Garbage Day! As the city is on strike, we decided to make our own garbage day. Thanks to the hateful raccoons, I had quite the mess from the green bin to clean up this morning, so I decided it was time to visit a temporary dump.
First, I took the kids to Walmart where I needed one item: Flushables. OK, so I was running low on toilet paper and paper towels as well. And I guess I could use some Spray 'N' Wash since Son One's T-ball team has WHITE PANTS and the grass stains just don't want to come out.
$124 later...
I drove by a temporary dump site on the way home and noticed neither pickets nor a line up. BONUS!
At home we sorted and double bagged our garbage, recycling and green bin. Back to the temporary dump, the boys and I got to play garbage man by flinging our bags onto the big piles. The nice man at the entrance asked how many bags we had, and if I could handle them myself. It started pouring just as we were done our trash toss.
NOTE: They are not taking recycling at the drop-off centres. They want all garbage double bagged, preferably in black bags. And they are not separating green bin from regular garbage...
The kids really enjoyed the garbage adventure. And as good neighbours, they remembered the old lady next door and also took her green bin to the dump. Some days I really like my kids. Today is one of them.
Tonight Son One has a soccer game, assuming that the weather cooperates. Right now my three little angles are helping with laundry, and are all colouring together. I may just make it through the summer vacation after all.
Wow - tomorrow I am going to take a look at the calendar and count down how many days we have left of vacation.
Yesterday was Day Three of summer vacation, and we had a relaxing family day. Daughter was finally over her illness. We played T-Ball and went for a walk through the trails in High Park.
Last night I tried to introduce the kids to more "super foods" at dinner. I have decided that this summer is going to be about better ourselves. Thus the chore list. Next I cleaned out the kids drawers and got through some of my laundry. Next it is cleaning out the house and getting rid of toys and stuff that we no longer need. I also want to get the kids to eat better, and the summer with its cornucopia of produce seems like the right time.
We talked about good foods, and the kids aren't bad. Yesterday we had guacamole and berries. For dinner last night I made grilled sea bass, mashed sweet potato and sauteed spinach and corn. The kids ate the corn and the bread. Son Two tried to claim that he likes blue berries, but only ate half of one. Apparently, he ate three berries about 6 weeks ago so he thinks that he's good. Son One asked for cherries, but then when he realized that they weren't maraschino explained that he just likes the red ones.
Husband was home today, and the kids didn't fight quite as much as yesterday. Six loads of laundry were done and put away. House is a mess. Only slept in until 8 am.
Son Two was up at 7:45 am, and was lounging on the couch watching cartoons. When I asked if he was enjoying his summer vacation so far, he answered in one word, "Awesome!"
Daughter has the illness Son One brought home a few weeks ago. Fever of 104.2 F taken in the arm pit. Double dose of Motrin to get it down. If she still has the fever on Monday may take her to the doctor. No other symptoms present.
Bolton Tractor Pull last night was great, though heavier on the trucks than the tractors. These are really fancy souped-up trucks tractors - I am sure that none of them have ever seen a real field. Learned that diesel fumes won't kill you, but gas fumes do. An important lesson? Woke up with 4 mosquito bites. Damn. I hate bugs.
Currently, Husband is outside playing catch with the boys. He is trying to explain to Son One why it doesn't work when you try to catch a baseball with your face. Son One does not appear to be injured. I don't really understand what kind of game of "catch" they are playing. Husband just gave Son One a 5 second head start before he wiped the baseball at him and tried to hit him... The silly games these boys play!
Now Son Two and Daughter are climbing from the hood of the minivan to the trunk of the car. As Husband is the supervisor on duty, I choose to come inside and tell you about it, instead of watching someone get hurt.
As soon as someone comes in crying, I will start popping the popcorn and putting on tonight's DVD. Our feature presentation, "Inkheart."
Schedule:
Sleep in until 10:30 am - (yes, the kids let me sleep-in - YAY! Was woken up at 10:30 am because apparently they were hungry.)
Kids play in back yard while Mommy showers, and sorts laundry.
Establish chore schedule QUESTION? Should allowance be tired to chores? Or just to teach responsibility about money? DECISION - Will try to tie to chores to allowance for the summer. Ten week experiment commences today.
Bolton Tractor Pull - 6:00 pm
Boys want to go to a tractor pull. Have never been myself. Should be entertaining.
Sibling fights before 1 pm - 23 and counting.
Mommy has taken 2 extra strength Tylenol in an attempt to circumvent a headache. Didn't work.
Optimism that I will survive the summer with the three children is fading. Have Son One home for another full week before he starts any of his camps.
Need to figure out what to do with all of the *wonderful* school work that has come home. How long do I need to admire it before I can recycle?
Today was the last day of the 2008/2009 school year. I can't believe how quickly it went!
Son One started off the year afraid of the all of the work that would be required for grade one. I was worried that they days would be too long. He managed well, and came away with a few really great new friends.
Son Two started J.K. (I still don't think that he believes that it is really called Junior Kindergarten). He had some struggles, but also had some fun.
Both kids were completely discombobulated this morning getting ready. I honestly don't know how the teachers make it through the last day! Both boys had play dates after school but Son Two wasn't sure that he wanted to go. I don't think that he knew what to expect of all of the last day of school excitement.
I guess tomorrow their teachers are still in the building, to clean out their rooms and finalize the lists for next year.
We have ten whole weeks with no school. Now the fun really begins. I'll tell you one thing - I am definitely sleeping in tomorrow morning.
Last night I skipped hockey *GASP* and went to see WE WILL ROCK YOU with my mom and sister. I LOVED IT! Unfortunately, it is only playing until this weekend, so if you haven't seen it yet, I guess you've missed it.
OK, so I have always been a closet Queen fan. Who isn't? Even my kids can sing, "We are the Champions" though I am sure they have never heard of Queen or Freddie Mercury. I remember the first time I heard "Who wants to live forever." I was at a birthday party and we watching HIGHLANDER. I don't remember much about the movie, but I was in love with the music.
I've read most of Ben Elton, and I do enjoy him. The story was obviously his creation - irony, sarcasm and pop culture braided together. The singers were amazing. However, the plot was not quite as rich as Mamma Mia.
Camilla Scott was in it, and while I had seen her in Mamma Mia, WE WILL ROCK YOU showcased her voice. WOW. I also have to say that I now have a little crush on Yvan Pedneault, the French-Canadian who played Galileo. Rumour in the audience was that he just returned from being ill, and he coughed a few times during the performance. But he was great!
The show is all high energy, and with a (mostly) young and amazing cast, it was a great night out.
It was very loud, like a rock concert. An older woman sitting near me actually went and asked them to turn it down a little during intermission; she was offered ear plugs. Some audience members took the ushers up on the offer. They also served popcorn and slushies.
A man sitting near my sister last night was on his own. She got to talking to him during the intermission, and learned that he had really wanted to see the show as he was here in Toronto for just a few days on business. He arrived only to find out that it was sold out. However, a teacher with a student group had extra tickets as some students didn't show up, so she gave him one. He got one amazing free show - thanks teacher for being so nice!
I actually gave one of the performers a boost a Walmart last winter. He gave me his card and said if I ever come, I should call him for a back-stage tour. Unfortunately, I had lost his card. It didn't matter. Last night he wasn't there and his role was played by the understudy.
Today I am going download the music to my iPod. I've missed Queen.
I just read, Still Alice by Lisa Genova, Ph. D. Now, of course, I am convinced that I have Early Onset Alzheimer's.
Don't laugh. I also just took a memory test online, and it said that I should consult my physician. And you can have symptoms in your thirties!
OK - so maybe it is a little bit of hypochondria.
But here's some more evidence:
Today I went to the grocery store for ham and buns. $130.27 later, I went to pay and my wallet wasn't in my purse! Of course there was a line-up behind me, and the cash was the only one open (I know! How embarrassing!) I called my Husband, who luckily works nearby, and he came and paid.
I came home and looked for my wallet. Weird part - it was in another purse, one that I haven't used in a few weeks. I used my wallet and my black purse last night. There was no reason I would have moved it to my green purse, and I have no recollection of moving it.
A few weeks ago I lost my driver's license. I remember seeing it in my purse one day, and then a few days later I needed it and *poof* it was gone. Yesterday I finally went to the MTO and got a new one.
