Have you ever tried to sit down with a good book and just enjoy reading for a while? I'm sure you have. Most people are able to. Some people may have to accommodate a cat kneading the pages, or a dog nudging their arm until the book falls down, but either of these cases is easily remedied. Simply walk to the door, open it, wait a few seconds, watch as your furry friend exits (presumably to go build some character), close the door, settle back on the couch (or wherever) and continue to read.
Many of you may have also nestled down in your favorite reading nook (or the corner of your closet) to enjoy not sharing a book. Inevitably you will be found either by the carrying soprano notes of the under-three-footer, or by the toddler herself, at which point you can kiss your book and any shred of focus goodbye. The she-toddler may first settle into your lap lovingly and expect to be shown the non-existent pictures in your book. Once it becomes apparent that your book is useless due to lack of pictures, you may find your book unceremoniously ripped from your hands and thrown across the room. At this time, you may be greeted by the bittersweet waft of excrement from a full diaper, or by an expertly administered swat on the face. Glasses askew, you now run along to find a book of real interest- such as the battered copy of Goodnight Gorilla or the ever entertaining Touch and Feel Farm.
After that it's snack time, so don't even think about going back to your secluded (or so you thought) corner. Count your lucky stars that your secret M&Ms are still secret.
Snack time will mostly be spent decorating hair with various foods, but in the event that you manage to keep it clean you will still need to draw a bath for your spawn. Do not think that because the wee one is having fun splish-splashing in the tub that you can sit on the toilet seat and check your email on your phone. This will result in the bath becoming immediately boring and a swift request that you either get in or help dear little one get out. "If you aren't looking at me drink the bathwater, why do I even bother to sit in here? Honestly."
To end the day with a bang, let loose the naked sprite to prance throughout the house in joyous mirth and look on as the antics become wild. Now that you are watching, dear sweet angel would not think of piddling on the floor or any such abuse of the natural state. You feel a sense of pride and wonder at your offspring as you marvel at how long it's been since the last potty break and how she's still holding it. Right around then the phone rings and you are momentarily distracted. There is a tangible change in the atmosphere and the little house nymph alights on tippie-toes to an out of sight area and pees. You will most likely come to notice after you have been off of the phone for a couple of minutes and start wondering why it's quiet. Ah, yes the little aquatic enthusiast is rehearsing Riverdance in her self made puddle.
Just wait till Piddling Pixie goes to highscool- you'll have plenty of ammo for embarrassing her in front of her friends!
Investing in audiobooks,
~Momrit
Sunday, August 25, 2013
Friday, August 23, 2013
Innocence
One thing I love about being a parent is catching the occasional glimpse of how I used to see the world. If I wanted something, it just appeared- I didn't have to plan for it, pay for it, keep the receipt in case I needed to return it, I just got it. It was sort of like magic (or as if everything I saw was mine- I just had to ask nicely for it), if I wanted a teddy bear all I had to do was pick it up and cutely carry it around the store and it would come home with me. Granted this didn't happen all of the time because I had learned about boundaries and needs vs. wants, but on occasion this was the case. If I wanted an apple, or an orange, one was provided no questions asked. I did not worry about the transfers of pieces of paper, or the "value" attributed to an item. The world was much simpler in those days.
So one day at the grocery store after I had taken my sweet time to choose a lemon, I noticed how quiet my daughter was in the stroller. Yes, the kind of quiet that makes a parent instantly suspicious. I peeked over the shade of her stroller and there she was, happily holding a very large Fuji apple which had suffered several bruises and now four or five tiny bites. Where did she get that?! I was alarmed, I hadn't seen anyone give her an apple (eeaaat it!! eeeaat it!) and my husband was on the other side of the store looking for something else. I could only surmise that she had plucked the nearest apple out of the display since it was just barely within stroller reach. Then I chortled to myself. She wanted an apple, so she helped herself. Plain and simple. I was a bit dismayed that she had gotten to it before I could wash away all traces of Mystery Hand and polishing wax, but alas, I had been absorbed in choosing the right lemon...
Now that she was in possession of the apple, she proceeded to bite off a piece, suck on it for a while, then loudly spew it out. Most of it ended up on the floor, some of it in crevices of the stroller, a few pieces in her clothing and the rest went to the parental garbage disposal (we don't have a dog anymore so I get the glorious leftovers). It is now common practice to hide the coveted fruit when we are grocery shopping so as to avoid the apple tantrum.
Happy shopping,
~Momrit
So one day at the grocery store after I had taken my sweet time to choose a lemon, I noticed how quiet my daughter was in the stroller. Yes, the kind of quiet that makes a parent instantly suspicious. I peeked over the shade of her stroller and there she was, happily holding a very large Fuji apple which had suffered several bruises and now four or five tiny bites. Where did she get that?! I was alarmed, I hadn't seen anyone give her an apple (eeaaat it!! eeeaat it!) and my husband was on the other side of the store looking for something else. I could only surmise that she had plucked the nearest apple out of the display since it was just barely within stroller reach. Then I chortled to myself. She wanted an apple, so she helped herself. Plain and simple. I was a bit dismayed that she had gotten to it before I could wash away all traces of Mystery Hand and polishing wax, but alas, I had been absorbed in choosing the right lemon...
