Guardian Angel

I spent over a week getting ready for Jeff's promotion ceremony. Picking out a dress for me, taking Mandy shopping for her, getting Lily used to wearing a dress and sandals.

I spent the entire morning getting ready for Jeff's promotion ceremony. Running Jeff and Mandy around in our one vehicle. Taking Lily outside to play for two solid hours. A wonderful big meal for Lily and I. A long and splashy bath for Lily. A three hour nap for Lily.

All for nothing. She was unable to sit still and not scream for a simple 30 minute ceremony. So I was outside with a very stubborn Miss Lily.

Jeff's turn to go up on stage, shake the General's hand and have his family come up for a formal picture of us punching him in the arm, didn't come until close to the end of the ceremony. Lily was so loud and obnoxious that someone closed the door to the room where the ceremony was being held and me in the lobby could not hear if it was Jeff's turn or not. I tried to pick up Lily and stand in the back of the crowd, but she would have none of that.

So many people brought their little ones. We just wanted this special day to be for the whole family. I should have known better than to bring Lily. Anyways I am just about to cry. I did not know what to do. I didn't want to leave Jeff hanging. Up on the stage standing at attention and they announce my name and no one comes up to punch him. If you are not in the military just go with it, when you get a promotion there is a big fancy all dressed up ceremony where you stand at attention and people beat you. They just give you a little punch in the arm where your stripes are.

What is worse having a very loud child ruin the ceremony for everyone or leaving Jeff up there hanging. I couldn't breath. I was so distraught. I don't know what I was thinking, thinking that Lily would cooperate. I tried talking to her, every time I said the word quiet she started to have a bit fat fit. I think that the fact that this was a very crowded room, everyone in their uniform, mashed together like sardines was a bit overwhelming for her. Whatever, no sympathy for the screamer!

Just at that moment when I was about to cry some friends walked through the door of the club. They had thought the ceremony stared at 3:30 instead of 3. What a miracle. The husband went into the ceremony room and came out to get me when Jeff's turn was next. The wife sat with Lily in the lobby while I went in and with Mandy we punched Jeff. Lily wasn't in the picture, but Jeff wasn't left hanging. I also want to point out that Jeff's entire office took the day off to watch the ceremony, they all heard Lily and no one offered to help us, no one bothered to stay and shake Jeff's hand, no one came out for a drink later. This base sucks! Except for my dear friend's none of whom work with Jeff. Every single on of those bastards in his office, I have cooked them dinner, I have babysat their kids, I go to their dumb parties. At one of those parties they spent over an hour telling me how much they hate people with their spoiled little kids on this base. How they think all the bad kids should not be allowed in the grocery store, they should be kept outside in a cage. Because a bunch a loud children running around a store is driving these nice people crazy.

That night after I took Lily and Mandy home, Jeff and I went out with our friends, the ones who helped us. We went out to the club and drank, then stayed out late and saw the worst comedy show ever. But, it was fun. Of course I was the designate driver and did not drink at all. I still had fun, drinking my water.

The next morning I was reading blogs getting ready to jump into my homework and I discovered about 10 other mothers of little girls who felt what I felt at that moment. Why me? It made me feel so much better. I was at the time of the ceremony shattered, why me? Why does everyone else's kids behave? Why not mine? I try so hard, I do everything I can think of and she refuses to behave. And then just when I needed it some friends magically walked through the door, the next day I read all about how so many other mothers of young ones feel the same way. I had felt so alone, and now I feel like a part of the fray, and it is nice. I do believe in guardian angels, mine deserves a raise.