I've also lost a brand new pair of socks. Still in the package! I really want to find them, and soon.
And I forgot about Son One's T-Ball game. I checked the calendar last Monday and realized that he had missed a game on Sunday.
Today I forgot that Son One has a doctor's appointment and needs to leave school early. I will now have to call the school since I didn't send a note in.
I used to be so on top of things. I never needed to keep calendars because I always knew when everything was. I never forgot anything! Now I feel like nothing sticks in my head. I've heard that Mommy Brain is a myth. So it must be Alzheimer's.
As promised, here are some pictures from Daughter's ballet recital. As mentioned, my camera picked last week to quit. However, my mother let me download her pictures to show you want a cute little dancer I have.
The recital was The Wizard of Oz, and my Daughter's group, called pre-dance, where little Totos. Hard to see, but they wore little black furry ears. Yes, they expect three year olds to wear make-up at the recital. Blue eyeshadow, pink blush, and red lipstick. I had to take her to Shoppers to buy some blue eyeshadow and red lipstick; somehow those are not items which I regularly stock in my make-up bag.
Yes, she's a character...
Happy in her make-up and costume... Excited for the show!
When I was a kid, there was this woman who lived near my school bus stop. She was old (though probably only in her fifties) and we called her a "vidma" or witch in Ukrainian because she would also come out and shake her broom at us when we were on her property. She had one of those cement and stone ramps, and of course we would try to walk up and down while we waiting for the bus.
We have a few elderly neighbours who don't speak much English. Luckily for me, they speak Ukrainian, so I can still communicate.
A few days ago, the "old lady from across the street" (differentiated from the "old lady next door" only by reference to the location of their homes) was walking up and down the street talking to herself.
Husband, who was playing catch out front with the boys at the time, said, "She has finally gone crazy."
Son One, who never seems to be listening, asked, "Whose gone crazy?"
In response Son Two yelled, "THE OLD LADY FROM ACROSS THE THE STREET!" I swear that his speech issues completely disappear when he says something that you wish people didn't understand.
I was down in the basement reading when Son One came running in and yelled with urgency, "Quick, Mommy! Daddy needs you!"
I was out the front door in 3 seconds flat, ready to catch Husband dangling form the roof or stuck under the car (with the boys, you never know.) Just for the record, if the roles were reversed, it would probably take three calls and 20 minutes before husband made it outside to help me.
Husband was across the street talking to the old-lady-across-the-street. She doesn't speak English, and he doesn't speak anything but; I was called in as the translator.
"She's locked herself out," Husband informed me. "Ask her if there is someone you can call."
I asked. "Sure," she replied, "call someone."
I clarified, asking if anyone had an extra key. "No," she replied.
Do any of the neighbours have a key? "No."
Can I phone a friend of family member who has a key? "No one has a key," she answered.
Do you have a key hidden anywhere, like the garage? "No."
Husband and the boys started walking around her house, looking for a way in. I told her that Husband was going to find a way in. She shrugged, seemingly unconcerned that it was getting darker.
It took my husband less than three minutes and a box cutter to get in (no screens were cut). He lifted Son Two up through the window, and he came and unlocked the front door from the inside.
The woman was amazed and thankful. Husband often does good deeds like this.
I think that the boys will remember this story for a long time. Like my Vidma, the old ladies on our street will always be nameless, but will have a place in their childhood folklore.
Do you remember the last strike in the summer of 2002? Why do garbage workers always strike when things get hot and smelly? IMPACT! Hey - I just paid close to $300 for garbage. Great service.
I am so sick and tired of this wonderful city that we live in. I swear City Hall would be better run by chimps. They take Toronto, this world class, amazing city, and turn it into the most poorly run bureaucratic nightmare. David Miller - I voted for you; and for you, Bill Saundercook. I am now publicly admitting my mistake. (Actually, I don't think that I actually voted for David Miller... Hmmm... Can't remember.)
This strike is terrible. How will it effect you, amazing mothers of Toronto? No public pools. No summer camps. No swimming lessons. No city daycares. No garbage pick-ups.
My kids swimming lessons for the summer - nope. Wait - I haven't gotten a refund cheque from the city, have you? They owe me over $200! Hmmm... Do you think I will just get a credit on my account? Gee - thanks! I am tempted to call Visa and get them to take it off my bill.
Do you know how ridiculous this city is? For years pools have opened the weekend after the last day of school. However, last weekend our public pool was opened for a few hours, before it was closed due to the strike. What a waste of money! Rushing to open it early, only to shut it back down again. The City could have saved the resources, anticipating the strike.
When you read about the union's position, it is hard to be sympathetic. Do they realize how lucky they are compared to the general population? It is our tax money paying for everything they get! In fact, we are their bosses.
Historically, I understand the need for unions to protect employees rights; but between the auto and the public sectors, it seems like they have far too much power. Who is looking out for Joe and Jane Taxpayer? Not David Miller.
Wishing my husband, my father, and all of the amazing Dads out there an amazing Father's Day.
My father used to play with my brother and me in the yard. Mother would come out and say, "You're tearing up the grass." "We're not raising grass," Dad would reply. "We're raising boys." - Harmon Killebrew
When a father gives to his son, both laugh; when a son gives to his father, both cry. Jewish Proverb
Last March in Florida...
Son One's Birth - look how young husband looks!
My Husband with his Dad and sisters
Father and Son... today's quote, "I love Daddy best!"
Husband and I call Son One a goofball. It is sort of a nickname. We love him to bits, and he is really a wonderful kid. But he can also be a bit of a goofball (Husband sometimes calls him G.B. for short.)
Here is a list of a few of the goofball-like things Son One did today:
Spit water on himself and the floor while trying to drink from one of the squeezable sports bottles
Scored his first lacrosse goal (his stick was knocked, and the ball bounced ridiculously slowly right into the net)
Spilled water on himself (blamed his father for not driving smoothly enough, and didn't speak to him for the next 40 minutes)
Threw his baseball glove onto the roof
Pushed his head through his pajama sleeve (note: Son One has a very, very large head)
Fell asleep on the bedroom floor
He really is an amazing kid, but he does some really goofy things. That is the unfortunately thing about nicknames for your kids, is that they tend to live up (or live down) to them. Son One is becoming our lovable, family "goofball" just as Daughter, whom we often call "princess" is becoming demanding a bossy, like a little princess. This is why name calling is bad.
We should come up with better nicknames. My younger sister was called "Geni-ass" (Dad treated her like the family genius) while I was his "chunky-soup". He claimed it was Campbell's related, not because I wasn't skinny. Yeah, sure dad. Thanks...
Last night was daughter's first ever dance concert. I would post pictures of how adorable she looked in her costume, except for some reason this is the week that my digital camera decided to quite. Yes, first ever dance recital, last lacrosse game and trophies, and no pictures!
Watching Daughter on the stage, I have to say that a star is born. Having watched her loathe and fail to participate in most of this year's dance classes, I expected her not to make it onto to the stage. Actually, surprisingly she made it onto the stage, and when the curtain went up to reveal the crowded, standing-room only audience, she didn't run to me in the wings (I was the parent volunteer for her group) nor freeze.
She shone! She smiled. She danced. She loved every minute of performing. And when her group was over, she joined the mosh pit of mini-dancers in front of the stage and kept bopping along with the performances right to the intermission.
I knew that she wouldn't last to the end of the concert, so we left. I hate doing that, because I know how hard everyone has prepared for the show, and I feel bad leaving when there are lots of parents whose kids still haven't performed who sat through my kid on stage. But she is only three, and I worried she would become disruptive.
Daughter has a wonderful bright glow about her; a sweetness that draws people to her. And though I admit to being a very biased mom, I actually think that she was one of the best in her group last night. I am not sure if she has the talent to be a dancer, but she definitely sparkled as a performer.
OK, I know. Now I am just bragging. If I can get a copy of the show, I can load it up and you can see that I am right.
Last night I went to see The Baby Formula. It opens today at the AMC Dundas, and you should go and see it.
The story is about a married lesbian couple who have sperm created from each other's stem cells and become pregnant, carrying each other's babies - no man needed.
