I got to go away this weekend, and didn't get to post his before I left, but I damn near got my child killed last week. It all started when I decided to take the children to the state museum to meet some friends and their kids. We usually bring the strollers, do a few laps on the concourse below to get some exercise, then bring the kids to the discovery area to play. Finally, we head up and have lunch. The nice thing about going with other moms is that we all kind of watch out for each other's kids. Or really, they keep an eye on mine cause I'm easily distracted. But seeing as they also have their own kids to watch, I shouldn't really rely on that. Case in point: today, we had finished lunch and were packing up to leave. The museum is part of the Empire state Plaza, complete with several office buildings, visitors' areas, etc. It's a busy place. As I was attempting to make sure all of my Tupperware containers were back in the bag and ready to go, my friend drags Helen over and tells me that she wandered around the corner and down the hall and some complete stranger got up from eating her lunch to bring her back. Oops. Thank you, kind lady.
Then we got to our van. At this point, the moms have all gone their seperate ways and it's just me and the girls. I instruct Ruthie to get out of teh stroller as I search in vain for the sippy cup that Helen is screaming for. It is past naptime and she is exhausted an unable to understand that mommy left the sippy cup in the museum and is not going back to get it, and perhaps if Helen had not run away and had to be rescued by a stranger, Mommy would have remembered it. I launched a final search of the diaper bag and lunch bag, searching for the cup, when I hear a woman's voice. I poke my head out of the van and realize I don't se Ruthie. Before I can register the thought that someone might be trying to kidnap my child, this very kind woman appears on the sdiewallk with Ruthie and tells me that she wandered into the VERY BUSY street. The woman experessed concern because the cars go very fast down thee street and a little girl might easily get run over. She is so right. I thank her and watch the cars whiz by as I strap Ruthie into her seat. Thank you, kind lady #2.
Where would my poor kids be without the kindness of strangers?
Monday, January 28, 2008
Sunday, January 27, 2008
On Valentines Day
This Valentines Day there's just one thing I want
And I promise I'll tell you, once I say what it's NOT.
So Babies and Daddy please stop right here
And listen to all that I DON'T want this year.
I don't want bright flowers to tickle my nose
Or soft fuzzy slippers to warm up my toes.
I don't want chocolates wrapped with string
Or perfume, or lace or a new diamond ring.
I don't want a kitten all soft and purry
Or a new cuddly teddy bear, big, brown and furry.
I don't want dinner or dancing, or a night on the town
Or pajamas with hearts or a "Best Mama" crown.
I don't even want Valentines scribbled in crayon
Or tissue bouquets made by your tiny hands.
It's all lovely, my dears, and the thoughts are the BEST
But I DONT want a bit of it, nor all of the rest.
What I want is unusual as far as gifts go.
You can't put it in a box or wrap it up with a bow.
What I want can't be found at a store on a shelf.
What I want for Valentines Day is...
TO BE BY MYSELF!
One day all ALONE from morning to night
Without wiping chins or refereeing a fight.
No Daddy, no kids, no pets and no noise
And please make it somewhere without any toys.
I want to read a whole book from beginning to end
And sleep til I wake-up, and then sleep again!
I want to take a long bath without one knock at the door
And eat a meal warm, without crumbs on the floor.
I want to hear SILENCE to read, write, and pray
And to only brush my teeth at the end of the day.
And when I drift off to sleep I'll thank God for each one of you
And the day you gave me ALONE, with nothing to do.
*****************
This silly representation of a real life fantasy of mine, is part of the Monday Mission which was to write a post in the form of a children's story or poem. For more Monday Mission participants, or to link your own, visit Painted Maypole.
Cross posted from my own blog.
And I promise I'll tell you, once I say what it's NOT.
So Babies and Daddy please stop right here
And listen to all that I DON'T want this year.
I don't want bright flowers to tickle my nose
Or soft fuzzy slippers to warm up my toes.
I don't want chocolates wrapped with string
Or perfume, or lace or a new diamond ring.
I don't want a kitten all soft and purry
Or a new cuddly teddy bear, big, brown and furry.
I don't want dinner or dancing, or a night on the town
Or pajamas with hearts or a "Best Mama" crown.
I don't even want Valentines scribbled in crayon
Or tissue bouquets made by your tiny hands.
It's all lovely, my dears, and the thoughts are the BEST
But I DONT want a bit of it, nor all of the rest.
What I want is unusual as far as gifts go.
You can't put it in a box or wrap it up with a bow.
What I want can't be found at a store on a shelf.
What I want for Valentines Day is...
