Sometimes being a good parent can make you feel like a rotten person.
My 10 year old Madie and 8 year old Emma are in a Bible club at school. (A public school!) Each week they have an assignment to read 7 chapters and then write a summary. My girls are notorious for putting this off or forgetting about it as the week goes by. Each Wednesday night or Thursday morning we have drama as they rush to get the assignment done.
Last week as I scrambled to find them each a flashlight so they could complete the Bible assignment on the morning bus ride, I warned them, "There is a new rule. If you don't have your assignment done by 8pm on Wednesday night, you don't get to go to Bible club on Thursday." Heads were nodding and two little girls quickly agreed.
Fast forward 6 days and there we were again on a Wednesday night and there were moments of panic as they remembered their assignment. Sadly, neither girl had completed the work by 8pm.
I had to do it. I hated to do it. I told the girls that they would have to come straight home after school the next day, they couldn't stay for Bible club. What followed was noisy, to say the least. There was weeping and gnashing of teeth. Emma went upstairs to her bed where the wailing could still be heard all over the house. Madie pleaded her case, told me how important Bible club was to them. I responded that if it was so important, they would complete the assignment on time.
I know the girls were upset with me. I know Tim didn't agree with my decision to keep them from this activity. He offered me several suggestions to get out of the declared punishment. I moped around all night, disheartened to see my girls so upset. Madie came down at 8:15pm, the end of their reading time, to tell me she had finished the Bible assignment. I told her she hadn't made the deadline and would not be able to go. More tears. Emma announced the next morning that she had finished hers. When I reminded her of the rule, again, there was more crying.
I sat both girls down and explained my situation to them. I have to have their respect and trust. I have to follow through on what I say, or they wouldn't be able to believe in me. I need them to take me seriously and know that I mean what I say. One day I will tell two teenage girls that if they are not home by curfew, there will be a consequence. They will know I mean it and that I will back up my words.
I hate to see my kids sad. I hate to see them miss out on fun events, especially in a situation where they weren't being bad, just made a mistake in their organization and time management. But I'm teaching my kids about life. I'm teaching them about consequences. I'm teaching them that I love them enough to be tough on them and teach them about behavior and consequences. It started with the first time I swatted their toddler bottoms to keep them safe and obedient, and will last through these childhood days. It will last through the tough teen years, and will follow them through the rest of their lives when I will be the constant voice of a mother, of experience and wisdom.
The good news is that they survived the consequence. They never thanked me for being a tough mom with strict rules, but they have laughed and hugged me and declared me the 'best mom ever' just after the incident. Sometimes loving them is easy, and sometimes it's hard. But I love them enough.
Friday, November 9, 2012
Friday, September 7, 2012
Tuesday, August 14, 2012
The Olympic Experience
I anxiously counted down to the start of the 2012 London Olympics. Not only do I love the Olympics, but the Summer Olympics are by far my favorite and this time they were located in a city I would LOVE to visit someday. I enjoyed watching every minute of it.
I appreciate the two and a half weeks of the Olympics. Not only is history made, but it is a time of 'peace'. It is a distraction, perhaps, from life around us. For just two weeks we can push aside politics and wars in foreign lands and just cheer for the home team. At this time, we Americans are all cheering for the same team. We're united as a country in our desire to see our athletes succeed. We hope they can be the fastest runners, highest jumpers, and best paddlers or shooters in the world. We secretly hope the crying Russian girl stumbles or the Chinese get slightly out of sync on a dive. We cheer together for weird sports we've rarely even seen, (trampoline?!) and shout like a coach at the TV when our Americans 'take your mark' on the track. Not only are we united as a country, we are watching individuals who spend the rest of the year competing against each other, now come together and work as a team. They depend on each other and work together for the win. Athletes of different sports are attending their fellow Americans' competitions just to be heard as an American crowd. Even better, the big picture is a huge competition of people from all around the world who on any other day, might be enemies. But these two weeks they cheer and hug and pick each other up when one falls down. They shake hands and congratulate the winner and forget about their differences, even if it's just temporary.
