The day was almost over, and I couldn’t wait to be able to leave. It’s the one day a week that Andrew takes care of putting the kids to bed, giving me time to myself. Saturdays are truly the best day of the week. I forced myself to focus back on chopping up the watermelon for dinner. My fraying patience was already making itself known. I knew that I had been a bit snappish with the kids today, but it has been a really rough week.
It started with Ian deciding that he should already be in the rebellious teenager phase, even though he was only 11, and refusing to clean up after himself. I had given him almost a month to clean his room with threats to throw away everything on his floor if he could’t keep it picked up. Even though I told him to clean his room every day, multiple times a day, I finally had to follow through on my threat. So that was a great start to the day today. Andrew backed me up at least and dealt with most of the temper tantrum while I swept his floor into a pile. I pulled out the clothes, bedding, books, and random dishes since they were too expensive to throw away and he should not have even had the dishes in his room to begin with. Everything else was swept into a trash bag and thrown away. He was horrified that I threw away his game guide, despite the fact that the cover and many pages were missing, and kept saying that he loved it. Even though I told him if he loved it, he would have taken better care of it. Days like today made me question what I am doing wrong as a parent.
I knew most people say being a parent was a rewarding enough job as it was. And sure, I could agree with them most of the time, but my kids are going through such a monstrous phase that I need to get away from them for a few hours. No matter how much I love them to bits, there are four of them and one of me and Sean has just entered the terrible twos. Adding that on top of everything was the proverbial straw that broke the camel’s back. I sent the kids to their rooms and told them to stay away from each other while I tried to clean up the mess created by Sean.
Even as bad as it was today, this was much better than when I tried to give up on my Saturday nights after Ian was born. I had to stop as soon as I knew I was pregnant and thought that I needed to be a mom 100% of the time. I was stressing myself over if I was doing a good job and running myself ragged trying to be the stereotypical perfect mom.
In less than a year, I was turning into someone I never want to be again. I was starting to hate myself. It took me venting to the right person and receiving some very good advice to realize that it does not make you a horrible parent or failure to take the time to get away and take care of yourself. That was the second best piece of advice I had ever received. Right after the advice to wait a few years to have kids after getting married. But here I am again on a mental tangent. To avoid the arguments on Saturdays, when my patience has already been worn thin through the week, I switched from trying new recipes for making sure that dinner was something that would get no arguments. Hence, meat and macaroni with fresh watermelon, a universal family favorite.
With dinner almost done, I called for the kids.
“Claire, come here and clear the table for dinner.” I called loudly so there would be no excuses about not hearing me call her. “Sean, get your cars out of the kitchen or I’ll take them away.”
This brought Sean running into the kitchen yelling about not taking his cars. With no response from Claire, I called her again, louder this time.
“Coming” Claire shouted from somewhere in the house.
She came into the kitchen a minute later. Thankfully, by now she knows better than to argue when given a chore. As she cleared the table, Sean finished gathering up his cars and left to take them to his room. Once she was done with the table, I gave her another task.
“Thank you.” I strongly believe in positive reinforcement, even if it was only a word of thanks. “Please go tell Evan to set the table and tell everyone else to come down for dinner.”
Everyone came down for dinner and I get through the meal with no issues. Once dinner was over, I gave some last-minute instructions to the kids and a few reminders to Andrew to make sure the leftovers are put away and the cleanup gets done.
I went upstairs to change into something more appropriate. It took me no more than two minutes to change into a pair of high wasted skinny jeans with wedge heeled boots. I paired them with a long-sleeved off the shoulder crop top that left an inch or so of skin visible. Some tinted lip balm, and I was ready to go.
I grabbed my purse and keys from the hall table, then headed out with a last reminder for the kids to behave for their father. I was more than ready to get out of the house for a few hours.
Diving was my go to stress relief. I loved being able to go out and get rid of all the stress of dealing with the kids throughout the week. Some may have had more altruistic reasons for diving, such as saving the world or paying for college or many other possible reasons, but not me. Sure, extra money was nice, and yes, it’s nice to be able to do a good deed while I’m diving. But for me, it’s become about the stress relief.
I drove almost by muscle memory at this point. Since I’ve been going to the same place almost every Saturday for the past 10 years, I quickly headed over to Bob’s Bar. As always, I parked about a half mile away in one of the more well-known parking garages in the downtown area. While I could appreciate the location for discretion, there was not much parking available at the bar. Even if there was, it was not the kind of place I would like to park my car. Eager to get started with my dive. I lock the car and start my walk to the bar. It takes a bit, but that also helps calm some of my overexcited energy. When I get there, I’m greeted by many of the regulars since I too had become a regular.
