Category: family

children, family, humor, kids, motherhood, parenting

Sign Me Up

WFAM

I love many things about my life.  My husband is one of these.  My two, over-the-top boys are another.  I love that our life is full and busy (it has to be, quiet and low-key doesn’t work in this house).  I love that we have places we need to be and stuff that needs to be accomplished.

I don’t love when apparently we have to cram everything into one, short week.

Soccer is winding down for the boys.  This is good.  Make-up games abound next week.  This is bad. This means three games packed in five days for Full Speed.  What’s that?  Flag football practice starts for him this week, too?  Hmmm, anyone remember karate?  When is he suppose to do that?  Midnights?

What’s next?  Track and Field?  Beach Volleyball?   Olympic Curling?

Do I need to invent a wrist monitor that alerts me every time Mad Dog signs our boys up for something so I can stop him?

Since I never went to science camp as a child (this is not a hint that you need to sign the boys up for science camp, Mad Dog!), I likely will be unable to create such a device.

All I can do is ride the wave of the next crazy week and thank my lucky stars I have two boys who require lots of cheering.

You can sign me up for that any day.

children, family, humor, kids, motherhood, parenting

Parenting is a Kick

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No matter how long I raise boys, there are aspects of them that I will never understand.  The physicality in which they move through life is fascinating to me.  

Why is it necessary to karate chop each other while brushing teeth?  Why is tackling a part of getting into the car?   Why is furniture considered a jungle gym? 

All I can do is make some rules about safety, hope they follow at least enough to prevent harm and accept that my house resembles a three-ring circus more often than not.

This morning, as I have been working hard with T.Puzzle to control himself while brushing teeth, I saw a rogue high kick escape from his leg.

“Hands and feet to yourself!” I implored.  “No kicking!”

“I didn’t kick him, Mom.  I missed,” he replied.  His tone indicated that by missing his brother’s face with his foot, that he was the epitome of decorum.

So, the morning was saved.  I’d like to say I owe it all to my incredible parenting skills.  Mostly, I owe it all to T.Puzzle’s terrible aim.

children, family, humor, kids, motherhood, parenting

Don’t Cry for Me Argentina

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I haven’t necessarily wanted to share with you about the boys’ current soccer season.   The first two games of the season were so pitiful, I actually took to trying to disguise myself at subsequent games.  Thankfully, Mad Dog’s mad skills have turned both boys’ teams around.  I can now freely leave my wigs and sunglasses at home.  Look for Mad Dog’s blog in the future called, “Winning is Everything.  One Man’s Journey to Ultimate Soccer Coaching Success, All Thanks to My Beautiful Wife” (or something like that).

Of course before last Saturday’s game for T.Puzzle, I had an in-depth discussion with him that his focus should be on kicking the ball, NOT playing tag with a rascally teammate.   Whatever it was, both squads have improved dramatically from that first week.  While I enjoy when they win, I can walk away happy if they gave it their all. 

This recent soccer success has convinced Full Speed that he is going to be a professional soccer player.  His dream is to play for Argentina so he can be on the same team as Lionel Messi.  I told him I would miss him and that I would do my best to travel to as many games as I could. 

I saw the lightbulb go off in his head.  “Mom, you could just move with me to Argentina!  Then you wouldn’t miss me at all.”

With Mad Dog’s soccer genes and a heart of gold, I predict he is going to give Lionel Messi a run for his money.

Go Team!

family, humor, kids, motherhood, parenting

Imagination Run Amok

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When I picked up T.Puzzle after his first day back from spring break, his teacher immediately approached me as I entered the classroom.  I had to resist my fight or flight response.  Oh, how I wanted to run away.

She said, “We asked T.Puzzle what he did over break.  He told us he went to Africa.  Of course we didn’t think that was true.  We thought you would have certainly mentioned if you were traveling to Africa.  Then, he kept going with it.  When we asked him how he got there he said by plane.  What did you see there?  Giraffes and zebras.  Where did you stay?  He said he stayed at a hotel.”

Seems little mister had a whole array of imaginary African details.  He had his teachers and even the director of his school convinced for most of the day that we had gone to Africa.

For the record, we did not.

I am amused and frightened by this all at once.  Part of me is impressed a five year old could come up with such a believable, detailed story.  Part of me is very, very concerned.  Mostly I’m curious as to where we will ‘travel’ next.

T.Puzzle dressed as a lion for Halloween when he was a baby. Maybe his African dreams started then?
children, family, motherhood, parenting

Elevated

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Mad Dog surprised us with a little family getaway to Amelia Island.  We packed a lot into our small trip and had an absolute blast.

As the Mom of two, gregarious boys, I realize that serene moments in travel will be few and far between.  The best line of defense is a good offense.  Therefore, it is all about movement.  Keep them active and all will be well.  If they are confined for too long they invariably turn on each other.  That’s when you know it’s time to move again.

That said, we thankfully managed some calm here and there.  However, there was a lot of sprinting on the hotel grounds.  As we left our room yesterday the boys, in typical fashion, sprinted ahead of us.  As we turned the corner to the elevators, they were nowhere to be found.

Guess who decided it would be awesome to ride the elevator to the lobby by themselves?  Thankfully, a kindly couple waited and watched over the boys until Mad Dog and I caught up to them.  The boys were so full of pride. At least someone was because I certainly wasn’t.  Embarrassed much?

After a stern talking to and a serious warning, we hope that parent-free elevator rides won’t become the norm.  Of course at some point I’m going to have to let them go by themselves.  It might be awkward if I follow them around their college dorm elevators.

Freedom is exhausting...