These Olympics have already made history. I watched the opening ceremonies wondering what drama lay ahead. Would judges cheat or someone test positive for drugs? We watched amazing feats such as a man with no legs run a race, history made in women's gymnastics (first African American All-Around gold medalist as well as the first American to win gold in both All-around and team), badminton players disqualified for trying NOT to win, and a legend of a swimmer earn his 22nd Olympic medal to make a statement in Olympic history that may never be broken. These athletes from around the world include ages 15 to 71. There are countries I've never heard of being represented. Countries are being represented by anywhere from 2 athletes, to over 500. New world records are being set all over the place.
While the spirit of the competition and the truly amazing ability of these athletes are what draw us to watch, it's the personal stories that steal our heart. We hear the stories of triumph and failure. Whether an athlete is overcoming an injury, mishap at a former Olympics, positive drug test, or a barely missed qualification in the past, they celebrate their true achievement of being an Olympian, and just hope for the chance to stand on the medal stand. Just being there, for a chance to represent their country and compete in the sport they love is a dream come true.
I spent far too much time over the past two weeks watching TV. I laughed, I cried. I cheered for the Americans, and when they weren't competing, I cheered for someone else who looked like they deserve the win. I learned the rules of water polo and feel an odd desire to try white-water kayaking. I ached, usually in vain, for more coverage of the equestrian events. I averted my eyes during weightlifting, held my breath during gymnastics, fell asleep during rowing, and paid my bills during some ridiculously long tennis matches. My kids sat with me to cheer for the US and watch what can happen when you are truly passionate about something and work hard, sacrifice everything, and strive to make your dreams come true.
We will wait another 2 years before the world comes together like this again, and 4 years before another summer games. Many athletes are already dreaming and training for the next Olympics. They spend their lives in a strict training regimen of practice, exercise, and diet. Some are already dreaming of redemption for something gone wrong at these 2012 games. I admire their dedication, wish them luck in their training, and anxiously await the next time we get to cheer for them as they chase their dreams.
I appreciate the two and a half weeks of the Olympics. Not only is history made, but it is a time of 'peace'. It is a distraction, perhaps, from life around us. For just two weeks we can push aside politics and wars in foreign lands and just cheer for the home team. At this time, we Americans are all cheering for the same team. We're united as a country in our desire to see our athletes succeed. We hope they can be the fastest runners, highest jumpers, and best paddlers or shooters in the world. We secretly hope the crying Russian girl stumbles or the Chinese get slightly out of sync on a dive. We cheer together for weird sports we've rarely even seen, (trampoline?!) and shout like a coach at the TV when our Americans 'take your mark' on the track. Not only are we united as a country, we are watching individuals who spend the rest of the year competing against each other, now come together and work as a team. They depend on each other and work together for the win. Athletes of different sports are attending their fellow Americans' competitions just to be heard as an American crowd. Even better, the big picture is a huge competition of people from all around the world who on any other day, might be enemies. But these two weeks they cheer and hug and pick each other up when one falls down. They shake hands and congratulate the winner and forget about their differences, even if it's just temporary.
These Olympics have already made history. I watched the opening ceremonies wondering what drama lay ahead. Would judges cheat or someone test positive for drugs? We watched amazing feats such as a man with no legs run a race, history made in women's gymnastics (first African American All-Around gold medalist as well as the first American to win gold in both All-around and team), badminton players disqualified for trying NOT to win, and a legend of a swimmer earn his 22nd Olympic medal to make a statement in Olympic history that may never be broken. These athletes from around the world include ages 15 to 71. There are countries I've never heard of being represented. Countries are being represented by anywhere from 2 athletes, to over 500. New world records are being set all over the place.
