...instead he was tearing the place apart. Busted!
Friday, February 25, 2011
Monday, February 14, 2011
Confession
You'll need to forgive me, in advance, if what I'm about to share is insensitive or even offensive but I'm having a rough day. Maybe its because its Valentines day or maybe its because I'm feeling stressed about my job search or maybe its just because I really, really miss my sister but I don't ever want to see this commercial again:
Because every time I do, I want to scream. Or shout at the t.v. YOU'RE TOO LATE. I look at the faces of the people celebrating one more birthday and I think: why you?
Pretty horrible, right?
So instead of facing the bitter, selfish person I become over a television commercial that is meant to inspire and motivate, I just turn away. Before the tears well in my eyes; before I begin to count the days she had until her next birthday (23) or the days she has been gone from our lives (280) I change the channel.
But not before I think: Official sponsor of birthdays, psh... if you're lucky.
Because every time I do, I want to scream. Or shout at the t.v. YOU'RE TOO LATE. I look at the faces of the people celebrating one more birthday and I think: why you?
Pretty horrible, right?
So instead of facing the bitter, selfish person I become over a television commercial that is meant to inspire and motivate, I just turn away. Before the tears well in my eyes; before I begin to count the days she had until her next birthday (23) or the days she has been gone from our lives (280) I change the channel.
But not before I think: Official sponsor of birthdays, psh... if you're lucky.
Monday, January 24, 2011
TOP 10...
...reasons losing your job sucks:
10. Unemployment is more of a pain in the ass than its worth
9. Not getting to hang out with your friends at work
8. Not getting to hang out with your friends at the pub after work
7. Feeling useless
6. Daytime TV is HORRIBLE
5. You're the reason your toddler is a Gymboree drop-out
4. Being THAT women in the grocery store shuffling between the coupons, and the list and the
flyer and the calculator, Its ridiculous.
3. Filling out job application after application and then playing the waiting game
2. Having to shop at wal-mart because it really is cheaper
1. Saying goodbye to a place you called home
10. Unemployment is more of a pain in the ass than its worth
9. Not getting to hang out with your friends at work
8. Not getting to hang out with your friends at the pub after work
7. Feeling useless
6. Daytime TV is HORRIBLE
5. You're the reason your toddler is a Gymboree drop-out
4. Being THAT women in the grocery store shuffling between the coupons, and the list and the
flyer and the calculator, Its ridiculous.
3. Filling out job application after application and then playing the waiting game
2. Having to shop at wal-mart because it really is cheaper
1. Saying goodbye to a place you called home
...reasons losing your job aint so bad:
10. My house is always clean
9. Having time to learn how to use my camera properly
8. Having all the time in the world to plan and prepare meals
7. Not being too tired to read at the end of the day
6. Having the time to catch up on all my DVR'd shows
5. Making cookies and brownies with Liam
4. Play-doh, hide and seek, stories and nature walks
3. Play dates with other SAHMs (aka: out of work moms) that include copious amounts of wine
2. The inspiration the comes when considering the endless possibilities the future holds
1. Being home, every night, to tuck my baby boy into bed
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
The high cost of making memories..
This is Liam's second Christmas. I had it in my head that I'd like to try and get a picture of him with Santa every year until he refuses out of fear or pre-teen embarrassment. So it was with this goal in mind that we headed to the mall yesterday evening to make a memory.
Now I know what brand of crazy I am to be braving the mall only 5 days before Christmas. All the same I rationalized, we've got no where to be tonight, so we'll just take our time, get a bite to eat and roll with the punches. Little did I know how very foreshadowing that thought was.
So Chris, Liam and I get to the mall about 4:30. We park three quarters of a mile away in the only open spot in the whole lot and proceed to trek in. We make our way to the "North pole" and find that the line isn't long at all. I'm thinking: this is a Christmas miracle! There are, maybe, 5 groups ahead of us in line and I've estimated a 20 minute wait in line. With both Chris and I here, that is do-able. One of us waits in line while other chases after Liam as he runs through the mall dodging and weaving through the masses. Its fun. really.