If this was a Hollywood movie, that would be the story. But because we Canadians have more depth and humour, the film is so much more.
It is a mocumentary, and takes your from scenes which are laugh-out-loud funny to sad and poignant. There is a depth and reality to all of the characters which makes you fall in love. It is a film about motherhood, families, and love.
My favourite scene is the ultrasound, where the technician is flirting with Athena (played by Angela Vint) while Lilith (Megan Fahlenbock) lies there on the table trying to get some attention. Both actresses were pregnant during the filming, so it is nice to see real baby bumps instead of those fake ones worn by skinny actresses who don't gain weight anywhere but the belly and the padded bras (so unrealistic as we know!)
Please go and see it. Not one will you be supporting great Canadian cinema, but you will also be cleverly entertained...
Do you spank? Do you think it is child abuse? Or a necessary form of discipline?
B.K. Husband I talked about spanking and both agreed that we would never spank our kids. Both of us were spanked, and neither of us liked it. We read the research, and know that it is not an effective form of discipline, regardless of what pro-spanking parents say. It shows that violence wins, and parents can get away with it because we are bigger and stronger than you.
We really were the best parents before we had our kids, you know. We would be consistent. They would know the rules and follow them. Our kids would have manners. They would respect us and themselves. They would listen. We would use other, more effective forms of discipline. We would never, ever hit our children...
Then we had kids, and our utopia of parenting wasn't exactly realized.
We don't spank our kids as part of a well-thought out disciplining strategy. We have, I admit, swatted our kids on the bum, but it was a result of our own failures and frustrations at the time. I think that many parents have swatted a behind, or grabbed a little too hard when they are at their wits end. It doesn't make it OK, and parents sure don't want to admit that they have done it. Spanking represents failure as a parent. (Husband says that we were anti-spanking until we met Son One... he is the kind of kid that makes you wish you still had a wood-shed out back at times.)
I don't think that spanking is ever effective for anyone but the parent, and it is punishment, not discipline. I don't think that we should be hitting our children. In fact, with our kids, I think that the threat of spanking is actually more effective than spanking (though even "strategy" isn't often tried).
Look - I don't hit my husband when we have a disagreement. It is called assault if you hit anyone, and it is against the law. People are upset when they hear about a dog being hit on the news... but somehow, we allow parents the power to hit their kids, and it is considered "discipline."
Now I actually use two alternatives to help diffuse situations... either I go to my room, or they go to their room, and we stay there until we are calm.
I am not pro-spanking. I hate the idea of anyone, myself included, touching my child in anger. In a perfect world, I would be a perfect parent. My kids deserve a mother who can control her anger. Because in the end, all spanking says is, "I am no longer in control. I can't handle this."
However, I don't blame Kate, nor do I want to vilify her, for spanking her daughter. She is under more pressure and stress than most of us can imagine, though by her own design. I don't think that she is a great mother - I heard somewhere "she's not a mom - she just plays one on TV" (how sad for those kids); but I think that her swatting a bum should be the least of our concerns about her judgment as mother; but it might be the final nail in the coffin of her "reality" show.
In an earlier life, I used to work in automotive advertising. Back then, at 23 years old, I swore that I would never, in a million years, drive a minivan.
Guess what I drive, 10 years later? A Toyota Sienna Minivan. And I love it!
I assumed I would go for one of those fancy SUVs when and if I needed the space, but I really didn't have an extra $15,000 to spend just to say that I wasn't a minivan mom. Plus, when test driving, I fell in love with the van. It drives like a car, and actually is easier to steer and park than my mid-size sedan. I actually parallel-parked in on Bloor Street on a busy Saturday afternoon just after purchase - no problem!
When I announced that we were expected number three, we knew that we would need a new vehicle. Husband's car was 12 years old, and mine was 9. Neither had room for three car seats, and with the province changing the seat belt law... either it was take two cars everywhere or get one that fit the entire family.
Husband shopped for six months before making his decision. We ended up with a 2006 Toyota Sienna LE 8 seater (no AWD or leather seats). All three kids general sit in the second row, though we can put two in the third row easily. Lots of room for hockey and other sports gear - we often travel with the kids bikes right in the van.
I think there are close to 24 cup holders. The first time Husband drove the new van he said that he would buy anything buy a Toyota ever again. And it has been 3 1/2 years, and there is only one thing that we would change about the van.
It needs one of the privacy, noise blocking screens like in the limos between the adults (drivers) up front and the kids. That is the only feature that we wish was an option. Especially yesterday... Please Toyota Engineers - take our advice!
Yesterday all three of my kids were the WORST!!! I swear, if it was a competition, they all would have won.
I kept Son One home from school for the third day in a row after a coughing fit in the morning, but really he was ready to be back at school. It was my anniversary, and with Father's Day coming up, I really needed to hit the mall. I should have left he kids there.
Honestly, they have never been so awful! Hitting, tripping, yelling, grabbing, pushing, complaining, whining. No one listened. I actually left a few stores in shame at their behaviour - I've never had to do that before!
Even driving with Husband last night, he couldn't believe how wretched they all were. We threatened to leave them all home alone so that we could go and actually enjoy our anniversary (we didn't, of course. Instead we had left overs. Yum!)
I have a headache today. I think that somehow my body knew that I couldn't survive a headache yesterday with my kids all on their worst behaviour so it waiting until today to strike. So far, today is a better day...
Yesterday was my 9th wedding anniversary - I LOVE YOU HUSBAND!
I don't know how I got so lucky to have met and married the best man in the world. Plus, I met him when I was just 19 (what the heck did I know at 19?)
Yet here we are... over 15 years later, 9 years as husband and wife. Three wonderful children. Thanks for everything!
Yes, next week is the end of another school year. How does one properly thank that woman or man who took you children off your hands for at least 6 hours a day, and maybe even taught them something new?
You have a week to get out there and get something... What to get, what to get...
I know! How about a mug with, "World's Best Teacher" written on it?
I spoke to a few teachers to get an idea of what they really appreciate, and what they really don't want. Here are some ideas that are a miss:
Anything with an apple or the word, "teacher" on it - especially mugs. How many can they really use?
Cologne or perfume. A little too personal, and sometimes just rancid if purchased from the dollar store.
Candles or scented body lotion - especially not a hit with male teachers.
I once thought I was being clever when I gave a teacher a gift card to Staples for Christmas, until another teacher I know pointed out that they are just going to get stuff for their classrooms, not for themselves (note: a gift for the classroom is not a gift for the teacher.)
Best Teacher Gifts:
Gift Cards - Think Tims, Swiss Chalet, Starbucks, and Chapters. Currently both of my sons classes just asked for a donation, and are buying a big (like $200) gift card from Cadillac Fairview Malls.
Chocolate. Who can say no to chocolate? Especially some decent quality chocolate... Yum!
A personalized thank-you card from your child with a small plant. Something handmade is often treasured.
I also like the idea of writing a little to the principal of the school if you had a truly wonderful teacher who often went above and beyond for your child. Show a little appreciation; they do work hard.
I kept Son One home from school for the second day today. He still had a fever when going to bed last night, and hadn't had much of an appetite yesterday. Today he seems much better and he will be back at school tomorrow.
However, something interesting came up last night. My phone started ringing in the evening as parents realized how many kids from his class missed school. Son One is in a small grade one class of 13 children - 9 of them were home sick yesterday! That is over 2/3 of the class!
Today, while picking up Son Two from his morning JK class, I heard about the possible culprit. Some parents and caregivers surmised that one little girl in his class came in sick three days last week. She had a slight fever (they are all burning up) and so her mom gave her 8 hour Motrin and sent her in. She may be the cause of the nine children who missed yesterday, and another six who were ill from her daycare.
NOTE TO PARENTS:While Motrin and other drugs may alleviate fevers and other symptoms, it does not eliminate the illness! Your child is still sick!
Look, I know I have it easy. As a stay-at-home mom, I always keep my children home if I even suspect something. But I am not giving up a day of work, or shuffling meetings and daycare to do so. However, I still have to change plans, and I try to make sure that my sick child doesn't infect me and the other non-sick children in my home.
