Hair Issues
Published December 14, 2009 @ 16:24 in Amazing Kids
We are having hair issues in our house.
Son One hasn't cut his hair since March. It is so long! And messy. I keep threatening with haircuts. I've even invented a "barber fairy" who will come in the middle of the night to cut his hair if he misbehaves. The latest negotiation tactic (also known as "threat) is that the next hockey game he loses, he gets a haircut. To be fair, I don't really care if he wins or loses, I am just looking for some reason to cut his hair.
Husband and I can't figure out why he won't cut it. Someone once mentioned that he looked a little like Zack and Cody from The Suite Life, so we thought that was why he was growing it. For the longest time I would tell people to just leave him alone, "it's just hair!" I would explain. However, now that I can no longer see his eyes, it is starting to bug me.
Daughter hasn't had a haircut since playing barber in September. Today, I got some insight into why.
I had a visit to the hairdresser's last week. Obviously, my hairstyle when I returned home made an impression.
Daughter: I don't want to go to the hairdresser!
Me: Why not? You need to get your hair trimmed.
Daughter: Because I don't want to have my hair messed up!
Hmmm... She thinks that they messed my hair up?
Me: Don't worry. They won't mess up your hair.
Daughter: But they will change the colour! I don't want to get my colour changed.
Yes, I coloured my hair. Obviously, she wasn't a fan of the subtle highlights.
Perhaps I am to blame for my kids fear of hairdressers. I love going to get my hair done, and often place premature trust, letting them cut or colour, "as they want."
What bugs me about the kids growing out their hair is that I can't see their beautiful little faces. Husband is getting a new camera for Christmas, so soon I will be able to share with you pictures of my children, with extra hair.
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Embracing the Christmas Spirit
Published December 12, 2009 @ 12:41 in Amazing Kids
Husband, claiming to be recovering from his illness, told the boys that they could get the Christmas tree this morning.
On his way out the door to get and visit the Scouts, he asked over his shoulder if I could clean up the living room to make room. I was still in my pajamas and in need of a shower. There were 3 1/2 sets of hockey equipment airing out in the living room, along with 80% of my gifts in various stages of wrapping, and all of my wrapping supplies. Unfortunately, the Scouts Christmas trees are only about three blocks away, and they were driving.
I started out by shoving hockey equipment into hockey bags. I hope that I was fairly accurate, but let's be honest, the only one I really cared about was my own. The bags were moved into the kitchen to help make room.
Next I piled all of the wrapping and gifts into one corner.
Then I moved two living room chairs, grabbed some towels and a garbage bag, and set up the corner for the tree. I decided that since I had been so efficient, I could probably grab a quick shower (if I didn't wash and condition my hair) and be dressed before they came home.
No such luck. I was just about to step into the shower when I heard the front door open. Thinking that it wasn't exactly very Christmas-like to put up the tree in the nude, I shouted down for them to start without me. They managed fine.
With the tree up and the scent of evergreen filling the house, the kids wanted to do more to get ready for Christmas. As we explained that we can't decorate until tomorrow, needing the branches to fall into place, we decided to do some wrapping.
Have you ever tried to wrap presents with three helpers? Not only is it not easy and fun, but I was ready to beat them all and send them to their rooms before the first gift was even wrapped. They each had their own roll of tape, and a job to do. One cut the paper. One helped to fold. One wrote the gift tags.
Husband and I tried to explain the shoving and pushing your siblings so that you can put the tape on first not only isn't "helpful" but also isn't in the Christmas spirit.
(Note to Friends and Family: The kids helped to wrap. Don't ask about the tape, or the messy corners. Be happy if the gift is still in one piece.)
I need a massage. If anyone wants to send me a present and doesn't know what to get me, consider a nice spa gift card. If you are more generous, a weekend away at a spa...
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Why you shouldn't participate in that cookie exchange.
Published December 11, 2009 @ 09:14 in Being Mommy, Recipes
This year a friend of mine was organizing a cookie exchange. I've heard a lot about these famous cookie exchanges. You make dozens of the same kind of cookie, then you meet, switch, and suddenly you have a dozen each of lots of different kinds of cookies. So, instead of spending a day or two baking, you spend a few hours and still get loads of fresh, homemade treats.
Sounds great, doesn't it? A real time saver.
So, I said, "Yes! I would LOVE to participate."
Big mistake.
First off, when I got the other cookies back, I noticed that my tried and true chocolate chip cookies would pale in comparison to these amazing creations. Beautifully done, decorated, and packaged, the dozen I threw into the zip-lock bags just won't measure up.