So after we snake through the empty roped off maze we take our place in line. Someone raising their voice immediately grabs our attention. Its the woman second in line, she is angry. The elf in charge of ushering children in to see Santa has just spoken to the group of people waiting at the head of the line. I couldn't hear what she said but whatever it was, it made the woman in line IRATE. She begins yelling at the elf in a thick accent I cant quite place "I have two children who have been waiting already for 20 minutes!" the elf nods her head knowingly and just points to the cardboard sign she is holding. I try to get a glimpse of it but there are too many people ahead of me blocking my view. As the woman's protests get louder families start ducking out of line. I'm totally oblivious and think, keep on yelling lady, you're scaring everyone ahead of us away! I've moved up considerably in line and can now see Santa sitting in his big throne of a chair surrounded by beautiful poinsettias both large and small. In my head I think: those are poisonous, but not enough to kill you. To the left of the throne is a tall green Christmas tree with twinkling lights and a shiny gold star. Scattered around the foot of the tree are decorative boxes wrapped in glittery paper and big colorful bows. Its really quite pretty and not make-shift at all. Santa's got a little boy on his lap and is trying desperately to ignore the commotion that's happening just a few short feet away from him. But he cant focus on the kid, not when there's a crazy lady flapping her arms and pointing in the usher elf's face. Santa's eyes keep wandering in our direction. He cant help it. As the camera elf attempts to get keepsake picture of this kid with Santa a security guard approaches. He's older than your typical mall guard, I always think of kids in their early twenties but this one is maybe 50. The uniform is ridiculous though. He's got a badge pinned to his shirt, a utility belt with only a flashlight, walkie-talkie and a log book. And the Pièce de résistance: a stetson hat. I'm ALWAYS reminded of a Canadian Mountie. Sans horse and dignity. It just looks silly in a mall. He asks what the problem is and before usher elf can open her mouth the lady begins her rant again. "WE HAVE BEEN WAITING IN LINE FOR MORE THAN 20 MINUTES AND JUST NOW SHE INFORMS US THAT SANTA IS GOING ON BREAK, ARE YOU KIDDING ME?" The stupid security guard totally misses her point and replies: "20 minutes is not a long time to wait to see Santa." This only pisses the lady off more. "20 MINUTES IS A LONG TIME TO WAIT FOR TWO YOUNG CHILDREN, BUT WHAT IS INFURIATING IS THAT THEY ALLOWED US TO WAIT IN LINE ALL THIS TIME WITHOUT INFORMING US THAT THEY WERE NOT TAKING ANY MORE VISITORS UNTIL 6 PM.
Wait, what?
I look at the clock, its just about 5. That means if we want to keep our place at the front of the line we'd have to stand here for an hour and wait. No friggen way.
Suddenly, with all the information put into perspective I get it. I mean, don't get me wrong, I certainly wouldn't have made a scene, but if I had been waiting for 20 minutes before they told me I'd have to wait another hour, I too would have been frustrated. Chris and I left the scene at the north pole before seeing how it wrapped up but I'd bet a fair amount that that women got her kids in to see Santa before he went and got himself a number 3 combo at china express. But at what cost? When she looks at her keepsake photo from Christmas 2010 what will she remember?
We wont have a 2010 picture of Liam with Santa but when I think back, my memory will be that instead of waiting in line to see Santa we ran through the mall and played in the play place.
Well, that and the grown woman who threw a temper tantrum in line waiting to see Santa.
Now I know what brand of crazy I am to be braving the mall only 5 days before Christmas. All the same I rationalized, we've got no where to be tonight, so we'll just take our time, get a bite to eat and roll with the punches. Little did I know how very foreshadowing that thought was.
So Chris, Liam and I get to the mall about 4:30. We park three quarters of a mile away in the only open spot in the whole lot and proceed to trek in. We make our way to the "North pole" and find that the line isn't long at all. I'm thinking: this is a Christmas miracle! There are, maybe, 5 groups ahead of us in line and I've estimated a 20 minute wait in line. With both Chris and I here, that is do-able. One of us waits in line while other chases after Liam as he runs through the mall dodging and weaving through the masses. Its fun. really.
