Category: kids

kids

gratitude, happiness, humor, kids, life in pictures, marriage, mommyhood, motherhood, parenting, self-discovery

More Vacation Lessons

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1.  Champagne mojitos are still the way to go.  Trust me, I tried every variety known to man such as frozen, straight up, fruit flavored and what have you.  The golden (and delicious!) standard of the original Royal Carribean champagne mojito cannot be beat.

our first day aboard with Mad Dog's parents. They thankfully enjoy champagne mojitos as much as we do!

 

2.  Getting your hair braided in Coco Cay, Bahamas is just as much fun today as having it done in Puerta Vallarta, Mexico when Mad Dog and I got engaged eight years ago. 

3.  When you are a Mom who rarely gets time away from her kids, something as simple as walking down a street with no Hotwheels, animal crackers or wipes in your purse, or better yet, absolutely no purse at all, is extremely liberating.  It almost feels like your are breaking the natural laws of the world and it feels fantastic.

4.  Sometimes, after a few hours have slipped by, you may find that you kinda of sorta miss the kids you left at home.  This twingey guilt can be quickly remedied with another round of champagne mojitos (see Lesson 1).

5.  This vacation helped solidify exactly how much Mad Dog must love me.  He willingly posed for so many pictures, it is possible we may have set a ship record.  For a man who greatly dislikes being photographed, he obviously loves the woman he is posing with.  Thank you, Mad Dog!

one of the several posed shots taken by the ship's photographers

6.  This cruise was the best I have ever experienced.  I have several theories as to why this is.  The most likely being that if you have achieved a level of happiness and acceptance in the life that you are leaving behind for a few days, it only multiplies in a setting of rest and relaxation.  And this time, I was more content than ever to return home and continue my adventures of motherhood.  

It’s good to be home and even better to hug my boys.

picture taken at Picture Me Portrait Studios
children, humor, kids, mommyhood, motherhood, parenting

The Strands of Time

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So, T.Puzzle is going through this thing.  He likes to be assertively independent more so than usual.  Of course this will only apply as he sees fit.  He is adamant about dressing himself yet doesn’t believe in wiping his own bottom.

This can make life interesting.

I picked him up early last week to go to the allergist.  I made him use the potty at school before we left.  It was taking forever so I peaked in on him.  Lo and behold, little man is wiping his own bottom!  Like I said, this is something he refuses to do at home.  Well, game over kid, your stinky tush is now your responsibility.  I say this with a grain of salt and an arsenal of stain remover and extra strength detergent stockpiled  in my laundry room. 

T.Puzzle’s independence has been creeping into other areas.  I ordered him a cheeseburger and fries at dinner with white milk.  When it arrived he had a myriad of complaints.  He wanted chocolate milk and he doesn’t like fries.  First of all, he has never drank chocolate milk in his entire life and secondly, what four year old boy doesn’t like fries?

A contrary one trying be his own man and attempting to turn all his mother’s hair gray.

One strand at a time, folks. 

One strand at a time.

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children, gratitude, humor, kids, mommyhood, motherhood, parenting

Boys

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I have the boys home for four days for a teacher institute and President’s Day.  It is imperative to have daily outings if I intend to survive this long weekend.  It doesn’t have to be fancy or complicated, it simply has to get us out of the house.

I took them to Walmart.  The deal is if they are well-behaved (relatively speaking) they can browse the toys with the knowledge they won’t be taking one home.  They were good with that.

They were basically well-behaved.  We did get our share of stern glances here and there.  I’m not saying they were perfect.

As we unloaded our cart in the most disorganized fashion humanly possible, the cashier noticed I had purchased some art supplies.

“Gearing up for the long weekend at home are you?”

“Yes, I am.  I’m hoping for the best.”

The cashier went on, “I completely understand, I raised three boys.”

With that, I let out a long breath and my posture relaxed.  She was on my side.  A mother of boys understands.  I could tell she had survived a lot with her boys and was grateful that she was still able to be cheerful and kind.

Then, she went on to say the greatest lie I tell myself on the days I am ready to throw in the towel.  “You’ll be grateful you have boys when they are older.  It may be hard now, but it will be so much easier then.”

Yeah, but only if I make it that long…

children, humor, kids, life in pictures, mommyhood, motherhood, parenting

Happy Valentine’s Day

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I long ago let go of the dream that my boys would ever want to decorate cookies.  The first time I attempted this activity Full Speed was three and his interest was zero.  Therefore I went into my Valentine cookie making experience with very low expectations.

I was pleasantly surprised.  They both really got into it.  It was a little chaotic and I was thankful that Mad Dog was on hand to help.  Once the cookies were bedazzled with glittery sugar and hearts, we set out to deliver some to our neighbors.

The boys loved this even more than decorating.

I was so pleased with myself.

Decorating fun?

Check.

Spreading some love to friends?

Check.

Finding common ground with my two boys?

Check and check.

That is until Full Speed for no apparent reason grabbed hold of T.Puzzle’s arm, spun him in a wicked circle and threw him to the asphalt of our cul-de-sac.  There was blood and wailing to boot.

Maybe next year will be my year.  We will get through cookie decorating AND cookie delivery without any violence.

All you need is love and a good set of Cars band-aids on hand in case one of your kids inexplicably loses his mind and tries to maim the other.

Give peace a chance.

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children, eyesight, humor, kids, life in pictures, mommyhood, motherhood, parenting, tantrums

Glasses. Wear Them. Love Them.

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T.Puzzle’s new glasses had finally arrived.  There was only one minor problem.

He refused to wear them.

As I sat facing him in the optometrist’s office with his new glasses neatly folded in my palm, I ran through possible actions or threats to get him to comply.

I could validate his sense of injustice at having to wear glasses that actually fit snug on his head (as opposed to his very old, very stretched out former pair).  Maybe if he felt ‘heard’ he’d be open to reason.

Or

I could square up my shoulders, look him dead in they eye and say, ‘Put the glasses on.  If you don’t, you will go to your room when you get home and you won’t come out until you decide to where them.”

I assessed the people milling about the waiting room.

Yep.

They looked like the judgmental lot that we mothers are so used to encountering.

I knew I was going to look like a Mom-with-no-soul (T.Puzzle’s baby face and dimples make him look like an innocent lamb) but I went for the second option anyway.

As my threat of being sent to his room reverberated through the office and T.Puzzle wailed, a ripple of compassion went through the air.

I heard things like, ‘bless his heart,’ and ‘he doesn’t like how they feel, poor thing.’

The technician who adjusts the glasses swooped into the room with his pliers at the ready.  “I’ll loosen them for him.  Maybe that will help.”

Since I already had long surpassed the coddling route I decided to go all the way with it.

“Nope.  They fit just fine (they honestly did).  I have dealt with stubborn boys for years.  He will wear them as is.  Maybe not now, maybe not tomorrow, but he WILL wear them.”

I took the glasses and dramatically placed them in my purse.

“Well, T.Puzzle, we better get home so you can go to your room.”

“Nooooooo, Mommy!  I do wear them!  I do wear them!”

And simple as that, he did.

Not five minutes later away from prying eyes, he was perfectly content and proud to wear his new ‘big boy’ glasses.

T.Puzzle sporting his new glasses just minutes after his adamant refusal.

So at this point, Mom sent herself to her room and will be refusing to come out until further notice.