family – Page 14 – Writes for all Mommies

children, family, gratitude, humor, kids, motherhood, parenting

We Are the Champions

07/12/201307/12/2013 WFAM

The stage was set. Parents, grandparents and siblings lined the field. The air buzzed with anticipation. Full Speed had made it to the big dance. His remarkable flag football team was in the championship game. I was nervous because I was first and foremost awake, and I was nervous because I had a feeling the other team thought they would beat us with ease. A parent from the opposition casually mentioned they had won last night’s play-off 38-8. He said it with such cool confidence that it seemed the final score was all the statement needed. We knew enough about this team to know they had two rainmakers. What they didn’t know is that we had the lightning quick hands of defense that could make the rain stop. And, stop them we did.

Since our defense was on fire, it allowed our offense to kick it into high gear. Full Speed ran the ball again and again setting us up for awesome field position. The opposition then became so focused on his running that they couldn’t handle the deep bombs that our QB kept launching. This is where Full Speed’s team was a cut above the rest. We had an actual receiver that could catch these deep bombs. This is quite rare in a U10 league and is what marched us into a 26-18 victory.

Go Black Dragons!

children, family, humor, kids, motherhood, parenting

Doors

01/12/2013 WFAM

There’s something about the doors of our home that make my boys feel the need to slam them on a daily basis. This leads to some very heart-stopping moments as you hear the whiz of the door at unexpected times. You hope as it slams into place that no fingers or hands go with it. So, it did not surprise us as we sent our extremely energetic guys outside, that we heard a thud followed by the keening cries of Full Speed. Upon further investigation, T.Puzzle had slammed Full Speed’s fingers in the doorway leading outside. Since my patience was near zero with him already (that’s another blog post for another day), I got very angry even though it was ‘accidental’. He had to be sent swiftly away to his room for his own safety. Eventually I calmed down and realized Full Speed’s fingers were thankfully intact. I then allowed T.Puzzle to come back downstairs.

“I’m sorry I got so mad at you. I realize that it was an accident and we all make mistakes sometimes.”

“It really was an accident, Mom.” T.Puzzle’s voice quavered and his eyes were rimmed with tears. “I just wish you would have told me to be more careful with the door and then it never would have happened.”

And, just like that he was faultless. In fact, not only was he faultless, he was actually an injured party in this debacle as well.

I may not agree with his logic, but I respect it. Something tells me this kid would do well in a court of law.

children, family, gratitude, humor, kids, motherhood, parenting

5,000

25/11/2013 WFAM

I’m noticing a trend. In many ways, life with Full Speed and T.Puzzle is becoming much more pleasant. Even though they are off school for a whole week for Thanksgiving, I didn’t even bat an eye. I took them to the store today and I had zero anxiety about it. If you know me it all, that is a near miraculous statement. Of course, I still have rather unusual conversations with them before we enter any place that is of public domain.

“Your decisions in the store will determine whether or not you will be spending a large amount of time in your rooms or not once we return home. I am only going to give you one warning. Next time I have to speak to you about your behavior, you will have to go to your rooms as soon as we get home.”

“But, Mom,… is that one warning total or is that a warning a piece for each thing we do? Like, ‘Calm down!’, ‘Be quiet!’, ‘Don’t kick your brother!'” Full Speed had quite a list.

At this point I was only half-listening as the list went on and on. “I don’t know, Full Speed. I just don’t know.”

“Mom, what if T.Puzzle and I came up with 5,000 different ways to get in trouble? Is that equal to 5,000 warnings? What would you say to that, Mom?”

“I would say you are very talented.”

He grinned and chuckled.

Thankfully, we didn’t even crack the top ten.

children, family, gratitude, humor, kids, motherhood, parenting

Miracle on Monkey Island

11/11/2013 WFAM

Last week the boys had their six-month eye check-ups. They were reluctant participants because they knew they had to have dilation drops. They hate those. Despite their reluctance and the over three hours we spent at the ophthalmology clinic, we ended up having a great time. It’s kind of nice getting to spend time with them during school hours and getting out of school early almost makes dilation drops bearable. Almost.

As we sat in the waiting area hoping pupils were dilating, a strange thing happened. I noticed nearly every under five-year old was in a state of meltdown or duress. There were harried mothers running amok trying to corral and soothe these very distressed children. They were wiping noses, handing sippy cups out to no avail and looking rather frazzled.

Then, it dawned on me. That used to be me. Times two. I sat back in my chair and let this realization wash over me. I glanced to my left and there sat Full Speed happily immersed in a thick chapter book. I glanced to my right and there sat T.Puzzle quietly. He was too tired from fighting the dilation drops earlier and chose just to sit in silence rather than do anything else. Let me repeat, he sat in SILENCE.

As my eyes swept over the waiting room that was quickly turning into a scene from a monkey island zoo exhibit, I thanked my lucky stars that miraculously my boys seemed to be two of the best behaved there.

I never thought I would live to see the day.

It's been an honor corralling these awesome guys — It’s been an honor corralling these awesome guys

children, dogs, family, gratitude, happiness, humor, kids, motherhood, parenting

Walks are for the Dogs

03/11/2013 WFAM

It seems that as long as T.Puzzle continues to do well, the return of the dogs is permanent. Full Speed has stated that since having them home, he is the happiest he’s ever been in his whole life. T.Puzzle is excited because he is no longer the shortest living being in our household. For me, I am in my element when I am walking the dogs. There is something about their quiet company with nothing but blue sky overhead that fills my heart with joy. I have even made it a standing ritual that on most days during the week, the boys and I will walk to school with the dogs. I use the term ‘walk’ loosely. I need to invent a word that falls somewhere in between walking and standing still. I’m not sure why exactly that it takes us 45 minutes to walk a 20 minute distance. Of course once we begin our walk, I am subjected to loads of feedback concerning the weather conditions. One boy will tell me that he’s certain a blizzard is coming because it is so cold while the other thinks the wind may freeze his face off. Keep in mind, we live in a very warm climate and it’s only November where most days the temperatures still climb near 80 degrees. I have attempted some preventative measures to help minimize the climate related feedback. I brought out a pull-over hoodie for Full Speed to wear on a particularly chilly morning. He took one look at it and said he wasn’t going to wear it. Apparently, he got ‘trapped’ in it last year and he wasn’t willing to ‘go in that direction’ again. All I can say is, thank god for zippers and get your shoes on boy…it’s dog walkin’ time.