45 More

Waterballoons are the perfect metaphor for motherhood. Today I spent 45 minutes making 45 water balloons. It took Josie and Owen 45 seconds to enjoy and destroy them. And as soon as they were done they were begging for 45 more.

It took me a while to figure out how to attach the adapter to the hose. I thought I had the wrong hose or the wrong adapter or I was just doing it wrong. Finally I twisted hard enough and we all cheered as I filled up the first balloon.

At first I let them take the balloons and throw them as soon I tied them off. Then I decided it would be better to make them wait until I had a big pile so they would stop fighting over who got the next waterballoon.

Just as I was getting into the rhythm and feeling pretty good about my waterballoon making abilities, I would fill up a balloon with a hole in it. And the balloon would burst spraying water all over me. When I finished making the balloons, I felt like I had been a water balloon fight of my own, only without all of the fun.

The first batch of waterballoons burst as soon as Josie and Owen tossed them into the grass. I started making them a little smaller when I noticed that the smaller ones lasted for at least a few throws, prolonging their need for the immediate gratification of another balloon in hand.

But they adapted quickly starting to stomp on the ballons with both feet crushing the balloon and my hopes for a few more minutes of peace. Owen started taking them from my hand and immediately crushing them with his man hands. He just stood there crushed them and asked for another one.

I can't say that it wasn't all worth it. My soaking wet pants and raw finger tips from frantically tying balloon after balloon were nothing compared to the fun they had destryong the balloons I worked so hard to make. I just wished the time that I got to enjoy them enjoying the balloons had lasted a little longer. But then, it isn't about me anymore.