While the spirit of the competition and the truly amazing ability of these athletes are what draw us to watch, it's the personal stories that steal our heart. We hear the stories of triumph and failure. Whether an athlete is overcoming an injury, mishap at a former Olympics, positive drug test, or a barely missed qualification in the past, they celebrate their true achievement of being an Olympian, and just hope for the chance to stand on the medal stand. Just being there, for a chance to represent their country and compete in the sport they love is a dream come true.
I spent far too much time over the past two weeks watching TV. I laughed, I cried. I cheered for the Americans, and when they weren't competing, I cheered for someone else who looked like they deserve the win. I learned the rules of water polo and feel an odd desire to try white-water kayaking. I ached, usually in vain, for more coverage of the equestrian events. I averted my eyes during weightlifting, held my breath during gymnastics, fell asleep during rowing, and paid my bills during some ridiculously long tennis matches. My kids sat with me to cheer for the US and watch what can happen when you are truly passionate about something and work hard, sacrifice everything, and strive to make your dreams come true.
We will wait another 2 years before the world comes together like this again, and 4 years before another summer games. Many athletes are already dreaming and training for the next Olympics. They spend their lives in a strict training regimen of practice, exercise, and diet. Some are already dreaming of redemption for something gone wrong at these 2012 games. I admire their dedication, wish them luck in their training, and anxiously await the next time we get to cheer for them as they chase their dreams.
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Raising Kids in Dog Shows
This past weekend has been a reminder that I am raising my kids in a sport. They are learning about life through a type of competition. I stood and had a conversation with a reputable figure in our breed and she commented on my parenting, as well as the passion that the girls show in the sport. They want to be there, they aren't doing this for mom. They are largely among adults who take this sport and love of the breed very seriously. They have been forced to act in a mature manner as they play an adult's game. Along the way they are making friendships with other juniors that will last them a lifetime. They will learn how to win, how to lose, and how best to play the game. More than anything, I want to teach my children to play with honor. No matter what sport or hobby your family is involved in, there are opportunities to learn good and bad lessons. I can speak at my kids all I want, but they will follow what I do, not what I say. The best I can do for them is to be an example.
These are the lessons I hope they learn:
Hard work in training your dog will reap the best results. It takes effort and dedication to be successful. It takes a sacrifice of time and money to follow your passion. If it is truly your passion, you won't mind what you give up.
You will lose. Lose with grace. Congratulate the winners and be truly happy for their success. We are all there for the same reason, because we hope to win. Pouting because you didn't win won't change the results. It's best to rejoice with the winner and hopefully they will celebrate with you when you get the chance to experience the joy of winning.
You will win. Win with dignity. Thank the judge and happily accept congratulations. Remember that each win is truly an honor and a celebration of your hard work and effort.
Play with honor. Follow the rules and hold your head high that you are playing an honest game. As long as you know you are honorable, you have nothing to worry about. When people attack or question your ethics, you can walk away knowing you are right, and they were wrong to question you.
Politics are a part of every sport and game. The strategy of bad-mouthing, back-stabbing, and playing the two-faced friend never has a good ending. It's better to avoid it all. The immaturity of high school comes back into play too often in life. I'd rather win or lose knowing that it was based on the merit of my dog, not because of who I am, who I know, or any tricks I played.
No matter how much you love the sport, it is never worth a hit to your integrity. Always keep in perspective what is truly important in life: your self worth, your faith and values, your family and friends. Play the game and take the lessons it offers, but never let the game play you. Always remember who you are and why you are there.
The dog you came and leave with is valuable because of the love you share, not because of ribbons won. The dog didn't choose this sport nor ask to go to the show. Cherish them and take care of their every need as you enjoy the time you spend with them.
Authority figures are to be respected. Judges, coaches, and leaders have earned the right to our respect. We must follow their instructions and speak to them with the respect they deserve.