So after we snake through the empty roped off maze we take our place in line. Someone raising their voice immediately grabs our attention. Its the woman second in line, she is angry. The elf in charge of ushering children in to see Santa has just spoken to the group of people waiting at the head of the line. I couldn't hear what she said but whatever it was, it made the woman in line IRATE. She begins yelling at the elf in a thick accent I cant quite place "I have two children who have been waiting already for 20 minutes!" the elf nods her head knowingly and just points to the cardboard sign she is holding. I try to get a glimpse of it but there are too many people ahead of me blocking my view. As the woman's protests get louder families start ducking out of line. I'm totally oblivious and think, keep on yelling lady, you're scaring everyone ahead of us away! I've moved up considerably in line and can now see Santa sitting in his big throne of a chair surrounded by beautiful poinsettias both large and small. In my head I think: those are poisonous, but not enough to kill you. To the left of the throne is a tall green Christmas tree with twinkling lights and a shiny gold star. Scattered around the foot of the tree are decorative boxes wrapped in glittery paper and big colorful bows. Its really quite pretty and not make-shift at all. Santa's got a little boy on his lap and is trying desperately to ignore the commotion that's happening just a few short feet away from him. But he cant focus on the kid, not when there's a crazy lady flapping her arms and pointing in the usher elf's face. Santa's eyes keep wandering in our direction. He cant help it. As the camera elf attempts to get keepsake picture of this kid with Santa a security guard approaches. He's older than your typical mall guard, I always think of kids in their early twenties but this one is maybe 50. The uniform is ridiculous though. He's got a badge pinned to his shirt, a utility belt with only a flashlight, walkie-talkie and a log book. And the Pièce de résistance: a stetson hat. I'm ALWAYS reminded of a Canadian Mountie. Sans horse and dignity. It just looks silly in a mall. He asks what the problem is and before usher elf can open her mouth the lady begins her rant again. "WE HAVE BEEN WAITING IN LINE FOR MORE THAN 20 MINUTES AND JUST NOW SHE INFORMS US THAT SANTA IS GOING ON BREAK, ARE YOU KIDDING ME?" The stupid security guard totally misses her point and replies: "20 minutes is not a long time to wait to see Santa." This only pisses the lady off more. "20 MINUTES IS A LONG TIME TO WAIT FOR TWO YOUNG CHILDREN, BUT WHAT IS INFURIATING IS THAT THEY ALLOWED US TO WAIT IN LINE ALL THIS TIME WITHOUT INFORMING US THAT THEY WERE NOT TAKING ANY MORE VISITORS UNTIL 6 PM.
Wait, what?
I look at the clock, its just about 5. That means if we want to keep our place at the front of the line we'd have to stand here for an hour and wait. No friggen way.
Suddenly, with all the information put into perspective I get it. I mean, don't get me wrong, I certainly wouldn't have made a scene, but if I had been waiting for 20 minutes before they told me I'd have to wait another hour, I too would have been frustrated. Chris and I left the scene at the north pole before seeing how it wrapped up but I'd bet a fair amount that that women got her kids in to see Santa before he went and got himself a number 3 combo at china express. But at what cost? When she looks at her keepsake photo from Christmas 2010 what will she remember?
We wont have a 2010 picture of Liam with Santa but when I think back, my memory will be that instead of waiting in line to see Santa we ran through the mall and played in the play place.
Well, that and the grown woman who threw a temper tantrum in line waiting to see Santa.
Friday, December 17, 2010
Favorite things
Because I've always wanted to, this year I decided all of the gifts I give will be wrapped in brown paper and tied up with strings, among other decorative things!And they turned out so pretty and festive I couldn't resist sharing my ideas here...
Felt ribbon with some small sleigh bells I picked up at a craft store.
I saved blown Christmas lights in my junk drawer for years, thinking they would be pretty to decorate with, but never really knew what to do with them until this year. Love this!
Again with the felt ribbon, and some festive evergreen, berries and a pine cone from our yard. I secured everything together using a garbage bag tie then covered it with another snip of red ribbon to hide the tie.
Another pretty jingle bell with curling ribbon.