Now that she was in possession of the apple, she proceeded to bite off a piece, suck on it for a while, then loudly spew it out. Most of it ended up on the floor, some of it in crevices of the stroller, a few pieces in her clothing and the rest went to the parental garbage disposal (we don't have a dog anymore so I get the glorious leftovers). It is now common practice to hide the coveted fruit when we are grocery shopping so as to avoid the apple tantrum.
Happy shopping,
~Momrit
Wednesday, August 21, 2013
Sneaky Things
It is amazing to me the things that I don't even notice I consume. Some things seem so odd and out of place, I wonder why anyone would check to make sure they are not on the ingredient list. For example, I bought a jar of my favorite pickles. I proceeded to enjoy all of them with abandon, and since I liked them so much, I turned the jar and read the ingredients to see how easy it would be to make something similar myself. To my astonishment, High Fructose Corn Syrup was in the 2% or less category. What??!! I go out of my way to avoid that crap and I unknowingly ate it in pickles?!
"Odd, said the duck, very odd."
So, my favorite pickles are now on my blacklist. Darnit.
Don't even get me going on the MSG I found lurking in an innocent enough can of cream of mushroom soup. It has many aliases, so it is even more difficult to identify in a myriad of foods. If I should say anything about it, it is this: that in lab experiements, when they need to fatten up a mouse, standard procedure is to feed it MSG.
In another place, on another day, I happened to pick up a tube of toothpaste (fluoride-free mind you) and upon skimming the ingredients noticed Sodium Lauryl Sulfate was listed there. Huh. The same sudsing agent in most shampoos that actually can make your hair fall out more, and I'm supposed to put it in my mouth?
"Odd, said Mabel, very odd."(Haven't you read Duckat?)
There is always a struggle between convenience and principles going on in my head, and for the most part principles win. However there are those times when a nostalgic candy or soda beckons, or when you are really hungry at the grocery store and see that vegetable combo sushi tray and just grab it to go eat in the car (knowing that it has HFCS in the rice vinegar--why?). Bottom line though, is that the minute you let your guard down, you let the junk in.
It is not always fun or easy to stay informed and on alert about the foods/products you purchase, but it is the fight worth fighting. If you and I don't, then the products and foods we are handing to our children (and teaching them to eat/use) will continue to be compromised by those who see dollar signs rather than healthy humans.
Pssssst-- don't eat the pickles!
Attempting daily not to be a hypocrite,
~Momrit
"Odd, said the duck, very odd."
So, my favorite pickles are now on my blacklist. Darnit.
Don't even get me going on the MSG I found lurking in an innocent enough can of cream of mushroom soup. It has many aliases, so it is even more difficult to identify in a myriad of foods. If I should say anything about it, it is this: that in lab experiements, when they need to fatten up a mouse, standard procedure is to feed it MSG.
In another place, on another day, I happened to pick up a tube of toothpaste (fluoride-free mind you) and upon skimming the ingredients noticed Sodium Lauryl Sulfate was listed there. Huh. The same sudsing agent in most shampoos that actually can make your hair fall out more, and I'm supposed to put it in my mouth?
"Odd, said Mabel, very odd."(Haven't you read Duckat?)
There is always a struggle between convenience and principles going on in my head, and for the most part principles win. However there are those times when a nostalgic candy or soda beckons, or when you are really hungry at the grocery store and see that vegetable combo sushi tray and just grab it to go eat in the car (knowing that it has HFCS in the rice vinegar--why?). Bottom line though, is that the minute you let your guard down, you let the junk in.
It is not always fun or easy to stay informed and on alert about the foods/products you purchase, but it is the fight worth fighting. If you and I don't, then the products and foods we are handing to our children (and teaching them to eat/use) will continue to be compromised by those who see dollar signs rather than healthy humans.
Pssssst-- don't eat the pickles!
Attempting daily not to be a hypocrite,
~Momrit
Saturday, August 17, 2013
Never say Never
Every so often I stop and reflect upon my life and how it's going. It's going pretty well, but I notice some trends as of late. It seems as though whenever I say that I will never do something, that very thing inevitably comes to pass. For example, "I could never live in the desert- it's too dry and I'll turn into a raisin." Lo and behold an incredibly opportunity lies there and I'm catching a flight next week!
"I will never misuse my iPhone to babysit!" This morning I could hardly drag myself out of my dreamy stupor and fumbled through the apps in my phone to put on Talking Tom and listen as my chipper child said "Hi" to the cat and he repeated it back over and over (and over...).
"I could never wear skinny jeans- I don't think they're my style" Guess what I'm wearing today?
"I will never EVER like cilantro!!" I still don't but now I'm afraid.