But after I got over my insecurities, I started to eat. And eat. And eat. Thus far I am madly and irrevocably in love with the Skor shortbread. Pure genius. Yes, I've had three for breakfast so far today, and I've promised myself that I won't eat lunch or dinner to stay under my daily calorie allotment - the fat is probably over my recommended daily intake. I am actually considering eating the last two just to be done with the dozen (yes, I got them late after hockey on Tuesday night, and 10 are already eaten, ALL BY ME!)
The only problem with that theory, is that I am pretty sure after the Skor Shortbread is done, I will just move onto the ginger cookies. Or maybe the almonds ones. Probably both. Expect that the sugar cookies with sprinkles look pretty good, too.
Sugar, butter, flour... nothing good can come of it.
Please heed my advice before your jeans start to tighten, like mine. Say "No" to the festive Christmas cookie exchange. Your friends may think that it is a little Bah-Humbug, but tell them you are just getting an early start on your New Year's Resolution.
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Countdown to Christmas
Published December 11, 2009 @ 07:27 in Around the House, Being Mommy, Shopping and Stuff
There is a house that I drive by, not daily but often enough, that does a countdown to Christmas with an easel on the front lawn. "13 more sleeps until Christmas"
I hate it. I hate parents who count in "sleeps". I hate the pressure of knowing exactly how many more days I have to finish the million and one things on my list. I am busy and rushed enough without having to feel worse every time I drive by this house.
The past few weeks, I have actually started going different routes just to avoid the house in the neighbourhood with the countdown. How's that for Christmas spirit?
I am about 80% done my present shopping list. Today and tomorrow I have to clean the house to prepare for the purchase of our Christmas Tree (Step One: Remove the 4 sets of hockey equipment airing out in the living room)
Real or fake? Obviously, I love real. Better for the environment; smell better; look better. Husband and I have NEVER had a fake tree. One year we kept our real tree so long, as it hadn't dropped a needle yet in mid-January, that we had to take it somewhere to dump it ourselves - it was too late for the city trucks. We used to go with the longer needled Scotch Pine, until we discovered the Fraser Fir. I've heard that they actually release sap to glue the needles to the branches as they dry out. Plus, I have a slightly neurotic Husband when it comes to watering things, so we stick with real.
Still on my Christmas to do list?
- Gifts for Teachers and coaches
- Clean house
- Get tree
- Decorate tree
- Find decorations and stockings
- Finish wrapping
- Buy stocking stuffers
- Sing a carol, or two
- Bake something with ginger or cloves
- Clean again
- Find the kids Advent Calendars after they've gone to bed and help them "catch up"
OK, the last thing, 100% true. On December 1st, Daughter tore into her and her brother's advent calendars. He was upset, she didn't understand the whole "waiting and having only one per day" (really, who does? Oh - maybe if I counted in sleeps I could explain waiting to her!)
So, I put the calendars high and out of reach. The best part? Son One seems to be the only child to grabs his down every morning for his chocolate. Did I mention that my kids got Lindt Advent Calendars this year? Yes!
Hope your plans are starting to come together...
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Hockey with my son
Published December 10, 2009 @ 07:07 in Amazing Kids, Kids Activities
If you would have told me a year ago that I would be running a hockey practice for my seven-year-old, I would have thought you were insane. But last night, I did just that.
I was never a skater, never interested in learning to skate, and I had never even watched a full hockey game until I met Husband. But it is not only the great Canadian passion, it is turning into the passion of my family, and I can't explain the fun of getting to share that with my kids.
Husband, as you know, is sick. He was supposed to be running the first outdoor practice of the season. He was feverish, and with the wet cool weather and his pneumonia, opted out. And then he said, "but why don't you run it?"
Yeah, I thought to myself, why don't I? I have been taking hockey since May. I am the house league convener. Sure, these kids are all seven and have been playing since they were four. Sure, they are all pretty competitive select kids. But I am a natural leader. I have a whistle. I have pylons. I have pucks. How hard can it be?
It was AMAZING!!!! Thanks so much to the two dads who were on the ice helping out, but actually let me run the drills. The kids listened. I used my whistle. We covered skating, pivoting, turning, backwards skating, puck handling. OK, so maybe it wasn't always in the best order. But they did well, and it was a decent practice.
Then the scrimmage...
I almost sat it out, worried that I would get knocked over by some over-eager seven-year-old and injured. Also worried that I would look like a complete knob. But again, thanks to the wonderful support and encouragement of those two amazing dads, I stuck it out.
And it was the BEST time I've had with my first born in a long, long time.
