Thursday, April 30, 2009
Paper Bouquets for Mother's Day
For Scarlett Lounge, I am posting a simple and fun project moms can do with few supplies and little time. Making a paper bouquet is an easy craft wee ones can do with a little guidance. Here's how:
Materials:
- multi-coloured construction paper - pipe cleaners - ribbon - a vase - Optional: glue and tissue paper
Steps:
1. Draw flower shapes on various colours of construction paper. Spring colours are ideal. 2. Cut out the shapes. 3. Draw and cut out green leaf shapes from construction paper. 4. Using clear Scotch Tape, tape the flowers and leaves to the pipe cleaners. 5. Bunch the flowers together in a bouquet and wrap some ribbon around them. 6. Present them to that special lady for Mother's Day or give your child a big hug of thanks and put them in a nice vase for all to enjoy.
You can make 3-D flowers too. For daffodils, you can cut out and glue or tape the petals together. Then you cut out a small, rectangular piece of yellow construction paper and tape it into a tube shape. Cut small slits around the tube shape, fold the paper back and tape it to the petals. There you have a 3-D daffodil and you can still tape it to a pipe cleaner!
Try using tissue paper as the center of a flower for added texture. Or cut out an oval shape and glue pieces of tissue paper on to make a hyacinth.
You can layer the paper in ways to give the flower a real multi-petal look.
Have fun exploring ways to make different flowers and creating a true original bouquet that will definitely reflect the personality of the child making it!
All's I'm sayin's all.
PS There was a fantastic 3-D suggestion in the comments to colour and use cardboard egg cartons. Poke the pipe cleaner through the bottom of the carton. Thanks for that!
Labels: Fun
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
The Power of Perception
When it comes to the safety and well being of our children, we parents are usually willing to pay a premium for quality products, especially ones that are natural and toxin-free. I become frustrated when I learn that products that I perceive to be good quality are not what they seem to be. I get mad at myself for relying on assumption. I do not buy everything North American. That seems pretty much impossible nowadays. You can buy great quality products from around the world. When it comes to the premium, 'natural' products that I wish to have for the Wee Ladies, I like to align myself with companies that are proud and passionate and honest about how and where their products are produced. I also like to support companies who are marketing themselves as the trusty, valued 'mom and pop shops' who are manufacturing at home, employing locals, and using North American quality materials. I love supporting anything Made in Canada or the US.
A friend of mine showed me a painted wooden toy from Melissa and Doug's Cutting Fruit set. The paint has chipped around the edges of the toy. They got it at Christmas for their three girls, ages, 6, 3, and almost 1 to play with. After 4 months of use, they were not expecting to see this level of wear on the toy. Take a look-
 You obviously would not want your babies ingesting that.
I decided to hop onto the Melissa and Doug website to check it out. I read that they began their business 20 years ago in Doug's garage. They started making products by hand and so were the typical, small family business. Eventually, they were able to move down the road and acquire both men and women's bathrooms. From here I understand that they continued to move across town, the state, and country, only to end up in China! This old 'mom and pop shop' moved overseas to produce their products, not for an increase in safety or quality, but for profitability.
I made the mistake in perceiving this company to be all North American. And by reading their website, there is nothing to lead me to believe otherwise. They communicate their passion for quality products and for over-the-top customer satisfaction. They want us to know that they adhere to all safety regulations and that their "toys meet or exceed government recommendations limiting heavy metals and lead in children's items." They also encourage their customers to communicate with them so they can strive to do better. They seem proud. So proud that they put their own name on the label. But they manufacture in China.
I believe companies make the move overseas for profit. North American engineers can design products and tell the manufacturers exactly what they want and how they want things done. China can make whatever American companies want. They can make lots very cheaply. They can make lots of money.
I am disappointed that a company of this calibre makes their so-called quality wooden toys in China, especially when they are communicating the importance of the Melissa and Doug family. They are charging a premium price for these toys, which makes me believe that I am paying for a product that is made by the American family who got it all started by wanting to make a safe and 'natural' product of the highest quality.
The power of perception is strong. I am disappointed in myself for not looking closer at this company because we own a few of their products. I assumed that this company was natural and North American made. My perception of these pricey products and their 'ties to home' got me. The prices told me that I was supporting homemade products and I am willing to pay the higher price for such items.
It just goes to show that our perceptions of some of these companies can be incorrect; that we are not looking hard enough at the whats and wheres. I feel like I have been let-down; that I was trying to make the right decision to buy quality items that are good for my kids. We rely on the word of a company who prides itself on making quality products. But are they really good quality? We can only rely on ourselves.
All's I'm sayin's all.
