Mommy Guilt

I have had my first real bout with Mommy Guilt.

Yesterday, Aidan asked me in the morning to color with him. That's it, just color. I told him just a sec because I am feeding your sister. And then after I fed her I put the dishes in the sink and thought I could just sneak in a load of (the ever-growing pile of) laundry. "Mummy, can you color with me?" he asked again. "Yup, be right there, sweetie". And then:

-The dog starting barking incessantly and had to be squirted with the water bottle
-The phone rang and I had to chat with my mother for about 15 minutes
-Ciara had a massive poop and needed a bath (thanks, Amoxicillan)
-I had to put Ciara in for her morning nap
-Gavin had a massive poop
-The phone rang again
-Ciara woke up with another poop
-I had to get the boys lunch

And then it was nap time! It was non-stop all morning long and Aidan was always there inbetween each of these things asking me for just one simple little thing. My time. To color with him. I want to cry just thinking about it now. I can hardly ever just sit and play with my children. And believe me, my house is not the cleanest house so it is not that I am putting housework before them. Things just happen between the (stupid) dog, diaper changes, baths, naps, preparing and eating meals, going out in the car to run errands and the list goes on...

So this week, my goal is to take time each day and just sit with them and play. Whatever they want. I hope that will make me feel a little better.