4-7pm

I've heard it called the bewitching hour. That sounds rather harsh when referring to your baby but then again after a few months of it I think that is what I will call it.

The boys come home from school and the house explodes: backpacks fall open with papers flowing out onto the once cleaned kitchen counters (well who am I kidding...the already messy kitchen counters). Shoes try to make it to the shoe basket but don't quite get there, coats find themselves on the living room chair right next to the closet door - oh, so close but yet so far away from that hanger! Snacks are begged for; cookies are often made, sometimes hot chocolate brewed. And then it happens...

Elizabeth starts her screaming.

She loves the energy that the boys bring and the onslaught of attention but it comes on hard and fast. Sometimes she can keep up with it but most of the time she falls fast and hard. She is ready for a nap but knowing she will miss ALL THAT is too hard to fight against. So, she cries for my attention.

And Eli needs my attention.

And Ian needs my attention...well, usually Ian does his own thing but that is the sad part in it all (middle child).

I try to make them do homework at first before watching t.v. but then I have a screaming baby, a fidgety middle child who really doesn't have homework other then reading a book which he can't possibly do right after school and a second grader who tends to bring home an hours worth of work and about 30 minutes of attention span.

And then it is 4pm before I know it...supper has to be started...while all that above is still going on.

I've tried many different approaches over the last few days and honestly I haven't found one that really works. Homework, t.v., supper, homework, quality time together...with baby and bath and cleaning up all in between.

I managed to squeeze in a piano lesson for Ian after Elizabeth went to bed; a short recap on English grammar that Eli had failed at during school last week; a book for Ian to read and finish finally; review of at least two spelling words; all of Eli's other homework; Ian's bazaar Arctic animal he chose and had to draw for show and tell; supper all alone since dear husband now has the stomach bug that I had yesterday...I'm going on and on...sorry...

Point being - I sometimes hate the hours between 4 and 7. I love being with my children and love doing those things mentioned above but I hate having to squeeze them all in those 3 hours along with all the house chores. I love my baby so much but I hate that I can give her 100% of my attention all day and then when the night falls upon us she turns into a wild screaming banchy (could not figure out how to spell that word!) that can only be settled when in her mother's arms (even if her mother is up to her elbows in raw meatloaf!)

And so it is 9:40...the boys are asleep; dishes are washed; backpacks packed; my tennis shoes are still on; my husband is passed out in the bed (poor thing); and yes, I hear my baby crying off and on in the far distance (well not to far...our house isn't that big). But for just this one moment I will sit here and not think for anyone or do for anyone or talk to anyone...