Last week, Son was especially hyped up at preschool. I blame in on the fact that we been in vacation mode for the last few days because we had taken a trip up to The Lake. So, I picked Son up from school and was talking to a friend out in the courtyard, as we were getting ready to head out to the car.
When there is room outside to run, Son will run. He is full of energy (I envy this fact often) and loves to play with other kids. He was running around “like a wild man” and I asked him to stop. I would like to tell you that as soon as I speak, my kids immediately cease and desist, but that would be a lie. He kept running. I knew the correct thing to do would be to stop my conversation and take care of the problem. I didn’t. Apparently, I am not good at the old “cease and desist” routine either. Genetics, what can you do?
So, I talked for a while longer and then asked Son and Daughter to walk over to me so that we could head out to the car. And so, here comes Son, at full Lightening McQueen speed directly at me. The problem: there was another child standing near me and in the path of Son’s beeline.
It was ugly. In hindsight, I am pretty sure Son’s mouth made direct contact with Friend’s Son’s head. I know, bummer. Here’s where things took a turn for the worst. Husband and I have this idea that we don’t want to baby the kids. Okay, before you judge, let me explain. We want the kids to be able to fall down and get back up with out major drama. We give them space to play and run without us right beside them with a pillow ready to catch them in case something happens.
And so, here is where a great parenting idea can go wrong. Son is crying and is really upset. I can’t quite tell what he hit and so, I am telling him that he will be okay and not making a big deal out of it. Totally laid back mom, right. I bend down to give him a hug and tell him he is okay and it’s no big deal. And here’s where it gets even worse, I say, “If you would have followed Mommy’s directions and stopped running, this would not have happened.” That’s when Friend tells me that she thinks his mouth is bleeding. Sure enough, there is blood on the shoulder of my sweatshirt.
Look out folks, the Ridiculous Parenting Moment of the Year Award is all mine. Talk about feeling so bad! After rounding up Daughter, I take Son to the bathroom and discover that not only is his lip bleeding, but also it is beginning to swell. Terrific. But wait, it gets better. In the midst of the tears and me putting wet paper towels on his lip, Son looks up at me, still a little weepy and says, “I’m sorry I didn’t follow your directions Mommy.”
Pull the knife out of my heart. Needless to say, Son is fine, it is Mommy who is still struggling with this one.
Why I don’t need a gym membership: Interval Training
There are many different ways to get in shape. Some people run, others power walk, and then there are the gym members. We used to have a membership to the local YMCA, but I found myself not attending enough to pay the fees. And so, I decided to look at things a different way. Who needs a gym, you can workout like this?
Interval training is a fast burst of activity followed by slower, easier pace of activity. (Attention health nuts, I know this isn’t the perfect definition, but it will do.) We are potty training Daughter. And so, my day goes along with a nice easy pace, but when I hear the word, “Potty!” shouted out, it is time to kick it into high gear. I sprint, pick up the package and deliver her into the bathroom as fast as I can. False alarm? I go back to the pace of my day.
I really like to step up the intensity of the training by putting it all out on the line. I take Daughter out of the house sans diaper and with her “big girl panties” on. The game has changed. When you hear the code word, “Potty” you must now pick up the package (along with Son who is tagging along and getting a huge kick out of all of this) abandon your cart (if you are in a store – which I usually am) and run around frantically until you find a bathroom. You dodge other customers, slip through isles and jog in place while you ask the cashier (who has absolutely no pity for your situation) where the nearest restroom is. When you do find the bathroom, it is not the time to drop back to a lower pace. You push forward, helping daughter on the potty while keeping an eye on Son to ensure that he touches nothing.
At this point, I find myself with two options. If Daughter is successful, the “potty dance” takes place. This is a combination of jumping up and down while frantically clapping. Also, you can’t be out of breath for this one, because you have to be singing the praises of the potty child. If the attempt is unsuccessful, you get a small break to gather yourself and the little ones around you and head back out to find the cart. In this case, the workout has returned to its normal pace.
Interval training is a fast burst of activity followed by slower, easier pace of activity. (Attention health nuts, I know this isn’t the perfect definition, but it will do.) We are potty training Daughter. And so, my day goes along with a nice easy pace, but when I hear the word, “Potty!” shouted out, it is time to kick it into high gear. I sprint, pick up the package and deliver her into the bathroom as fast as I can. False alarm? I go back to the pace of my day.
I really like to step up the intensity of the training by putting it all out on the line. I take Daughter out of the house sans diaper and with her “big girl panties” on. The game has changed. When you hear the code word, “Potty” you must now pick up the package (along with Son who is tagging along and getting a huge kick out of all of this) abandon your cart (if you are in a store – which I usually am) and run around frantically until you find a bathroom. You dodge other customers, slip through isles and jog in place while you ask the cashier (who has absolutely no pity for your situation) where the nearest restroom is. When you do find the bathroom, it is not the time to drop back to a lower pace. You push forward, helping daughter on the potty while keeping an eye on Son to ensure that he touches nothing.
At this point, I find myself with two options. If Daughter is successful, the “potty dance” takes place. This is a combination of jumping up and down while frantically clapping. Also, you can’t be out of breath for this one, because you have to be singing the praises of the potty child. If the attempt is unsuccessful, you get a small break to gather yourself and the little ones around you and head back out to find the cart. In this case, the workout has returned to its normal pace.
