children, humor, kids, life in pictures, mommyhood

Genius Ahead

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You know how you are pretty certain that your children are gifted, talented and absolutely unique even though they sometimes drive you crazy? There must be some parental filter in our brains that takes in the data of our kids and somehow skews it so we think they are the next Einstein. This is actually a great thing because it helps on the days that all you want to do is pull your hair out in mommyhood frustration.

Of course I’m convinced that little T.Puzzle is some sort of puzzle genius. I also believe that we are really good at the things we love (that is why I only kind of like singing and cooking) and little T.Puzzle clearly loves puzzles.

We are heading into that time of year where if you aren’t at a beach or the by the pool, your tendency is to want to stay indoors to avoid the heat. This of course is a challenge with someone like little T.Puzzle. I bought him a Thomas the Train puzzle to help occupy our day. It has small pieces and is for ages 4-8. Once we got the puzzle home, he worked meticulously and completely unassisted and had it assembled in no time flat.

Of course I thought he was amazing and couldn’t believe his unbelievable tenacity and talent. I went to congratulate him and he announces, “I pooped my pants!”

That brought me down to earth in a hurry. I’m pretty sure when Einstein created all his amazing formulas and theorems, he was in fact, completely toliet-trained.

Looks like there still is a long road ahead to genius.

children, eyesight, mommyhood

The Conference

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Mad Dog and I attended Full Speed’s year in review at his school. We have been lucky in terms of his placement with a teacher who can appreciate him. She has a son that is very ‘active’ as well and therefore finds Full Speed’s antics to be quite charming.

At the end of the session I asked her point blank if she felt his vision was impeding him in any way. Until now I have never asked this directly. I never wanted to make an issue out of something if there wasn’t one there. I also know that Full Speed being Full Speed, he would voice out loudly if he couldn’t see something well. Over time, I did notice when I picked him up during storytime he was always seated up front. I figured it was so he could see better and let it go at that.

Turns out he’s not placed in the front to see better, it’s so he doesn’t get ‘distracted’ way in the back. Apparently he needs to be right under the teacher’s nose when the class is gathered on the carpet. This is to help prevent some of Full Speed’s aforementioned charming antics.

Maybe I should worry less about his vision and focus more on behavior modification.

children, mommyhood, parenting

The Loooong Weekend

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At the start of the long weekend Mad Dog said, “Are you ready to have three vacation days in a row?”

Not exactly.

For me the long holiday weekend means that I have to keep my boys occupied and active for three straight days. In the mornings we hit the ground running and it doesn’t stop until their bedtime (which thankfully, they are great about). I’m not complaining but let’s call a spade a spade. If I really were to have three vacation days in a row, you would find me at a spa under an assumed name where no one could reach me.

So, Mad Dog and I diligently planned numerous outings and activities for them (it certainly helped when Grandma and Grandpa took them to see Shrek). We took them to the gym (they love the play area there), we had friends over, we played tickle monster and hide and seek, and they played computer games, trains and car chase. To top that off, we interspersed our outings and games with the occasional movie viewing at home. On the third day we attended a very active outdoor festival and by four o’clock, we all had hit a wall. Even though Mad Dog and I were bumping up against exhaustion, we still needed to occupy the boys until bedtime which we seriously considered moving to 5:30 (I even threw out 5:15).

While Mad Dog prepared dinner (thank you, Mad Dog), I showered the boys and then we all sat down to eat. By the time it was over, we still had hours until bedtime. Meltdowns were popping up, patience was being tested and frankly, I was ready to leave for my real vacation.

gratitude, mommyhood

Quote of the Day

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Happy Memorial Day Everyone! Our family spent the day at a local festival. It was very fun, it rained a little and because we are in Florida, it was HOT. Hope you all enjoyed your long weekend. And don’t forget to hug and thank those service members in your life. We owe them a huge debt of gratitude.

Since it is a holiday I’m taking a day off (sort of) and instead of writing a post, I wanted to share this quote from Oprah. It is a reminder that what we do as mothers and caretakers everyday is valuable. Even on the days when it doesn’t feel that way.

“We should no longer allow a mother to be defined as ‘just a mom’. It is on her back that great nations are built. We should no longer allow any woman’s voice to be drowned out or disregarded. As we affirm other women, and we teach our sons, husbands and friends to hold them in the highest regard, we honor both the mothers whose shoulders we’ve stood on and the daughters who will one day stand tall on ours.”

Now, go hug your kids.

gratitude, happiness, marital blissishness

‘Ever Thine

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I am a huge fan of Sex and the City. I have waited patiently for almost a year for the release of the second film in the SATC franchise. Of course by no control of my own, the premiere date landed on the night before little T.Puzzle’s eye exam under anesthesia. To remedy this unfortunate coincidence, I arranged for our babysitter to come on the Sunday morning following the eye exam so Mad Dog could take me to see it.

This is why I love my husband. Not only does he accompany me to my crazy ‘chick flicks’, he does it with such an air of relaxed confidence that no one would dare question why he is there. He doesn’t care what anyone thinks. He doesn’t care that the reviews of SATC2 have been less than flattering, that the audience was made up of 90% women or that the movie (in his perspective) was a long, drawn-out spectacle lasting well over two hours.

All he cares about is me.

I’m no Carrie Bradshaw with a fancy Manhattan apartment filled with endless designer clothes and shoes, but I am perhaps one of the luckiest ladies on this planet to be married to someone like Mad Dog.

‘ever thine.
‘ever mine.
‘ever ours*

Love you, Mad Dog!

*(poem excerpt by Beethoven to his immortal beloved also quoted in the SATC movies by Carrie and Big)

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