The Mondayest Tuesday
Featuring a bus, a bicycle and plentiful lilacs
Yesterday had intense Monday vibes (yes, I know, it was Tuesday). But we had spent the previous two days with a sick child at home, who magically sprung back to life in full force on Tuesday morning. Eager to run, jump, and play. Full to the brim with boundless energy. Hurrah!
With this positive turn of events, we took our time getting organized for the day. I figured if we rolled up at vuggestue/børnehave for 9am, no one would be too upset. We would arrive just in time for songs and snacks. Perfect. No stress, no fuss. But boy were we in for a shock when we arrived and one of my son’s new teachers came running off the børnehave bus in a hurry to collect him (thankfully with a smile on her face).
The bus leaves at 9. I had clearly lost track of my days and my son’s new (and ever changing) forest school schedule. Unbeknownst to us, we had singlehandedly held up the entire group. Sure, only by mere minutes. But how very un-Danish of us! I ran inside the building and packed his little backpack while my son’s teacher patiently and gently walked him over to the bus. Her soft approach in the time crunch was something I felt immensely grateful for.
I took a deep breath, collected myself, then was directed to the side of the bus that my son was sitting. There I could stand with the other parents on the sidewalk, to smile, and wave him off for a fun filled day in the forest. A few of the other parents smiled at me, likely knowing exactly what I was feeling. A quiet empathy. A shared experience.
After drop off, the sudden stress and rush of adrenaline was sitting heavy on my chest. I cycled up to the shop for a few groceries, thankful to have my bike back after a flat tire Friday afternoon (30 mins before børnehave pick up time). Once finished, I walked out of the store to collect my bike, only to discover … yet another … flat tire. Yes, the same one from Friday. Oh, Lille Blå!
Thankfully, it was a gorgeous morning with an expansive blue sky and beautiful sunshine. I didn’t rush and I made sure to stop and smell the lilacs in their magnificent glory. It was a nice walk despite the rhythmical thumping sound of a very flat tire. I limped my bike home and straight into the bike shop, much to the surprise of the owner who didn’t expect to see us again, quite so soon.
My son went on to have a wonderful day in the forest and lots of fun with a friend after pick up. My bike was quickly repaired with a shiny new tire and inner-tube, and life settled back into a reasonable pace. Just in time for evening to fall, with the promise of a new day edging ever closer. As the sun slowly disappeared and we settled in, I gave a quiet thanks for our mildly chaotic, but full day, of living the life we previously spent a great deal of time dreaming of. Albeit, a day with a few hiccups to keep things interesting.