I think that working parents need better plans on how to deal with sick children. I found Custom Comfort Care; they can help with last minutes, sick child care needs. Parents, it is your responsibility! Look at how one sick little girl can take out an entire class! That is now 9 families left scrambling for child care and taking care of sick children, or infecting entire households, because of one nasty parent who is too concerned about inconveniencing themselves and not considering anyone else. SELFISH!
I love the way that Son Two and Daughter play together. They can entertain one another for hours without a fight. Son Two has this way with younger children - he is thoughtful and helpful. Daughter can be a little bossy, as can Son One, so they often clash. Son Two seems to know when to let her have her way, and how to redirect her when necessary.
This afternoon they were both playing in the backyard. Our neighbours have a cherry tree that leans over our property. We have been here for nine years and I have only ever seen birds and squirrels eat from that three.
Today Son Two and Daughter collected handfuls of the fallen cherries and brought them in. They called it "berry picking" and now they want to eat the berried for dinner. Half of them are green, and many have teeth or beak marks on them. After consulting with me, Son Two went back outside and informed his sister to leave the green ones on the ground as we can only eat the red ones.
What I am going to do? None of them are ripe enough to eat. I have some frozen blue berries in the freezer, and I am debating my chances of wiping up a quick batch of muffins while they watch TV and passing off the blueberries as the cherries they found.
Son One is home sick today. He has been off since Saturday - tired, fever, sore throat. I think he gave it to me. I actually stayed in my pajamas, mainly on the coach, until about 1 pm.
I know, I know, everyone hates being sick. But it is even tougher on us moms. We still have so much that we have to do, even when we are sick. And add to that all of those time when we are sick, when the kids are took.
This morning Daughter wanted to watch Tinkerbell, only we couldn't find the converter. And I was too weak to crawl over to the TV to try to figure it out for her. What is with these new DVDs and BlueRays that you can't just press a button to start the movie, you actually need the remote? We have seven remotes in the rec room! Of course at any given time three or four are missing.
I feel sorry for my sick, pathetic son. I also feel sorry for myself. I am out of adult Tylenol, so now I have to try to the Advil Liquid Gels to see if they will work for my headache. All I want to do it go to bed.
AND THE WEATHER IS FINALLY BEAUTIFUL! Son Two has soccer tonight, and it is his second last one so he doesn't want to miss it. I still have to track down his soccer uniform and wash it for tonight. Ugh!
I am starting to wonder about sunscreen... should I be slathering up the kids daily? Or letting them fry?
My mother had skin cancer, and with Irish on both sides, I think my pale skinned, fair haired children are in danger. However, I also returned from my annual check-up a few weeks ago to find out that I am vitamin D deficient and I need to start taking a supplement. Oh - and I should lay off the sunscreen and give my skin a chance to absorb some vitamin D for 10 minutes a day.
I never was really part of that contingent that felt like tans were attractive. I tried fake tanning once in university, and found it relaxing in the middle of a frozen February. However, I slathered on 30 sun block and wore a one-piece in the both.
As a child I had a few really bad sun burns; the kind that blistered and peeled. I seemed to start off the summers white and pasty, and without a pool at home, managed to finish them with a natural bronze glow. When I was 17 a woman I played tennis with lost her mother to skin cancer at 53. Tragic.
I go to a dermatologist annual because of my mother's cancer. She doesn't believe that I have my mother's skin, since I have only 5 document moles. Still, every summer I go, get naked, and get checked out head to toe. And since it is late August that I see her, I worry that she will say something about my natural "colour."
I don't sunbathe, but I do spend time outside. For a week or two every summer we go on vacation, and usually there is outdoor swimming involved. I always wear sunblock before sitting by the pool. We head indoors at around 11:30 for lunch followed by a few hours of "quiet time." This keeps us out of the hottest, and sunniest parts of the day.
Today we were up at the farm, and the kids were playing outside. It was sunny, and we put sunscreen on them. The boys are OK, but Daughter is a little pink. However, my niece, who has bad eczema, had a reaction to the sunscreen and ended up with a bad rash. Now I am concerned about the chemicals that we are slathering onto our kids every day in an effort to protect them from something natural and potentially helpful.
I think I will continue with our moderate approach. Days outside, at the beach, a park, or around a pool - sunscreen slathered on. Bike riding around the neighbourhood, playing in the backyard, or going to school, and being outside during non-peak hours - unnecessary.
Last night the kids had sleepovers so that Mommy and Daddy could have a date night for our anniversary. Yes - we will be celebrating nine wonderful years on Wednesday.
The boys went to my in-laws farm for the night, and Daughter went to her cousin's. Two of the three of them were excited for a sleep-over, but Son One was sad and clingy. It was hard to leave him.
Husband and I have had very few nights away from our children. After giving birth to numbers 2 and 3, I even left the hospital early because I missed my other kids so much. Last year was the first time Husband and I went away without our children, and it was for a friend's wedding in Ireland. The first 4 days were great, but after the wedding we sort of wished we had booked an earlier flight home. Both of us really missed the kids.
It is funny, because there are many people who seem to love to go away without their kids, and plan one or two trips a year. I think it is important as parents to focus on yourselves sometimes as a married couple, instead of just as parents. I realize that I probably act as "Mommy" about 99% of the time, leaving me to act as "wife" only 1%. So maybe out balance needs to shift a little, and as our kids get older, it is starting to.
Husband grew up in a family where his parents went away with their friends what seemed like annually to him. Both of his sisters have taken trips regularly with their husbands, even when the kids were quite young. Oddly enough, though my parent's first trip without us kids was their 25th wedding anniversary trip to Aruba, I am the one who pushes for any alone trips we have without the kids, while Husband who grew up in a family who often took trips without the kids, feels like getting away is unnecessary.
I think there is a compromise. I think that for a special event, or a special anniversary, a week away from the kids once every five years is ok. Annually, a weekend or two, no more than three nights, also ok. Anything more seems a little indulgent as a parent, and a little cruel to young kids.
First, there is getting someone else to watch your children for a long period of time, often the grandparents. I know they don't mind a night here or there, but kids are a lot of work. And as much as I am sure all grandparents love their grandkids, when they spend too much time with them they become more parents than grandparents, having to discipline and not indulge.
Then their is dealing with abandonment that kids feel when you leave them. I had an adult, in his late thirties, tell me the other night that the only thing he ever feared as a child was his parents going away, because each time he believed that there weren't coming back. Thirty years later the pain is still fresh.
Yesterday dropping Son One off at the farm almost broke my heart. He was tired, and clingy, and sad. He is seven years old, and even with two c-sections after him and a week in Ireland for a wedding, I have probably only spent 14 nights away from him. Last night he was gone for just 16 hours.
My niece, who was also staying at the farm for a few days, came up to me with tears in her eyes. I picked her up and she buried her face in my neck, clinging to me and crying. I held her for about 10 minutes, just letting her hug. She was telling me she just misses her mommy so much!
All kids are different, and have different levels of attachment. My first born is the most attached to us - no surprise. Dropping them off yesterday, I had to chase Son Two around just to get a kiss good-bye. Daughter goes off with barely a wave, but is always full of hugs, kisses, and "I missed you so much!" when we see her again.
Husband I used to talk about taking a 10-day second honeymoon to Italy for our 10 year anniversary. That was before kids. Now, I am not sure that we could afford it. Nor would we choose to spend that much not to see our kids for 10 days. I don't think either of us could go that long without them. Maybe it will have to be our 20 year anniversary trip. Maybe by the time our kids are teenagers, they will actually love to see us gone.
Or maybe we should just make it a family trip. They travel pretty well. And though we were a couple first, we chose this life, having a busy and big family. It is what we love.
Today was beautiful! I have to get back in the habit of sunscreen, as the kids and I played in the backyard for a little after lunch and I got a bit of sun.
It is going to be quite the summer. The kids have only 9 more days of school left, and then 10 1/2 weeks of summer! That is a lot of time to fill. You can see their moods changing, as they move from the routine of class work into outdoor play days and games. Some activities are starting to finish up, and I even feel myself relax about bedtimes already, and worry less about rushing around.
This is one of my favourite photographs from last summer. Me and the kids fishing on a dock in Muskoka. No, I actually don't fish, but the boys could sit there all day and not care if they catch anything. Last summer they actually caught a few northern pike in that lake, along with many sunfish.