And a last minute addition! I wonder what it could be...
...just a little peek.Ok, so in my defense, It came yesterday by mail. I was home. It says what it is right on the outside of the box! (smooth, amazon.) So when Chris gets home he pretends he doesn't know what it could possibly be and I'm all Mhmm, right. So about an hour later he just hands me the package.
YOU CANT DO THIS. EVER. not to me anyway. I'm a spoiled little brat who loves presents and can hardly stand waiting to open them.
Before it even registers, I'm opening it. All the while Chris is giving me this look that's a cross between disgust and utter disbelief. Although I know he's just playing. He's no different than I am. Except that I can hold out on the giving, he cannot.
So I mess around with it a while, download a book or two (so I'll have something on it when I open it FOR REAL at mom and dads) and tada, now its wrapped and pretty.
Do I regret spoiling both the pleasure of plucking it out from under the tree Christmas morning and the surprise of opening it to find the only (material) thing I wished for?
Nope, not one bit. :)
Sunday, November 7, 2010
My two cents
I came across this blog post titled "My son is gay" via facebook. Since its posting it has received millions of web hits and national news coverage. If you've not heard about it you can read it here.
After sharing the link on facebook I received some feedback from friends and family expressing their opinions on the matter. After a few days of thinking about it I've got an opinion of my own.
Here is what I think:
This is a mother whose love for her son is obvious. I think we should all give her a break as she has, apparently, lost her copy of the "how to be a perfect parent" manual and is now winging it.
If I were in her shoes (I very well may be one day given my son's infatuation with Dora and her backpack) and given an identical set of circumstances I don't know that I would do things much differently. I think, certainly, I'd try and sell him on other costume choices but in the end if all he wanted to be for Halloween was Dora or Tinkerbell or whatever I'd allow it.
My brother, after reading her blog post, stated that he would never allow his son to wear that costume and that he believes this mother has made her son a target for ridicule. Perhaps, but ridicule by whom? At the age of five, the boy's pre-K classmates weren't the ones pointing and making faces. It was other mothers. I think this is shameful. Being a mother (parent) is hard enough with out having other people pass judgement on your decisions.
As a relatively new mother I am constantly second guessing myself; worrying over how the decisions I make and the actions I take or fail to take will effect my son. When Liam was a baby we were told that co-sleeping was bad, that if we didn't roll over and crush him in his sleep then the sheer act of sharing a family bed would render him dependant and unable to sleep alone. I made the choice to have Liam sleep in the bed with us because it worked for us. And then at six months, when it stopped working for us, we transitioned him to a crib in his own room.
When we chose to use The Ferber Method of progressive waiting to help Liam to fall asleep on his own I was told it was cruel and neglectful and Liam could grow to be a man with trust issues because I didn't pick him up every time he cried from his crib. Yet in three nights he learned to go to bed and fall asleep on his own without throwing a production complete with tears and hyperventilating. My point is I did what I thought was best for my son. and it worked for us. which is all that counts. I would wager a guess that my nephew, (now a college athlete in love with a beautiful girl) looking back would be glad that his father didn't allow him to wear a Daphne costume for Halloween when he was five. That choice would have been the right one for his son.
I don't know this woman or her son. All I know is that I am in no position to judge her for doing what she believes is best for her son. When he's in college and he brings a date home to meet mom, he'll either be mortified at the prospect of her showing off his 5 year old self in a Daphne costume or he'll be grateful that his mother knew that acceptance breeds self-confidence and even at 5 encouraged him to be himself. With all the media attention bullying has be getting lately I think its important that as role models we take a good long look at how we are treating each other. Our children are watching.
After sharing the link on facebook I received some feedback from friends and family expressing their opinions on the matter. After a few days of thinking about it I've got an opinion of my own.
Here is what I think:
This is a mother whose love for her son is obvious. I think we should all give her a break as she has, apparently, lost her copy of the "how to be a perfect parent" manual and is now winging it.
If I were in her shoes (I very well may be one day given my son's infatuation with Dora and her backpack) and given an identical set of circumstances I don't know that I would do things much differently. I think, certainly, I'd try and sell him on other costume choices but in the end if all he wanted to be for Halloween was Dora or Tinkerbell or whatever I'd allow it.