TO BE BY MYSELF!
One day all ALONE from morning to night
Without wiping chins or refereeing a fight.
No Daddy, no kids, no pets and no noise
And please make it somewhere without any toys.
I want to read a whole book from beginning to end
And sleep til I wake-up, and then sleep again!
I want to take a long bath without one knock at the door
And eat a meal warm, without crumbs on the floor.
I want to hear SILENCE to read, write, and pray
And to only brush my teeth at the end of the day.
And when I drift off to sleep I'll thank God for each one of you
And the day you gave me ALONE, with nothing to do.
*****************
This silly representation of a real life fantasy of mine, is part of the Monday Mission which was to write a post in the form of a children's story or poem. For more Monday Mission participants, or to link your own, visit Painted Maypole.
Cross posted from my own blog.
Nice
Our 4yr old was adopted in September. She has continually had peeing/pooping issues and problems. I had to wait four months to get her into Childrens Hospital to see a Urologist. Diagnosis? Enuresis/Encopresis. They think the Encopresis (constipation & poo accidents) is causing the enuresis (wetting) because all her constipated poo is pressing on her bladder, spine, and nerves. So, we have to clear up the constipation with meds, and this will help greatly. After almost a week, she figured out something in the food/water must be making her poop. She Tuesday & Wednesday she resorted to projectile vomiting at will. Not fun. And she hadn't pooped in days. To make a really long story short (cause it's already on my personal blog) let's just get to the end of the story where the ER gave her an enema, after a five hour wait. She held in the enema. Talk about control! She was shaking and holding onto the enema. gross. My husband put her on a commode and told her she had to poo before we went home. Luckily she listened.She's been pretty pissed that going poo once or more times a day is a requirement. By the way, she's developmentally delayed, so often it's tough to communicate with her regarding anything she's not interested in. So we have to inspire her, quite often, to do the appropriate thing.
Now that she's been pissed off about having to poo (because I have threatened to give her an enema myself if she doesn't poo once day). Yesterday afternoon she went out to the dining room, pulled down her pants & pullup, sat on the dining room chair, and peed. I mean, she peed a truckload, making a puddle on the chair and the floor. Asking her "why"? She said, "I don't know". We made her clean it up and sit in her room for five minutes.
I feel like a failure as a parent, seeing as I can't convince an almost 5yr old that normal people poop everyday. And they keep their panties dry.
Admin post
Hi there Mamas!
I see Karen has made quite a showing this month. I have to admit I have my fingers crossed to see Lars in his footie pajamas getting on the school bus...
I've been guilty of being a bad blog author both here and on my personal blog. At the risk of penalization, it has had mostly to do with a staggering amount of PTO work, but also Lauren asked if we could start going to church every Sunday, and getting involved with that has taken a lot of time in the past couple of weeks. I'm going to resolve to post here once a week even if it costs me points (Thanks, Ginger), and 5 days on my personal blog.
I'm hoping this might spur some of you funny, marvelous friends to commit to a once-a-week post also...or even once-every-two-weeks if your schedule is particularly hectic.
Thanks, Mamas!
I see Karen has made quite a showing this month. I have to admit I have my fingers crossed to see Lars in his footie pajamas getting on the school bus...
I've been guilty of being a bad blog author both here and on my personal blog. At the risk of penalization, it has had mostly to do with a staggering amount of PTO work, but also Lauren asked if we could start going to church every Sunday, and getting involved with that has taken a lot of time in the past couple of weeks. I'm going to resolve to post here once a week even if it costs me points (Thanks, Ginger), and 5 days on my personal blog.
I'm hoping this might spur some of you funny, marvelous friends to commit to a once-a-week post also...or even once-every-two-weeks if your schedule is particularly hectic.
Thanks, Mamas!
Saturday, January 26, 2008
And the Answer Is...
Chris took the boys to the party. I was all for making them hand over the present and explain why they had to leave but Chris had been the most frustrated by the morning antics, so he took point with regard to the party. He would clearly not do well on Worst Daddy Ever!
When they got home I nabbed both, sat them down and quietly explained how frustrated Chris and I have been lately. I told them that Chris and I feel like we must do all the work - even though Lars holds the dishes and silverware, Chris or I must stand over him and herd him through the task, plate by plate. Ross brushes his teeth only while being stared at. Neither one of them get dressed in the morning without the aid of a parental drill sargent. I heaved a sad sigh and said how Chris and I are just so, so, tired of it. We want to be the cool parents - the family who has fun together, going to interesting places and doing exciting things but we can't - our coolness is entirely squashed by our children.
