Friday, December 28, 2007

What it's worth to be a mom


There are days when being a mom is easy. Then there are the other 364 days per year. So, today, I've decided it would be a great idea to "charge" the kids for my mom duties. Don't you think it'd be a good idea?

Here's just a few of the items they owe me for (just in the past 12 hours)....

$3 - Getting up at midnight last night to give Lauren Tylenol for a headache (medication administration fee is $1, plus the $2 after-hours charge).
$10 - Cleaning up a very poopy diaper and pajamas from Mason this morning (he's on a round of antibiotics) and giving him a bath at 7am (bath fee of $1, plus the $9 grossness factor fee)
$1 - Giving Mason his antibiotics (in addition to his regular medication)
$5 - Transporting kids to/from swimming
$1 - Giving Mason another bath at 11am (see next note)
$15 - Stripping the car seat down to wash it since Mason had a potty accident in the car today (this would include cleaning the seat of the car, the booster seat itself, and the material).
$3 - Laundry

I think that our day would be much brighter as moms if we itemized our duties and put a price tag on our day. It's only 11:55am and I have already earned enough for a manicure and pedicure!

Friday, December 21, 2007

Why I don't like Winter break


Why I don't like "Winter vacation" (i.e. Christmas break). Hmmm. Where to start?

1. It means 24 hours a day; 7 days a week of children. Well, we're only 3 days into the "break", Lauren has been downright disobedient and rude for approximately 76% of the time. Let me take you to day 1 of "the break". Wednesday. While getting ready to change Lauren's earrings (at her request), I asked her to finish one of her chores. She disobeyed. Hence, the consequence was that I would not change her earrings to the "dangly pair" she wanted. Apparantly that was just the sin of all sins. In other words, I was called (by the 6 year old), a liar. That just doesn't sit well with me. After calmly and repeatedly explaining there are consequences for disobeying, the term of "liar" kept sailing thru the air. At that point, many many priviledeges were taken away. Fast forward another hour. After Mason had swimming lessons, I decided we'd take a quick trip to Whole Foods to get sandwiches for lunch. The only "rule" was that Lauren's must have meat in it. And, if she wanted PB&J, I'd fix it at home. I mean, I'm not paying $4 for a PB&J. Turkey or ham yes. PB&J no!. That caused another ruckus. So, the consequence for the tantrum regarding sandwich options, was, for her to eat at home. For this next sin of all sins, I was kicked in the leg in the checkout line. Again, I maintained my composure and simlply reached down & removed the "offending shoe". Shoe number 2 then decided to kick me too. So, the last "offending shoe" was removed. I might add, that this was a rainy, nasty day. So, we're in checkout and Lauren has no shoes. She then has to walk to the car barefoot. Fast forward a few more hours, and the hideous attitude did leave Lauren's body, and was replaced with a much nicer, kinder, gentler Lauren.

2. No "adult" only respite. No time at home alone without kids. Unless you count the 2 hours Meghan babysat for me yesterday while I was at the doctor (and now I'm on 21 days of antibiotics, steroids, and a steroid nasal spray). And, during the time the kids were at Meghan's, Lauren was bossy and Thornley didn't want to play with her. Suits her right. The only redeeming adult time was last night when Jen, Meghan, & I went to dinner at Newcastle pub for happy hour. The appletini's were $2.95 as were the appetizers.

3. See #1 again. Only, today's issue with Lauren was in regards to clothing options. She didn't like the options SHE chose for herself and threw a fit. Mark was at Starbucks picking up drinks (we were out of coffee). When he returned, I explained that there was no way in h--- that Lauren was having hot chocolate...and could have the alternate non-chocolate beverage. Apparantly that was another major sin. She sulked in her room for another hour. Oh well.

4. Snoring. Mark came home from a business trip. This is all good news....with the exception that he arrived home at 1am; came home with a cold; and snored ALL night.

Monday, December 10, 2007

Stupid


For those of you who know me well, 'Stupid' is not a word we say in our house. For obvious reasons. Kind of like retarded. It's another one we just don't say. Anyway, we consider 'stupid' a 'bad word'. Lauren knows that we don't say 'stupid'. In fact, when watching a movie, and 'Stupid' is said, she'll look at me in the "I know we don't say that" kind of look.
Well, guess what? We caught Mason saying 'Stupid'. I thought I heard him say it yesterday, but wasn't sure. Well, today I was sure. He was playing with his cars & I heard him say 'stupid'. Mark asked him what he said & Mason repeated it. I sat him down and said "we don't say that".
Today after our 1st of three appointments at Children's this week, the word emerged again. Only this time it was directed towards me. Here is how the conversation unfolded:
Me: Mason, you need to use your walking feet.

Mason: No, I running.
Me: (After catching up to him in the hall) Mason, you can use walking feet or you have to hold my hand.
Mason: (pouts)
Me: I take his hand to hold it
Mason: (takes his hand back)
Me; Mason, you must walk.
Mason: Stupid
Me: Did you just say 'stupid?
Mason; Yes

So, that was our fun outing to the doctor. I'm apparently stupid. And, well, he got a time out.

P.S. I forgot to add that I personally blame Charlie Brown's Christmas for this!!! They use the word stupid quite frequently!!!

Monday, December 3, 2007

Persistence pays off


A known trick to us "frequent flyers" of Children's hospital clinics is to call back and ask to be put on the cancellation list. The good news, is that quite often, you are able to get into clinic sooner than your original appointment. The bad news is, there is little "prep" time.

This morning I called the immunology clinic to talk to my new BFF, "the scheduler". Will wonders never cease? She answered the phone! So, I asked if there were any cancellations for tomorrow's immunology clinic, or the following week's clinic....knowing very well that immunology clinic is held on Tuesday mornings only. She put me on hold and I waited. She came back on the line. Nope, no openings. So, I asked to be put on the cancellation list.

Low and behold, at 2:15 today, I received a call from another "scheduler". They have a cancellation for Tuesday morning at 9am. Can we make it? YES WE CAN! I spent the last hour with the kids watching A Charlie Brown Christmas, while I typed up a list of Mason's illnesses and antibiotics used for the past 2 years. Anyway I will be dropping Lauren off at Meghan's at 7:45am to play before school. Mason & I will be trekking over to Children's. YIPPEE!!!

Saturday, December 1, 2007

4 inches

We woke to about 1/2 an inch of snow today. The weather forecasters predicted we'd get some snow this afternoon, but it arrived early. In our household, snow is right up there with Santa and Christmas morning. Before we could even discuss "acceptable attire", the kids were outside on the deck. Lauren was the first one outside - in her pajamas, barefoot - to eat the snow. Mason opted to put his own shoes (on the correct feet, no less) before venturing out to make a snowball.
But alas, it melted quickly.
We went about the day "business as usual". At around 1:15, the snow started again. This time we had "serious snow". So, we all bundled up and walked to Starbucks - as is our ritual when it snows. When we returned, it was time to build the necessary snowman. All the neighbors were outside too, ranging from 5 (Mason) to teens. There was an all-out neighborhood snowball fight. It was quite the site to see, with kids (and Mark) running, hiding, and flinging snowballs at each other. 3 other neighbors built snowmen too. By 4:30 it was time to come in and warm up a bit. When I measured, we had 2 inches of snow!!

As I sit here typing tonight, the snow is still coming down. When I last officially measured at 9:15, we had 4 inches! The roads are covered and it's beautiful.