The routines that mom broke

George had a rotten afternoon yesterday. And it's all my fault. You see, I know his limits. I know his routines. I know how many errands I can run per day and still stay in his good graces. I know when he needs to bring his comfort items with him to stay centered. Yesterday, I disregarded everything I knew, and our world came tumbling down. It all began with the slippers.

On Tuesdays, we pick up Emma from school an hour early, in order to go to George's speech therapy. Yesterday, he brought his slippers with him. Not on his feet, just carried them. Held them and cuddled with them on the way to Em's school. Once there, I did the unthinkable. I didn't let him bring them into the building. I don't know what I was thinking. Full on tantrum the whole time we were there! Compounded by the fact that the kids were on the playground (I usually try to get there before they go out, because we don't have time to allow George to play). So, I haul a screaming George and sweaty Emma out of the building and head towards my next mistake of the day.

A friend of ours had borrowed a binder full of children's DVD's for a trip they made about two weeks ago. I had the brilliant idea of stopping by her house on our way to George's school to pick them up. Which would have been fine except we had enough time to go in. Which would have been fine except we didn't have enough time for George to get over his shyness and then play with every one of the hundreds of toys they have in their living room. Just as he was getting comfortable, it was time to go. So, I haul a screaming George back to the van and on to his therapy session.

Yeah, that session didn't go so well. Ms. Edwards carried the screaming boy into the classroom and closed the door. Then, I got to break the news to Emma that we wouldn't be playing on the playground because I was fairly certain that the session wouldn't be lasting as long as usual. So, I hauled a sobbing Emma to the van to get her library book and snack. Fifteen minutes later, a tearful George ran out of the classroom and we left the building. Then came the last big mistake of the day. George and Emma ran, as usual, on the lawn outside the school to the sidewalk. Except when they were almost there, I realized that George wasn't going to stop. Thank goodness I park on a quiet street and it was after normal school hours! I grabbed him when he was only a couple of feet into the street, but I didn't untense and he didn't stop crying until we were home.

Needless to say, I was exhausted last night and we stayed home most of today. All because of a pair of slippers and my stupidity!