Let me tell you about 2017 around here. It was hard. Mind numbingly, bone wearyingly, put one foot in front of the other hard. Looking back on it now, I have no idea how I navigated one day to the next. Does autopilot have a survival setting?
The Mistah spent 2017 overseas on Deployment #3 which meant Miss Libby had a one (wo)man show at home. I’d like to think that I rose to the occasion and was the best version of my parenting self for the 328 days he was gone. I really would like to think that. But I lived it. And I know that most days I was lucky to find the good enough version of me. I suspect the better and best versions of me were hiding out together in piles of laundry….not washing, folding, or putting it away mind you….just hiding there…slackers.
For her part, Miss Libby progressed from a normal 4 year old into a normal 5 year old while The Mistah was away. Which meant pushing Good Enough just about as far as it could go. That was usually when Loud Momma would make an appearance. I can tell you for a fact that neither Libby nor I liked having Loud Momma around. And I don’t think the next door neighbors cared much for her either (sorry neighbors).
Loud Momma typically brought along I’m Sorry Momma to clean up the mess. Now that I think about it, you would never see the two of them at the same time….interesting. And at some point in every single day, Tired Momma would take over. She was the understudy waiting in the wings for her cue to step into character.
Bless her perpetually tired heart.
Tired Momma hits snooze a few times too many but still gets her child to school…usually before the late bell. This is not to say that neither Tired Momma nor her child are free of telltale flaws in their outfit. Hint, it’s usually the socks.
Tired Momma makes the food appear daily as if by magic. Sometimes that magic goes by the name of cereal or uncrustables or delivery….and that’s ok.
Tired Momma does all of the chores that The Mistah would usually handle like taking out the trash and scooping the litter box. But in exchange she outsources grass cutting and snow shoveling.
Tired Momma recognizes other Tired Mommas and Daddys. And we salute them. Usually as we shamble our way through school drop off, school pick up, and the grocery store.
Tired Momma loves nothing more than a day off. However, those usually come disguised as sick days or snow days…so you can see how much off time they actually provide.
Tired Momma carried more than her share of the load around here last year and even her shoulders of stone need a rest sometimes. So it is with the Mint Lemonade that The Mistah enjoyed during his time in the desert that I toast her. I’m sure that I will call on her again….but I’ve got my fingers crossed that it won’t be any time soon.
Mint Lemonade
BAH Note: I had to ask The Google to find something close to what The Mistah raved about while in the dessert. Please note, this isn’t just lemonade with a touch of mint. This is full on, spinach smoothie green, lemonade. If you choose to make it with ice cubes, you should expect to have a foamy white top layer. And since you don’t strain out the blizted mint leaves, you should also expect those mint leaves in the bottom of your glass…and maybe in your teeth.
As always, this is just a starting point. You should adjust things to your liking.
- 10 ounces lemon juice (from 5ish lemons)
- 1 cup water + 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup mint leaves (approximately 1 grocery store bunch)
- 2 cups water + 1 cup ice cubes OR 1 cup water
Combine sugar and 1 cup water in a small saucepan and heat until the sugar just dissolves. Cool slightly.
Mix the lemon juice, mint leaves, sugar syrup, and remaining water/water+ice in a blender, run on high speed until the mint is completely pulverized, and enjoy.
Bon Appetit Hon 