Archive for the ‘Daily’ Category
January 12 2012
“Kids have it a lot easier than parents”, Jedi stated one recent afternoon. “Do you want me to tell you why?”
Of course I said I did, please list your reasons because I would love to hear this. His explanation was enlightening, though brief.
1. Kids don’t have to cook
2. We get to drink apple juice
3. We have more free time
All true and accurate. But the list could have went on. Here are just a small selection of mine to add on to his list of why kids have it easier than adults:
1. Kids do not have to brave the grocery store. In fact, it’s better if they stay home.
2. Kids get to sleep in. Not that they ever do, but they can. And if they did, maybe the parents could, too.
3. Kids ask their parent for answers on their homework, and then they take all the credit. If an adult did that at their job, it would be considered plagiarism.
4. Kids don’t have to do laundry. Or a long list of chores that keep the house running. At least not yet. Kids complain relentlessly when they are asked just to pick up their toys.
5. Kids do not have to remember and schedule a myriad of appointments. They go along with what we say, even when we inevitably arrive at the pediatrician on the wrong day.
6. When a kid barfs in the middle of the night, they are never the one who has to clean it up.
7. “Mommy? Mommy? Mommy? Mommy, why are you not listening to me? Mommy?” Need I say more?
January 10 2012
It’s been a few weeks since Christmas now, and all the toys my kids received have lost their novelty. For this year, I made it a mission to gift items that held a purpose, rather than, say, a Captain America action figure that would just be thrown in a drawer to be forgotten. As always, however, some were more of a hit than others.
These are the top toys from Christmas ’11 that haven’t been a waste of money:
1. Play-Doh Fun Factory Deluxe Set: Santa must have been high on candy canes this Christmas when he decided to leave this play-doh set under the tree for Buzz. With the constantly picking beads of doh out of my carpet since, and fighting a losing battle in my obsessive compulsion to keep the colors separated. This isn’t about me, though.
2. Abby & Emma Magnetic Dress-Up: Big, chunky pieces with a lot of options. It keeps my little fashion star’s attention for awhile as she mixes and matches the outfits. It’s something I would have loved as a kid.
3. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: This was a last minute addition to Jedi’s stocking. I’ve bought him other chapter books in the past that he never so much as glanced at. This one, however, a book with over 200 pages, he finished in 4 days.
4. LEGO Duplo Building Set: Buzz loves LEGOs. I bought him a few sets of the regular LEGOs, but he’s not quite at the level to put them together by himself yet. The Duplos are just right for him. And it comes with a playmat that can be zipped together into a bin for additional storage. Anything that comes with its own storage is a good idea.
5. AquaDoodle: Christmas night, I set this up and watched as all 3 of my children sat together and played with it. Taking turns. Together. It was amazing.
6. Hungry Hungry Hippos: I remember this game from my youth being really loud. There’s enough noise in my house as it is, so I was hesitant. But turns out, it’s a really great game for all of us. It’s straightforward and easy enough for Buzz and Abby, but competitive for Jedi. Now, the only thing we need to work on is the sore losing attitude.
January 09 2012
The first day at Buzz’s new school went shockingly well. I’ve said the boy has a way of surprising me, and he did yet again. The second day, however, started with a bit of a hitch.
Buzz’s new school begins half an hour earlier than where he went before, and where Jedi still goes, so I gave us an extra 20 minutes in the morning. There’s a new routine to learn, and it could have a few kinks to work out. As such, I woke Buzz first and set his bowl of Lucky Charms in front of him while I went about dragging everyone else out of bed.
His bus would be at the end of our driveway by 8:10, they told me.
Constantly aware of the clock, I did my best to make sure we made good time. His teeth were brushed, his hair was combed, the pen he marked on his hand washed off. Pleased with myself for adhering to schedule, I bundled him up in his coat with his backpack on his shoulders and opened the front door, hurrying up to wait.
And there we stood, staring out the screen door. Waiting.
And waiting.
Hmmm… the bus should be here by now.
When some more minutes passed as if in slow motion, still hopefully and pathetically waiting like an anxious teenager being stood up at prom, I knew the time had come to accept that the bus should have definitely been there already.
I made a few calls and the bus finally arrived, eventually. He bounded aboard, glad to be on his way. But the second day at his new school and I already feel like stuffing myself with donuts to suppress this feeling like we’ve been dumped.
January 03 2012
For the first time in 8 years, I do not have the overwhelming feeling of dread when I smell the air only to realize someone needs changed. There are no more wipes, no more rash ointment, no more plump saggy bottoms. Just a toilet that has seen its use triple in this past month and a toilet paper roll that can’t seem to ever stay full. Charmin is making a fortune off of my family alone.
We are diaper free. During the day, anyway. Because Abby still doesn’t stay dry at night. That’s a small hurdle that we’ll jump over in time.
I would like to say that it’s a relief, this new-found diaper freedom. Except I am still an integral part of my children’s bathroom activities. They call me in to show off the product of their hard work, like I’m supposed to be impressed. Reminders have to be given, public restrooms scouted at first entrance, extra clothes packed just in case. I still have to wipe to make sure bottoms are clear. After 8 years, my hands remain far from clean.
The last thing I need is another kid that poops its pants.
My daughter made this past Christmas the year of the doll. She asked for 2 baby dolls from the big jolly guy, and her wish was granted. And then some. My mother noticed the easy opportunity in front of her, and took it.
“I couldn’t tell, is that one of those dolls that wets itself? Because I was hoping it is”, my mother wondered with a clever smirk as Abby covered herself in unwrapped paper and I glared her down with a look of pure evil.
My mom thinks she’s so funny.
She’s not.
December 15 2011
There are cold germs currently wreaking havoc on my exhausted immune system, forcing my head to feel as if it’s stuck in a mucus-encrusted vice. Pleasant. I have to be honest, it’s been hard not to wallow in my suffering. But then I look around, at the Christmas tree shimmers twinkling against the early December nights and the presents I can’t wait to wrap, and I realize there’s so much to be thankful for.
Even, and maybe especially, when I’m sick.
Such as them. My 3 kids. Brilliant and beautiful each in their own. Completely and totally individual, they’re so different it’s almost astonishing they’re related. But I don’t know where I’d be without the many facets of these diamonds in my life. One with her curly hair, one with his missing teeth, and the other. That other. He surprises me every day.
And this. Here. Home. With them, because it’s not home without them. Where I can be a shivering sick in a comfortable chair that I’ve worn to the shape of me while draped in a blanket most likely smeared with pieces of Pop Tart and crumbs that I keep forgetting to wash. Sitting in front of our glowing white artificial Christmas tree, with a growing collection of sentimental ornaments. With a mess of toys in every direction. It’s not extravagant, but this, here, tells the story of us. My life with them. There’s no place else I’d rather be.
There’s no place like home for the holidays.
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