It is better to listen than to speak. Wisdom comes from experience and from the words of those with experience. Knowledge will come quicker when you accept advice, rather than trying to figure everything out on your own. Humbly acknowledge that you don't know everything, that regardless of what you already know, there is always more to learn.
These are the lessons I hope my children learn in life. Dog shows are the venue I have to teach these life lessons. I pray that I can be a positive example to my kids. I know they have a love for the sport and could continue for a long time. I would love to continue showing with my adult children. Along our journey, as they move toward the teen years and adulthood, I hope they become young women and a young gentleman that I can be proud of. I hope they become positive influences not only in this sport, but in life.
I will raise my children, not just watch them grow up. I will guide them with instruction and with discipline. I will guide them with love as we enjoy this adventure in dog shows.
These are the lessons I hope they learn:
Hard work in training your dog will reap the best results. It takes effort and dedication to be successful. It takes a sacrifice of time and money to follow your passion. If it is truly your passion, you won't mind what you give up.
You will lose. Lose with grace. Congratulate the winners and be truly happy for their success. We are all there for the same reason, because we hope to win. Pouting because you didn't win won't change the results. It's best to rejoice with the winner and hopefully they will celebrate with you when you get the chance to experience the joy of winning.
You will win. Win with dignity. Thank the judge and happily accept congratulations. Remember that each win is truly an honor and a celebration of your hard work and effort.
Play with honor. Follow the rules and hold your head high that you are playing an honest game. As long as you know you are honorable, you have nothing to worry about. When people attack or question your ethics, you can walk away knowing you are right, and they were wrong to question you.
Politics are a part of every sport and game. The strategy of bad-mouthing, back-stabbing, and playing the two-faced friend never has a good ending. It's better to avoid it all. The immaturity of high school comes back into play too often in life. I'd rather win or lose knowing that it was based on the merit of my dog, not because of who I am, who I know, or any tricks I played.
No matter how much you love the sport, it is never worth a hit to your integrity. Always keep in perspective what is truly important in life: your self worth, your faith and values, your family and friends. Play the game and take the lessons it offers, but never let the game play you. Always remember who you are and why you are there.
The dog you came and leave with is valuable because of the love you share, not because of ribbons won. The dog didn't choose this sport nor ask to go to the show. Cherish them and take care of their every need as you enjoy the time you spend with them.
Authority figures are to be respected. Judges, coaches, and leaders have earned the right to our respect. We must follow their instructions and speak to them with the respect they deserve.
It is better to listen than to speak. Wisdom comes from experience and from the words of those with experience. Knowledge will come quicker when you accept advice, rather than trying to figure everything out on your own. Humbly acknowledge that you don't know everything, that regardless of what you already know, there is always more to learn.
These are the lessons I hope my children learn in life. Dog shows are the venue I have to teach these life lessons. I pray that I can be a positive example to my kids. I know they have a love for the sport and could continue for a long time. I would love to continue showing with my adult children. Along our journey, as they move toward the teen years and adulthood, I hope they become young women and a young gentleman that I can be proud of. I hope they become positive influences not only in this sport, but in life.
I will raise my children, not just watch them grow up. I will guide them with instruction and with discipline. I will guide them with love as we enjoy this adventure in dog shows.
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
NOT a Stay at Home Mom!
I never thought I could be a stay at home mom. I wasn't even sure what they did all day, but I did know that I didn't want to be stuck at home that much! Heck, I didn't even like kids much. It sounded like some sort of torture to be home with diapers and laundry and bills and daytime television.
That, of course, was before I had my own children. I went back to work after my first baby. I loved my job, but hated that someone else had my baby all day. After my second baby, I quickly went to working part time, and after the third, I quit teaching all together to stay home with the kids. It was a hard decision, but I was completely at peace with it. That's when you know it's right. I had visions of finally getting my house clean and organized, and keeping it that way. The bills would always be caught up, the checkbook balanced, the meals would be works of art from cookbooks, and I would always be dressed with my hair fixed before the kids woke up in the morning. During the day I would sit on my clean floor and play puzzles and read books to the kids. During nap time I would knit a scarf or read a book. If you are, or ever have been a stay at home mom, you're laughing now.