Yes, the universe has it's own sense of humor, and we are here to merely suffer or laugh (if we're smart) through it. In the end it all comes back to the same thing, and I hope that I won't have wasted my time while I've had it. On that note, I almost feel like renouncing movies because of how much of my precious life I've spent agape in front of them like a zombie. Yet there are just times when one needs a break from participating, so I guess it's better than becoming a crack head (not that that was in my list of alternatives).
Leaving you on an odd note,
~Momrit
"I will never misuse my iPhone to babysit!" This morning I could hardly drag myself out of my dreamy stupor and fumbled through the apps in my phone to put on Talking Tom and listen as my chipper child said "Hi" to the cat and he repeated it back over and over (and over...).
"I could never wear skinny jeans- I don't think they're my style" Guess what I'm wearing today?
"I will never EVER like cilantro!!" I still don't but now I'm afraid.
Yes, the universe has it's own sense of humor, and we are here to merely suffer or laugh (if we're smart) through it. In the end it all comes back to the same thing, and I hope that I won't have wasted my time while I've had it. On that note, I almost feel like renouncing movies because of how much of my precious life I've spent agape in front of them like a zombie. Yet there are just times when one needs a break from participating, so I guess it's better than becoming a crack head (not that that was in my list of alternatives).
Leaving you on an odd note,
~Momrit
Wednesday, August 14, 2013
Parenting in Public
You are sitting in a public establishment of some sort minding your own business when from across the room you hear, "I want it NOOOOWW!!!!!!" followed by a loud (and fake), "Wwwaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!".
Your previous self would have immediately judged the parent based solely on the disruptive outbreak of the (obviously spoiled) child with them. However, since becoming a parent you have realized (or soon will) that the moment you pass judgement on such a situation, your karma will surely follow in kind. It's like jinxing yourself to be put in those very shoes sometime in the near future. You also have come to realize by now that the events leading up to such behavior are rarely evident, and most likely you would have seen it coming had you been there for the last hour. Did this child just consume a large amount of processed sugar? Is this child fatigued but refuses to sleep? Has this child been bribed (and has the parent forgotten to make good on said bribe)? Has this child recently read the blog "The Honest Toddler" (I highly recommend it!)? And finally, has this child soiled him/herself and has this been detected/dealt with yet? You may then notice the parent attempting at humor to excuse the disturbance- for example when asked, "Are they all yours?" one might reply, "Oh NO, no no, just the badly behaved ones..." Heh heh chortle... not funny. Why degrade yourself and your skills of discipline when there are so many other people just waiting for a chance to do so? Let them do their job and you do yours.
So you see, there are many more things in the working before an outbreak of bratty screaming, and if you succumb to the urge to shoot a dirty/exasperated or "my child never does that" look in the poor parent's direction, then remember this- your turn will come, and then you will be the one red-faced and shaking in the public spotlight of scorn.
On that note, have a nice day and enjoy a restaurant meal with your offspring.
Love,
~Momrit
Your previous self would have immediately judged the parent based solely on the disruptive outbreak of the (obviously spoiled) child with them. However, since becoming a parent you have realized (or soon will) that the moment you pass judgement on such a situation, your karma will surely follow in kind. It's like jinxing yourself to be put in those very shoes sometime in the near future. You also have come to realize by now that the events leading up to such behavior are rarely evident, and most likely you would have seen it coming had you been there for the last hour. Did this child just consume a large amount of processed sugar? Is this child fatigued but refuses to sleep? Has this child been bribed (and has the parent forgotten to make good on said bribe)? Has this child recently read the blog "The Honest Toddler" (I highly recommend it!)? And finally, has this child soiled him/herself and has this been detected/dealt with yet? You may then notice the parent attempting at humor to excuse the disturbance- for example when asked, "Are they all yours?" one might reply, "Oh NO, no no, just the badly behaved ones..." Heh heh chortle... not funny. Why degrade yourself and your skills of discipline when there are so many other people just waiting for a chance to do so? Let them do their job and you do yours.
So you see, there are many more things in the working before an outbreak of bratty screaming, and if you succumb to the urge to shoot a dirty/exasperated or "my child never does that" look in the poor parent's direction, then remember this- your turn will come, and then you will be the one red-faced and shaking in the public spotlight of scorn.
On that note, have a nice day and enjoy a restaurant meal with your offspring.
Love,
~Momrit
Tuesday, August 13, 2013
Toddlers and Airline Travel
Our daughter's first airplane ride was when she was 2 months old. I was worried that she would cry and mostly I feared the pressure change and how that could affect her. To my delight she "slept like a baby" pretty much the whole trip, which was a good day of travel including layovers. I thought to myself, why do people complain about traveling with kids? Our next trip was international, and a good 31 hours of exhausting travel. She was 7 months old and fared quite well. She did sleep for much of the longest leg of the trip, and she was pretty content to play on my lap or my husband's for the rest. She did of course cry, but not any more than usual. I was feeling pretty confident about our tough little traveler. On our return from overseas, she was a bit more active and didn't settle as easily. Mommy didn't get to enjoy all those great movie choices on the airplane (boo-hoo), and daddy had to keep walking up and down the aisles, bouncing all the while.
