Jury Duty

There's nothing like Jury Duty to make you appreciate what you thought was a ho-hum life.

My day started at 6:15 a.m. At 6:21, I reluctantly slung my legs over the edge of the bed to get ready for the unknown. I've never served on jury duty so all I had to go on was what I saw on television court cases, which, I found out, was quite inaccurate compared to the real world. As I dressed I tip-toed through the house and tried to be quiet so I didn't wake anyone prematurely, then as I finished brushing my teeth I heard Nas tap on the bathroom door. My heart was excited because I would have a chance to see at least one of my little people before leaving the house for the day. I just kept thinking about what this would be like on a daily basis if I were a working mother.

Initially I was actually looking forward to spending the day alone, albeit at the courthouse, to read or write with no distractions or requests for "hot juice" (aka hot chocolate) from Nas or Jay performing to Beyonce's CD for the millionth time. I'd serve my jury time and get some quiet time while I was there, that sounded pretty good to me, at first.

Then as the day grew closer I realized I would be spending the day without my kids! No one to ask for hot juice or a chance to sit and read on the couch with Jay before school. Heartbreaking. Then as I greeted Nas I saw Jay pop up in her bed.

"Good morning Jay!" I was thrilled to see my daughter.
"I'm getting ready to go soon, I'll see you after school okay?" I told her.
"I'll miss you mommy," Jay said with tears in her eyes.
I wasn't expecting this reaction. It would be one day, two at the most, that I would have to leave early similar to the way I would if I worked outside the house. How hard could it be for the kids? How hard could it be for me?

After giving Nas his sippy cup full of "hot juice" and half a cup of yogurt I packed my bag full of magazines and a book. I was anxious to see what this whole civic duty was all about but also wishing I could watch Blue's Clues and Wonder Pets with my favorite little boy in my lap. I wished I could make Jay's lunch and snack for school and spend time with her after I put Nas down for his nap. But I had to leave.

I had to leave to race against time (and stoplights) to get to the courthouse on time alongside the other workers and drink my breakfast on the way in. I had to leave my babies on the couch watching Goofy and Mickey dance on the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse tv show. Our show. I knew then, and even earlier that morning that although I might think going back to work would be so much easier than being home all day waiting hand and foot on two people under four feet tall, I had to look in their eyes as I left and that was heartbreaking. That wasn't easy and this wasn't a permanent set-up! So Jay kissed my cheek and Nas ran to hug me and I dreaded leaving but was so excited to return home!

They say The grass is greener on the other side, but I know that regardless of which side of the white picket you live on, the grass still has to be mowed. And after serving jury duty today I know that I'd rather mow my grass with Nas on my hip and Jay in the driveway wiggling her hips as the hula hoop swirls around her. For me, my work is at home with my little ones running, screaming, fighting, eating, and napping. I chase the kids, I quiet the kids, I play referree, I plan and prepare their meals, I put my son down at naptime, and I put my daughter on the bus everyday. On my side of the fence the grass doesn't get greener than that.