None of that happened. I can't keep the house clean, the laundry is never caught up, and my to-do list never seems to get any shorter. I LOVE my job! I love that I am with my kids all day and can't imagine doing anything else. Besides the fact that I have four mess-makers, why can't I get everything done?
I really thought I was just doing it all wrong until my aunt, also a mother of four, made the comment that I really wasn't a stay at home mom. I am an 'On-The-Go' mom! Ah Ha! That's the problem. In order to have a clean house and cook big elaborate meals, you must actually be IN the house! I'm rarely at home! Sure, the first few years of your child's life are based around the house. But soon enough, your little ones are heading off to Vacation Bible School, T-ball practice, ballet class, or piano lessons. Then come the invitations to friends' birthday parties, choir practice, and now the sports have practices AND games/meets. Whoa, now add in summer camps and school field trips and 4-H and more sports...
That's just one kid. I have four. And that's just the kids' schedule. I'm proud to say that I still have a life too! I have dog shows and...., and..... well I just seem to have dog shows. But that keeps me VERY busy! I compete two or three weekends a month, and several of those are out of town stays. I feel like I'm always packing or unpacking. As a family we have church, family get-togethers, weekend camping trips, and a week-long vacation. My calendar is filled with notations. It's rare to ever see a day without something written on it. Our six lives are filled with adventures and commitments. Sure we could cut some out. We could sit home and play puzzles on the floor, but this is the life we have chosen and love.
That's not to say that I don't get to sit down and play with the kids. I love to read them books and cuddle each one on the couch. But it's much more likely that I will spend time chatting with one of my older girls about life on the drive to a dog show. I'll laugh and hold hands with Drew on a hike during a camping trip. Macy will fall asleep in my arms on a boat in the middle of a lake on vacation. My most vivid memories may not be made at home, but rather in those moments when we are away from our house.
I may be technically a 'Stay At Home Mom' by name, but good luck finding me there!
That, of course, was before I had my own children. I went back to work after my first baby. I loved my job, but hated that someone else had my baby all day. After my second baby, I quickly went to working part time, and after the third, I quit teaching all together to stay home with the kids. It was a hard decision, but I was completely at peace with it. That's when you know it's right. I had visions of finally getting my house clean and organized, and keeping it that way. The bills would always be caught up, the checkbook balanced, the meals would be works of art from cookbooks, and I would always be dressed with my hair fixed before the kids woke up in the morning. During the day I would sit on my clean floor and play puzzles and read books to the kids. During nap time I would knit a scarf or read a book. If you are, or ever have been a stay at home mom, you're laughing now.
None of that happened. I can't keep the house clean, the laundry is never caught up, and my to-do list never seems to get any shorter. I LOVE my job! I love that I am with my kids all day and can't imagine doing anything else. Besides the fact that I have four mess-makers, why can't I get everything done?
I really thought I was just doing it all wrong until my aunt, also a mother of four, made the comment that I really wasn't a stay at home mom. I am an 'On-The-Go' mom! Ah Ha! That's the problem. In order to have a clean house and cook big elaborate meals, you must actually be IN the house! I'm rarely at home! Sure, the first few years of your child's life are based around the house. But soon enough, your little ones are heading off to Vacation Bible School, T-ball practice, ballet class, or piano lessons. Then come the invitations to friends' birthday parties, choir practice, and now the sports have practices AND games/meets. Whoa, now add in summer camps and school field trips and 4-H and more sports...
That's just one kid. I have four. And that's just the kids' schedule. I'm proud to say that I still have a life too! I have dog shows and...., and..... well I just seem to have dog shows. But that keeps me VERY busy! I compete two or three weekends a month, and several of those are out of town stays. I feel like I'm always packing or unpacking. As a family we have church, family get-togethers, weekend camping trips, and a week-long vacation. My calendar is filled with notations. It's rare to ever see a day without something written on it. Our six lives are filled with adventures and commitments. Sure we could cut some out. We could sit home and play puzzles on the floor, but this is the life we have chosen and love.