Then we had a nice long break in travel, and she learned how to walk. The next flight, thank god it was only 3.5 hours, was a challenge. We had a die-hard wiggler in tow who was not abashed to yell and cry. I received knowingly sympathetic looks from the stewardesses, one of which felt compelled to say, "hang in there- you're doing great Mom" during a particularly loud moment. I'm not sure if that was supposed to be encouraging or a telling sign of other people's irritation, but I took it as the former. We also happened to be sick that trip, and I only got puked on three times. Departing the airport smelling of baby bile I breathed a sigh of relief. At least that part was done.
A month later, our return trip awaited us. A stroller, car seat, diaper bag, Ergo baby carrier, nursing pillow, and carry-on later we were on the plane headed home. Don’t ask how they let us aboard with all of that stuff- let alone how we managed it. I fear I will never travel light again (what if we need extra pants, shirts, bibs, toys, wipes, (extra extra) diapers, sweater, hats (for warmth or sun), snacks, cheese??). This time Papa was with us so that provided a good distraction, and it was lucky that he sat next to us, because the nursing acrobat kept kicking him. Breastfeeding is great, it is wonderful for you and your child and I support it 100%, but airplanes were definitely not thinking of accommodating nursing children when they developed their seating design. Once you pass a certain age there will be inevitable kicking and possible groping of the passenger next to you. This may or may not fly with the next seat- depending on how “cool” they are. With all of this behind me, I prepare myself for another aeronautical journey with my she-toddler and watch as she grabs my toiletry bag and hugs it like a stuffed animal.
We’ll see how this one goes- I really hope I wont’t have to break out the dreaded iPhone. I believe in such time wasting toys for full sized humans, but am in principle strongly against using it as a toddler-tamer (though I am known to be a hypocrite on occasion). Their poor little minds are so vulnerable to its enticing sounds and colors they never have a chance- they are hooked from the moment they see it. Not to mention that it is bad to look at a small screen for any extended length of time- especially for those newly developing eyes. I also heard it can predispose children to near sightedness. ANYWAY, hopefully none of that will be going on, and we will have a cheery 3.5 hour layover between flights at which time I may regret not having purchased a human leash.
Love,
~Momrit
Saturday, August 10, 2013
Oops...my bad...
There is that moment when you have just gotten your dear little offspring to sleep and you tip-toe out of the room and breathe a sigh of relief. You then go to another room and enjoy your spouse’s company. A false sense of security surrounds you, and you decide it is a good idea to take a shower. You take your time in the bathroom, relishing the tranquil solitude (yes, you fellow moms know what I mean) and then turn on the water for your shower. After about 3.491 seconds of aquatic respite, you hear the shrill mandrake cries from the next room, and your shoulders slump down and you feel as if someone has defecated in the car and you have to go clean it up. You try to prolong your solitary shower but the cries become more and more frantic and you hear your spouse attempting to soothe the wee banshee but even this will not suffice. You groan, kicking yourself for thinking you could get away with it, and towel off hurriedly before entering the next room to fulfill your duty as human pacifier. “Noooo...” you think to yourself, “don’t wake up, don’t wake up, don’t wake up” “you’ve only had 40 minutes since 8:30 this morning and its 3:00! That’s not enough! You (I) need (you) to sleep more!!” You then play dead at her side, breathing as sleepily as possible, unmoving, looking through a thin sliver in your lashes and waiting for her breathing to regulate and return to slumber mode... the minutes tick by, and, a fresh breeze let in by the open window slams the door loudly shut! DAMN! You think to yourself. She bolts up and looks to see ‘who dunnit’. You manage to coax her back down, but by this time her eyes are wide open and she is on full alert- the chances of returning to sleep are evaporating by the second, and then the upstairs neighbors’ elephant of a child runs through their house, causing the likeness of small thunder over your heads. Well, that’s it. Sleep is now out of the question. I guess it’s time to get up and mangle some crackers.
Wednesday, August 7, 2013
Mommy's on the phone...
This is a perfect time to:
- Exercise your voice- find your highest note and make it really loud!
- Abuse your privilege of diaper-free time and pee on the floor and play in the puddle
- Empty the cupboard of pots and pans (with Gusto!)
- Close your hand in the cupboard and yell, all the while pressing harder
- Poop with all your might and then start screeching
- Hang on mommy's leg like a baby sloth
- Put random things inside of shoes to be discovered later
- Play 52 card pick up with your bowl of Cheerios
- Play in a corner out of sight very quietly (this is more of a cause for concern than any of the above)
- Nonchalantly begin pressing keys on the laptop, graduating to button mashing and then cherish the look on her face when she sees what you've done to improve Papa's operating system
- Empty the diaper bag and then haul it around like a little hobo
- Attempt to feed yourself ('nuff said)
- Search for treats in the cracks
- Stand on your tippie-toes and lock the door knobs
- Take all of the cans out of the recycling and decorate with them
- Climb into her lap and pull her shirt open to see what's in there
- Get creative and have fun!
