Ready or Not (Aggie's Inheritance) (29 page)

When Iris left that day, Aggie had a new understanding of motherhood. Her frustration and disappointment in her lack of skills had dissolved into a full-blown pity party until Iris put a stop to it.
“
Aggie, I know women who have given birth to three, four
,
and even five children, who still don
’
t know how to train and rear children. They spend their days just going from one thing to the next and from one day to the next… and then to the next. A success is when they don
’
t have huge disobedience problems
all
of the time.
”

Iris thought carefully and continued.
“
The best mother is one who is always learning, not the one who thinks she has arrived. You need to remember that you aren
’
t going to
‘
finish
’
these children. They won
’
t be
‘
done
’
at ten, sixteen, eighteen, twenty-two, or even forty! Your job as mother is to equip them to turn themselves completely over to the Lord for the perfecting that He does in each of us
--
every one of us
--
every day.
”

With that, Iris, check in hand, left with promises to return on Monday. Aggie watched her drive away and fought the desire to cry. She hadn
’
t felt this alone since the day she learned that, with no training, experience, or even desire to be a mother yet, she was now responsible for eight children and everything that came with them. She now had the tools to parent; the question was, would she know when to use them?

“
All right, guys, front and center.
”
Aggie sounded determined. The children gathered around her, but Aggie waited until she had their full attention before she spoke.

“
I owe you an apology. I
’
ve watched Mrs. Landry, and I have talked to her. I see that I really blew it when I moved in here. I came in as the
‘
buddy,
’
Aunt Aggie, and that
’
s not who I need to be anymore. We can still have fun and enjoy each other, but I need to put on a mom
’
s hat. It
’
s not just that I need to keep you guys out of trouble; I need to teach you to do things that are right too
--
even if you don
’
t like it.
”

All the children looked solemnly at her with odd expressions on their faces. To lighten the mood, Aggie whipped around and made a goofy look with her face and turned back. The children
’
s laughter broke the tension that had stolen over the room. Vannie took a deep breath and asked,
“
So you
’
re going to be a mom-type but stay goofy enough to still be Aunt Aggie?
”

“
That
’
s about right. Now let
’
s eat that casserole Mrs. Landry made. It smells heavenly.
”

Sunday, May 12
^th

On Sunday, Aggie decided thirty-three seconds after the twins awoke that they were not attempting a trip to church. Cari, usually quite annoyingly chipper in the mornings, woke up with a nasty disposition, and Aggie, who had banged her ankle during an attempt to crawl up the stairs into her bed, hadn
’
t slept well herself.

She sent everyone but Cari downstairs for canned cinnamon rolls and pulled the grumpy girl into bed with her for a little chat.
“
Do you still feel sleepy?
”

Cari
’
s vehement
“
No!
”
was unmistakable.
“
I
’
s wide
‘
wake.
”

“
Then do you feel sick? Does your head or your stomach ache?
”

A surly look crossed her face.
“
I
’
s not sick!
”
Cari moved as far away from Aggie as she could get without actually leaving the bed.

Careful not to jar her ankle again, Aggie scooted next to Cari, making it impossible for the little girl to move without falling off the bed.
“
I
’
m glad to hear that. Did you know, that I can tell something is wrong?
”

“
What
’
s wrong?
”

“
I don
’
t know what it is, but I know there is something wrong. If you
’
re not sick and you
’
re not sleepy, I am not sure what it might be.
”
She wrapped arms around the little girl and pulled her closer.
“
I wonder if maybe you just need someone to hold you and tell you that they love you.
”

Cari
’
s eyes widened in surprise.
“
Mommy did that.
”

“
Aunt Aggies can do it too.
”

How long they lay curled against the numerous pillows on Aggie
’
s bed, she never knew. By the time she
’
d hobbled downstairs, with Cari leading the way giving advice on nearly every step…
“
Don
’
t hit it
‘
gain! Cariful! Oh, you
’
s going to huwt it!
”
the remaining cinnamon rolls were cold and looked singularly unappetizing.

“
Maybe we should heat them up while I make me some coffee.
”

“
I have coffee too?
”

Against her better judgment, Aggie poured a swallow or two in Cari
’
s cup and watched the child
’
s face as she swallowed her first drink. Contrary to expectation, the girl loved it and begged for more.
“
I
’
m sorry, Cari. A sip now and then is an ok treat, but coffee is a grown-up drink. How about we find you some milk.
”

For a moment, Aggie was sure Cari would protest. The little girl
’
s face scowled in anger, and then, as though a light switched on, disappeared and a smile replaced it.
“
I likes milk with cinnyman wolls!
”

The simple tasks of making coffee, heating cinnamon rolls, and pouring Cari a glass of milk took twice as long as she
’
d ever imagined it could, and through that entire time, she hadn
’
t heard a peep from the other children.
“
Where are they?
”

“
Outside. Vannie takes them outside so
’
s you can sweep.
”
The child paused looking confused.
“
Sleep.
”
She tried out the first word again.
“
Sweep.
”
With a strange look at Aggie, she quipped.
“
I said sleep wrong, but it
’
s right too.
”

Aggie says:
Tina? Helloooooooooooooo?

Tina says:
Hey!

Aggie says:
Well, I got my first parenting lesson yesterday.

Tina says:
Oh? Do tell!

Aggie says:
Already there
’
s a different attitude from the children.

Tina says:
But WHY?

Aggie says:
The best way to describe it is that I expect there to be. It
’
s like they picked up on my expectations, and they are
“
living up
”
to them. Is that too weird?

Tina says:
Well, what did you expect of them when you moved in?

Aggie says:
I knew Vannie and Laird wouldn
’
t give me any trouble. I didn
’
t expect much from Ellie and Tavish either way, but I was pretty sure that the baby would be sweet and that Cari, Lorna and Kenzie would give me a run for my money; all kids that age do right?

Tina says:
hmm…

Aggie says:
You think I
’
m crazy?

Tina says:
Well no, but look at what you just said. You said you didn
’
t expect trouble from the oldest four and the baby. Who didn
’
t give you trouble?

Aggie says:
You have a point. I expected trouble from the little ones and got it. Had I expected obedience, they might still have been som
e
trouble, but not as much?

Tina says:
Exactly! All children, including Vannie, Laird, Ellie, Tavish, Kenzie, Cari, Lorna, Ian… and a couple billion other childre
n
will push the envelope from time to time. But if you expect decen
t
behavior, it
’
s natural that you
’
ll get more!