Friday, March 30, 2012

Lost in Thoughts

You know those nights when you are lost in how green the soon-to-be-roasted Brussels sprouts are before you, while your youngest daughter happily finishes her raspberries so she can go play soccer with her brother, sister and daddy and you are struck by how perfect life feels right at that moment?

Aren't those nights the best?

Friday, March 23, 2012

Best laid plans of moms & dads often go awry

During a sad conversation about which consequences some of A's undesirable actions of late should have, I asked her what her favorite toys were.  Positive affirmations of good behaviour have not worked.  Firm talking- to's have not worked.  Time outs have not worked.  R and I thought we'd give her a warning and then she would lose her favorite toy for a week. 

Of course, that plan backfired when A thought for a second and tearfully answered, "My brother and my sister."

Can't very well take them away for a week, now can we?  On to plan #5 . . .

. . . any ideas about a plan #5 would be much appreciated . . .

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Day in the Life

Original post written March 9, 2012

S has a "raging double ear infection", according to her pediatrician.  Thursday morning, I decided to keep her home from school and send A and M along. 

Following is an excerpt from a very matter of fact conversation the Salad had shortly after I discussed my plan.

M:  S.  I'm going to miss you.
S:  What?
A:  HE SAID HE'S GOING TO MISS YOU!
M:  S?  But don't worry.  Big brother (referring to himself) is going to take your letter X Show and Tell.
A:  And I'll stand up next to you, M.
S:  What?
A:  WE'RE GOING TO DO YOUR SHOW AND TELL!
S:  Nooooooooooo!!!!

S's bitter tears shattered my already fragile heart.  She was devastated to not be able to bring her Show and Tell.  Already, Pre-K 1 had missed out on our letter U Underwear and cocktail Umbrella creative genius during a stomach virus mere weeks before.

I did what any tired, broken down mother would do.  I dosed up her 36 pound daughter on antibiotics and Tylenol and sent her along with her X shaped crayon clenched in her tiny fist. 

God help me.  I may not make it through Kindergarten. 
S, clad in her new swim cap and ear Band-it to keep water out of her whole-y right eardrum.  Oh.  And her goggles.  Just because.

Thursday, March 15, 2012

On Exhaustion, Horse Play and Friendship

I'm about 1 month behind in everything in life . . . phone calls, laundry, blog posts . . . this was originally written February 21, 2012.

The Salad were up and raring to go at 6:30 on Mardi Gras. By 8:18 AM, we had eaten breakfast, gotten dressed, made a king cake, had 1 time out, played a game of Zingo!, crafted green, purple and gold Mardi Gras bead bracelets. I felt like we had lived a whole day in just under 2 hours. I allowed myself a moment to imagine crawling back into bed, then made myself a second cup of coffee and we headed out the door - king cake in hand - to a scooter party with playgroup. 48 degrees in February calls for as much outdoor time as possible.

The kids had a good time. Though there is often some rough housing when a group of 6 boys and 6 girls get together. It's always hard to know at what point to step in to stop the wrastling. Often, in an effort to let the kids be kids, or to let them learn how to work it out among themselves, we let it go until someone gets hurt. My Grammy had an Italian saying she would shout at my sister and I if we were fighting that meant "Stop it before somebody cries!" Perhaps we should adopt it as playgroup's motto.

M has a very sweet friendship with Peter. They seem to join forces against the other boys, in an effort to protect themselves and each other. Unfortunately today, Peter's lip took the brunt of another friend head and M sat by his side until Peter smiled again. During a game of "duck, duck, goose," M said "Pick me, Peter. We're best friends!" And then they hugged and kissed just before we left.

Brofriends.   

Friday, March 9, 2012

Garfield, he's not just a cat anymore

M: "Mommy?  I need to think of a name for my new pet snail."  (referring to the world's tiniest snail that was captured in a mason jar on our hike at Newlin Grist Mill last week)
Me:  "OK.  Let's hear some ideas."
S:  "I think her name is Luna."
M:  "Umm, S?  That is not her name.  And she is not a girl."
A:  "His name is Bob."
M:  "No.  That's not his name either.  Mommy?  Can you please go in and get me the baby naming book?"

Later that evening, as Grammy and M flipped through the book, Porter and Ignatius were rejected. 

Garfield was chosen.  Garfield the Snail.









Snail-naming Brain Trust

Thursday, March 1, 2012

One Up

Coming up with something unique for Show and Tell each week is hard.  Having to come up with 3 somethings unique is damn near impossible.  We've done a pretty good job all year, too.  It helps that many of the parents forget.

This week was letter W.  S brought in a Wheel from our Tinker Toys.  A brought in a gold Wand and a silver Wand, because she wasn't sure which she liked better.  And M.  He's all boy, all the time.  He asked to bring a Worm, a real live Worm.  And while I am totally cool with the Salad picking up, inspecting, and kissing all forms of bug life, I wasn't sure that a teacher would appreciate a live Worm in her class.  In my mind's eye, I imagined the other 8 girls in the class squealing as M chased them with his dirty Worm.  Pretty sure it would have happened just like that, too.

For Ms. Chrissy and his classmates' sakes, I talked him into gummy Worms, to share with the class.  Ms.  Chrissy said they were a HUGE hit.  Maybe not for her, having hopped 20 kids up on sugar and red dye #40, but Whatevs.  You're only 5 once.  That's your chance to share the Wealth of artificial colors.     

On the car ride home, I asked each Salad ingredient to tell me one other item a classmate had brought for Show and Tell.  I like to see if they are paying attention.  M said a Wallet.  S said a Watch.  And here is exactly what A said, "Like everyone brought in Whales.  No one else brought in any of our stuff.  Score 1 for Team insertourlastnamehere!"