Tuesday, August 6, 2013
Nap Circus
It's two thirty in the afternoon, and the toddler in your life is running around like a maniac and refuses your frustrated attempts at feeding her. Nap-time is on the horizon and dear toddler fervently signs that she would like to watch her show. Foolishly thinking that this might get you a moment of respite to do the dishes or eat, you fall headlong into the toddler's trap and put on said show. Then you begin to be productive (or not) about the house in whichever way suits you at the time. Now just about the time that you really get into what you are doing, you notice that dear toddler is no longer paying any attention to her show, and has instead chosen to undo her diaper and let it hang down one of the legs of her pants and is now wailing at you because she peed and it has averted the diaper which is scrunched in one leg and has run down the other one. You sigh a heavy sigh and transport the wailing wetter to the tub to wash off.
By this point nap-time has been sucessfully put off for at least 40 minutes, which, after a bath new diaper three books and some tickling is now an hour and a half. Said toddler is now extremely cranky, but instead of laying down to sleep, decides to practice acrobatics while nursing and flailing around to burn off extra calories. After that finishes, she sits up, looks you straight in the eye, pulls your shirt down and signs "all done." and proceeds to get up to go bang on the bedroom door as if she were trapped in jail. Being the patient parent that you are, you pick up your iPhone and figure that you will wait it out. This tired toddler will eventually collapse in a sleep-heap and you will be able to go about your boring adult business. Upon seeing the phone, the she-toddler's interest is piqued and she comes over to snuggle and watch videos of herself and laugh. Ah, as she rests her sweet head on your shoulder you think to yourself, "Yes, this is what it's all about. These dear moments..." as if on cue, your toddler bolts up and signs "Eat". Now this is getting a bit ridiculous. Before I put you to bed you were practically throwing the food away from your face, and now you are telling me you want to eat?! Being the clever and now experienced parent that you are, you know that "Eat" is just an excuse to go back to the living room and run around some more while mom gets food so that you can immediately reject it as inedible. Yet despite this you still concede (maybe you're hungry now), and off you trot to the big room with all of the little doors filled with things that make satisfying noises when struck together.
Three spoons of applesauce, two cheese puffs, one lick of banana, and two and a half bites of a grilled cheese later, you are on your way to nap time. By now you have lost all level of concentration for your unfinished project and you are tired enough to take a nap yourself. In fact, you have carefully noted how sensitive a child's mood radar can be. When you are lying there thinking of all of the things you will accomplish as soon as your kid will go the :) to sleep, the longer you will find yourself lying there with a concious child. Yet the moment you give up and let your plans crash and burn, they'll be out like a light- and so will you.
Good night :)
~Momrit
By this point nap-time has been sucessfully put off for at least 40 minutes, which, after a bath new diaper three books and some tickling is now an hour and a half. Said toddler is now extremely cranky, but instead of laying down to sleep, decides to practice acrobatics while nursing and flailing around to burn off extra calories. After that finishes, she sits up, looks you straight in the eye, pulls your shirt down and signs "all done." and proceeds to get up to go bang on the bedroom door as if she were trapped in jail. Being the patient parent that you are, you pick up your iPhone and figure that you will wait it out. This tired toddler will eventually collapse in a sleep-heap and you will be able to go about your boring adult business. Upon seeing the phone, the she-toddler's interest is piqued and she comes over to snuggle and watch videos of herself and laugh. Ah, as she rests her sweet head on your shoulder you think to yourself, "Yes, this is what it's all about. These dear moments..." as if on cue, your toddler bolts up and signs "Eat". Now this is getting a bit ridiculous. Before I put you to bed you were practically throwing the food away from your face, and now you are telling me you want to eat?! Being the clever and now experienced parent that you are, you know that "Eat" is just an excuse to go back to the living room and run around some more while mom gets food so that you can immediately reject it as inedible. Yet despite this you still concede (maybe you're hungry now), and off you trot to the big room with all of the little doors filled with things that make satisfying noises when struck together.
Three spoons of applesauce, two cheese puffs, one lick of banana, and two and a half bites of a grilled cheese later, you are on your way to nap time. By now you have lost all level of concentration for your unfinished project and you are tired enough to take a nap yourself. In fact, you have carefully noted how sensitive a child's mood radar can be. When you are lying there thinking of all of the things you will accomplish as soon as your kid will go the :) to sleep, the longer you will find yourself lying there with a concious child. Yet the moment you give up and let your plans crash and burn, they'll be out like a light- and so will you.
Good night :)
~Momrit
On Character building...
Many things about parenting don't make sense. There are a lot of fill-in-the-blanks. Yet even more things in childhood don't make sense. The older I get, the more it seems to come together.