“How’s it going?” I asked Eric.
“Not too bad. I took Friday off and am enjoying a long weekend.” He responded, “How about yourself? You look like it was a rough week.”
“Tell me about it.” I grumbled, “The kids have been getting on my last nerve this week. Between Ian refusing to clean his room and Sean pitching fits at the drop of a hat, I just want them to behave for five minutes.”
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“I remember those days.” He chuckled. “I’m glad my wife and I stuck to two kids. It was hard enough with just them. I could’t imagine dealing with four at the same time.”
“Hey, maybe I could give mine to you for a few days.” I teased, “You’ll finally understand what having four kids at once is like.”
He just rolled his eyes and made a playful swipe at me, which I easily ducked. Laughing as I made my way to the bar.
“Good Evening Bob,” I greeted the bartender. “How have you been this week?”
“Same old, same old.” He responded with a half shrug. “I hear your kids had been driving you crazier than normal.”
I laughed with a nod. Cat sauntered down the bar and lay next to me, clearly demanding that I gave him some attention.
“Could I get my usual?” I requested, while giving Cat the appropriate pets. “I think it would be a few minutes before I start diving.”
Soon I had a bottle of hot sake infused with Yuzu fruit and a small glass sitting in front of me. Cat eyes my drink with interest.
“Could I get a glass for Cat too?” I asked. Bob was already sliding a small sake saucer towards me. “Thanks”
“Be careful. You spoil him too much.” Bob cautioned me in the same routine we went through every week.
“I know, but how could I resist that adorable face.” I absolutely adore Cat.
I poured him a bit of sake and he purred while lapping up the alcohol. It never ceased to amaze me how Cat could easily handle any alcohol without getting drunk. I would never not believe that he was a normal cat from that alone. I was convinced that he was some type of superior being. After all, I heard from some of the active duty divers that Cat is in every bar. It had taken me years to get to where I could drink a bottle of sake without being completely plastered. After two glasses, I poured Cat a second drink.
“I’m ready.” Looking over at Bob, I stood up. “I’d like a token please.”
Wordlessly, he slid a token toward me. I stopped it with a finger. Picking it up, I started twirling it between my fingers. While I no longer dove to gain levels, I still had a fairly high level and looked for the songs that would be different or offer a different twist after dealing with the same typical level one to three songs that had been coming up with the latest hits. There was no imagination in the mainstream music that had been coming out, and it showed in the dungeons I had been clearing.
Going over to the jukebox, I scanned my eyes over the currently available songs. I saw one that looked interesting. While I haven’t heard of this one before, with a title like ‘never split the party’, it sounded like it could be a fun dungeon.
Inserting the token, I selected ‘Never Split the Party by Emerald Rose’. As the song started, the countdown in my mind began. I had five minutes to enter the dungeon. With a last wave to Bob and a reminder not to let Cat drink all of my sake, I sauntered over to the bathroom door with an out-of-order sign, eager for the opportunity to kill things and let out my stress. I was hoping for a monster hunting dungeon.
I opened the door, eager to enter the dungeon. The door swung closed behind me. As the grimy bathroom faded into a swirl of colors, I received a notification.
Level 15 diver Jen, converting stats for dungeon entrance. Conversion complete.
Name: Jen P.
Class: Cleric
Level: 15
Stats:
Strength: 19
Intelligence: 17
Dexterity: 17
Wisdom: 14
Intelligence: 14
Charisma: 17
Daily Spells:
*Note: as a level 15 Cleric, all spells will do the maximum amount of damage.
Light: unlimited casts, one hour duration.
Resistance: unlimited casts, one minute duration.
Sacred Flame: unlimited casts, instantaneous.
Stabilize: unlimited casts, instantaneous.
Bless: three casts, one minute duration.
Create Water: three casts, instantaneous.
Cure Wounds: three casts, instantaneous.
Purify Food and Drink: three casts, instantaneous.
Aid: three casts, 8 hour duration.
Lesser Restoration: three casts, instantaneous.
Healing Prayer: three casts, instantaneous.
Create Food and Water: two casts, instantaneous.
Dispel Magic: two casts, instantaneous.
Mass Healing Word: two casts, instantaneous.
Control Water: two casts, 10 minute duration.
Death Ward: two casts, instantaneous.
Guardian of Faith: two casts, 8 hour duration.
Greater Restoration: one cast, instantaneous.
Mass Cure Wounds: one cast, instantaneous.
Word of Recall: one cast, instantaneous.
Regenerate: one cast, instantaneous.
Holy Aura: one cast, one minute duration.
Holy Channel: two times per day, 30 foot radius centered on you. Would heal all allies in range for 42 damage.