do" - Ellis' potty singing to her because she's "done something".
EJ: I go potty, Mommy!
Me: Good job EJ, hold on.  I'll come dump it out in just a minute.
Hope: Mom!  What's next?
EJ (walking into the room where Hope and I are at the piano, carrying the potty seat): My dump it out, Mommy!
Me: No, EJ.  Give that to Mommy.  Pee running out the potty seat and down her legs.  Only Mommy and Daddy can clean out the potty.
EJ: No,Mommy!  My dump it out! No! No! (crying screaming) My dump it out! more crying, more screaming
Hope: Ugh! (laying upside on the keyboard bench)

A few minutes later after the potty seat is cleaned out, Hope and I are at the keyboard and Ellis is wiped down and supposedly looking at books in the other room . . .

Hope (still very frustrated and has now turned the keyboard up very loud because she can't "hear myself play over Ellis' screaming!"): I can't do it right! 
Me: Try just this part.
EJ: Mommy, come 'ere.
Me: Hold on EJ.  I'm helping Hope right now.
EJ (loudly, crying screaming): No!  Mommy help EJ!
Me: What do you need help with?
Hope: Mom!
EJ: Mommy, come 'ere!!!!!
Me: Go back to the family room and get a book, I'll come in there in just a minute. EJ slowly walks into the other room, crying.
Okay, Hope, try this part.
"Do Do Do Do Do Do Do Do Do" - potty seat again
EJ (running back to Hope and I): I go potty one more time!
Me: Good job, EJ!  Stay right here, I'll go get it cleaned out!
Hope: MOM!
Me: Okay, let me show you real quick . . ."
Hope: EJ, no!  Mom - EJ has her potty seat again!
Me: Okay, hold on Hope.  Ellis, only mommy and daddy can empty out the - EJ! NO! pee all over the bathroom floor.
Hope: Ugh! (upside down on the keyboard bench again. Now with the keyboard playing some "demo" song turned up as LOUD as it could go)
Me: Hope - turn that down!
Hope: Come help me then!
Me: I need to clean this up - I'll be there in a minute!  Just try it on your own.
Hope: I need you to help with that part again.
Me: Try ANOTHER part.
Hope: I already KNOW the other parts.  I need help with the NEW part!
Me: Okay, hold on.  I've got the potty seat clean, I just need to clean up the bathroom floor.
EJ: Mommy, come 'ere!
Me: Just a minute EJ, I need to clean up the bathroom floor.
"Do Do Do Do Do Do Do Do Do"

Some form of the last 2 scenarios literally played out 3 MORE TIMES within the next twenty minutes.  I was about ready to throw that d*$# potty seat away!  Seriously, how can anyone pee 6 times in a 30 minute period?  What did I give that child to drink?

Chaos takes many different forms in my house on a day to day basis.  In the midst of it, I wish there was something that could just "take me away".  But in reality, I wouldn't trade it for anything.  I know this precious time with my babies is short.  The heartwarming, funny, memorable times outweigh the bad most days.  And I just try to remind myself that all of our experiences serve a purpose - we're learning.  I'm learning to be a better parent, a better wife, a better person.  They're learning about themselves, and how to find their place in a great big world. 

Usually the chaos is short lived. Sometimes we learn something from it. Today the lesson was patience . . . for all of us.  The girls were reminded that they can't always get what they want, right when they want it.  I was reminded that I do have the ability to pull out the patience when I need it. At least sometimes.  

I was also reminded that I am not ready for potty training.