When I think of some of the most annoying, tedious, arduous or loathsome things that I had to do/endure as a kid, what I remember most about them was the response to my complaining. Inevitably these various things were justified to me by saying that they "build character". Being a kid, did I know what that meant? Did I care? No. I was rather perplexed by the term, and rather more irked by the frequency of its use.
"Mom, why do I have to do the dishes?"
"Builds character."
"Mom, why do I have to clean the cat box?"
"Because it's your cat's poop. And it builds character."
"Why do I have to eat that?"
"Builds character."
I could go on. You get the point, no matter which end of the character building scale you stand on.
Now I am beginning to look at it from another angle- from the perspective where I can see what all of that character development has turned into. Aha! It has value! Value that my 9 year old self could have never comprehended or appreciated (big surprise there).
I think back to the kayak trip I took with my mom when I was 12 and how I threw a fit because I didn't want to paddle anymore. Wait for it... my mom told me it built character. She also told me that if I didn't help paddle we would be stuck in the middle of the lake all day and become sun burned lobsters. At the time I resented that, but looking back on it now I probably would have done the same thing.
Funny thing about becoming a parent. The puzzle pieces start falling into place, and ambiguous phrases that you hated hearing such as, "because I said so." (why?) " not now" (how about nnnooww?) and "maybe later" (is it later yet??) start to be come a part of your own
repertoire.
Sometimes there is just no answer, and sometimes a parent is too tired to think, let alone describe the non-existent dinner menu. The favorite response to "what are we having for dinner?" would either be a deadpan "poop." or "dog food." which never failed to rouse a laugh. Even a kid can get that hint.
So, every time you have a "teachable moment" that isn't necessarily fun, feel free to chalk it up to building character. The child(ren) in your life may grumble or complain, but you might both find yourselves laughing about it later.
But wait! There's more! Building character is also suitable for adults too! Is there a city person in your life who you'd like to take to the mountains? Plenty of character building opportunities there. Possibly even more, because we tall folks tend to be more set in our ways and perceived limitations than kids are. So grab a buddy and head for the hills. When they start saying that they can't hike because they are only used to sidewalks, just calmly tell them that it builds character. This can only strengthen (or dissolve) your friendship.
Exhibit A: dog building character.
Go out and build some character today!
~Momrit
When I think of some of the most annoying, tedious, arduous or loathsome things that I had to do/endure as a kid, what I remember most about them was the response to my complaining. Inevitably these various things were justified to me by saying that they "build character". Being a kid, did I know what that meant? Did I care? No. I was rather perplexed by the term, and rather more irked by the frequency of its use.
"Mom, why do I have to do the dishes?"
"Builds character."
"Mom, why do I have to clean the cat box?"
"Because it's your cat's poop. And it builds character."
"Why do I have to eat that?"
"Builds character."
I could go on. You get the point, no matter which end of the character building scale you stand on.
Now I am beginning to look at it from another angle- from the perspective where I can see what all of that character development has turned into. Aha! It has value! Value that my 9 year old self could have never comprehended or appreciated (big surprise there).
I think back to the kayak trip I took with my mom when I was 12 and how I threw a fit because I didn't want to paddle anymore. Wait for it... my mom told me it built character. She also told me that if I didn't help paddle we would be stuck in the middle of the lake all day and become sun burned lobsters. At the time I resented that, but looking back on it now I probably would have done the same thing.
Funny thing about becoming a parent. The puzzle pieces start falling into place, and ambiguous phrases that you hated hearing such as, "because I said so." (why?) " not now" (how about nnnooww?) and "maybe later" (is it later yet??) start to be come a part of your own
repertoire.
Sometimes there is just no answer, and sometimes a parent is too tired to think, let alone describe the non-existent dinner menu. The favorite response to "what are we having for dinner?" would either be a deadpan "poop." or "dog food." which never failed to rouse a laugh. Even a kid can get that hint.
So, every time you have a "teachable moment" that isn't necessarily fun, feel free to chalk it up to building character. The child(ren) in your life may grumble or complain, but you might both find yourselves laughing about it later.
But wait! There's more! Building character is also suitable for adults too! Is there a city person in your life who you'd like to take to the mountains? Plenty of character building opportunities there. Possibly even more, because we tall folks tend to be more set in our ways and perceived limitations than kids are. So grab a buddy and head for the hills. When they start saying that they can't hike because they are only used to sidewalks, just calmly tell them that it builds character. This can only strengthen (or dissolve) your friendship.
Go out and build some character today!
~Momrit
Sunday, August 4, 2013
Smartphones
I am old enough now that I am able to say, "I remember when..." but it may still sound silly. Regardless of that, I remember when the iPhone first came out, and it was a big thing. I received a 3G for my birthday the next year from my mom. I was so enthralled by it- this smooth flawless child of technology with unlimited capabilities. I carefully took it out of the box and turned it in my hands, looking for the "On/Off" button. It really was like nothing I had seen before. It literally took me at least five minutes of apishly inspecting it before I pushed the inverted round button with the subtle square on it and the brilliant display of Earth appeared with the (now all too familiar) "Slide to Unlock" undulating with light.
