The Cattywampus Tea Towel

That tea towel

A cattywampus tea towel removed the shades that day. I believed that Mom should be the thermostat, not the thermometer, but some days it was harder for me to maintain this role. This particular day, the kids were grumpy. The sun was up, but the kids were down on the inside. On the outside, clouds brewed, but not of chamomile tea. No, a storm was coming and I couldn’t figure out why.

So I did what any weird mama would do. Tidying up the kitchen, I threw a tea towel cattywampus on my head.

“Ain’t nobody gonna mess with my hat!” I said, hands on my hips for emphasis.

You know what that did. My kids’ focus became, not on their supposed misery, but on removing that “hat” from my head. I was taller, and quicker (those years ago) back then.

Every time one of them jumped up, trying to grab the towel, I’d reiterate, “Ain’t nobody, but nobody gonna mess with my hat!” Do my kids remember that day? I hardly think so, for they were all under four.  Do I remember that day? You betcha.

I remember it partly because of the change that took place in my kitchen that morning. I threw them a curve and they spent hours trying to get that tea towel off my head. They’d play with their cows and blocks, whisper among themselves, and then one of them would innocently appear in the kitchen to make another attempt. 

They didn’t realize that I heard their whispers and I knew that, as long as that cattywampus tea towel was on my head, we’d be chill. Time and again, they tried. Time and again, they failed.

The Schwan’s delivery man

When the doorbell sounded, I went to the door. Our regular delivery guy for Schwan’s met me and took my order. We chatted cheerfully while the kids begged for this push-up or that nutty-buddy. I paid for the order and he was on his way. Except that, during our entire conversation, his eyes held a question. He seemed to avoid looking at my face. Behind his eyes, there was a hint of amused laughter. I wondered what was off and never considered what was on.

Moments later as I washed my hands in the bathroom, I saw in the mirror  the reason for the question in his eyes. Still plopped on top of my head was that tea towel, all cattywampus, as it had been all morning. I shrugged and smiled. That cattywampus tea towel had served its purpose in my house that day.

Photo credits:  pixabay.com