Then, I told them about the revolution. Chris and I have realized that we're doing too much! We have to send the kids to school and they have to be dressed appropriately for the weather. Dinosaur footy pajamas are warm enough for January, are very modest, and there's no rule that says one may not wear them to school. If they doesn't bother to get dressed on a school day, they'll go to the bus in his PJ's. If they don't brush their teeth twice per day, we won't bother to schedule cleanings with the dentist (they LOVE our dentist). Her work twice a year is not enough to keep their teeth healthy and there's no reason for me to pay all that money if they're just going to let their teeth rot anyway. Chris and I will make sure the kids know the schedule and are alerted with plenty of time to get their things done but the actual doing is now up to them! Chris and I feel better already, with all that grumpiness about having to chase the kids around off our chests.
So, we're already 16 hours into the new regime and I'm sure you'd like to know how it's going! Here's a little play-by-play:
Friday
7:30pm - Mama delivers The Talk. Shockingly, children actually listen.
7:42pm - Children are sent to get ready for bed.
7:52pm - Children are in PJ's, teeth are brushed; they get tucked in. Not bad!
8:20pm - They think we don't know they are still up, playing. We snicker about the 5:00am hockey wake-up they're headed for and let them dig their own grave.
Saturday
5:00am - Daddy wakes children, who are unhappy about having to get up. Daddy points to clothes they should put on, announces that breakfast is downstairs.
5:20am - Kids are mostly dressed, Lars has eaten a breakfast selected from things that were set out. Mama fields a special breakfast request from Ross, tells him he should choose from what's out, gets her own breakfast from the table.
5:30am - Car is packed. Lars is mostly ready, including having brushed his teeth. Ross is still grudging his way through breakfast.
5:32am - Ross wedges his feet into shoes, is handed a pile of clothes he should be wearing already and is sent to the car. "IT'S COLD," he shivers! "Yup," I say.
9:50am - Hockey has been played, bags are in the basement. Kids are told to hang their gear and put the laundry into a basket. Lars is reminded about his friend's birthday party this afternoon and told that he needs to be ready at 12:30 or he won't be able to go.
10:30am - Kids still in basement, playing. Hockey gear still in bags. Chris is enjoying a nap.
10:40am - Ross came up for a snack. I sent him back down until his hockey things are taken care of.
10:50am - Lars came up for a snack. I sent him back down, too.
11:01am - I'm going to make myself some lunch, since I need to head out in a bit for my own hockey game. It's looking like Chris won't need to take Lars to the party this afternoon, as the kids are never going to hang their hockey stuff, so they won't be able to come up out of the basement!
When they got home I nabbed both, sat them down and quietly explained how frustrated Chris and I have been lately. I told them that Chris and I feel like we must do all the work - even though Lars holds the dishes and silverware, Chris or I must stand over him and herd him through the task, plate by plate. Ross brushes his teeth only while being stared at. Neither one of them get dressed in the morning without the aid of a parental drill sargent. I heaved a sad sigh and said how Chris and I are just so, so, tired of it. We want to be the cool parents - the family who has fun together, going to interesting places and doing exciting things but we can't - our coolness is entirely squashed by our children.
Then, I told them about the revolution. Chris and I have realized that we're doing too much! We have to send the kids to school and they have to be dressed appropriately for the weather. Dinosaur footy pajamas are warm enough for January, are very modest, and there's no rule that says one may not wear them to school. If they doesn't bother to get dressed on a school day, they'll go to the bus in his PJ's. If they don't brush their teeth twice per day, we won't bother to schedule cleanings with the dentist (they LOVE our dentist). Her work twice a year is not enough to keep their teeth healthy and there's no reason for me to pay all that money if they're just going to let their teeth rot anyway. Chris and I will make sure the kids know the schedule and are alerted with plenty of time to get their things done but the actual doing is now up to them! Chris and I feel better already, with all that grumpiness about having to chase the kids around off our chests.
So, we're already 16 hours into the new regime and I'm sure you'd like to know how it's going! Here's a little play-by-play:
Friday
7:30pm - Mama delivers The Talk. Shockingly, children actually listen.
7:42pm - Children are sent to get ready for bed.
7:52pm - Children are in PJ's, teeth are brushed; they get tucked in. Not bad!
8:20pm - They think we don't know they are still up, playing. We snicker about the 5:00am hockey wake-up they're headed for and let them dig their own grave.
Saturday
5:00am - Daddy wakes children, who are unhappy about having to get up. Daddy points to clothes they should put on, announces that breakfast is downstairs.
