Ticking Time Bomb

Perhaps you have had this same experience if you have kids, but it seems like nearly anything we do there is an invisible timer that begins counting down. The countdown is the time until meltdown, fighting, or other significant disruptive behavior. During mealtime this means that we have to get everyone served (otherwise the table and floor and clothes end up wearing more food), quickly scarf things down, and then clean up afterwards all within the ticking time bomb.

Another place the invisible clock is evident is going shopping. Today, after returning from our trip, we desperately needed to visit the grocery store. The cupboard was quite bare and with 5 always hungry children, that simply doesn’t work well. We visited the airport first because several kids had been asking to do that. None of them have been on an airplane before and they all had questions and concerns about flying. Going to the airport was an opportunity to allow them to see take offs and landings. It actually worked pretty well, but even here there is a time clock ticking…and every child has a different number of minutes on their counter. We attempted to leave before the hangry alarm went off on too many people, but the car was definitely filled with banter that, while starting silly was heading quickly toward hurt feelings and angry yelling. Fortunately we had located a fast food restaurant nearby – we have had way more Burger King and McDonalds than probably any other similar stretch of time. It is sadly one of the more affordable place we can go and the ticking time bomb means that having to wait long for a meal to arrive is simply asking for explosions.

Having figured out the best combinations (yes, we have given up deciding what we would like to eat and are simply eating whatever is the cheapest combo deal) and trying to remember all the likes and dislikes (no lettuce or pickles for one, no onions for another, etc.), we got our food (by the way, we have also learned that giving options is not always the best idea), got drinks for everyone, and had about 10 minutes of peaceful silence while we hurriedly tried to keep pace with kids that acted as if they were desperately starving.

We then set off to the grocery store. Because our car rental didn’t have to be returned until the evening, we were able to visit a super big store equivalent to a Walmart or perhaps Rewe Centrum. The prices were way better than the local stores (making us wish we could shop there more often, but not having a car does have limitations). Our rental car (Cheverolet Spin) had hardly any truck space, but it was still better than having to carry it all (and also the largest vehicle available to rent we have found out). Grocery shopping has a time clock on steriods. There is competition over who gets to push the cart, the need to keep an eye on all children as they tend to wander off, grab things that catch their eyes, touch any electronic screen in reach, etc. It is also having to say “no” to a million things that are requested (no, you cannot get candy, no, you don’t need body odor spray yet, no, we are not buying a television – we have already hidden the remotes for the one in the rental house, no, we are not getting the chocolate pebble cereal, etc.). In the midst of this, we are trying to remember everything we need and grab it without needing to make any return circuits. Having kids help is sometimes more work because it means that they have to be taught that we don’t just throw fruit into the plastic bags because it will bruise and we need to examine the fruit first. Not all lunch meats are equal in quality or in price. Please stay with me and don’t go running off and where did the youngest one disappear to? Don’t touch anything, please!

It is almost like a mini episode of Survivor (maybe this ought to be added into these types of reality shows!). We have to make decisions quickly, not carefully consider all the factors and slowly make our minds ups as we search for the best quality/price ratio. The ticking time bombs do not wait for such things.

However, we managed to survive and bite our lips instead of yell…we are learning how to rapidly attempt to regulate ourselves as our kettles seem always on the verge of boiling over. But, each trip we also see little signs of improvement…all the nos are not quite as disappointing…we are getting better at noticing the time counters and seeing when they are approaching explosion stage…kids are learning how to pick fruit better and work (somewhat) together.

Today we managed to defuse most (stress most) bombs. We consider that quite victorious! Thankfully we have a heavenly Father who knows us at weaknesses and sees our own time clocks, because yet, we have them too and we are learning just how quickly they can tick! He is gracious and patient with us and meets our needs. It is our prayer and desire to reflect Him and His treatment of us to our kids.