That's not to say that I don't get to sit down and play with the kids. I love to read them books and cuddle each one on the couch. But it's much more likely that I will spend time chatting with one of my older girls about life on the drive to a dog show. I'll laugh and hold hands with Drew on a hike during a camping trip. Macy will fall asleep in my arms on a boat in the middle of a lake on vacation. My most vivid memories may not be made at home, but rather in those moments when we are away from our house.
I may be technically a 'Stay At Home Mom' by name, but good luck finding me there!
Thursday, May 10, 2012
The Adventures of Drew. Part 2
**I've had some technical difficulties and haven't been able to post for a few weeks. Hopefully I can get my laptop and this website to get along!
Tim asked me last night if I could have guessed how special my little boy would be to me before becoming a parent. I said definitely not. I wasn't raised around boys and had always dreamed of having little girls. When they laid that tiny little baby boy in my arms, my heart melted and my life changed. Never have I kissed a baby as much as I did Drew. He's certainly different than my girls, but so special to this momma's heart!
And then there are days that he drives me nuts!
I remember the winter he had a bad cold, one of those where his nose was running constantly. We taught him to blow his own nose and were proud that he was so independent in taking care of that chore. It was a few days into the cold that I stopped to inspect his 'tissue', only to realize that he was using Swiffer sweeper cloths to blow his nose! The box was nearly empty! Any Swiffer fan knows how much those darn things cost!!
I knew I was truly broken in as a mom after one particular trip to Sears. My mom and I had taken the 4 kids to get their Christmas picture taken. I had baby Macy in a stroller and was trying to make her happy in her cute little dress. Madie and Emma had wandered off with my mom to look at the pretty clothes in the girls department. Drew was interacting with a mannequin model. She was headless, and wearing a shorter skirt than my girls will ever wear. Drew decided to climb up on the pedestal with her and started belting out a song that made perfect sense only to a two year old. He was dancing and bopping when his poor headless lady friend went flying! She ended up on her shoulders (no head) and the little skirt flipped up. Drew jumped down to retrieve his lady friend, hoisting her back up on her stand into the upright position. I was barely paying attention to all of this, but was impressed and grateful that he had righted the situation without my assistance. With one last shove, Drew sticks up his little hand and shouts "STAY" at the plastic lady, and wandered away like it was no big deal.
I was sitting on the couch one day when Drew came over and kindly put chapstick on my lips. What a sweet boy! Then he motioned to our old schnauzer who was laying in her chair with a somewhat annoyed expression and said, "I put on Abbi face too!" Lovely.
The first White-out adventure made a reputation for Drew. I also got to hear a lot of White-out jokes and threats of gifting Drew with a case of white out. It was the SECOND White-out adventure that really sealed the deal. Poor Drew now has a restraining order from the stuff, not allowed within 10 feet.
Tim and I were sitting in the living room chatting when we realized the two 'little ones' were being very quiet. I said I was sure they had just gone into the kitchen, which meant they were just a few feet away. I walked into the room to find the two of them on the floor. Drew was covered in White-out and in the process of giving Macy a matching paint job. Of course I had to grab the camera.
As Drew sits here snuggled up next to me, I can't imagine life without him. Through all of his crazy adventures, he has a heart of gold. He's the first to run to comfort when someone is sad. He gives me random hugs now and then, 'just because'. He is full of laughter and joy, energy and inquisitiveness, just as a little boy should be. He stole my heart from day one. God gave us this child to keep us humble and to make us laugh. I am forever grateful and even look forward to whatever new stories he will bring.
