Confession

June 28 2010 · comment 15 Comments
Posted in: Me Myself · Tags: ,

My birthday was yesterday. In honor of the occasion I have a confession to make.

It’s a big one.

It might get me kicked out of the mom club, if there were such a thing as a mom club.

I don’t like coffee.

I’ve never been to Starbucks. I wouldn’t know what to order if I were to go. We have a coffee maker, but it’s sitting on a kitchen shelf gathering dust. I’ve had a cappuccino here or there, made from instant powder bought at the grocery store, but it isn’t something I crave. The warmth is soothing on brisk, early mornings, but I could do the same with hot chocolate. And hot chocolate comes with marshmallows.

I feel like as an aging parent, though, especially a mom of 3 little kids, I’m expected to drink coffee. That it’s weird not to. Like the commercials with a woman in slippers and bedhead, eyes still heavy with sleep. “Don’t talk to me until I’ve had my coffee.” I’m supposed to revel in the aroma and sigh heavily into that initial sip of mocha. That first cup, an instant transformation into supermom.

Maybe that’s why I’ve never earned my superpowers.

I feel like a fraud.

A 31 year old fraud.

Man, I’m old.

Get Off My Lawn!

June 24 2010 · comment 7 Comments
Posted in: Me Myself · Tags: ,

We all have an area we excel in more than another. This pertains to every area of life, parenthood is not an exception. Some enjoy getting their hands dirty while others would much rather sit on the sidelines taking pictures than burn our bums on a slide that’s been sitting in the scorching sun all day.

J is fun. He likes to play. He’s good at it when he’s on his game. Kids that he’s never met before gravitate to him, because I guess he just radiates a sense of a good time. When we go to a playground, he’s the one climbing amongst the little ones, like a kid himself. For the most part, however, he sets them free.

I, on the other hand, would rather sit on a bench, away from the brunt of the action. I take pictures as a coping mechanism. I enjoy the breeze. I try not to hover over my kids as they play because I worry too much. I’m trapped in my head, the what if’s make me flustered and jittery. My brain and the possibilities of what could happen never turn off. I’m more focused on the mess and chaos and making sure every foot lands safely. I have to force myself to play instead of fret.

It’s been a long road towards accepting our natural roles. I would like to say we make a good team, J and I. That we balance each other out. That I’ve spared my kids a knock or two by watching so intently, anyway. In the end, though, I simply feel like a party pooper. I’m like the old lady, shaking her cane, screeching at the young’uns to keep it down in there.

A Word She Knows Well

June 23 2010 · comment 8 Comments
Posted in: The Kids · Tags: , , ,

Abby was sitting in her highchair while I went about the task of finding a suitable selection for our lunch. She had a pair of pink flip flops on her feet, grabbed from under my nose out of the closet and refused to let go, but kicked them off as Jedi passed by on his quest to pick up toys. He stopped in front of her for a minute’s distraction and retrieve her freshly discarded shoes. He’s a great big brother, that kid.

“Do you want your shoes, Abby?”, he asked his sister, holding them within her reach.

Pushing them and his hand away, she answered pointedly, “No!”.

He put the shoes back in the closet instead then came up to me as I was stirring noodles on the stove. “She’s learning how to answer questions yes or no”, Jedi said, impressed in his little sister’s growing abilities.

“Yes, she is”, I replied

Then, without missing a beat, “Yeah, but she mostly says no.”

Yes, she does.

You’re My Favorite Deputy, Usually

June 22 2010 · comment 11 Comments
Posted in: Daily · Tags: , ,

A few months back, J took Jedi on his first real movie theater outing to watch Avatar in 3D. I was expecting the worst, but was pleasantly surprised when they came back smiling, saying they had a great time. J thought he’d brave the same experience with Buzz yesterday evening, for Toy Story 3.

It didn’t go as well.

In fact, they left the movie early. Not too early, but before the end. Apparently, my sensitive, tender son began to scream when he thought his favorite cowboy toy was getting hurt. I think it was Woody. Could have been Lightyear. All I know is, my Buzz didn’t appreciate it. Or so I’ve been told. J would get him calmed down, stuff his maw with Reese’s Pieces, just to have him start screaming again a short time later.

“Oh, well, his concern is kind of cute”, I said in response.

J, giving me a dirty look, “No, it wasn’t.”

Buzz then came home to have an hour-long fit of magnificent proportions.

Good times!

It’s safe to say this will be his one and only theater experience for awhile longer. Obviously, he’s just not ready. I’m sure he’ll love the movie if given a chance, we’ll just have to wait until it comes out on DVD. That way, he can scream as loudly as he wants in the privacy of his own home like normal.

Parenting Win

June 21 2010 · comment 8 Comments
Posted in: Daily · Tags: ,

Yesterday was obviously Father’s Day. And in this space I could write some sweeping sentimental tribute to the father of my children, or to my own dad even. Which I was planning to in some degree. They both definitely deserve it. However, something of more precedence happened, something that wrapped the day and parenting itself in a nutshell.

My son ran into a wall.

I’m afraid he gets his grace from me.

Apparently, Jedi was attempting to walk towards his dad with his eyes closed. This, in itself, was not a brilliant move. When he suddenly lunged full speed at the wall in front of him. He wasn’t hurt, save for a small lump on his forehead and a bit of pride lost. I was in the other room when it occurred, but I heard the loud thud and then my husband, laughing.

“Did he just run into the wall?”, I quickly peeked around to ask.

Laughing so hard he could barely answer, J finally replied, “Yes, he did”. I was then treated to a precise, comical reenactment.

My son, who would normally cry foul and stomp off to his room in embarrassment, whimpered only briefly before cracking up at himself, too. A boy runs headfirst into the wall and it’s nothing if not funny.

Because what is a day celebrating parenthood if you can’t laugh at your kids.