The things we do for our kids

Let's talk about the things we do for our kids, that only as parents we do. Beyond the dirty diapers and really disgusting diapers, beyond cleaning up puke from car seats (a very gross task that only parents are exposed to), and dealing with temper tantrums from tired, cranky kids in public places. Those odd tasks, those mind numbing routines, the ones that make you smile afterwards and wonder "did I really do that?"
We've all read bedtime stories over and over again, in the same evening because a toddler wants it "again". Or drew faces on the dinner plate with the food items to entice a child to eat, all the while making sure none of the food items touch each other. Or gone through the entire bag of diapers looking for the ones with Elmo on them because that's the only ones the kid will allow to cover their royal tush. Or listened to same sleeping inducing Wiggles lullaby over and over and over again in an attempt to soothe the savage beasts.
We visited the kids' grandmother yesterday. It's about a 90 minute drive. To ensure maximum comfort for the kids and us, we made sure bathroom visits were done before strapping the babes in. Then we had to ensure everyone had the snack of their choice. Devlin wanted peaches - peeled and sliced. In his own serving container. Ceilidh wanted strawberries - sliced in her own container. They both needed napkins nearby for their sticky fingers. Then Devlin wanted his invisible martian man hunter figurine. And Ceilidh wanted a princess toy. No specification, which meant Mommy had to go back into the house at least 3 times until the desired doll was located and settled next to Ceilidh. Both wanted their car blankets. Aisling was the easiest - a bottle and a soother. But then again, she can't really talk yet.
By the time we were all ready to go, the adults were pooped!
What about special outings we do for the kids? Again, a task we parents willingly partake in that but for the munchkins, we wouldn't have ventured.

We've done the amusement parks on days that most sane individuals are seeking comfort in air conditioned homes. The only other folks out there are also parents and kids. On the hottest, most humid day of the summer, we've taken Devlin to Marineland. I was 8.5 months pregnant with Ceilidh at the time! Swore never to do that again. Nope, instead, we dragged along 2 month old Aisling the next time we visited Marineland. And it was just as hot and humid.

We've also stood in snow and freezing wind to watch the Santa Claus parade. Parenting has no seasonal boundaries. Speaking of cold, what do you do when your kid has to pee and you're on the highway, nowhere close to a service station, and it's really really cold out there? You grab an empty beverage container, unbuckle the car seat, deal with the clothes, hold the cup and tell the kid to aim carefully. (Although, we haven't had to deal with the daughter yet on this.)

And then there was there time that Devlin had a itchy bum, and it needed to be scratched immediately. Except, he was buckled into his car seat so he couldn't reach the itch, and he was too young to just "ignore it" and we were on the highway. Yep. So there I was, with the seat reclined, twisting around in a manner that a contortionist would be proud of, to reach his little tush to scratch the itch.

That's almost as memorable as the time that Ceilidh fell on her bottom and needed to have her boo-boo kissed. At least she insisted on Daddy kissing it better.