My Triumphant Return
Okay, seriously, that was a little over dramatic, but you get the point right. After a long hiatus involving relaxation and vacationing, (and also a few holidays and guests from out of town) I am finally back.
Let the blogging begin (again)!
Let the blogging begin (again)!
I couldn’t help myself
Have you ever done something that you know is wrong, but you just can’t help yourself? I know what you are thinking: Here comes a juicy confession. Not really, just an interesting story.
I had to meet Husband at the human resources department of his previous job to fill out some paperwork. I got there a little early and waited in the car for him. The weather was nice, so I rolled the window down about halfway, turned the engine off, and just enjoyed a nice quiet moment.
This all came to an abrupt end as two people began a heated conversation right in front of the car. I tried to distract myself. It was awkward to just sit there and be in the middle of something like that. I started to clean out my purse, but the more of the conversation I heard, the less I wanted to distract myself. And so, I eavesdropped. That’s right, I put my purse aside and became the “fly on the wall.”
I have to admit, it went from awkward to interesting. I had met these people before; they were Husband's co-workers. I knew the people they were talking about. I took it all in, until Husband pulled up in his truck beside me. I was hesitant to give up on the conversation. I thought for sure as soon as they saw us, they would quiet down and drop the argument to say hello.
Nope, they kept at it. We walked into the building and closed the door and to my delight, we could still hear them yelling. I quickly took the seat closest to the door and continued listening. I chuckled aloud a few times Husband gave me “that look.” You know the one that reminds you that you are being a little too obvious. As we finished, I saw the two individuals leaving in separate cars and I could tell that the argument did not end well.
What is about situations like that? You know it’s wrong to listen, but it is just so interesting! Please tell me I am not the only person that would have listened in.
I had to meet Husband at the human resources department of his previous job to fill out some paperwork. I got there a little early and waited in the car for him. The weather was nice, so I rolled the window down about halfway, turned the engine off, and just enjoyed a nice quiet moment.
This all came to an abrupt end as two people began a heated conversation right in front of the car. I tried to distract myself. It was awkward to just sit there and be in the middle of something like that. I started to clean out my purse, but the more of the conversation I heard, the less I wanted to distract myself. And so, I eavesdropped. That’s right, I put my purse aside and became the “fly on the wall.”
I have to admit, it went from awkward to interesting. I had met these people before; they were Husband's co-workers. I knew the people they were talking about. I took it all in, until Husband pulled up in his truck beside me. I was hesitant to give up on the conversation. I thought for sure as soon as they saw us, they would quiet down and drop the argument to say hello.
Nope, they kept at it. We walked into the building and closed the door and to my delight, we could still hear them yelling. I quickly took the seat closest to the door and continued listening. I chuckled aloud a few times Husband gave me “that look.” You know the one that reminds you that you are being a little too obvious. As we finished, I saw the two individuals leaving in separate cars and I could tell that the argument did not end well.
What is about situations like that? You know it’s wrong to listen, but it is just so interesting! Please tell me I am not the only person that would have listened in.
The Fruits of Preschool
I knew putting Son into preschool would be interesting. One of the main reason we put him in preschool was to provide more opportunities for social interaction with other children his age. Here’s an example of what he is learning from these “social interactions.” Boy = the kid in his class that he mentions.
Tonight I took the kids on a walk around the neighborhood to look at the Christmas lights. The following conversation ensued:
Son: Mom, do coyotes and snakes live in the wash?
Me: Probably. It might be their home.
S: Boy says if a coyote comes into my yard at night, I should call him right away.
M: Really? Why?
S: Because then he can bring over his gun and shoot the coyote.
M: Hmmmmm. (Actually, I was glad is was dark and Son couldn’t see the shocked look on my face.)
S: Yeah, he said you have to shoot him in the forefead (supposed to be forehead) to make sure they are dead.
M: What’s a forefead? (This is my attempt to buy myself some time so I can gather myself.)
S: You know, the forefead; right between the eyes. That’s where you have to shoot him.
M: Wow! (That’s what came out of my mouth. You can just imagine what is running through my mind.)
S: Yep, that’s what Boy told me.
As with most things, preschool included, you take the good with the bad.
Tonight I took the kids on a walk around the neighborhood to look at the Christmas lights. The following conversation ensued:
Son: Mom, do coyotes and snakes live in the wash?
Me: Probably. It might be their home.
S: Boy says if a coyote comes into my yard at night, I should call him right away.
M: Really? Why?
S: Because then he can bring over his gun and shoot the coyote.
M: Hmmmmm. (Actually, I was glad is was dark and Son couldn’t see the shocked look on my face.)
S: Yeah, he said you have to shoot him in the forefead (supposed to be forehead) to make sure they are dead.
M: What’s a forefead? (This is my attempt to buy myself some time so I can gather myself.)
S: You know, the forefead; right between the eyes. That’s where you have to shoot him.
M: Wow! (That’s what came out of my mouth. You can just imagine what is running through my mind.)
S: Yep, that’s what Boy told me.
As with most things, preschool included, you take the good with the bad.
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