Tim asked me last night if I could have guessed how special my little boy would be to me before becoming a parent. I said definitely not. I wasn't raised around boys and had always dreamed of having little girls. When they laid that tiny little baby boy in my arms, my heart melted and my life changed. Never have I kissed a baby as much as I did Drew. He's certainly different than my girls, but so special to this momma's heart!
And then there are days that he drives me nuts!
I remember the winter he had a bad cold, one of those where his nose was running constantly. We taught him to blow his own nose and were proud that he was so independent in taking care of that chore. It was a few days into the cold that I stopped to inspect his 'tissue', only to realize that he was using Swiffer sweeper cloths to blow his nose! The box was nearly empty! Any Swiffer fan knows how much those darn things cost!!
I knew I was truly broken in as a mom after one particular trip to Sears. My mom and I had taken the 4 kids to get their Christmas picture taken. I had baby Macy in a stroller and was trying to make her happy in her cute little dress. Madie and Emma had wandered off with my mom to look at the pretty clothes in the girls department. Drew was interacting with a mannequin model. She was headless, and wearing a shorter skirt than my girls will ever wear. Drew decided to climb up on the pedestal with her and started belting out a song that made perfect sense only to a two year old. He was dancing and bopping when his poor headless lady friend went flying! She ended up on her shoulders (no head) and the little skirt flipped up. Drew jumped down to retrieve his lady friend, hoisting her back up on her stand into the upright position. I was barely paying attention to all of this, but was impressed and grateful that he had righted the situation without my assistance. With one last shove, Drew sticks up his little hand and shouts "STAY" at the plastic lady, and wandered away like it was no big deal.
I was sitting on the couch one day when Drew came over and kindly put chapstick on my lips. What a sweet boy! Then he motioned to our old schnauzer who was laying in her chair with a somewhat annoyed expression and said, "I put on Abbi face too!" Lovely.
The first White-out adventure made a reputation for Drew. I also got to hear a lot of White-out jokes and threats of gifting Drew with a case of white out. It was the SECOND White-out adventure that really sealed the deal. Poor Drew now has a restraining order from the stuff, not allowed within 10 feet.
Tim and I were sitting in the living room chatting when we realized the two 'little ones' were being very quiet. I said I was sure they had just gone into the kitchen, which meant they were just a few feet away. I walked into the room to find the two of them on the floor. Drew was covered in White-out and in the process of giving Macy a matching paint job. Of course I had to grab the camera.
One of Drew's biggest misadventures didn't even require him to be present at the moment. I was getting ready for bed and went into the upstairs bathroom to remove my contacts. I couldn't find my glasses or contact case. There were some other odds and ends missing too. I usually sat these things on the windowsill and noticed the window was open. With one last look around the bathroom, I sighed and stuck my head out the window. As I suspected, on the porch roof below the window sat my glasses case, contact case, as well as some random toys. Random BOY toys. I had no doubt who the suspect was. I needed those items. The bathroom window is small, not designed for human beings to be crawling in and out of, but I figured I could manage it. I stepped up on the tub and awkwardly stuck my legs out the window and dropped to the porch roof. I quickly realized that the roof of the porch is much lower than the inside floor of the bathroom. The windowsill was now nearly at my neck. I picked up the various items and tossed them back into the bathroom and contemplated my situation. It was nearly midnight and I had a bedroom on each side with two sleeping kids in each of them. Tim had already gone to bed downstairs and probably wouldn't hear me even if I did start yelling for help. I decided against jumping off the roof of the porch, and I definitely wasn't dressed for a fire rescue team. I had a moment where I imagined my family finding me the next morning, shivering outside the window. I finally decided that I had to find a way to get back in the window. With a lot of jumping, flailing, struggling, and kicking the side of the house on my way up, I was able to fling my body into the tiny window far enough to wiggle in so that I was hanging half in, half out. I am SO thankful that we do not have any neighbors to the west of our house to see that sight!! At that point I realized there was no way to swing a leg through to land on my feet, so it was with an ungraceful 'thump' that I landed back in the bathroom with a scraped belly and very little dignity remaining.
