I am not always very flexible. Not in the “look how I can put my ankle behind my ear” kind of a way, but in the way that might allow me to adapt to the twists and turns of everyday life. (I feel it bears mentioning that I’m not flexible in that first way either, much to the hub’s disappointment.)
I just don’t think the toddler inside me has outgrown the need for schedule and regimen—and sometimes unexpected surprises send her into fits. Immature Lisa does not roll with the punches.
Take, for example, Halloween.
In the town where we live Halloween is considered a high holy day. It’s a town-wide party. I love every minute of it, from the prep, to the visiting, to the candy, to the flop into bed after an evening of celebration. And this year we had the added bonus of having my Mom along for the ride.
Costumes were donned, candy was put out, friends were met, pictures were taken and our happy group set out for town. Everything just as I planned Then….Crash!
I turn to see my poor mother, face down on the pavement, glasses askew, shoe off and toe clearly broken.
Awesome Friend #1 took flight and made sure the kids (who were oblivious) stayed supervised. Awesome Friend #2 ran to get her car so we could drive to the emergency room. Mom sat injured and apologizing and I felt awful for her. Immature Lisa, however, was having a hard time wrapping her mind around the change in plans.
Immature Lisa: Ummmm…. why are we sitting here?
Mature Lisa: Nana is hurt. We’re waiting for a car so we can help her.
Immature Lisa: Oh. Okay. And then we’ll go trick or treating?
Mature Lisa: No. We’ll have to go to the hospital.
Immature Lisa: Ummmm…….but we’ll be back in time for cider, right?
Mature Lisa: Don’t think so.
Immature Lisa: Party at the Fire Station?
Mature Lisa: Probably not.
Immature Lisa: But I worked really haaaaard to make costumes and coordinate aaaall the plans and Robin’s making lasaaaaagna and I won’t get to see aaaaanybody downtown and The Hub is off with the other kids and I won’t get to take piiiiiictures or see the haunted house and I wanna. I wanna. I WANNNA!
Mature Lisa: If you cooperate, you can eat as much of the kids’ candy as you want when we get home.
Immature Lisa: Okay.
Is it embarrassing, this inner dialogue? You bet. But sometimes the pressure of being the grown up, holding everything together and fixing problems can take a toll. Fortunately, there’s also empathy, understanding and patience to get us through.
And when all else fails, there’s candy.
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