Picking Son One up after school today, his wonderful teacher asked if she could have a moment of my time. I knew it was bad; it is always bad when she wants to talk to you!
We went down into his classroom, and she asked my son if he had told me what happened at school yesterday. I said he hadn't, so she did.
Apparently, five boys from his class were in the bathroom and one decided to wet some toilet paper and throw it at the ceiling. The other four boys, including Son One, joined in. Of course, the janitor has to clean it up, and it can stain the ceiling.
The boys all apologized to the janitor, wrote a letter explaining what they did wrong and how they would fix it, and then they had a detention during today's morning recess.
He is a great kid, and has a good head on his shoulders and a kind heart. I just can't seem to convince him to walk away when the trouble starts. He knows it is wrong. I can tell that he feels bad, but he just can't seem to stop himself when the fun is on.
Sort of reminds me of myself a little, and my Tuesday night out when I was leaving at 10:30 pm but was convinced by a friend to stay for just "one more beer." We closed the bar at 2 am, and it was more than one more.
When he got home from school today, his consequence was to clean our two toilets so that he understood how hard the janitor's job is cleaning up after 450 kids, and how giving him more work isn't fair.
Son One told me he would have felt better if I just beat him instead. Maybe next time.
My daughter's dance concert is next week, and this is a whole other world. Blue eye shadow, red lipstick and blush--sparkling hair gel optional. She will be thrilled that she gets to wear make-up.
She is 3 1/2. I don't even think that she really dances, just sort of jumps around. It should be fun, and she loves it! We picked up her costume today. Her group is sort of supposed to be Toto in a Wizard of Oz production. This is a serious thing - we had to confirm that her name was correct for the program months ago. I have tickets for my mother and mother-in-law.
I hope that she doesn't get stage fright! I have to say, I am a bit of a frustrated ballerina myself. Would love to find a decent adult ballet studio in Toronto. Any ideas? Of course, fitting myself in with all of the kids activities would be a challenge. Maybe I should just become a patron of the arts, instead of trying to find a tutu in my size.
OK. False advertising. I didn't score last night. But some of the women did! And I got my first ever hockey assist. Actually, it was probably my first ever assist in any sport. I am officially a hockey mom - that is, a mom who plays hockey!
We started out with the usual drills and fun. For some reason, my feet were really killing me. I tried to loosen my skates, and missed most of the "cat & mouse" warm-up. Darn! However, once I have a puck, I seem to be so focused that I forget about the sore feet.
The best part was when we started the scrimmage. The coaches asked 10 women to stay on the ice, five sky blue and five purple, and the rest of us sat on the bench. The coaches looked over at us and started laughing. What could be so funny about 8 women sitting on a bench? Coach Kyle skated over with the biggest grin on his face.
"You know, ladies, there are actually two benches, one for each team. You don't all have to sit together." Now I know why we are their favourite group to instruct.
Yes, we had all squished onto one bench... blues and purples together! Look, it was a revelation to me last night that you can actually enter and exit the benches by two separate doors.
Unfortunately, we only saved about 10 minutes last night for our scrimmage. But it was fun. I think this is what we wanted out of hockey, and I now understand why our kids like the games and not the practices.
It is hard playing so late at night. I have taken to wearing my pajamas to the arena, so that I can just crawl into bed when I get home. However, I am so wound up that it is hard to sleep!
We have four more weeks left, and then this hockey experience is done. I am trying to nail down some ice time for the fall, but it is nearly impossible in this crazy city.
Below is an article written by Emily Jacobson, who will start blogging along with me! Welcome to Toronto Mommy, Emily!
We had the luck of booking a vacation almost 5 years ago at a resort in Jamaica called FDR Pebbles. Each room came with its own Nanny - what a treat! Ours was a 27 year old woman with 10 years of experience with children.
We felt spoiled! We would swim with the boys in the pool, and then when they were tired our nanny would take them back to our room to change them and let them have their naps. She would feed them at a children's buffet for lunch so that we could enjoy some peaceful adult dining, and she took them to the children's clubhouse for different events.
We were able to have a wonderful family vacation because we had family time and husband/wife time. Also, the resort had strict rules so we always felt safe and secure with the nanny. You could ask your nanny to stay late, and pay extra, but we never felt the need for it.
Here is Emily's article on Five Reasons To Hire A Nanny for your Next Vacation
You have waited all year and have worked so hard to earn vacation time. You are looking forward to sandy beaches, romantic dinners with your spouse, long walks alone on the beach... but your thoughts get drowned out by a crying toddler or whining child. Should you disregard the well deserved vacation time and concentrate on only doing things around the house during your time off? Nonsense! You can hire a nanny to take with you on your vacation. This will allow you to be able to do all the family oriented activities as well as spend quality time alone with your spouse or take part in an adventure that is not kid friendly. You may be thinking, "A nanny? I can't afford a nanny." Forget that thought. Nannies are not that expensive and many of them will take care of the children for no charge other than the free vacation. Nanny Toronto, among others is a great online resource for quality nannies who charge reasonable fees. So why would you want to hire a nanny for your next vacation? Here are five good reasons:
Vacations are a time to relax and enjoy your family and activities many times outdoors. If you leave you children at home you miss out on family bonding. If you bring the children with you, you may be setting yourself up for a stressful vacation. Bringing along a nanny will allow you to enjoy both at your discretion.
You and your spouse are probably in need of some alone time. Hiring a nanny will allow the children to go and do activities that they enjoy while you and your spouse relax and enjoy each other - alone - without any disruptions.
A nanny can provide an out during a meltdown. Nannies are trained to handle many different upsets. Remember, the nanny is there to take care of the children, while you are there to enjoy your vacation and your children. Rely on the nanny to give you a break when meltdowns occur.
Hiring a nanny can also benefit the children. All children love sole attention. The nanny is being hired to take care of the children and to give them 100% of her attention.
Hiring a nanny will also allow you to enjoy travel to and from your destination. Nannies have a knack for occupying the minds and imaginations of children. A good nanny will have a "game plan" ready for all circumstances that may arise during vacation and vacation travel time.
Hiring a nanny for your next vacation could result in a very good experience for you and your family. Hiring a nanny does not mean that you intend to ignore your children during vacation, it is simply giving the children an opportunity to enjoy their vacation as well. There may be times that the children do not want to participate in planned vacation activities that the adults want to undertake and having a nanny will diminish any quarrels that may have resulted from the disagreement. Nannies will provide a more peaceful and rewarding vacation for the entire family.
When I mentioned my fall yesterday, one very astute reader wanted to know about my footwear, obviously implying that some choices may contribute to random falls.
She is correct. I was wearing my favourite new pair of springs shoes. They are my Geox Ruby slippers. I get many compliments on these shoes, especially from men. They are comfortable enough, because of their wedge heel, to wear on walks up to 4 km. At 5 km they seem to start to blister the baby toes. They are shiny and pretty and fun, and can be worn with jeans or other pants. They don't look great with skirts. They have become my daily slip-on-and-get-of-the-house-shoes - no socks required.
These were the shoes I was wearing yesterday when I fell:
Daughter is adorable! She saw me taking pictures of my shoes, and wanted to get in on the fun. She lined up her shoes, and wanted a picture of them. She is a shoe girl! Daughter also has a thing for Geox. Both her sparkly running shoes and her pink Mary Janes are Geox.
Note:All Geox Shoes in this photograph were purchased On Sale.
Has anyone checked out the tab on the left that is called "About Me"? It will tell you a little bit about who I am, and show you some recent pictures of me and the kids. There is also a quote of the month at the top of my page for you to enjoy.
Also, I will soon be welcoming a new Mommy Blogger to my page. I will post an article she wrote when I introduce her in a few days... Be sure to check it out!
AND - if there are any working moms out there who have a different perspective on raising kids in this crazy time, and who would be interested in sharing their stories and experiences, please let me know!
Cats are brilliant predators, but sometimes I am reminded that it is all instinct, not brain power.
Merlin is a incredibly skilled hunter - even at his age. Weekly we find birds and mice in the yard (who knew that there were mice in Toronto?). His brother Blarney, RIP, was a savage butterfly hunter. Yes, I think cats are a little crazy.
I just caught Merlin hiding in our neighbours' front garden. Gee, can you spot the cat in this picture?
