parenting – Page 50 – Writes for all Mommies

children, humor, kids, motherhood, parenting

Merry Parenting!

25/12/2011 WFAM

It’s difficult to know how effectively you are doing your job as a stay-at-home Mom. There isn’t much to go in way of job performance reviews or bonuses for excellence in laundering. I gauge how I’m doing based solely on the behavior and successes of my children. This is not a system without its flaws.

We were outside yesterday as I tried desperately to burn some Christmas Eve energy out of the boys. I ended up keeping them out too long and two meltdowns later, T.Puzzle had to be sent inside.

Full Speed didn’t mind. In fact he wholeheartedly agreed he was ready to go inside, too. He put all the toys away without being asked and happily volunteered to help me put away my folding chair.

“Wow, Full Speed! I’m so impressed with how helpful you are being. Way to go!” I felt so proud of him and myself. Obviously my caring and thoughtful examples through the years for Full Speed were showing signs of paying off. I gave myself a gold star for parenting until…

“Mom, I’m being a good helper to make sure I stay on Santa’s good list since Christmas is tomorrow.”

Santa – 1 Mom – 0

Merry Christmas, Everyone!

children, gratitude, mommyhood, motherhood, parenting

All Things Equal

22/12/2011 WFAM

All things are equal in a the life of a boy. Helping out at an organization that serves the homeless population is as exciting as playing a dinosaur video game after a family movie.

I am trying so hard to teach my boys gratitude for what they have and foster a spirit of giving to help those less fortunate. As I took a step back and watched the boys interact with the volunteers and the patrons of the wonderful organization we donated our time and items to, they treated everyone the same. They were as excited to meet my friend who volunteers there as they were to hand out candy canes to the homeless in the waiting area. They brought a current of excitement to every corner of that place.

444158375606 — Full Speed and T.Puzzle help sort and organize the clothes we donated.

244158375606 — Helping my friend hand out candy canes and spreading good cheer.

This same excitement carried through the rest of our day. They boisterously enjoyed our afternoon movie of ‘The Adventures of Tin Tin‘. They even took the dino hunting video game in the theater lobby to a whole new level of player concentration.

It’s possible that they didn’t fully appreciate our morning visit to the homeless organization. Maybe that isn’t the point. I think I learned more by watching them stay fully committed to each moment of their day no matter what it looked like. They treated everyone and every situation of the day exactly the same.

All things and all people really are equal to them.

children, humor, kids, motherhood, parenting, Taekwondo

True Story

17/12/201119/12/2011 WFAM

The following is a true account of the events that took place during Full Speed’s black belt graduation.

Full Speed brought his ‘A’ game. His punches and kicks were on fire.

His black belt form was crisp and precise.

He did take a beating during sparring. So much in fact T.Puzzle turned to me and said, “Full Speed sure is getting a beat-down.” True, this is all true.

Fortunately part of the black belt spirit is persevering even when you want to give up. Full Speed pulled it together and his nunchuk demo was fierce.

Then it was time for the belt ceremony. I mean this is the big time, right? This is what it all comes down to, this one, bright shining moment and…

guess who needed to go potty right then?

Little T.Puzzle. Oh, dear sweet T.Puzzle, how I love you so and your extremely inconvenient potty moments.

Mad Dog says, “He’s five, send him on his own. He can do it.”

My Mommy Instinct reached a five-alarm status but I didn’t want to miss a minute of the black belt ceremony. I squashed down my doubt and reluctantly sent him on his way.

An eternity passes and I insist, “Mad Dog, go check on T.Puzzle.” My tone was not necessarily pleasant and seemed to adequately convey my dismay (a.k.a.-Mom was about to lose her mind).

Guess who had locked themselves in the bathroom and was reaching a complete meltdown status?

Strike two for T.Puzzle.

This is where my life flashed before my eyes and I gave up hope that we could celebrate Full Speed’s achievement together (or that anything in my life with these two boys will ever go as I plan them in my head).

However, we didn’t give up. We all kept our black belt attitudes and Mad Dog calmly coached a hysterical T.Puzzle through the unlocking process (thankfully, there was so much noise in the studio, the near Great Bathroom Disaster of 2011 went largely undetected).

The ceremony was saved, Full Speed’s black belt rewarded and T.Puzzle lived to see the light of day again.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA — Awesome job, Full Speed!

children, humor, kids, motherhood, parenting

Black Belt Anxiety

16/12/2011 WFAM

This afternoon Full Speed will test for his black belt. He had the option to break boards (which a majority of graduates choose) or do a solo weapons demonstration. He chose the latter therefore I’m choosing to freak out. I feel as nervous for him as if I had to do the demo myself (granted my flying high kick is superb but no one needs to see that). As for him? He is as cool as can be. I think I have more to learn from this kid than I will ever be able to teach him. He is fearless, he lives in the moment and when he wants something he fights for it.

Good luck, Full Speed!

09-24-2009 08;28;55AM — Full Speed breaking a board for a graduation long ago at the age of 3.

children, gratitude, humor, kids, motherhood, parenting

Our Little Buckeye Turns Five

08/12/2011 WFAM

When you find the perfect gift for someone, it almost feels like a gift to yourself because it makes someone you love so happy. A few weeks ago Mad Dog ordered a Brutus the Buckeye winter cap for T.Puzzle’s 5th birthday. As soon as T.Puzzle opened it up, he placed it on his head and could barely be convinced to remove it for the 80 degree day we were having.

The compromise we reached to avoid the most conflict on this milestone birthday, was to let me bring the cap in with his cupcakes in the afternoon. He happily wore it as soon as I walked in his classroom’s door.

434329845606 — T.Puzzle proudly posing with his cupcakes

Who knew Brutus the Buckeye was capable of bringing so much joy to one little (or dare I say big) five year old?