Archive for the ‘Daily’ Category
July 26 2010 ·
15 CommentsPosted in:
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Abby,
birthday,
family My parents gifted Abby clothes for her birthday. From the outside, this would seem like a boring present for a 2 year old. However, my daughter loves expanding her wardrobe, possibly more than toys. She received many new items to play with, too, but I do believe the clothes were the biggest hit.
Along with 2 new outfits, one of which containing a skort which confounded J, and socks, they bought her a pair of shoes. All of this I knew ahead of time, since they asked for the correct size. What I failed to anticipate was my mother’s conflicting sense of style.
I’m not a flashy person. I don’t like metallics or sparkles or animal prints or too much show. I like to dress my kids the same. Of course, my mother would have her own opinions. I wasn’t prepared for what we received instead.
They were gold canvas and so very shiny. Without exaggeration, the very first thing that came to mind was Ben Stiller as White Goodman in Dodgeball, “There’s no resisting when White Goodman puts on his shiny shoes”. I couldn’t help but laugh. A lot.
“If you don’t like them, I have the receipt”, my mother offered with a hint of offense when I couldn’t stop laughing.
“No, they’re fine. It just took me by surprise”, I finally managed to sputter.
Which is true. Once Abby had them on, they didn’t appear that brazen. Probably because I happen to find the girl so cute that she can pull off anything. But now I’m afraid I’m going to think of Ben Stiller every time she wears them.
July 19 2010 ·
12 CommentsPosted in:
Daily,
Favorites · Tags:
motherhood It starts first thing as the sun rises through the window blinds.
“Mommy!”, she whines upon waking.
I walk in to lift her up, good morning. “Mommy”, she whispers softly. Not long after, her brothers stumble in, too, crowding around me in the chair with bed head and sleepy eyes. Elbows and knees poking into sides. “Mommy, what day is it?”, Jedi asks, curious. “Mommy, how many days until the weekend? Mommy, I had a dream. Do you want to hear about my dream, Mommy?”
“Mommy, I’m hungry”, they demand in a rare form of unity. I fix waffles or pancakes or omelets. Some days, when it’s already too much, it’s merely Pop Tarts. I fill three cups with milk. It’s briefly still while their mouths are full and then it begins again.
“Mommy, he’s hitting me! Mommy, make him stop! Mommy, she scratched me!”
Mommy, help. Mommy, sit. Mommy, boo-boo. Look at this, Mommy. Buzz is a bear, Mommy. Mommy, come here. Can I play video games, Mommy? How long until Daddy comes home, Mommy? Mommy, what are we having for dinner? Can we watch Toy Story, Mommy? Come watch with us, Mommy. Mommy, what are you doing? Do you see my belly button, Mommy? Mommy, I’m thirsty again. Do you remember when we went to the zoo, Mommy? Mommy! Hey, Mommy! Even when they don’t say it in so many words, it’s there in intention, pulling in three different directions.
It doesn’t halt until they’re tucked in bed. When I have a few minutes left to just be me.
July 14 2010 ·
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Jedi,
milestones When I was a kid, all we had were board games. I’d play with my mom or brother or whoever else I could prod into a game. I preferred playing with my mom, because on most occasions she’d let me win. Jedi has been raised in the digital age, however, and our house is full of tech gadgets. Most of what he plays are against computer opponents. Even the classics of my youth have been reinvented electronically.
Nothing takes the place of an actual board game, though. Of time spent gathered around a table as a family, rolling real dice in your hand and moving legitimate pieces. Which is why J bought the true version of Monopoly after Jedi had taken a particular interest in the iPad edition.
Game on!
Jedi vs. J, the matchup was set. I acted the important role of the money-hungry banker, which consisted of, but not limited to, keeping bills out of Abby’s grabby hands. Unfortunately, by the time we were ready, it was only half an hour until bedtime. Anyone who has ever played Monopoly knows that it can’t be appropriately played in a half hour.
Luckily, Jedi had to use the bathroom when it was almost time to call it quits. Which gave J an opportunity to make a swift deposit of all but 8 of his dollars to the bottom of Jedi’s cash pile. Technically cheating, but for a good cause. On J’s next turn, he landed on one of Jedi’s properties. The cost was more than J had, which meant the bout was over. Jedi “won” his first real game of Monopoly, with high-fives and fanfare. Because I’ve come to appreciate that in parenting, sometimes losing is winning as well.
July 07 2010 ·
11 CommentsPosted in:
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Buzz,
family One day last week, my brother called to say he and my nephew would be over in a half hour to give me a belated birthday card. I contemplated changing out of my comfortable clothes for something more suited for company, then decided against. It’s only my brother, I came to reason. My daughter’s shirt, however, had a grape jelly stain from lunch. I opened her drawer and suggested a few pieces. She wrinkled her nose at it all. I didn’t have time to argue with her, though, so I just left her drawer open. She was free to put on whatever she wanted.
The boys, I thought, looked fine. Sure, Buzz is only wearing shorts, but that’s his normal attire. Trying to keep a shirt on him if we’re not out somewhere is futile.
I spent the time until my brother arrived in a mad dash around the house, straightening pillows and picking up toys. Right on cue, my brother’s car pulled up the driveway. Jedi’s excitement was radiating, he likes spending time with his uncle who we don’t get to see enough. Whom we might have scared off for good.
Apparently, my Buzz, my sturdy 4 year old boy, heard me tell Abby to dress herself however she wanted and thought he’d take me up on that as well. Where I went super casual, it would seem he wanted to adorn himself in an outfit a little more formal for the occasion. My brother and nephew walked in to my son wearing his sister’s bell-sleeved white shirt, a green bucket hat, and a pair of white tights. Sized a snug 3T or less. Along with a giant smile. He was like a snow princess.
And that is how to make the rest of us look downright normal in comparison, raggedy jelly stained clothes and all.
July 05 2010 ·
5 CommentsPosted in:
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fireworks,
Jedi,
life While buckling everyone into their respective seats for a trip to watch 4th of July festivities, I noticed a couple summer mosquitoes buzzing about the car. They were of the fairly large variety and I knew Jedi wouldn’t be pleased if he caught sight of them. I tried to coax these bugs out before I closed the door and thought I had succeeded. However, it would seem I missed one.
Barely minutes into our drive to see fireworks, right before it started pouring rain, Jedi succumbed to a full-on freak-out like I’ve never witnessed from him before. His hands were flailing, his voice pitched, his mouth quivered. He was petrified. All because the pesky mosquito had landed on his knuckle. I reached back to shoo it away, but it was staunchly attracted to him and didn’t want to leave him alone.
“It landed on my finger and it’s gonna suck ALL MY BLOOD!”, he trembled in fright as his hands continued to flail and flap.
The pest finally made it’s way to the front of the car, where it was promptly obliterated into a napkin. Upon hearing of the mosquito’s demise, Jedi’s brevity not only returned but multiplied.
With eyes still red and cheeks not yet dry of tears, he mocked the dead mosquito, “Oh yeah! Don’t mess with me, I’m the Master Mosquito Killer!”.
You could have fooled me.
