About Me

My photo
I have three fabulous children and a terrific husband. I was recently laid off and have decided to try the stay-at-home gig. We'll see how it goes!

Monday, July 30, 2012

Worst day EVER!

Wow!  I knew it would happen some day; I just never knew it could happen so fast.  A few weeks ago I survived the worst day ever.  It's hard to imagine that it could get any worse.  I'm sure it can be worse, so I'm not going to jinx it by saying I won't have a worse day.  I'm only now writing about it because it has taken that long to get over it.  I can almost laugh about it.... almost.

It all started with me daring to get up early to work out.  I should have known that was not a good idea.  Of course the kids got up early and were fighting with one another and that fighting did not stop ALL day.  So the work out didn't go as planned and my 30 minute work out turned into a 45 minute work out.  As I was stretching I heard, "Mom... the TV is broken."  At first I thought they had just messed something up with the remote, but I had a sinking feeling that it was something else.  The TV was in fact broken.  My darling son had cracked the screen.  All I could do was walk away.

Then I had the nerve to take a shower.  There's nothing like having a 3 year old sneak in on you while your face is covered with soap, especially after he's broken the TV.  We survived the next couple of hours with no big incidents; just constant fighting.  I got my son down for a nap, made some banana bread and hung out with my oldest for a while.  Then the baby needed to be fed.  So I went to my room and left my daughter downstairs to play.  A little while later she came up to ask me if my son had gotten into the banana bread because she noticed the tops had been messed with.  I knew my son hadn't done it because he was asleep, so it had to be her.  So not only did she eat the top off the banana bread (bread I was supposed to be taking to some one else), she tried to blame her brother for it.  I really didn't know how to respond to that either, so she spent a few hours in her room.

That same day I was worried our baby was coming down with a fever, so I was taking her temperature and foolishly left the thermometer on the kitchen table.  I let my daughter out of her room for a snack with her brother.  And of course my son immediately reached for the thermometer and promptly dropped it on the floor where it broke.  I really didn't know what to do from there.  The kids wouldn't stop fighting with one another.  My parenting skills had already been taxed that day and I had nothing left.  I sent my husband a text that said, "I don't think I'm going to make it".  He was home within an hour.

When he got home he was greeted with a very quiet scene.  I told my daughter to sit on one side of the room, my son on the other, I had the baby in my arms and I dared them to speak before their dad got home.  He walked in and I told him to go on upstairs, change his clothes and take a few minutes to wind down from his day and when he was ready, to come down and I'd fill him in on the events of the day.

As I recounted the day's events his face got more and more sullen.  His shoulders noticeably drooped and after I had recounted everything I could remember, he just rubbed his chin in that intellectual way and told the kids to go to their rooms and that we would talk and come up with appropriate punishments.

I am happy to say that the kids have seemed to have learned their lesson and have behaved much better.  It doesn't hurt that they went about 2 weeks without TV and still haven't been able to watch much television.  Our daughter spent 2 days grounded to her room for lying and while we are still dealing with some lying issues, I think she has learned her lesson.  Really I'm glad that day happened.  I survived it and am hopefully more prepared for the future.

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

More on my foot than in his mouth

Three year olds are an interesting breed.  They can do some things on their own,  but still require supervision to make sure they don't cut their fingers off when using safety scissors.  My son can change his own Pull-Up, but refuses to pee on the potty on his own.  The other day we were at the store and he insisted on getting a drink from the drinking fountain.  He really wants to be able to get a drink by himself like his big sister, and he's almost big enough.  So I had to pick him up, which isn't really a big deal, except that he was so excited about being allowed to use the drinking fountain that he forgot where his mouth was and ended up sloshing water all over his face and onto my foot.  He had to have gotten twice as much water on my foot than he did his mouth.  I then got to spend the next five minutes walking around the store with my foot slipping on the wet sole of my sandal.  Totally awesome.

My oldest has always been a talker and she would ask tons of questions, but my son is like a 20 questions App that's stuck on repeat.  He NEVER stops.  Maybe it's because I'm home all the time now, but I can only take so much.  He will ask me the same question no less than 10 times in 10 minutes.  For example, today I told him he could have banana bread for a snack a few hours before snack time.  BIG mistake.  I was bombarded with the question, "Can I have banana bread for a snack?" no less than 120 times.  A few times while I was cutting the bread and putting it on the plate!  I don't understand the need to ask over and over again.  My answer didn't change and  I don't lie to my children.  If I tell them I'm going to do something, I do it.  There is absolutely no reason for him to think I would not give him banana bread and yet he felt it was necessary to make sure over and over and over and over again.  I know this is just a phase, but my daughter is seven and she hasn't completely grown out of it.

I try to focus on the knowledge that in a few short years they will quit talking to me and I will be like a 3 year old constantly asking them the same question, hoping they will respond.

Friday, July 20, 2012

Mom's time out

After two dirty pull-ups, four dirty diapers and some immense 7 year old attitude I needed a time out!  I was super cranky with a terrible headache.  All I could think about was getting away. We've had a lot of visitors lately, so my house was a disaster and I was feeling completely overwhelmed by everything I needed to do.  I had my escape planned.  As soon as we finished dinner, I was going to kiss the kids and my husband and leave.  I didn't know where, but I was going to be alone.  I even called a fellow SAHM, who I thought could use a time out as well.  Unfortunately she was not able to get away, but we made plans for another day.

As soon as my husband got home I informed him of my plans and he said the most incredible thing I've ever heard.  He said, "Why don't you go now?  Stay out as late as you like and I'll take care of the kids."  That's right he said it; while the baby was crying!  I didn't give him ten minutes and I was out the door.  It was the best two hours.  I ran a few errands and ate dinner alone.  It was AWESOME.  I got to eat my whole meal, all the way through without getting up.  There were not trips to the fridge for juice, or seconds or dropped forks.  Then I treated myself to a wonderful shake and a 30 minute uninterrupted talk with my best friend.