...7 years later...
My 15 month old is squirming around the bed at nap time and nonchalantly sits up, picks up my iPhone, presses the home button and changes the song on the iPod portion of the lock screen. This motion is now automatic for me- sort of intuitive, but how did that come to be? Since when did intuition translate into telephones? Somehow it has. This generation is growing up with some of the craziest technology and thinks nothing of it. My little one knows how to get to the voice control option that I still can't seem to figure out. It's a little embarrassing frankly. I even have a "book" for her on my phone that she insists upon watching by making the sign for cat in ASL ("Be Big" has kitties telling the story). What did we fill our time with before fiddling with the apps on our phones like Angry Birds and digital bubble wrap? How many minutes can one waste popping plastic bubbles that kind of do, and kind of don't exist? Apparently a lot. I sure did, until I deleted the app. Gone, into exile in the land of unwanted apps wherever that is (or isn't).
I think that time used to be filled with conversations with other humans. Or watching TV. Lol.
...7 years later...
My 15 month old is squirming around the bed at nap time and nonchalantly sits up, picks up my iPhone, presses the home button and changes the song on the iPod portion of the lock screen. This motion is now automatic for me- sort of intuitive, but how did that come to be? Since when did intuition translate into telephones? Somehow it has. This generation is growing up with some of the craziest technology and thinks nothing of it. My little one knows how to get to the voice control option that I still can't seem to figure out. It's a little embarrassing frankly. I even have a "book" for her on my phone that she insists upon watching by making the sign for cat in ASL ("Be Big" has kitties telling the story). What did we fill our time with before fiddling with the apps on our phones like Angry Birds and digital bubble wrap? How many minutes can one waste popping plastic bubbles that kind of do, and kind of don't exist? Apparently a lot. I sure did, until I deleted the app. Gone, into exile in the land of unwanted apps wherever that is (or isn't).
I think that time used to be filled with conversations with other humans. Or watching TV. Lol.
Saturday, August 3, 2013
First post ever...
I'm writing because, well, it's just what I feel like doing right now.
Some of you may find the following to contain humor, some of you may just find it quaint, and probably more of you will just think that I should go back to baking cookies, (if I can manage not to eat all of the dough. I know I'm not alone here so wipe that smirk off your face. Yes, you.) and generally being domestic.
Today's topic: "if it ain't broke, don't try and fix it."
In fact, take three steps back and slap yourself really hard to discourage any urge to touch it. If you still feel like tinkering, go wash some dishes or find some Play-dough.
This especially applies to computers. One might feel like "spring cleaning" on occasion, but unlike refrigerators, removing something unknown and designating it to the trash can actually cause problems. Oh, that weird file kept my screen from bloating out of proportion? Who knew? And it enabled the volume of my disc player to work? Huh. AND it costs money (and a lot of swear words) to replace?! It's sort of like fully taking apart a DVD player to clean it- you just shouldn't. Eew, what was that red sticky stuff?
Other things on the list not to tamper with include: the settings on your iPhone that you'd have to read the user guide to understand (where's that?), a universal remote, the two necklaces that became a Celtic knot when you wore them together, the baby jumper that was painstakingly assembled at 1am, the settings on your car radio, the GPS coordinates when you are on your way to an important Thing, and the bathroom scale (of course it's wrong- skinny is a state of mind).
Now this is all well and good, but there is a time when things beyond your control (or field of peripheral vision) lead to a toddler victoriously holding up your almost broken pair of glasses. Of course these are the cute and stylish ones that we really like and also happen to see better with. With any luck you still have your old pair that give you owl vision and you can fix the other pair to the best of your cheap ability using a hair clip.
Now try not to gasp every time there's a two-and-a-half-footer near your glasses. Since we're talking about the small people (small body, big thoughts.) I'd like to note a couple of things. Firstly, your life as you know it isn't over the moment you have a baby as so many movies seem to purport. It's more of a gradual takeover that lulls you in with sleep-grins and first giggles and coos and diaper blow outs and Bambi eyes. After you are completely hooked, they become mobile and while you are busy recording every milestone moment, that's when it happens- emails are put off, calls declined in the name of nap time (ohmygod I'm going to kill my phone if it wakes her up!!!), and friends without poop consistency advice are outranked on speed dial. Once the small one in your life has succeeded in cropping all of your outside interests, you will find solace in the varied posts on Circleofmoms and Pinterest, yet still be available in the blink of an eye (or at the sound of a mandrake shriek from the next room).
Next, go find a good book to read. Not the child development books that you've poured over countless times (...screaming...192?....hmmm, not helpful.), I'm talking an actual book (not "Where's Spot?" or "There's a Zamp in my Lamp" however diverting those can be). Try to avoid "Even Cowgirls get the Blues" though unless you can stand reading about giant thumbs for twenty minutes. Sorry Tom Robbins, not your best in my opinion. I'm sure it will come in handy at some point, when I need a decoy book so that I can sit and enjoy another one in peace for about 7 minutes.
