When I was in the room with them L was reading A a story. When I left the room this is what he taught her to do.
Tell It Thursday October 22, 2009
So that picture I posted this morning (was supposed to post yesterday) is a collection of my son’s recent school work. He’s in 1st Grade, and all those E’s are the equivalent of A’s! Now, if I can just harness some of that academic excellence into changing his behavior and time management he’d be the perfect student!
Seeing Is Believing October 15, 2009
It’s October 15th! October 15th! Is this a sign of the Winter to come?
You Know You’re Too Busy When. . . October 3, 2009
You can’t find evidence of doing something (ie e-mailing someone) even though you can vividly remember everything you typed.
You Know You’re Too Busy When your child asks you if you can put some snuggle time on the calendar.
You know you’re too busy when you wake up at 3:00 in the morning to keep adding to your “to do” list.
You know you’re too busy when you have to reschedule something that you planned for February 2010.
Went Too Far September 3, 2009
So if anyone follows me on FB, you know my kids are a handful when I have to take them both out to the store or errands. It’s just hard. Bug is 7 1/2 and doesn’t want to follow Mom around the store. And he’s getting so big/tall that it’s hard for me to physically control him. I mean at home I’d just sit on him or something, but I can’t very well do that out in public, can I?. Budha is now 2 and wants to “help” Mom. “I help, I help” or “I do”. She wants to help push the cart, usually into people, other carts or the shelving. I can usually distract her by letting her help do the scanning (we have a self-scanner option at the grocery store we frequent), but that only lasts for a few aisles. Then she wants to get out and help push the cart. And if I try to force her to stay buckled in the seat, she screams her head off. It’s probably not a very pretty sight – me with my two crazy kids – and I can only imagine what the other shoppers think of the scene.
Well it just so happens that last weekend’s grocery store visit was no exception, and we just ran in for a few perishable items (I used Peapod for the majority of the shopping). Picture it – Budha wanted to walk around (I didn’t even bother with a cart because we just need a few things); Bug wanted to hold onto her so she would walk away. He’s holding on to her for dear life; she’s screetching and pulling, trying to get away; I’m trying to focus on the checkout and pay the bill. Then the next thing I know Bug feel on the ground, and some complete stranger is saying to him “There how do you like it.” WHAT! I looked at her and said, “What happened?” Her response, “He was flicking the baby on her head so I flicked him.” Okay, time for a very, very big deep breath. “I was right here. You didn’t need to touch him. Thank you gag for stopping, but I’ll handle it.”
“Well you weren’t paying attention.”
Keep breathing. Control. “I was paying my bill. They’re my children. I’ll handle it.”
I mean come on. Okay so if she had just said something to Bug that would have been one thing. But to physically touch my child! The poor kid at the register didn’t know what to think. I wonder if he thought there’d be a live version of Smack Down right there at his register. The stranger was out in the parking lot when we left the store. She was walking very slowly to her car and glancing back at the store, like she was waiting for us. I ignored her, got my kids in the car, expounded once again on the merits of being good when we’re in public. Then explained to Bug that the woman was not right to have touched him; that no stranger should ever touch him and if someone does he should always, always tell me or Daddy.
I’m all for letting children in public know when they are not behaving well, even children I don’t know. How many of us this summer were at public pools or parks. Kids get out of control sometimes, and we as parents have to accept that we don’t always see every little behavior or gesture. But I believe there’s a right way to handle and a wrong way to handle it. Unless a child is hurt, and I am coming to aid, I would never touch another child. Likewise I wouldn’t want anyone to touch either one of my children to reprimand a certain behavior, especially if I’m standing right there.
As I finish writing this a story comes on the noon news about this man slapping a two year old that is being fussy for her mother in a Georgia Walmart. What is getting into people that they think this is acceptable behavior!
Birthday Girl August 27, 2009
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- August 29, 2007
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- July 2009
Two years ago today you graced us with your presence. Our little gift from God – ten fingers and ten toes. Even though you decided to make your entrance early, God really blessed you and us. You’ve made our family. Always know that you are loved.
Changes Ahead July 27, 2009
So lately with the economy the way it is, my freelance work has been really, really slow. Ok – not just slow – non-existant. I’ve been more of a SAHM than a WAHM. You would think “wow, she must have a lot of time on her hands now.” Yeah, right. When was the last time you were home with a 7 year old and a soon-to-be 2 year old. There is no such thing as “time on your hands”. The hardest part, and I can honestly say that it’s been this way for me since I quit working outside the home 3 years ago, is coming to terms with not bringing in a steady paycheck to help with the household finances. I’ve always held a paying job since the time I was 16. I worked the summers during high school, worked through college and immediately upon graduation I had a job. Outside of time off for maternity leave, I’ve never not worked and got paid for it.
I specify “got paid for it” because being a Mom and Wife is definitely a job; we just don’t get paid a paycheck for it. Yes, I do get to enjoy my children and that is a reward in itself. But having been a very independent young woman, and even when I was newly married, it was very gratifying to know that I was contributing the household finances, and if I wanted to “treat” myself with a manicure or new haircolor or new outfit, I new I “worked” for it. But there’s a difference now that I’m not working, especially now with my freelance work so slow. It may very well be my own hangup – I know it is, and I know I need to work through it. I feel guilty when I spend money on myself, even if it’s a cup of coffee, because I’m not contributing to the household finances. My heart tells me I shouldn’t because I’m doing the most important “job” I can think of, but my head sees the budget and knows that only one person is supporting our family. Some days it’s a very hard situation to reconcile. Let’s just call it a “work in progress” and take it one day at a time. For now, I’ll do what I can as far as bringing work in. I’ll save when I can, be a frugal shopper, enjoy a cup of coffee at home. And just continue to do what I can.
Synopsis of My Night July 16, 2009
Just got a visit from Plymouth’s finest. . .WTH now my chimney’s leaking. What a night – moldy cheese on my spaghetti, broken wine bottle in the frig, Crash Test (Buddha’s new name) pushes the panic button with a direct link to the police department, now the chimney’s leaking – I’m done.
Let me explain further – First, getting my dinner ready to eat and poured Parm/Reggiano cheese on my spaghetti only to find that it was moldy – Yuck. Empty plate. Start to get more but hear a crash from the refrigerator. Open the door, a wine bottle had tipped over and broken. Clean up the broken bottle and the wine that has spilled all over the door compartments. Just finish cleaning that up and the house alarm goes off. Crash Test moved a chair over to play with the lights, but I guess the alarm keypad was just too tempting so she pushed a “panic” button. It’s a direct link to the police department so they showed up within 5 minutes. She came right to the door with me and said to the officer “Me, me did.” Got that all settled, a new plate of food for me, Bug in the shower, and I sat down to eat. In between the roar of the thunder I hear a distinct “plop, plop” coming from the fireplace – water’s leaking down the chimney. Wait a minute – I hear another “drip, plop” sound coming from the mudroom. Yup, sure enough I’ve got a leak there too now. I’m really done now – tomorrow’s another day. And for those of you that think being a SAHM or WAHM is easy – this all has happened since 7:40 tonight and the time is now 9:40 p.m.
Just ventured outside to see why all the cars are turning around on our street – it’s flooded knee deep. Can this night get any better.