Even though my time out was very relaxing and just what I needed, I couldn't help but feel guilty leaving my husband at home.  I don't know why.  I stay at home with all three kids everyday.  He's perfectly capable of taking care of the kids.  They are his too.  Yet, I couldn't help but feel bad.  When I got home I found out the baby cried the whole time I was gone.  But we took care of that, I kissed the kids goodnight and went to sleep.  Best time out ever!

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

So what's new with you?

It finally happened.  A single friend of mine asked me what was new with me.  What is new with me?  Not much.  The kids have been behaving.  The baby has settled into a nice routine that includes sleeping 10-12 hours a night and we're getting ready for school to start.  Not really exciting information for some one who lives a life of freedom.  Another mom might find my time out anecdotes funny or want to hear about the newest recipe I tried, but I can't imagine it's that interesting to some one who's single and has an interesting job.

I felt boring.  I had nothing interesting to contribute to the conversation.  It's only been 5 and a half months since my last day at work and my life has become dimensionless.  I used to be a mom, a wife, a researcher, a commuter, a teacher and a student just to name a few.  That list is now down to a wife and mom.  I'm sure if I really thought about it there would be more to the list, but right now, that's all I've got.  I've really got to find time for a hobby.

Sunday, July 15, 2012

I have seen my future

I have seen my future and I'm very optimistic.  The last week and a half we have had the pleasure of hosting my sister-in-law and her family which consists of her funny husband and three kids.  She is the proud mom of a 15 year old young man, a nearly 13 year old young lady (yikes!) and an 11 year old boy.  She doesn't have to change their diapers, or wipe their faces (usually), or help them get dressed.  While they like her and do want some attention from her they don't clasp to her leg like she could disappear at any moment.  While they fight with one another and don't always clean up their mess, they are very well mannered and are very polite to adults; even aunts who taunt and poke at them (hee hee).  It was very nice to see that my days of butt wiping, nose wiping, vomit catching and potty training will end.


While there is light at the end of the tunnel, I did see new challenges on the horizon.  Acne, attitude (13 year old girl attitude) and size just to name a few.  My 11 year old nephew is super STRONG!  If he got mad enough at his sister, he could do some real damage.  Luckily for her, her brothers have been well raised and do not hit her as hard as they can.  


My oldest nephew will be getting his driver's permit soon.  I like to think I could teach my kids to drive, but I don't know.  It's got to be hard to separate who you knew the child to be at 8 or 9 from the young adult they are at 16.  I know my parents still have a tendency to treat me like I was still the crazy, fly-by-the-seat of my pants teen I used to be.  If my son continues with his dare-devil ways, he's never going to drive.


All-in-all it was a great visit and I was very happy to see that a mother of three can survive and the children can grow up to be calmer, less whiny and potty trained! 

Sunday, July 8, 2012

Is every day a Saturday?

Ever since my dad retired his motto has been, "every day is Saturday".  He likes to say that about my being a stay at home mom also.  At first I liked the idea because I loved Saturdays.  I got to play with my kids, hang our with my husband and not go to work.  Now that I don't work, I still like Saturdays, but for a totally different reason.  My husband is home.  I have help doing my job.  Saturdays no longer mean getting to play with my kids and hang out with my husband.  Now they mean I have a chance to maybe get an hour to myself, or sleep in a little. 

Unfortunately, I don't always get a break from my job.  All week long it's my job to cook, clean and play/entertain the kids.  It's my job to do it on the weekend as well.  My husband helps out, but I never really get a break.  In the few months I've been home I have occasionally been able to go to the grocery store myself and the other day I went to the doctor alone.  No matter what I get to do alone, I still have to rush home to make sure I can feed the baby.  Right now my life is very much not my own as  I am at the mercy of a two month old.  I know she could be given a bottle and I could get away longer, but then my nursing schedule would get all messed up and I don't want to risk getting mastitis again.

Oh, how I long to sleep in until 8 and be able to make a meal or take a shower without playing 20 questions with the kids.  It seems like before I can finish one request another has already been submitted.  I'm busier at home than I ever was at work.  In a few years all the kids will be in school and they won't want to have anything to do with me.  So for right now, I think I'll just enjoy the time I have with my kids.  In fact I have to go change yet another poopy diaper right now.  Oh happy day!

Wednesday, July 4, 2012

More Fatherly Advice

I love my husband.  He is hi-lar-i-ous.  He is truly a great father and is very concerned with our children's education.  He reads to them, corrects their grammar and tries to answer every one of their questions.  But he also provides them with valuable life lessons that can only be taught by a parent.


We took the kids out to lunch the other day and bought them ice cream cones.  Surprisingly, our kids are able to eat cones with little to no mess.  However, my husband feels it is imperative that they learn how to smoosh down their ice cream so it fills the whole cone.  I watched for about 5 minutes as my husband tried to explain/demonstrate the art of ice cream smooshing.  Of course he had to help them and ended up decreasing the amount of ice cream left in their cones, but as a parent, you do what you've got to do.


A few mornings later, the lesson was all about how to drink your cereal milk.  This has long been a tradition in our house and my husband is a master.  My amateur son dared to drink his milk from the side of the bowl and my husband's yellow flag went out.  No worries though.  My husband took the time teach my son to properly drink his cereal milk from the corner of the bowl.  And thank goodness.  We're about to have company and I don't know what I would do if my son drank his milk from the side of the bowl!  I would be utterly embarrassed.