Tag: parenting

children, family, humor, kids, motherhood, parenting

Immunity

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At the beginning of each school year, I take the boys for a flu vaccine.  T.Puzzle shared his concern that he wasn’t looking forward to being ‘shot’.  Turns out, he thought the doctor was going to use a gun, and apparently shoot the vaccine at him at close range.  Once I explained there were no fire arms involved, he was visibly relieved.

Full Speed lets his imaginary gun loose on T.Puzzle (upright legs in the foreground). This could be where T.Puzzle’s fear of guns began.

When it was time for the actual vaccinations, the kindly nurse determined the nasal mist was the way to go.  Full Speed took his mist like a man.  When it was little T.Puzzle’s turn, he began to crack under the pressure.  Full Speed looked at him and stated, “Look, T.Puzzle.  I just had the nasal mist and it didn’t kill me.  See?”  He then proceeds to flex his manly arms, stops short and fakes a violent, spasmodic death on the floor.  It managed to break the tension and T.Puzzle inhaled to the best of his ability (it was rather pitiful).  As we were checking out, the receptionist handed over a receipt.  Full Speed snatched it away and declared rather forcefully, “I am now going to sign this as President of the United States!”  The receptionist cracked up and this only worsened the tomfoolery.  Pretty soon T.Puzzle joins in and the reception area quickly turned into a showcase of silliness.  Naturally, another office worker pipes in, “You certainly have your hands full.  What a couple of characters!”

At press time, no word of a vaccine against maddening behavior.

children, family, humor, kids, motherhood, parenting

Shot Through the Heart

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T.Puzzle on the first day of kindergarten

Oh, hello denial!  I didn’t see you standing there.  I was too busy pretending that sending T.Puzzle to kindergarten was a breeze.

Basically, this kindergarten thing has been fine and dandy with me as long as I could  accurately predict T.Puzzle’s behavior.  It’s when he starts going rogue on me and all of a sudden exhibits very Full Speed-like tendencies that all bets are off.

I was perfectly happy dropping him off as long as Full Speed escorted him to his class.  Things became dicey this week when he announced that he would no longer need Full Speed’s assistance and he would be walking in ‘all by myself!’ from here on out.

Now, I expected and accepted this kind of independent streak from Full Speed.  While I knew T.Puzzle had it in him, I thought that it would take a little longer to express on school grounds, like in ten years or so (ah, yes, there’s that lovely denial again).

As I watched T.Puzzle march to the entrance alone it felt like a bullet straight through my heart.

I will never be the same again and quite thankfully, neither will he.  I’m proud of his confidence and this softens the edges of the hurt I feel as I realize that everything has changed.

Mothers and kids must learn to separate, ‘bullet’ wounds eventually heal and the love a mother has for their child is always with them, even when they march their way towards independence.

Had I known he would grow so fast, I would have held him even tighter.
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children, family, humor, kids, motherhood, parenting

Swim for Your Lives!

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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

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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!).

Brothers march down the field

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.

T.Puzzle is crushed to the field as the seemingly giant players from the opposition bring the heat.
T.Puzzle goes head to head with a player who is thankfully, more his size.

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?

A determined Full Speed keeps on going!
children, humor, kids, motherhood, parenting, tantrums

Who’s Sore-y Now?

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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?