kids – Page 25 – Writes for all Mommies

children, family, humor, kids, motherhood, parenting

One Stop Shopping

17/08/2012 WFAM

Both boys are now at the same school. Oh, how I love one stop shopping. I couldn’t have asked for a better first week. Did I mention T.Puzzle started kindergarten? I’m handling it surprisingly well. When I feel a wave of abandonment descending upon me, all I do is picture his happy little face as he bounces out the door, and then I am reassured. I will not allow myself to wallow in sadness when clearly, my kid is happy. Still, I can neither confirm or deny the shedding of a tear or two on T.Puzzle’s behalf.

The week started with their school orientation and meeting their teachers. Before entering the school premises, I sternly lectured/threatened my boys. They were so excited that I knew their self-control would be questionable at best. They held it together incredibly well. Of course, once we returned home, they wrestled like crazy for almost an hour (no injuries to report, thank you!). I can honestly say, I have never had the urge to violently wrestle my sister after having behaved in a mannerly fashion for an extended period of time. Not once.

By the end of the week, a new drop-off routine has emerged. Full Speed has taken his job as big brother seriously and escorts T.Puzzle to class in the morning. Full Speed even stated that walking T.Puzzle to class is one of his favorite things about his new school year. Coincidentally, that is one of my favorite things he has ever said.

Here’s to a great school year!

children, family, humor, kids, motherhood, parenting

Swim for Your Lives!

12/08/2012 WFAM

Until mid-July, swimming had been a contentious subject in our home. My boys were later than most to even tolerate the pool. I’m guessing it had more to do with not being able to see so great without their glasses more than anything else. I handled their general dislike of the pool by avoiding it like the plague. Maybe not the best plan to have them overcome their fear but it was a heck of a lot easier than tantrums, tears and general mayhem. That’s all changed now. The boys’ swim instructor quickly learned to use their fiercely competitive natures against them. In a week they were proficient swimmers. By the end of their four weeks of lessons they were very good swimmers. If she wanted to work on a skill, say big arms for instance, all she had to say was, “Let’s count to see who gets the most.” Big arm strokes would fly about as if their very lives depended on it. It was highly entertaining to watch.

I am forever grateful that now my boys can swim and actually love the pool. The only problem is now that they are comfortable, well, they are more like themselves in the water. This means they are loud, competitive and displace water at high velocities. Their replication of a Phelps/Lochte showdown is particularly splash inducing and I fear for any toddlers-in-floaties that may be in their respective ‘lanes’. I apologize in advance if we run into you at the pool. If you see us coming and quiet is what you want, you may want to consider going to the library instead.

children, family, humor, kids, motherhood, parenting

Inspired

05/08/2012 WFAM

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA — Coach warms up his team.

If you are able to step back from the everyday details of motherhood, greater lessons are there for the taking. I never knew being a soccer Mom could be inspirational. I’m so glad there were those moments in the season that made me proud of my boys (all three, go Mad Dog!).

This summer Mad Dog coached the boys in a winning season of 3v3 soccer. When he initially moved T.Puzzle up a division, I balked. The first set of games that I watched my 5 year-old go up against seasoned 6 and 7 year-olds, I almost fainted from anxiety. Thankfully, the little man held his own. I guess having a big brother beat you up on a daily basis toughens you up. It took me to about mid-season to relax a little (I’m talking a tiny, little bit) and enjoy the games unfolding before me. I still never enjoyed when T.Puzzle would be launched across the field because of his lack of body weight. I did love that no matter how many times he got knocked to the ground, he always got back up and back in the game.

As for Full Speed, this is the season he learned that your mental game is crucial to achieve your peak, physical performance. For the last set of season ending games, only him and my nephew (who is only 5 like T.Puzzle), were available to play. That meant they had to play two against three for three, 24 minute games with zero substitutions. In the final game, Full Speed pulled a miraculous 5 goals out of his back pocket leading them to a 6-1 victory. After the game Full Speed told Mad Dog, “My body wanted to quit on me but my mind wouldn’t let it.”

How’s that for inspiration?

children, humor, kids, motherhood, parenting, tantrums

Who’s Sore-y Now?

01/08/2012 WFAM

In the grand scheme of life, T.Puzzle is doing pretty good after his tonsillectomy. The hardest part has been getting him to take his pain meds. Somehow convincing a very opinionated 5-year-old that orally ingesting pain relievers down the very vessel that has been injured, is most often a losing battle. Yesterday, as he complained of a hurting throat, I brought him some Tylenol. We were at an instant stand-off that ultimately led to him being sent to his room. The tantrum that followed was of epic proportions. Eventually, he calmed himself enough and was able to take the medicine. About thirty minutes later he sat at the table and ate some yogurt.

“How’s your throat feeling?” I asked.

“It feels good now but it really hurts when I scream and cry,” he replied as he lapped up another spoonful of yogurt.

Some lessons are painful to learn, aren’t they?

children, family, health, kids, motherhood, parenting

Tonsil-App-Tomy

24/07/2012 WFAM

At the beginning of summer it was determined that T.Puzzle’s oversized tonsils needed to be removed. I certainly dreaded the impending surgery and almost completely lost my mind the night before it. This was nicely countered by Mad Dog’s calm optimism. Calm and optimistic were two emotions I found very difficult to conjure when my baby was about to go under the knife. What made the whole situation worse was T.Puzzle’s joy leading up to his procedure. He glowed in the attention we lavished on him. He was giddy because he was getting special gifts, his favorite foods and he got to sleep in a tent in our bedroom. He was so joyful on the day of surgery he leapt from his tent and exclaimed, “Yay! I can’t wait to see the doctor. This is going to be so cool!” Clearly he associates doctor visits with special time with one or both parents usually followed by lunch involving happy and a meal. The more exuberant he became, the more nauseous I felt. It was like looking at an innocent puppy knowing you are hours away from placing him in a den of ravenous lions.

T.Puzzle’s joy continued as we allowed unlimited iPad game time as we waited in the ambulatory holding area. He didn’t even flinch that it was well past noon and he was not allowed food or drink. He became immersed in his games and was only annoyed when the blood pressure cuff interfered with his gaming strategies. He was a trooper as they took him away for the procedure and gave us a carefree wave goodbye. All I kept thinking was ‘farewell, my sweet little puppy!’

When it was over, we heard him well before we could see him. To say he was angry is an understatement. When he was wheeled back to us, he was a screaming ball of fury. Limbs were flying, tears were flowing and he yelled repeatedly “I WANT TO GO HOME!” He was an innocent no longer. With each quiet murmur of comfort I offered him, he answered with a louder, angrier cry. This is the point when my head really began to hurt.

Mad Dog swooped in and said to T.Puzzle, “If you stop crying, you can play games on the iPad again.”

Instant serenity.

He calmed, he sighed and he gamed on.

Yes, I have to come to terms with the fact that I have been rendered obsolete by technology.

As long as I got my patient home in peace, I’ll take it. And, somehow, I don’t imagine an iPad will be able to administer round the clock pain meds with a loving touch for the next few days. Then again, there might be an app for that.