5:20am - Kids are mostly dressed, Lars has eaten a breakfast selected from things that were set out. Mama fields a special breakfast request from Ross, tells him he should choose from what's out, gets her own breakfast from the table.
5:30am - Car is packed. Lars is mostly ready, including having brushed his teeth. Ross is still grudging his way through breakfast.
5:32am - Ross wedges his feet into shoes, is handed a pile of clothes he should be wearing already and is sent to the car. "IT'S COLD," he shivers! "Yup," I say.
9:50am - Hockey has been played, bags are in the basement. Kids are told to hang their gear and put the laundry into a basket. Lars is reminded about his friend's birthday party this afternoon and told that he needs to be ready at 12:30 or he won't be able to go.
10:30am - Kids still in basement, playing. Hockey gear still in bags. Chris is enjoying a nap.
10:40am - Ross came up for a snack. I sent him back down until his hockey things are taken care of.
10:50am - Lars came up for a snack. I sent him back down, too.
11:01am - I'm going to make myself some lunch, since I need to head out in a bit for my own hockey game. It's looking like Chris won't need to take Lars to the party this afternoon, as the kids are never going to hang their hockey stuff, so they won't be able to come up out of the basement!
Friday, January 25, 2008
A Question for the Panel
Both boys were grounded from electronic toys for having abused the privilege (one is supposed to get ready for school in the morning - not hide out under the covers playing Pokémon). Ross is additionally grounded in total for having "forgotten" to bring his homework home twice in as many weeks.
When the kids are grounded, we offer them the chance to shorten their sentence with good behavior. Motivated by several incentives, including a new Webkinz (thanks, WW!) and a birthday party, Lars had worked off his grounding as of Wednesday. Ross was not as industrious but was on the path toward being able to go to the party...and then this morning happened.
Lars got dressed and ate his breakfast, then went upstairs for a double whammy, swiping Chris' DS (If it's not mine, I will not touch it!*) and playing Pokémon under the covers instead of brushing his teeth. Ross was discovered downstairs, dressed and working on a school activity that he spent the last two days saying he couldn't remember what he was supposed to do with and that it wasn't important, anyhow. For their actions, Lars is grounded from the electronics and Ross is generally grounded. Again.
The birthday party is an arcade party and is this afternoon. Do I call the birthday child's mother to say the kids can't come and bring the gift later or do I take the boys to the party to deliver the gift and let them explain to their friend why they can't stay to play? Lars could, technically, go to the party - he just couldn't play any of the nice electronic arcade games...
When the kids are grounded, we offer them the chance to shorten their sentence with good behavior. Motivated by several incentives, including a new Webkinz (thanks, WW!) and a birthday party, Lars had worked off his grounding as of Wednesday. Ross was not as industrious but was on the path toward being able to go to the party...and then this morning happened.
Lars got dressed and ate his breakfast, then went upstairs for a double whammy, swiping Chris' DS (If it's not mine, I will not touch it!*) and playing Pokémon under the covers instead of brushing his teeth. Ross was discovered downstairs, dressed and working on a school activity that he spent the last two days saying he couldn't remember what he was supposed to do with and that it wasn't important, anyhow. For their actions, Lars is grounded from the electronics and Ross is generally grounded. Again.
The birthday party is an arcade party and is this afternoon. Do I call the birthday child's mother to say the kids can't come and bring the gift later or do I take the boys to the party to deliver the gift and let them explain to their friend why they can't stay to play? Lars could, technically, go to the party - he just couldn't play any of the nice electronic arcade games...
Saturday, January 19, 2008
Conversations On A Saturday Morning
"Go sit in time out until you feel like doing your homework."
"But, Mama! I'll never feel like doing my homework!"
"Then I guess you're going to be in time out for quite a while."
==============================================
"Blow your nose."
"Whyyyyyy do I allllways have to blow my nose?"
"Because yellow snot slugs on their way to your chin are totally gross."
==============================================
"Go back to the bathroom and wash your hands with soap."
"But I'm going outside."
"I don't care if you're going to stick your hands in cow poop. You wash your hands with soap after you use the bathroom."
"But, Mama! I'll never feel like doing my homework!"
"Then I guess you're going to be in time out for quite a while."
==============================================
"Blow your nose."
"Whyyyyyy do I allllways have to blow my nose?"
"Because yellow snot slugs on their way to your chin are totally gross."
==============================================
"Go back to the bathroom and wash your hands with soap."
"But I'm going outside."
"I don't care if you're going to stick your hands in cow poop. You wash your hands with soap after you use the bathroom."
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