Reading is an activity that most parents unknowingly forfeit early on, when really (thinking back), they could still be doing it at 6 months. Hind sight is always 20/20.
Things that do get better- not wearing spit up frequently in public, being able to go to the bathroom alone...sometimes. Communication that begins to resemble more of that of a house-elf than a mandrake, more baths (belly button!!!), and later bedtimes for mommy and daddy.
What about mommy and daddy? Lol! Was there ever a hug that wasn't a sandwich? Indeed there was, but the non-sandwich hugs are now restricted to nap times and either late night or early morning. Yuck, not those hugs! Mind your own business silly! I'm just talking about normal hugs that can also be performed in public places. The other hugs lead to more mandrakes and well, one's good for now ;)
Knowing what I know about mandrake sleep patterns it's about time for me to sign off so as not to have to perform difficult tasks such as reciting "Spot goes to the Library" and diaper changing in a complete stupor when I get up in the morning.
Love and drooly kisses to all,
~Momrit
Some of you may find the following to contain humor, some of you may just find it quaint, and probably more of you will just think that I should go back to baking cookies, (if I can manage not to eat all of the dough. I know I'm not alone here so wipe that smirk off your face. Yes, you.) and generally being domestic.
Today's topic: "if it ain't broke, don't try and fix it."
In fact, take three steps back and slap yourself really hard to discourage any urge to touch it. If you still feel like tinkering, go wash some dishes or find some Play-dough.
This especially applies to computers. One might feel like "spring cleaning" on occasion, but unlike refrigerators, removing something unknown and designating it to the trash can actually cause problems. Oh, that weird file kept my screen from bloating out of proportion? Who knew? And it enabled the volume of my disc player to work? Huh. AND it costs money (and a lot of swear words) to replace?! It's sort of like fully taking apart a DVD player to clean it- you just shouldn't. Eew, what was that red sticky stuff?
Other things on the list not to tamper with include: the settings on your iPhone that you'd have to read the user guide to understand (where's that?), a universal remote, the two necklaces that became a Celtic knot when you wore them together, the baby jumper that was painstakingly assembled at 1am, the settings on your car radio, the GPS coordinates when you are on your way to an important Thing, and the bathroom scale (of course it's wrong- skinny is a state of mind).
Now this is all well and good, but there is a time when things beyond your control (or field of peripheral vision) lead to a toddler victoriously holding up your almost broken pair of glasses. Of course these are the cute and stylish ones that we really like and also happen to see better with. With any luck you still have your old pair that give you owl vision and you can fix the other pair to the best of your cheap ability using a hair clip.
Now try not to gasp every time there's a two-and-a-half-footer near your glasses. Since we're talking about the small people (small body, big thoughts.) I'd like to note a couple of things. Firstly, your life as you know it isn't over the moment you have a baby as so many movies seem to purport. It's more of a gradual takeover that lulls you in with sleep-grins and first giggles and coos and diaper blow outs and Bambi eyes. After you are completely hooked, they become mobile and while you are busy recording every milestone moment, that's when it happens- emails are put off, calls declined in the name of nap time (ohmygod I'm going to kill my phone if it wakes her up!!!), and friends without poop consistency advice are outranked on speed dial. Once the small one in your life has succeeded in cropping all of your outside interests, you will find solace in the varied posts on Circleofmoms and Pinterest, yet still be available in the blink of an eye (or at the sound of a mandrake shriek from the next room).
Next, go find a good book to read. Not the child development books that you've poured over countless times (...screaming...192?....hmmm, not helpful.), I'm talking an actual book (not "Where's Spot?" or "There's a Zamp in my Lamp" however diverting those can be). Try to avoid "Even Cowgirls get the Blues" though unless you can stand reading about giant thumbs for twenty minutes. Sorry Tom Robbins, not your best in my opinion. I'm sure it will come in handy at some point, when I need a decoy book so that I can sit and enjoy another one in peace for about 7 minutes.
Reading is an activity that most parents unknowingly forfeit early on, when really (thinking back), they could still be doing it at 6 months. Hind sight is always 20/20.
Things that do get better- not wearing spit up frequently in public, being able to go to the bathroom alone...sometimes. Communication that begins to resemble more of that of a house-elf than a mandrake, more baths (belly button!!!), and later bedtimes for mommy and daddy.
What about mommy and daddy? Lol! Was there ever a hug that wasn't a sandwich? Indeed there was, but the non-sandwich hugs are now restricted to nap times and either late night or early morning. Yuck, not those hugs! Mind your own business silly! I'm just talking about normal hugs that can also be performed in public places. The other hugs lead to more mandrakes and well, one's good for now ;)
Knowing what I know about mandrake sleep patterns it's about time for me to sign off so as not to have to perform difficult tasks such as reciting "Spot goes to the Library" and diaper changing in a complete stupor when I get up in the morning.
Love and drooly kisses to all,
~Momrit
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