He is like a kid playing peek-a-boo! As long as they can't see you, you can't see them! Merlin's face may be behind some bushes, but I guess he doesn't realize that at 15 pounds, there is a lot more that he needs to hide! Either that, or our neighbours have cut back their garden a little too much for his liking this spring.
This is the look I got when he realized that he had been discovered... Oh yes, vicious cat, I am so scared.
My kids fall all of the time, and get right back up and to run again! Some falls seem like the funniest things in the world (as long as the person isn't hurt).
A few weeks ago Son One had a fall that had Husband and me in stitches for at least 5 minutes! We had just finished dinner on a Friday night, and we were having some ice cream for dessert. The rule is that we eat at the table, and we were actually enjoying a nice family discussion.
Son One decided to take his ice cream and sneak down to the basement to watch TV. He was looking back over his shoulder at us, with one of his mischievous grins, waiting to see if we would call him back to the table. As he was watching us instead of watching where he was going, he stubbed his toe on the baseboard and went down hard on the tile floor.
The funniest is that he lay there, yelling at us! This is a kid who regularly spills water on himself just trying to have a drink, yet he saved his ice cream on this fall, even at the expense of his elbows. He lay there on the floor yelling and calling us names. Husband laughed until the tears came.
Son Two told his brother that God was punishing him for not listening to the rules. Son One was not hurt.
Today, I had a "good" fall. I was taking Daughter to her speech assessment, and I really don't know what I was thinking about, but I wasn't paying attention to where I was walking.
Suddenly, I was on the ground and in pain. I don't know why or how I fell. My sunglasses went flying off, and my purse tried to purge its bloated contents. I lay there for a moment, just feeling the pain. Yep, my left ankle was twisted. Both palms were scrapped. Knees - OK in the jeans. My shoulders felt wretched.
"That was a good fall, Mama," said Daughter, with no concern about my injuries.
I hoisted myself upright, and realized that I had fallen near an awful lot of goose poo. Thank goodness I seemed to miss it all.
I hobbled up the stairs, wondering if my twisted ankle would be a sprain, and sat in the waiting room assessing my sore shoulders, hands and wrists. I went down so fast! I was worried that I may not be able to run for a few days, or even weeks. And how was I going to play hockey tomorrow? I know - it does seem a little odd that my hockey career was flashing before me eyes - just decreased my chances of ever making it into the NHL!
The good news is that I must bounce back almost as quickly as the kids. Two hours later, my right shoulder is a little sore, but everything else seems to be OK.
And I am sure that I provided lots of entertainment for the hundred or so witnesses driving by my accident site.
This season brings something new to me as a parent - snacks for sports teams.
When I was a kid, I remember getting cut up oranges at soccer half time, freezes after T-ball, and donuts after curling. Snacks are a little more complicated now.
First, I am not ever sure that the kids need the snacks. I remember one mother a few years ago who actually followed her child around gymnastics with a juice box and goldfish... did she have low blood sugar or something? It was a 50 minute class! Most of these sports are taking place in the evening after dinner. I don't usually give my kids a snack between dinner and bed. Before this whole idea of bringing snack, I would just make sure my kids had water.
Now I sign up for a snack night, and it is wrought with peril. No peanuts or products which may have come in contact with peanuts. Green please - only reusable packaging. Individually wrapped items only. Confused? Me too!
Last week at Son One's T-Ball a parent brought frozen Oreo ice cream sandwiches. Unfortunately, they didn't bring enough and Son One didn't get one. Another time at T-ball a parent brought a huge assortment of individually packaged goodies - kids were leaving with three and four items! And there was even pop for the coaches.
Last night was my turn to bring snack for Son Two's soccer team. I asked him for advice. He wanted carrots and apple juice. I brought juice boxes, raisins, cut up watermelon, and individual wrapped rice crispie squares. I also brought a bag for garbage, and wet wipes. Yes, I was trying to win the best snack prize.
One mother told me that I brought too much. However, most of the food was gone. Except the raisins. Raisins were the economic choice, at $2 for a package of 14. But even as I was packing the snack bag, Son Two commented that he hates raisins and they would be for the other kids, right?
I had two takers on the raisins. Almost everyone grabbed a juice box and a rice crispie treat (in fact, it was a box of 24 for a team of 14, and I came home with 2) and most kids grabbed some watermelon. There was even a little sister of one of the players who had at least 4 slices of watermelon. But the raisins just weren't popular.
Why do raisins get such a bum deal? They are sweet and juicy and plump. People don't seem to mind them in trail mix, but add them to baked goods or try to serve them on their own, and forget about it!
Maybe this will remind us all about how we used to love raisins...
Oh yeah, baby! Now you remember those California Raisins.
For my in-laws 40 Wedding Anniversary last fall, we (all of their kids) bought them a family photo. It has taken us nine months to get together for the photograph, and still one family member was missing.
I suspect that this will be the last photo we take with everyone, at least for a few years. Yes, it was that painful. Unfortunately, Son Two really doesn't like to co-operate. We explained that his insolence was causing pain to the 14 other people in the photo, but he didn't care. He just didn't want to look at the camera and smile.
To be fair, we were there for a long, long time and he is just five. However, his three year old sister managed fairly well.
Son Two asked for us to take him to Chuck E. Cheese if he looked at the camera and smiled. I think that we need to see the proofs before we take him - just to make sure.
Personally, I am not a fan of the posed formal portrait. I used to walk by a few photography studios in the neighbourhood and see the family portraits and remember how painful formally posing was as a kid. We take lots of pictures of our kids, and have many great shots that we can, and sometimes do, blow up and put on the wall. While I think that the formal portraits usually have nice composition, I find that the faces lack the joy that you get from the casual family snap shot. And they don't tell a story.
I am assuming that there is good money to be made by having people pose their children, or themselves and their children. And I know that formal family portraits are nice, especially for grandparents. I just hope that we never have to do that again.
Proofs are ready in two weeks. Keep your fingers crossed for me that something turned out.
It is Saturday night, and I was in my pajamas before 8:30 pm. Pathetic? Or decadent?
Ten years ago I would have cringed at the thought of staying home on a Saturday night. There was bars to go to, restaurants to try and movies to see. A slow Saturday night may have been wandering around Indigo for a few hours with a hot chocolate, followed by walk up Yonge Street for ice cream. Unless I was sick, I wasn't in my pajamas before 11 pm.
I can't remember the last date night my Husband and I had on a Saturday night. A good Saturday night now includes take-out a trip to Blockbuster. Tonight it is finishing off a book, and the Detroit vs. Pittsburgh game. What a thrill.
On the upside, at least I don't feel pressure to do anything exciting, or even to leave my house on a Saturday night any more. The plus is that I have no trouble getting up on Sunday morning for a 7 am run.
How many of us Toronto Mommies were up before 7 am to register our children for the summer swim programs through Toronto Parks and Recreation?
My children have taken the past two sessions off, as I find it hard to convince myself that I should be going to a hot humid pool in the middle of February. And then spring sort of got away from me, but they will be back in the pool for summer lessons!
Daughter finally gets to go without a parent. Lucky girl! Now that she is three I am done with parent and tot classes, forever!
Son One is playing in the Ronald McDonald tournament this weekend in Toronto. Yes, I know, hockey in June is just wrong, but I guess if the NHL can do it, so can these tournament organizers.
Game one was a team from Montreal. The first period was close (ending 2-all) but the final score was 9-2. The kids didn't really care, and we took them to Boston Pizza to fuel up.
Second game was 10-0. Our guys fought hard the first two periods and then just gave up. The kids, who enjoyed the first game, said that second game just wasn't much fun.
Early in the season, our kids were on fire! They often won games like the 10-0 one, but we, the parents, felt terrible for the other team, and the coaches did, too. Our coaches actually made decisions like not having all of the strong players come out against some weaker teams, just to try to make it more even.
This team seems to have a different philosophy. At the end of the official season, they went and poached the best players from at least three other teams to add to their roster. In effect, they have eliminated the competition because they weaken their opponents as well as strengthening themselves. Doesn't really seem like playing fair to me.