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
The Adventures of Drew, part 1.
I've done some serious posts lately and thought it was time for a bit of levity. It's time for some Drew stories! Over the past two years, I've noticed that Drew stories come in threes. Just when I think the boy has settled down and things will be 'normal', he suddenly pulls out a serious of Drew adventures that make good story material. I should knock on wood before I say this, but he hasn't been up to much mischief lately. We'll have to see how long this dry spell lasts. Here are a few 'oldies but goodies'...
As soon as Drew could walk we knew we had a character on our hands. One my first memories of his 'big boy' adventures was when he was around a year old. I found him in the bathroom with his two sisters who were screaming in the shower. He kept flushing the toilet, stealing the hot water from their steamy shower. When they screamed, he would laugh so hard he would double over. Evil little toddler! This may have been the day Drew went from being their adorable baby, to an annoying little brother!
One day I was sitting at my computer desk, working on the computer. Little Drew toddled into the room with a mischievous grin on his face. He had recently started putting things in his mouth. He didn't chew or swallow, just carried them around in his mouth. I could tell by his mouth and the sparkle in his eye that he had something. I called him over to me and told him to open his mouth. He obediently opened and stuck out his tongue. There sitting on his tongue, very clean and shiny, was my wedding ring. There is a time to scold a naughty child, and there is a time to smile and carefully move closer until you can snatch your jewelry out of his face!!Drew has always loved our litters of puppies. I remember him when he was in his walker, wandering down the hall to the laundry room. He spent many hours there with his tiny fingers through the x-pen bars for the puppies to kiss. It didn't take long for him to repay the generous nature of puppies. It was the next litter when he woke us to a stampede of puppies. Tiny puppy feet stomping down the hall on the wooden floor, followed by tiny toddler feet. When he woke up, instead of coming into our room, he just decided it would be fun to release the litter of puppies and run around the house. They were all having SO much fun!
I read in a magazine that your face cream will stay fresher if you keep it in the refrigerator. Ever since adding a male child to our family, I seem to be getting fine lines. In every attempt to avoid wrinkles before my time, I use special moisturizer on my face. In every attempt to preserve and maximize its efficiency, I keep my face cream in the fridge. It's unfortunate that toddlers can't read. Face cream appears to a two year old to be a yummy snack. I found him sitting on the floor with an open refrigerator door, snacking on my anti-wrinkle cream. I hadn't thought of that method of application. No wrinkles for Drew! Lesson learned, not everything in the refrigerator is edible!
Drew's most famous escapade may be his adventures with White-out. Ah, but which episode you ask? Well you'll have to wait for the sequel until another blog. This one is the original. You know how they say to never trust a quiet child? I learned my lesson quickly with that one. Just one day after watching his two older sisters paint their toes, Drew disappeared upstairs by himself. A few minutes later I go to check on him, and find myself following white footsteps on the stairs, past a large white puddle smeared into the upstairs hall, and into the bathroom. A little boy with white toes, white legs, white hands, face, clothes.... The mom in me, the mom that was not yet used to mothering a little boy, grabs him and puts him in the tub. Some soap, water, and scrubbing later, I discover that White off does not wash off! Quickly accepting our fate, I redress the child and snap a few photos. He's thrilled with his new look. The white blob on the floor remains in our upstairs hall to this day.
I'll have to stop there for the night, but don't worry, I'm not out of Drew stories! There have been a few times when I've almost missed the humor of a Drew story. I've now become so used to his antics that they fail to phase me. It's only when I step back, having survived with some dignity still intact, that I realize the humor. I am always quick to point out that the boy never means any harm! He has a heart of gold and just falls into these situations quite innocently. While that is definitely part of his charm, it's also part of the entertainment!
I treasure these memories of my little buddy!
More Drew stories coming soon!
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