health, marital blissishness

Parenting 101

WFAM

Full Speed has been feeling slightly under the weather. So when Mad Dog gave his little brother a sippy cup that Full Speed had been drinking from I kind of freaked. We were getting the boys ready for a bath when this happened.

“Don’t give it to him, Full Speed’s sick!” I exclaimed.

“Hey, it happens, T.Puzzle will be fine,” says Mad Dog.

“Well, let’s at least get a different towel for T.Puzzle.” Normally I use whatever towel is on hand to wipe the soap from their eyes and faces during the hair-washing process. Since Full Speed was displaying some rosy-cheeked misery with a drippy nose, I wanted separate, clean towels for this task.

“No, T.Puzzle doesn’t need a different towel. It’s a Mad Dog Parenting 101 rule that kids need to be exposed to as many germs as possible to build their immune systems.”

At that moment, Full Speed jerks his head back and lets rip a enormous, showering sneeze.

“I see your parenting rules for immunity building worked like a charm for Full Speed,” I say with a laugh (trust me laughing is the best way to handle these situations).

As for Mad Dog and his parenting 101, let’s just say I’d fail the semester.

***No marriages were harmed during the course of these past two posts. And, he’s Mad Dog…, and he approved these messages.

marital blissishness, rock and a hard place

Good Luck, Mad Dog

WFAM

This is how it went down….,

Me: “I’m frustrated because you didn’t listen to me.”

Mad Dog: “How was I supposed to know what you wanted? You didn’t tell me.”

This is the problem, I did tell him. He just doesn’t remember. I have no proof because I don’t tape record our conversations (which I am seriously considering). He thinks it’s all my fault. I’d try to say otherwise but I doubt he’d listen anyway. And the cherry on my sundae is that HE wants me to apologize to HIM.

Good luck with that, Mad Dog. Good luck.

gratitude, happiness, kids, mommyhood

To All A Good Night!

WFAM

As we prepared our home for Santa’s arrival there was much discussion concerning the placement of his cookies. Full Speed reasoned that we put them in his line of sight directly across from our fireplace. He was very analytical about it and very sure. He stood in front of the fireplace and reenacted what Santa’s point of entry would look like to prove the accuracy of the cookie placement. And, prove it he did.

T.Puzzle threw his two cents in by imitating Santa’s laugh all through the day. ‘Ho, Ho, Ho,’ could be heard from one end of the house to the other. I believe his belly even shook a little like a bowl full of jelly.

Late in the day we settled in front of the television outfitted in our superhero pjs. With popcorn in hand we watched the movie ‘The Santa Clause’. Somehow, it managed to capture their attention for its entire length. That is a Christmas miracle in and of itself.

Then it was time for the official reading of ‘Twas the Night before Christmas.’ I don’t know why I torture myself into having this tradition. One year Mad Dog had to hold Full Speed upside down dangling in front of the book to keep him interested.  T.Puzzle was a babe at the time and fussed throughout. Last year went more smoothly but not quite the peaceful reading I had imagined. This year, they were more invested but it was about three pages too long. I really need to find a shorter version so my boys stay put. Something like, ‘Twas the night before Christmas and to all a good night,’ just might be the ticket.

Merry Christmas, Everyone!

children, gratitude, health, mommyhood

Reason for the Season

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Despite all the holiday commotion, I managed to squeeze in T.Puzzle’s three year wellness check-up. It went exactly as I thought it would…., horrible. First of all he’s in good health so that wasn’t the problem, it was his behavior. Going in I figured I had a 50/50 shot of him being compliant and the odds didn’t fall in my favor. He was so defiant when the nurse tried to evaluate his vision and hearing she decided to ‘pass until his four year check-up’. So as of right now the pediatrician has no quantifiable evidence that T.Puzzle has the ability to see or hear.

After a few level 8 meltdowns and much cajoling on my part, T.Puzzle successfully completed the rest of the exam. Praise the Lord there were no booster shots this time around! I don’t think we would have made it through unless one of the shots included some form of sedation (for him not me…., well, beggars can’t be choosers, really).

So, my T.Puzzle is healthy and my Full Speed is growing up fast. He had the opportunity to go to ‘work’ with Mad Dog. He took it very seriously. He was dressed to the nines and had his work bag packed with books, games and some cars. He knew the weight of his father’s job rested on his shoulders (apparently he had to take several breaks when he was at the office obviously feeling the pressure). He was very proud to ‘help’ his Dad.

On the way home from work they stopped at the mall where you can ride the train (you all know it’s my favorite) and they picked out some ornaments for me and T.Puzzle. Mine was personalized and said I was the ‘Best Mom’. Even though most days I don’t feel anywhere near my best, it helps when you have someone like your own child who believes in you. No matter the season, reason or temperament, I am loved.

children, happiness, kids, mommyhood

Ready or Not

WFAM

It is Christmas vacation for all the kids in our neighborhood. We played with our friend, Miss Cutie, who is off for the holidays. Her Mom walked her over to our house with her baby sister in tow. Full Speed decided he was going to push Miss Cutie in our red car with the long blue handle. I gave him a laundry list of instructions on how he must handle the situation with care. No wheelies, no crazy zig-zag pushing and to keep the speed down. He did an excellent job. So much in fact that Miss Cutie’s Mom and I stopped paying attention and began cooing over the baby (she’s in the smiley phase which is irresistible). We both look up at the same moment to see Miss Cutie sailing by in the push car unaccompanied at a high rate of speed. Her Mom rushes over to stop her just as she bumps into the curb. Luckily she was not injured. We dissolved into laughter. The great thing about Miss Cutie’s mom was that she was a tomboy growing up. She relates to my boys in a way that moms of girls sometimes can’t. She rolls with the punches and is able to laugh with me (not at me) over their antics.

T.Puzzle eventually joins in the hub-bub after an almost three and half hour nap. This is just about the time Full Speed decides he wants to head back inside. He invites Miss Cutie to come in and play with us. He has a habit of inviting everyone into our house at all hours of the day. I appreciate his hospitality but sometimes I’d like a minute or two to pick up dirty socks or whatever else might be lying precariously about. Full Speed helps me clear up the cul-de-sac while T.Puzzle takes it upon himself to help Miss Cutie inside. Of course with his ‘help’ she lands in a pile on the floor (again, no injuries were sustained).

I love that my boys have a sensitive, chivalrous side. Just be careful if you see them in public. They may unleash their chivalry at you at all costs.

Ready or not.