Look - I am not complaining because our kids lost; really I couldn't care less, and I know that the kids aren't really bothered by losing; I notice that by the time we are home all is forgotten. Plus, I think that losing helps develop character and teach them about sportsmanship. All season long I remember secretly wishing that our kids would lose a few games, just to know how it feels. But the difference is that we have a team of kids from one area, many of them attend school together, and it is our community rink that we represent. This isn't the GTHL yet, so isn't it just supposed to be a selection of the local house league, thus the term select?
I know that other leagues outside of Toronto have pretty hard boundaries dictating where kids play. I think at the very least, since there are so many different leagues and programs in the GTA, they should consider a radius rule - like you home rink has to be within 5 km or something. Just a thought.
Tomorrow the kids are playing a team from Illinois. The good news is that because of today's blowouts, I am pretty sure that we won't have a hockey conflict with our family plans on Sunday. The bad news is that it is an 8 am game.
My kids are my favourite things in the whole wide world, followed by my husband and books (sometimes books and then my husband... just kidding sweet heart!) Diet coke and chocolate round out the top five. Oops! Forgot to include family.
My favourite thing in the world to do with my kids is to walk with one of them holding hands. There is something so nice about having their little hand in mine. Daughter, or course, has the littlest hand. Sometimes she tries to intertwine the the fingers, and other times she balls her hand into a fist and I just hold the entire thing. She is quick to grab an offered hand, but quicker still to let go when she sees something she wants to run off to.
Son Two holds you hand like a mitten, fingers all together, stuck palm to palm. Once you are holding his hand, you have the pleasure for a while. It is hard to get him to hold my hand, but when he does, he holds for a while. We have the least physical contact, so it is especially nice.
Son One's hands are almost as big as mine. They are bear-like paws, big thick and often sweaty. He is seven now, so I don't know how much longer he will hold my hand. He, like his sister, is quick to let go and run off.
The other thing that I love to do with my kids is listen to my ipod. They sit or lie beside me, and I keep one ear bud in while they take the other. If they are all around, they choose one song each and are so good at taking turns! If I have one on one time, they we can listen to a few. Last week daughter hated American Pie - she didn't like the idea of the music dying. Here are some of their favourites off of my ipod:
Puff the Magic Dragon
Life is a Highway (Cars theme)
Superman (It's Not Easy) - Five for Fighting
Sponge Bob Square Pants Theme
Flying Purple People Eater
Ma Baker - Boney M.
Rasputin - Boney M.
Rockstar- Nickleback
Superman's Song - Crash Test Dummies
Mamma Mia - ABBA
Rocket Man - Elton John
Tiny Dancer - Elton John
One Tin Soldier
Wtich Doctor - Alvin and the Chipmunks version
The Unicorn - The Irish Rovers
Luckily, it is all music that I can handle listening to as well. Plus my kids really love the idea of listening to music with Mommy. It is a little, easy ritual, but one that they really, really enjoy. It is quiet, peaceful, and intimate sitting head to head with someone sharing a piece of music. I love it, too.
Before I had kids, I promised that if I did, I would never end a hug first. I don't know where I had heard that, but I try to adhere to that wisdom. I usually am the one to start a hug, and the last one to let go. Take the time to hug your kids this weekend - have a great one!
Christmas 2007 - Moon Sand was hot. Son One asked everyone for it, and did end up with some of the stuff.
He opened it and played with it on the kitchen table. What a mess! It went away the next day.
Fast forward a year and half later, and I get myself in trouble because I actually hate to throw stuff out. Son Two and his play date find the moon sand and play with it in the kitchen. Daughter joins in the fun.
What the heck is this moon sand? How are kids supposed to play with it without it ending up everywhere in the house? What a mess!!! I had to get my vacuum out (not happy! the cleaning lady was just here yesterday) and vacuum the kitchen table, all of the chairs, and the kitchen floor.
Moon sand is sort of this funny texture - finer than sand, and it almost sticks together, but not quite. It also seems to glitter a little. Could be cool and fun, if it wasn't such a mess.
Tonight, when they fall asleep, it will end up in the garbage. They can play with puzzles next time.
Son Two made it to another instruction night of T-Ball last night, and besides some good-natured wrestling, there was no checking.
There are about 20 kids in JK and SK who come out for the hour of instruction, and it is pretty good. There is one main instructor, and 8 or 9 parents on the field to help run the kids through hitting, throwing, and catching drills.
The instructor had set up two batting helmets to act as a "goal" and asked one little boy, let's call him "Alvin" (name changed for protection) to come over and demonstrate how to play "goalie" with ground balls.
First the Instructor called him three times, "Alvin can you come over and play goalie? Alvin? Alvin? Can you play goalie?"
"Alvin" wondered into the dugout, completely ignoring the coach. The other 20 kids waited patiently in line for the demonstration (surprising, as most aren't that patient).
Alvin's mother was one of the parent's on the field, and she started calling him, too.
"Alvin, the coach wants you to come and show the boys how to play goalie. Alvin, come on over. Alvin. Alvin. Alvin, come here."
Then it was both the coach and the mother calling. "Alvin, come here and show us the how to play goalie." "Alvin, listen to the coach." "Alvin, come on!"
I swear between the instructor and the mother, they must have called Alvin's name at least 12 times. I was ready to get up, grab the kid by the ear, and tell him to pay attention. If I were his mother, and I was on the field, I would have gone over to him, gotten down on my knee, held him by the shoulders, and spoken into his face. I do not call my kids more that three times. It was CRAZY!
Not to mention all of the other five-year-olds waiting, getting less and less focused as they became less and less patient. If I were the coach, I would have picked one of the other kids for the demonstration.
Finally, Alvin sauntered over and sat down in the middle of the goal, picking up the infield dirt and putting the handfuls into his glove. I just don't accept that kind of behaviour - if he doesn't want to be there and doesn't want to participate, please don't make the rest of the kids suffer!
If would have been funny, except it was so annoying! Hate to say it, but some parents are really a little clueless. My kids have always paid attention to me when I call their names - even as toddlers they knew not to ignore Mommy saying their name.
Last night was our half way point for hockey. YEAH!!! Almost done, and trying to decide what we should do in the fall, if anything.
A little bit of a epiphany last night - I realized that when you give me a puck to skate with, my feet don't hurt! I've also found that skating is becoming more natural. I think about where I need to go, instead of focusing on how to skate. Also, I think I can stop now, which is completely new. Truly a feat without the toe picks! I sort of do a snow plow stop - not one of those fancy side stops with the snow flying everywhere.
Something else that I noticed last night: my hockey equipment is starting to smell like really hockey equipment. Why does all hockey equipment smell the same? I swear that I have "aired" it out after every week, so what gives? Would fabreeze work? Or should I just leave it and feel more like a real hockey player?
Next week we will start scrimmages, without goalies. I think that I am almost over my nerves about getting on the ice and trying stuff out. I am not great, or even good, but I am not making a complete fool of myself either.
I am officially 35! YEAH ME! Daughter doesn't think that it is my real birthday, just a pretend one until we get the cake. Unfortunately, Husband has been working long hours this week and we have barely seen one another, so I don't think we will be doing much celebrating.
Had my annual physical this morning. Not sure why I thought it was a good idea to book it on my birthday; maybe so that I would remember? The Doctor was double booked (a mistake by her office). I offered to come back another day, but she said she would do a quick pap... doesn't that sound like an appealing way to spend your birthday? I know - TMI!
After the doctor's visit I walked up to Kiehls because I had promised my sister I would pick her up some of their lip stuff. Then on to Lululemon to spend my Mother's Day card. Only because it was a gift card could I justify buying myself a $58 running shirt. I had a $100 gift card and ending up spending $177! Two shirts, three unmentionables and a headband. Happy birthday to me!
Then my mother took my children and I out to lunch at East Side Mario's. They were more or less well behaved, except for the argument in the car about how it wasn't my real birthday. I could tell that Son Two completely forgot that today was my birthday... he is his father's son!
Do I feel older? Yes, actually, I really do. I am not saying that 35 is old, or bad. But I do feel different... So far it has been a good birthday. I don't know if Husband will have time to pick up a cake, but I really don't feel like I need one! Tonight I just hope that I can survive our hockey.
