I so look forward to my Thursday mornings because my Mom takes the girls to dance and I get a few hours with just my boys. I usually try to go shopping because it's so much easier with only two children in tow. This morning however my boys are both asleep. I am struck with time, during daylight, by myself. I know, What? So, what should I do. Dinner is already in the crockpot and the bread needs to rise for at least another two hours. I could exercise or work on lesson plans but instead I decided to read for fun. This lasted about 30 seconds until I realized that I had overdue books at the library, so then I logged on to renew them. I was online anyway so I read my facebook, that took me to an interesting article about not cussing in front of your children, which led me to think that I should add a blog entry, when I realized I could drink my morning tea while it was hot. And, while I was drinking my tea I could read my book, but I forgot where I put it last night because there was some emergency while I was trying to read before bed. I thought all this through and realized that I am a little disorganized lately. That reminded me that I used to be very organized. I liked my house clean, I did all my laundry at once and put it away, yeah, all three loads in my small washer. I used to do the dishes after every meal and I had a menu for the week. Now, not so much. My husband says he sometimes feels bamboozled. "I always feel frazzled, but in a good way." Is my standard reply. Which reminded me that I have six loads of laundry to fold and I didn't wash the sheets on Monday like I usually do. On my way to get the sheets I stepped on a tupperware lid which reminded me I need sandwich baggies at the store so I went to write that on the list. Now both the boys are awake and eating cereal together, not sure the 3 year old should be feeding the almost 10 month old, but they are both happy and not making too big of a mess. Well, there goes my free time! I got nothing done. Now we have to run errands and do school and I should work on the girls lessons and I guess I should finish the laundry. I have to go to the library because I can't renew the video we checked out. And my tea got cold while I was looking for my book. Ah, my nice relaxing morning...
By the way, I can't even say frikin, my son says it's a bad word, now I say toejam, mostly because it usually makes me laugh and yelling it when you are angry is very satisfying.
Thursday, January 31, 2013
Sunday, January 20, 2013
Sports Parents
I've played sports since I was quite young and I've now had a child in sports for four years. I've seen many kinds of parents over the years, here are some of my favorites.
1. The "random yell" parent. This is the parent that picks a phrase that might be applicable in some situations during the game such as "Get there!", "Faster!" or my personal favorite "Gowafter it!" This parent then yells this same phrase over and over ever thirty seconds or so for the entire game, for the entire season. They are from then on known as the "Get there!" guy, the "Faster!" lady, or Mr. "Gowafter it!". These people often do not realize that they are called this name at dinner tables around town, but we thank them for the conversation starter.
2. The "BOOOO" parent. Do not be this parent. It is ok to voice displeasure every now and then, and there might be times when it seems appropriate. You do not want to be known as the boooer. This means that you don't cheer except to put someone else down. What are you teaching your child? I mean really.
3. The "my child is the greatest" parent. Your child is great, so are all the other children on the team. It's o.k. to point out when your child is doing well, just remember that other players are doing well too. When you point out that your child is the greatest you are either wrong, or you are gloating. Either way you look a dork.
4. The snack parent. This is the parent that either brings snacks or makes sure someone else does to every practice and game. These are the parents that seem really organized and make the rest of us feel bad. Secretly we are glad to have them on the team because we totally don't have time to be this organized.
5. The encouraging parent. This parent only says positive things. Often you will listen to this parent cheer because you are sure that they will yell something negative and you want to catch them because they can't be that good, can they? Usually they are, they really are, and because of them you believe in humanity just a little bit more. You secretly wish you could be this parent, but know you will fail eventually.
6. The "organized cheer" parent. This is the parent that knows all the rhyming cheers, like the cheerleaders with uniforms know. I don't really know these cheers. You sometimes feel like you need to join in these cheers, that's a good thing because it builds a sense of community with the other parents. It's also acceptable to just opt out. The neat thing about these organized cheers is that no one really notices if you participate or not.
7. The "silent" parent. This is the parent that shows up to all the games, all the practices, sits alone, and never says anything. No one knows who this person is, which child is theirs, or even if they have one. Hmmm.... Not every team has this parent, but when you do it's a little odd.
8. The knows everyone parent. This person knows everyone there, in the play, away from the play, probably even the snack bar guy. You will find out that they have three or four children in the sport and have been doing this WAY too long. They are also inherently good at remembering names. Do not feel bad that you are not as good as them at remembering who everyone is, this is their special talent, they are awesome.
