Golden Globes

January 18 2010 · comment 4 Comments
Posted in: Daily · Tags: ,

Last night was the Golden Globes and I usually find myself compelled to tune in, which I had every intention of doing. I had watched a bit of the red carpet arrivals, oohing and aahing and ughing over the designer duds and expensive hairstyles that were frizzing in the Hollywood rain.

I was geared up, ready.

We had just finished eating dinner, and I was going to clean up a little in the 5 minutes before showtime. I hate leaving a really messy kitchen because that just leaves more work for me in the morning. Except in that brief time, J found the remote control and flipped through to see what else was on. A few channels in, and Ethan’s attention was caught.

“Turtles!”

The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Crap.

Ethan perched himself on the couch, his milk in one hand, the Toy Story book he had been skimming in the other. He sat captivated. Changing the channel to a boring awards show now would break his heart.

“Ninja turtles!”, he exclaimed, pointing at the television.

Yes, Ethan, I know.

So much for the Golden Globes. I’m sure I didn’t miss much anyway, right?

Puberty Revisited

January 15 2010 · comment 8 Comments
Posted in: Me Myself · Tags: , ,

30 is the new 15, apparently. At least as far as acne is concerned. In fact, I think there are more pimples covering my face right now than ever before in my life. I’m not sure if this is just an age thing, or something else I can blame as an after effect of growing 3 children within 7 years. I mean, I blame everything else on pregnancy, might as well blame this, too. A constant, 50 pound heavier beer gut: PREGNANCY! Crazy rollercoaster moodswings: PREGNANCY! Weird things happening to my hair: PREGNANCY! Mt. Vesuvius-size zits: PREGNANCY! Stubbed toe: PREGNANCY! I know I haven’t been pregnant for almost 18 months, but still: PREGNANCY!

I even have zits on my neck, for crying out loud.

The smattering on my face are another story, but unless I wear a turtleneck 24/7 the protruding beast taking over my neck is tougher to cover up. Ethan, ever the kind soul, noticed this at its first sign of bright red eruption.

“Boo-boo!”, he exclaimed, brow furrowed, pointing even for good measure.

“No, not a boo-boo.”, I sighed in self-conscious reassurance.

He didn’t want to take no for an answer, though, and kept on. “Boo-boo! Boo-boo! Boo-boo!” Really, kid. It was like a taunt at this point. It’s not good for one’s already fragile self-confidence to feel like they’re being judged by a little boy who picks his nose.

“No, Ethan, not a boo-boo. It’s a pimple. You’ll learn all about them in about 10 years, OK?” Then, if you’re anything like me, you’ll wonder what the hell is going on when they show up in force another 17 years after that. But thank you very much for noticing.

Giving Credit Where Credit is Due

January 14 2010 · comment 1 Comment
Posted in: The Kids · Tags: ,

The kids’ bedroom door was closed. This isn’t anything unusual. They sometimes like to shut themselves off from the rest of the world. I think nothing of it for a minute or two, it’s quiet, nice. Ethan knows how to let himself out just fine, but I always worry that Maddie may be trapped inside. So I get up to open the door, for her.

This time, though, the door wouldn’t open except for a sliver. There was a heavy plastic bin full of toys directly behind it. The room is smaller than some closets, so that bin didn’t have any room to move until it pushed up against the bed frame. I couldn’t even get my hand through.

In those few seconds of thought, panic swept over me. What if I couldn’t get the door open? What if they were trapped? Ethan was in there, sure, but what if he didn’t understand? Or what if he just decided not to listen and be difficult? He is 3, it wouldn’t be the first time. Oh God, I’ll have to call the fire department? Bust in their window? But how would I even get in their window? We don’t have a ladder. Could I kick their door in? Maddie’s going to start crying soon. I’m going to start crying soon. What do I do?

“Ethan, you need to move that please.”

Without even hesitating, he scooted the bin back, but not enough.

“You need to move it a little bit more.”

Which he did. Just like that.

Clearly, I do not give the boy enough credit.

Morning, Afternoon, Evening

January 12 2010 · comment 7 Comments
Posted in: Daily · Tags: ,

Morning: 7:30, slow to wake up. Groggy eyes. An hour to catch up with the internet while the kids watch cartoons. Jayden is always last to get out of bed. Check on his loose tooth. Diaper changes. Nursing. An easy breakfast. Wipe off messy faces. Dishes washed, dishes dirtied. Trip over stuffed animals. Fighting over toys. Bowling in the hallway. Magna Doodle sketches. Cries. Screams. Tantrums. Laughs.

Afternoon: Jayden picks up toys so he can play video games. Maddie naps for an hour. Shhh! Ethan watches Up!. Check mailbox. Lunch is made. Caffeine. Milk refills. When Maddie wakes, spaghetti o’s. Spill spaghetti o’s on the floor. All My Children. Food Network. Ethan runs in with his pants off. “Do you have to go potty?” More diaper changes. More nursing. More screaming. More crying over toys. Milk refills. Jumping on beds. Prying off the kitchen counters. Work with Ethan on his ABC’s. Trim Maddie’s sharp as knives toenails. 3 o’clock munchies. Eat a few grapes instead of scarfing down a couple donuts like I want. More caffeine. Take 5 minute spurts to compose an entry. Mom calls. Pick up toys, again.

Evening: Is it bedtime yet? More milk refills. More diaper changes. More nursing. Count minutes until J comes home. Cook dinner. Hi, Daddy! Eat. Kids go nuts. I’m exasperated. And exhausted. Try to watch a movie. More screaming. More fighting. More laughing. More prying off the kitchen counters. No Maddie, don’t bite your brother. No Ethan, don’t sit on your sister. No one pays attention, as usual. More cries. Pick up toys a final time. Baths. Chaos. Dry off. Jayden runs in with underwear on his head. Teeth brushed. Cat and fish fed. Kisses goodnight at 9. Quick shower. Calm. Breathe. Unwind. Bed. Watch mindless late night TV until it puts me to sleep. To start all over again tomorrow.

Clean

January 11 2010 · comment 4 Comments
Posted in: Daily · Tags: , ,

Sunday is laundry day. If I don’t have a specific day set aside for this chore, it might never get done. I refrain from doing laundry during the week, because it’s better if someone else is here to distract the kids while I carefully fold and hang articles away.

It’s a nice thought, I suppose. One that is rarely seen to fruition thanks to a certain 3 year old.

He watches as I carry in a load of freshly cleaned clothes, scented with floral fabric softener. His face brightens as he anticipates what’s to come. Down his body falls on the mattress, legs dangling over the edge, his smile like a target. I hesitate, knowing the mess he’ll make. He looks so hopeful, though. I bury him in still warm material, his laughter contagious. From clean socks and underwear, he peeks out a thankful, happy eye.

Sure enough, he arises out of the pile with a burst: dress shirts in one corner, pants on the floor. It’s a game he can’t get enough of. The obsessive compulsive in me, envisioning smudges and wrinkles and even more work, is urging him to stop. But I resist.

Wrinkles are temporary.

In a former life, I was proud to have an ordered house. It’s safe to say, clean isn’t what it used to be. Drawers are overstuffed, crumbs magically multiply, toys are everywhere, laundry is never carefully folded. It’s a version that I’m still learning to accept, to enjoy. I’m not there yet, but it’s getting better.