My brother, after reading her blog post, stated that he would never allow his son to wear that costume and that he believes this mother has made her son a target for ridicule. Perhaps, but ridicule by whom? At the age of five, the boy's pre-K classmates weren't the ones pointing and making faces. It was other mothers. I think this is shameful. Being a mother (parent) is hard enough with out having other people pass judgement on your decisions.
As a relatively new mother I am constantly second guessing myself; worrying over how the decisions I make and the actions I take or fail to take will effect my son. When Liam was a baby we were told that co-sleeping was bad, that if we didn't roll over and crush him in his sleep then the sheer act of sharing a family bed would render him dependant and unable to sleep alone. I made the choice to have Liam sleep in the bed with us because it worked for us. And then at six months, when it stopped working for us, we transitioned him to a crib in his own room.
When we chose to use The Ferber Method of progressive waiting to help Liam to fall asleep on his own I was told it was cruel and neglectful and Liam could grow to be a man with trust issues because I didn't pick him up every time he cried from his crib. Yet in three nights he learned to go to bed and fall asleep on his own without throwing a production complete with tears and hyperventilating. My point is I did what I thought was best for my son. and it worked for us. which is all that counts. I would wager a guess that my nephew, (now a college athlete in love with a beautiful girl) looking back would be glad that his father didn't allow him to wear a Daphne costume for Halloween when he was five. That choice would have been the right one for his son.
I don't know this woman or her son. All I know is that I am in no position to judge her for doing what she believes is best for her son. When he's in college and he brings a date home to meet mom, he'll either be mortified at the prospect of her showing off his 5 year old self in a Daphne costume or he'll be grateful that his mother knew that acceptance breeds self-confidence and even at 5 encouraged him to be himself. With all the media attention bullying has be getting lately I think its important that as role models we take a good long look at how we are treating each other. Our children are watching.
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Halloween 2010
As most of you already know Liam has been in an exclusive relationship with Nemo for about a year now. So when my sister-in-law asked me what he would like to be for Halloween there was only one right answer. And being the Halloween Queen she found the cutest most ridiculous Nemo costume on the market and got it for Liam.
Honestly, I didn't think we would ever be able to top the Lobster costume from last year... but we did!
I Hope everyone had a happy and safe Halloween. I, for one, am glad its over simply because now that November is here we are officially entering the Christmas holiday season! You can't subdue my joy. Consider yourself warned.
He who is not with Me is against Me. (Luke 11:23)
Honestly, I didn't think we would ever be able to top the Lobster costume from last year... but we did!
Liam took some time warming up to the costume. By which I mean we spent weeks putting it on him only to have him shriek and kick and pull at the shoulders until we took off of him. Then one day we put it on him and to our surprise, he was delighted. And the kicker, once in costume he insisted on being called Nemo. Wouldn't answer to "Liam" no, no. But "Nemo" Yes, mother? You called?
We had a very busy day on Halloween. We spent the afternoon at our friend Noelle's 2nd birthday party which was a blow out party, as far as 2 year old birthdays go. Lots of great food, balloon animals, a bouncy house, craft table, bobbing for apples..
And of course a pinata!
It was decided that hitting Dora and Diego with a bat would be too upsetting for the littler ones, especially Noelle who had a special place in her heart for Diego. So instead they make them with ribbons to pull. Pull the right ribbon and the candy is released.
In theory.
In practice, when you pull the right ribbon it decapitates Dora. The kids didn't really notice because they were too busy frantically looking for the candy that was still safely inside Dora's torso. That was now on the lawn. Still connected to the ribbon Liam was holding.
After the party we hit a nearby neighborhood for some trick or treating!
We had some issues coming to an agreement regarding the consumption of candy immediately upon receiving it... 
Finally we worked out an m&m payment plan
I Hope everyone had a happy and safe Halloween. I, for one, am glad its over simply because now that November is here we are officially entering the Christmas holiday season! You can't subdue my joy. Consider yourself warned.He who is not with Me is against Me. (Luke 11:23)
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