9. The take charge parent. This person is either great or really annoying, depending totally on their personality. You will likely have to deal with both. Sometimes this person is awesome, they are positive and truly trying to help the youth sport organization because they think it's important for children. If this is the case, offer to help, you will learn a lot and be totally impressed. Then, there are the ones that try to take over for their own child. If this is the case just stay out of the way, it's safer.
10. The "crazy cheer" parent. This is my favorite. I think it's important for the children to have one of these on each team. This is the parent that yells loud and proud and dances. It is a huge embarrassment for their child, but when they yell positive cheers it actually helps the whole team and isn't too bad for their son or daughter either. Yes, it's silly, but it's oh so neat to get people to realize IT'S ONLY A GAME!
So, go, be sports parents. Go, go I say, enjoy the early morning drives with your child, the lifelong friends you will all make, and the great conversations you have after the game. You can be one of these, or make up your own but remember, be positive.
1. The "random yell" parent. This is the parent that picks a phrase that might be applicable in some situations during the game such as "Get there!", "Faster!" or my personal favorite "Gowafter it!" This parent then yells this same phrase over and over ever thirty seconds or so for the entire game, for the entire season. They are from then on known as the "Get there!" guy, the "Faster!" lady, or Mr. "Gowafter it!". These people often do not realize that they are called this name at dinner tables around town, but we thank them for the conversation starter.
2. The "BOOOO" parent. Do not be this parent. It is ok to voice displeasure every now and then, and there might be times when it seems appropriate. You do not want to be known as the boooer. This means that you don't cheer except to put someone else down. What are you teaching your child? I mean really.
3. The "my child is the greatest" parent. Your child is great, so are all the other children on the team. It's o.k. to point out when your child is doing well, just remember that other players are doing well too. When you point out that your child is the greatest you are either wrong, or you are gloating. Either way you look a dork.
4. The snack parent. This is the parent that either brings snacks or makes sure someone else does to every practice and game. These are the parents that seem really organized and make the rest of us feel bad. Secretly we are glad to have them on the team because we totally don't have time to be this organized.
5. The encouraging parent. This parent only says positive things. Often you will listen to this parent cheer because you are sure that they will yell something negative and you want to catch them because they can't be that good, can they? Usually they are, they really are, and because of them you believe in humanity just a little bit more. You secretly wish you could be this parent, but know you will fail eventually.
6. The "organized cheer" parent. This is the parent that knows all the rhyming cheers, like the cheerleaders with uniforms know. I don't really know these cheers. You sometimes feel like you need to join in these cheers, that's a good thing because it builds a sense of community with the other parents. It's also acceptable to just opt out. The neat thing about these organized cheers is that no one really notices if you participate or not.
7. The "silent" parent. This is the parent that shows up to all the games, all the practices, sits alone, and never says anything. No one knows who this person is, which child is theirs, or even if they have one. Hmmm.... Not every team has this parent, but when you do it's a little odd.
8. The knows everyone parent. This person knows everyone there, in the play, away from the play, probably even the snack bar guy. You will find out that they have three or four children in the sport and have been doing this WAY too long. They are also inherently good at remembering names. Do not feel bad that you are not as good as them at remembering who everyone is, this is their special talent, they are awesome.
9. The take charge parent. This person is either great or really annoying, depending totally on their personality. You will likely have to deal with both. Sometimes this person is awesome, they are positive and truly trying to help the youth sport organization because they think it's important for children. If this is the case, offer to help, you will learn a lot and be totally impressed. Then, there are the ones that try to take over for their own child. If this is the case just stay out of the way, it's safer.
10. The "crazy cheer" parent. This is my favorite. I think it's important for the children to have one of these on each team. This is the parent that yells loud and proud and dances. It is a huge embarrassment for their child, but when they yell positive cheers it actually helps the whole team and isn't too bad for their son or daughter either. Yes, it's silly, but it's oh so neat to get people to realize IT'S ONLY A GAME!
So, go, be sports parents. Go, go I say, enjoy the early morning drives with your child, the lifelong friends you will all make, and the great conversations you have after the game. You can be one of these, or make up your own but remember, be positive.
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
My Birthday
So today was my birthday, I turned an age that is appropriate to be the mother of my children. I am not ashamed of my age, I just always get "Wow, you're young!" or "Hmm, I thought you were younger." So, I don't mention it anymore.