Kids fight over the weirdest things. I was driving out this afternoon to drop Daughter off at her cousin's for a sleepover, and for 15 minutes I had to listen to, "My mommy!" "NO! MY MOMMY!"
I tried to tell them that actually I was both of their mommies, but that didn't seem to work. Really, I should have felt loved that they both cared so much that they wanted to claim me to the exclusion of their siblings, except instead I felt so crazy that I just wanted to drive into a light pole to make them stop.
Another of my least favourite lines is, "that's not fair!"
My parents used to respond to that one with either, "well, life's not fair" or "I don't want to hear you say that ever again."
It is true that it isn't fair that Daughter can't do everything that her brothers can do, but is it really unfair that she isn't tall enough to reach the light switch? How do you respond to that one?
Taking turns is also driving me mad. I am sorry, but I can't remember who I gave the keys to last time to open the front door. Sorry if your brother got them twice in a row. Son One actually said, "You're evil, Mommy" when he thought his brother got an extra turn. In the scheme of things, I don't think that forgetting who gets the keys makes me evil.
I think life may be a little too easy; a little too comfortable for my kids. They complain about such minor things... Maybe they need to suffer a little to appreciate what they have.
On the news today they are talking about the latest report card on how our kids are doing. The Active Healthy Kids Canada Report Card looks not at the health of our children specifically, but how active our kids are across the country, in active play, organized sports, etc. It also looks at screen time.
It is recommended that kids get 90 minutes of activity every day. Currently 87% of Canadian kids are not getting that. The recommendation for screen time is not more than 2 hours per day; only 10% of youth are meeting that criteria.
I blame the parents.
JUST KIDDING!!! Actually, I sort of read this and think another survey that tells us how we are failing as parents. Gee - do they take into account ridiculously frigid winters or humid as hell summers and the difficulty that poses to getting outside? Or what about that it isn't safe (or maybe just not well thought of) to have kids running around their neighbourhoods for free-play. There are more cars on the road, fewer kids and fewer neighbours at home, plus an extraordinary emphasis on adult supervision.
Wow - 90 minutes every day is a bit of a shocker. I wonder how recess and school fits into that. I would guess that Son One gets close to that 90 minutes at school, between the three recesses and the mandatory activity every day. My kids also play outside year round, and are involved in many organized activities. But I feel bad for the busy and poorer parents who are doing their best, without a lot of help. $500 government tax credit for kids sports doesn't go far enough, and there is still getting them to and from activities.
Another measure on the report card is Active Transportation - or walking to school. In the city when you live blocks from your school, it sounds reasonable... unless you are like me and can barely get the kids out the door for a quick ride to school in the morning. I like to walk to get them, but they are usually so tired at the end of their days that they complain about walking all the way home (we are 1.7 km from school).
One thing that really jumped out at me, that I would like to do something about, is lower income kids who don't get to participate in organized sports. I am going to put some thought into it and in the future maybe come up with a project.
It wouldn't hurt any of us to turn off the TV and get outside more... But this report card just seems like another pressure or blame to put on parents.
Buddha is following me everywhere I go. I think it is the universe sending me a message that I need to get more zen in my life. Of course, I haven't read Siddhartha by Herman Hesse since grade thirteen, so I don't even really remember the Buddhist path to enlightenment except that we each need to follow our own path. Deep, eh?
Yesterday Son One got his soccer jersey, and he is on a team called, "Buddha Foodha." Could there be a better name for a sports team? Much better than State Farm insurance. (Thank you to everyone who sponsors a children's sport team!)
This morning was my first day of Buddha Bootcamp. I ran over to the park for our 6 am meet time (Note: running not very zen-like) and realized that either I live closer to the park than I thought, or I am a faster runner than I thought.
We start the session with a 10 minute meditative walk. For those of you, like myself, unfamiliar with meditation, it is intended to take you from the thinking area of your mind to relaxation and awareness...
Here is a rough idea of what was going through my head during my meditative walk:
I can't believe that I haven't said anything yet! See, I can be quite. Concentrate on breathing. In one, out one. In two, out two. In three, out three. In four, out seven. Out seven? That's not right, you idiot! Can't even count to four. Man these ladies in front of me are slow. Is it bad to pass someone on a meditative walk? Should I leave the path and pass on the left? Isn't Buddha all about finding your own path? Don't step in the mud. A hiking we will go; a hiking we will go. Hi ho the dairy oh a hiking we will go. Why are we on the path anyway? What route should I run home? I don't really want to go up the hill and along Bloor Street. I am still quiet! Haven't said anything yet. Colder than I thought. Are we coming up to the clearing yet? Why are these women so slow. Not good Zen to pass them on the path. Meditate. Meditate. MEDITATE!!! Stop thinking. I hope we don't have to take off our shoes.
Too much thinking, not enough reflecting.
When we got to a clearing, we did half an hour of yoga; still remember the warrior pose. I still hadn't said anything and was actually started feeling pretty Zen, when I noticed a small ant carrying a dead ant on his back walking across my mat. I flicked him away before I thought of what I was doing, and then realized that now I will have bad karma. No longer at one with the universe, my allergies started acting up during the meditation and I couldn't stop sneezing.
I managed to stay silent all the way back to the parking lot. That had to be at least 50 minutes of not talking - might be a record for me. This Buddha Bootcamp runs Tuesdays and Thursday at 6 am for the next four weeks, though I can only attend when Husband isn't working in the mornings... I am sure that I can find the path to enlightenment in four sessions.
My 35th birthday is coming up in a few days, and I already feeling tense.
Kids love their birthdays - there are balloons, cakes, presents, pizza, guests... what's not to love? Plus they feel older, which is a good thing when you are under 21.
Yesterday my oldest friend turned 35. My sister-in-law turned 39, and today another friend turns 45 (sort of my older friend chronologically versus the one that I have known the longest.)
All of these women seemed fairly excited about their birthdays. I think that I have cried for each of my past six birthdays.
I should be happy. I have a wonderful life - three amazing, funny brilliant and healthy children. A loving and supportive husband. A close and generous family. Amazing friends. My health... and my looks haven't faded that much yet. Yes, there are some greys and a few lines, but I am not at the wrinkle stage.
So why do birthdays hit me so hard? In my mind I am somewhere in the 23-28 age range. Some days I am 18, in my head. That is a HUGE disconnect to my current 34 (2 days away from 35).
I think I have a few missing years - maybe that is what is causing my birthday traumas. Son One was born when I was 27... for the next five years I was pregnant or nursing, or pregnant and nursing... Sleep was sparse and my life wasn't my own. I know in theory I probably aged at least two years for each of those "early" years with my children, but those years feel lost to me.
This Wednesday I will be celebrating 35. Or maybe I won't be celebrating... But I will be 35.
It doesn't fail. I get in the shower, start to relax under the hot water. Put shampoo in my hair, and I get a knock on the door.
"Mommy! I need to pee badly!"
My daughter has great timing. I ask her before I go to jump in the shower, but it doesn't matter. I used to lock the door for some peace, but I decided that it was worse to get out of the shower feeling nice and clean only to have to clean up the puddle on the other side of the bathroom door.
Last time I helped her go pee in the middle of my shower, shampoo stinging my eyes, Daughter had the nerve to complain that my hands were wet. Of course my hands were wet! I was in the shower!
I don't remember the boys ever doing that to me. They would come in and sit on the floor to wait for me, or peak through the curtain to see what was going on.
At what age can little girls climb on and off the toilet without help? Even the bathroom stool doesn't help. And none of my kids have ever used a potty.
Another favourite for Daughter to tell me she needs to go pee is a soon as I sit down to a hot meal. If Husband is home, I look at him and say, "Your daughter needs to go pee." It is exactly like newborns who want to be nursed anytime you sit down to eat. Such a pain, this crazy Pavlovian response.
Husband doesn't normally respond well to these demands. He has close to half a dozen "accidents" on his hands that were really just the result of his slow-moving nature. He doesn't seem to understand the urgency of a toddler who needs to use the bathroom. Yes, we have three children, but he is still figuring it out.
Today I asked Daughter if she could wait until I was done my shower. She said yes. I rinsed the shampoo, put in the conditioner, washed my face, shaved my underarms, rinsed the conditioner, and she still made it on time. Must not have been that urgent in the first place. Maybe I can start locking the door...
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