It is hard to describe the magic of the moment. It was cool, but not cold. The wind was bad but I was actually starting to skate hard enough to warm up and not notice. I could take the puck off of the kids, pass to the other adults (my teammates).
The magic? My son was smiling, and we were having fun together because I was with him doing something that he loved. A light snow began to fall, and we switch teams so that we were together. It was almost time to go and you could tell that the kids were getting tired. Son One got a break-away, and I tried to catch up. He saw me, and though he could have taken it in on his own, he passed giving me a chance to score.
Yes, it would have been amazing if I actually had scored. But this is the real world and winter hockey magic only goes so far.
The good news? I didn't fall and make a fool out of myself. On the ride home, Son One said that I was better than he thought I would be, though not as good as Daddy. I am still not down from my high.
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I am so bad!
Published December 9, 2009 @ 15:28 in Being Mommy
I have been busy, but aren't we all? To catch you up - we got report cards, had parent / teacher interviews (lucky me - two geniuses!) had a weekend hockey tournament (YES! They won) started my Christmas shopping (December 4th... not too late) participated in my first ever cookie exchange (now I have 7 dozen cookies to eat) and had Husband diagnosed with pneumonia.
Still have to clean my house, get a tree, and start wrapping.
Yes, Husband is sick. It is amazing what falls apart when he is not on his game. Just goes to show what a vital and important part of this family he really is, in case we forget sometimes. I have been telling him to go to the doctor for weeks. He FINALLY went yesterday - walking pneumonia. The difference between walking-pneumonia and pneumonia? With the other one you aren't still walking around. Oh. Thanks for the cleaver explanation, doctor. Do you go by Dr. Bob, or just Bob?
The Bah-humbugs are starting to drift away. I think it is because I am figuring out what it is that I want for Christmas. And also, I love shopping - it is better to give than receive.
Question to other moms out there - am I the only one who buys herself Christmas presents? Well - some of them aren't exactly Christmas Presents since I am buying them for myself while out shopping, and actually using them right away. But others I do wrap and put under the tree either from Santa or from the kids. And let's be honest - my stocking would be empty if it wasn't for me and my mom!
Hope your holiday plans are coming along. If you want to send me a gift, let me know!
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Report Card Survival
Published December 1, 2009 @ 13:44 in School
This morning I was talking to a few moms in the playground who were disappointed by their children's report cards. I gave them some of the following advice:
1) Don't cry in front of your child, as upset as you may be. Also, try not to cry to the teacher at Parent / Teacher interviews. Makes you look unstable.
2) Don't tell you child the "letter grades" that they received - skip the tally of As, Bs, Cs etc and just read them the teacher comments and goals. Discuss these and get their feedback for how they performed.
3) This is your child's report card - it tells you roughly how your child is performing in school. This is NOT a definitive report on the success or failure of your child, nor is it a measure of their worth, nor your success as a parent.
4) If you need help understanding it, book an EXTRA appointment with the teacher. They can explain it to you in detail. You can also check out the ministry of education website.
One mom on the playground said that she just wanted her daughter, currently in grade one, to get into a decent university. I am pretty sure that she was kidding.
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Paying for grades
Published December 1, 2009 @ 13:35 in School
Last night the boys brought home their report cards from school.
The first thing Son One said to me as he handed me the sealed envelope was, "If I get 5 or more As, can I get some Gogos?" (Note: To those parents who are not familiar with Gogos - they are another stupid collection toy that kids can't seem to get enough of right now... be happy if you haven't been asked for some yet.)
My answer? "No, Honey. I will be thrilled if you get 5 As, but we don't buy you stuff for doing well in school. Doing well is its own reward."
"But ________ (name deleted to protect his parents) will get more Gogos if he gets 5 As."
Why do parents do this? I've heard of paying kids for grades, all the way through high school! $10 per A, $5 per B. Really do you take money away for poor performance? Gee - you got three Cs - that's $15 please! I've even heard of some hockey parents paying their kids for goals. Are you kidding me?
We encourage our kids to try their best all of the time because it is the right thing to do. Plus, success is its own reward, isn't it? The problem is explaining to kids why we, as parents, make certain decisions. We will not pay your for grades, but I am very proud of you so let's go out to dinner as a family to celebrate. Hypocritical? Or just me getting out of an evening of cooking?
(Honestly, with three smart kids, paying for As could be pretty expensive down the road... I would rather save more for their universities!)
Son One seemed OK with my answer, and quickly moved on. I just know that it will come up again sometime soon. Like in March, when Term Two is done.
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