I had a lovely day, but it really started last night. I had the 10 pm hockey game. I think I am the only one in the whole league that likes these. I find them fun and I don't have to worry so much about the children I left at home with my husband because I know that he and the baby will sleep on the couch while the other three watch movies on pbskids. Somehow this is comforting. It was a fun game, my Dad got a hat trick and I stopped a penalty shot so way fun. Oh yeah, and we won in overtime.
When I got home from hockey I couldn't sleep (of course) so I logged on to Facebook hoping my friends could amuse me and it was great because I'd already started getting Happy Birthday posts on my timeline. I know not everyone has Facebook birthdays but I must say they are AWESOME. I just yelled that in my head so it was in caps. I just felt so much love, in a good way, from all my Facebook friends.
My children let me sleep in until 10:30 because they were up until I got home from my hockey game and made them go to bed. When they woke up I packed up their school stuff and took us all out for breakfast. We did school in the restaurant after we ate. My son asked for harder math because the addition he's doing is for babies. These were his exact words...
"Mom, can I have kindergarten math, these problems are for babies. I am almost 4! I thought we were doing homeschool so I could go at my own pace."
The man at the table next to us looked at us strangely and shook his head. Then my so proceeded to tell his sister the answers to her math problems and said "See Mom, I can do that."
Hmm, I'm thinking I need to start him on multiplication.
When we got home from breakfast about 2, we started baking cookies for my birthday dessert. Then, about 3:30 I had the ingredients out for the cookies. About 4:45 I put two of the children on the ice rink in the back yard because I couldn't figure out how to make cookies with three helpers. Then about 5:15 I put too much flour in the cookies. Then, about 5:30 the cookies were in the oven. Hmmm, it used to take me about 35 minutes to bake 4 dozen cookies. Right, we will not think about that ever again.
We then had a lovely dinner at my Mom's with family and friends and I got some really neat presents. Of course my favorites were from my oldest daughter, She made me a stick horse head from one of my socks, I think it will make a nice pillow on our next road trip. She also made me a lovely curtain for me kitchen window. I am now really glad I said she could have a sewing machine for Christmas. Mixed in with my pride for her was a little sad/glad moment when I realized that she is getting really grown up.
When we got home from dinner I started getting the ski stuff out. That's right, we are going skiing tomorrow. I am excited and will consider this part of my birthday and not only because my husband is taking off of work on a Wednesday.
Now I need to sleep so I can wake up early tomorrow. Thanks to everyone who made this birthday a great one.
I had a lovely day, but it really started last night. I had the 10 pm hockey game. I think I am the only one in the whole league that likes these. I find them fun and I don't have to worry so much about the children I left at home with my husband because I know that he and the baby will sleep on the couch while the other three watch movies on pbskids. Somehow this is comforting. It was a fun game, my Dad got a hat trick and I stopped a penalty shot so way fun. Oh yeah, and we won in overtime.
When I got home from hockey I couldn't sleep (of course) so I logged on to Facebook hoping my friends could amuse me and it was great because I'd already started getting Happy Birthday posts on my timeline. I know not everyone has Facebook birthdays but I must say they are AWESOME. I just yelled that in my head so it was in caps. I just felt so much love, in a good way, from all my Facebook friends.
My children let me sleep in until 10:30 because they were up until I got home from my hockey game and made them go to bed. When they woke up I packed up their school stuff and took us all out for breakfast. We did school in the restaurant after we ate. My son asked for harder math because the addition he's doing is for babies. These were his exact words...
"Mom, can I have kindergarten math, these problems are for babies. I am almost 4! I thought we were doing homeschool so I could go at my own pace."
The man at the table next to us looked at us strangely and shook his head. Then my so proceeded to tell his sister the answers to her math problems and said "See Mom, I can do that."
Hmm, I'm thinking I need to start him on multiplication.
When we got home from breakfast about 2, we started baking cookies for my birthday dessert. Then, about 3:30 I had the ingredients out for the cookies. About 4:45 I put two of the children on the ice rink in the back yard because I couldn't figure out how to make cookies with three helpers. Then about 5:15 I put too much flour in the cookies. Then, about 5:30 the cookies were in the oven. Hmmm, it used to take me about 35 minutes to bake 4 dozen cookies. Right, we will not think about that ever again.
