Quiet Car

Eveline is on a two week vacation.

Who is Eveline, you ask?

Super nanny.

Rather than recruit a teenager, I decided the kids could use my work's back-up daycare this time around.

Seemed like a good idea.

And cheap.

(The firm subsidizes it, bless them)

So all week, we've been packing up in the morning, loading the car, and hauling off to the train for downtown.  This, of course, thrills my children.  Ah, to ride the train to work with Mommy every day!  What joy!  What exhilaration!  (What a royal pain...)

Anyway, the week has gone pretty well.  Other than the torrential rains we had at the beginning of the week resulting in soaked children by the time we got to school, the kids have done well.

But, (must there always be a but?) the kids are exhausted.

And it's not just the kids.

There is nap time at school but so far this week, Leah has slept 30 minutes each day and Seth has slept one day.  Total.  My kids are beat.

So am I.

We also have to walk from the school to the train which is about 4 blocks.

Easy peasy when you don't have a 2 and a 3 year old.

I've strapped Leah into her stroller and allowed Seth to walk.

Wander, really.

It's like herding a cat for four blocks.

By the end of the day, it's herding a tired cat.

So by the time we get to the Metra station, we (or should I say "I") have had it.

We board the train at the first possible door.

By the back.

Because we get off the back and walk around it to walk home.

Saving steps.  Precious.tired.steps.

All week we have followed this routine.

At one point I became aware that we might be in the quiet car (huh?) but no one seemed to mind and my kids were quiet anyway, eating and snuggling in for bed.

Until last night.

We boarded the train, found our "usual" seats, handed out juice boxes, granola bars and settled in.

One kid on each leg (lap). 

No sooner did we unpack than Mr. Metra came and told us that we were in the quiet car and had to move.

HUH?

Yep.  That's right.  To make a long story (and not so impressive performance by me) short, we had to pack up everything, reload the stroller, walk down the stairs, out of the train and to another door two full cars ahead.  Apparently the "not quiet" car.

And Mr. Metra didn't help me one iota.

Thanks.

He did say, "Don't be mad at me; call or write to Metra."

Oh I will....

Here's the thing, people.

It's not that big of a deal.

It just isn't.

But after a whole week of commuting with toddlers and getting not enough sleep and wracking my back one-more-time, it was a big deal.

And for what?

So that once again completely spoiled, "me-centered", selfish little Americans can have their train ride "quiet" rather than with a couple of exhausted children.

Really?
I immediately flashed to trains, planes and buses overseas.

You're lucky if you aren't riding with a chicken on one side and a goat on the other.

And yet, this train car needs to be quiet.

Sigh.

If you hear me, in the future, say "quiet car" under my breath, you will know why.

It's just me, noticing once again that my needs (or yours or his or hers or theirs) are more important than anyone else in the vicinity and that our comfort is at a premium.

Quiet car.

Even at the cost of someone else's exhaustion, frustration or even just plain ol' neediness.

Quiet car.

 “We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification.”

Romans 15:1-2