We then had a lovely dinner at my Mom's with family and friends and I got some really neat presents. Of course my favorites were from my oldest daughter, She made me a stick horse head from one of my socks, I think it will make a nice pillow on our next road trip. She also made me a lovely curtain for me kitchen window. I am now really glad I said she could have a sewing machine for Christmas. Mixed in with my pride for her was a little sad/glad moment when I realized that she is getting really grown up.
When we got home from dinner I started getting the ski stuff out. That's right, we are going skiing tomorrow. I am excited and will consider this part of my birthday and not only because my husband is taking off of work on a Wednesday.
Now I need to sleep so I can wake up early tomorrow. Thanks to everyone who made this birthday a great one.
Saturday, January 12, 2013
10 I am trying to not do this new year
These are not resolutions because those just discourage me. I set a resolution, then I mess up once, then I give up. I decided to not do that this year, instead I'm going to try my best to get better.
1. I will not get upset when I don't get to follow my plan for the day.
2. I will not think I failed if no one likes dinner.
3. I will not get discouraged when projects take twice as long as they did before I had children.
4. I will not apologize for being tired because I stayed up late reading a good book. (I will try to limit this to about once per month)
5. I will not feel guilty for spending the afternoon playing monopoly instead of doing laundry.
6. I will not wait until my house is clean to invite people over.
7. I will not wait until my chores are done to take my children to the park.
8. I will not forget my anniversary.
9. I will not only rent movies for the children.
10. I will not let the ants eat my strawberry plants.
Friday, January 4, 2013
Ten Things My Daughters Have Taught Me
My daughters are both lovely, inside and out. They are also very different. I never had a sister so I didn't know what it would be like to raise two girls, not really. I'm learning so much from watching them grow, so I'm writing it down so I don't forget.
1. You can love someone without liking their behavior.
2. You can love someone without liking the things they like, this includes their clothes, hobbies, toys, and favorite foods.
3. Love means compromise. This includes movies, clothes, hairstyles, paint color, music, and books.
4. When you love someone you will know what to say to hurt them most. Loving them means you won't say it.
5. When good things come your way you will want to share them with those you love.
6. When bad things come your way a sister can always help.
7. It's easy to unite against a common enemy (this may not always be your brother).
8. When your dress, headband, jacket, or other item looks better on someone else than it does on you let them keep it. Their joy in having your thing will make you happier than having the thing.
9. It's always a good time to pretend.
10. Sometimes friends need to stay up late talking.
1. You can love someone without liking their behavior.
2. You can love someone without liking the things they like, this includes their clothes, hobbies, toys, and favorite foods.
3. Love means compromise. This includes movies, clothes, hairstyles, paint color, music, and books.
4. When you love someone you will know what to say to hurt them most. Loving them means you won't say it.
5. When good things come your way you will want to share them with those you love.
6. When bad things come your way a sister can always help.
7. It's easy to unite against a common enemy (this may not always be your brother).
8. When your dress, headband, jacket, or other item looks better on someone else than it does on you let them keep it. Their joy in having your thing will make you happier than having the thing.
9. It's always a good time to pretend.
10. Sometimes friends need to stay up late talking.
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
Stories
This is the best example I've ever seen (heard) to express the differences between my children. I stayed home with my baby because it was cold and he had a cough, the other children went with Daddy to see the lights at the gardens. When they got back I asked them individually what they saw.
My seven year old:
Oh Mom, they had all my favorites from last year and some really neat new things too. My favorite is still the baby elephants. I missed you, but next year brother will be fun to take. I hope he doesn't get sick again next year.
My there year old:
It was so exciting! There were lights everywhere and Grandma and Grandpa were there. I didn't get lost and Daddy said I was good. Can you play hockey with me tomorrow if brother feels better?
My five year old:
There were giraffe lights! They had scarves on the ants. The pumpkin made me dizzy. There were giraffes. I didn't get hot chocolate. It was called a yarn bomb. I want giraffe lights if we ever decorate for Christmas. I missed you. It was fun. The giraffes were big. I think the penguins were new. Can we go again? I'm going to call it the enchanted garden. I will draw a picture of the giraffes. I really like the lights. The castle had lights. I liked the purple boots the best. We rode backwards on the train. I'm tired. Good night, Mom!
I couldn't have said it better myself!
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