Labels: Reflection, Responsibility
Monday, April 27, 2009
She got several luxury cars for her second birthday
The Destroyer is now a proud owner of a few new vehicles and therefore that means me too. I can say that for real I bought several luxury cars last week to give my baby of the family for her 2nd birthday. Who says that the babies of the family are spoiled rotten? Cars at 2? Oh, yes indeed. And nice ones. Happy birthday to The Destroyer! We have been cruising since Saturday.
We already own a few classic cars from the 70's and 80's. We also have one Barbie convertible, thanks to Uncle Jeff. He thought it was a necessity in a house containing three Wee Ladies. But we decided to modernize our car collection. And so I went and purchased at full price a black Mercedes Benz CLS 500, a shiny yellow Range Rover Sport, a gold Lexus sedan, a royal blue Audi station wagon, and a SWAT van. With the antics of the Wee Ladies I thought it imperative to have my own built in SWAT team.
Along with the new cars, I decided the purchases would not be complete without buying a full functioning Service Station to accommodate the needs of these beauties. So we have a Service Center that is open for business 24 hours a day. The cars can be washed, fueled, and repaired. It comes complete with garbage and recycling bins for the Timbits and their boxes.
The Destroyer is in heaven. We celebrated her second birthday in style. Not only did she get all of these cars to play with, but she also got a truck shaped cake. And she blew out the candles like nobody's business. She didn't need any help; she was on a mission to cruise around and show off her new wheels. What a kid.
Grandma and Grandpa were here to witness this first hand. And she did a great job putting on some serious mileage. She travelled around the perimeter of the table, along the top of the couch, and all across the entire bottom floor of our house.
If we continue to accumulate luxury cars, we are going to have to buy the classic Fisher Price Parking Garage to house them all. The one with the elevator.  If it has been a dream to buy that Range Rover or BMW or Mercedes, you can! For the cheap price of $1.87 CAN! Who knew driving these vehicles could be so cheap? Welcome to the world of Matchbox.
That's another thing off of my list of 'WANTS'. Luxury car- check.
One more case of the 'Terrible Twos'- almost a check. Note to self- buy Lincoln Navigator to avoid meltdown.
All's I'm sayin's all. Labels: The Destroyer
Friday, April 24, 2009
Contest Winner
Thanks to everyone for entering the Yo Gabba Gabba! New Friends! DVD giveaway. Congratulations to C.N., the winner of this contest!
Keep checking back for more giveaways. And enter to win the Ultimate Girl's Day contest through Scarlett Lounge.
All's I'm sayin's all. Labels: Announcements
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
The Craugh (Craff)
The Craugh (pronounced craff) is something we see almost on daily basis. This is the half cry, half laugh. I call them Phony Bolognas. I call their bluff. I give them no sympathy. They hate this. I just continue taunting them.
The Craugh is their way to communicate discontent and annoyance. Kind of. It is a combination of irritation and happiness because they are getting attention, but would rather the game be played according to their rules. The Craugh usually occurs when they don't get what they want or they get annoyed with me because I am teasing them. It's a whine with a giggle.
Tonight I was playing with The Destroyer on our bed. I was teasing her by tickling her toes and tummy. She was squirming to get away and I would annoyingly wrestle her to a place convenient for more tickles. She got so fed up she pulled out The Craugh. She pretended to cry but giggled simultaneously. Her eyes scrunched up, her nose wrinkled, and she wailed a laughy wail. She achieved one thing- her noise got me to stop and assess the situation. I looked at her intently. I listened and watched her for a second until I decided she was indeed a Phony Bologna. She looked at me and her frown turned itself upside down as she began to laugh.
I shook my head and smiled at her, calling her bluff, at which time I resumed my tickles. I wasn't going to let her win this one. I wasn't going to let The Craugh win this battle. When her laugh turned to a genuine get-out-of-my-face-now whine, I stopped. I let her go. She was officially satisfied with the attention and was done.
The Craugh comes out when the Wee Ladies are playing together. It is a good way to place blame on a sibling, even when nothing major has happened. The one being picked on reaches a point where they are not enjoying the direction of the playing and wants out and so launches The Craugh In Stereo. The head gets tossed back, the mouth opened wide to maximize Craugh volume. Sometimes even a fake tear falls down a cheek or two.
I say it's a cop out. The Craugh is a way to efficiently and quickly eject themselves from a situation that is not going the way they want. They use this strategy when they see fit.
This moodiness can be amazing; the control they have over how they portray their emotions. They can turn on the tears when they want and turn them off. They can change a cry to a belly laugh in mere milliseconds.
I wish I could do that. Instead, my own personal Craugh is dictated by cyclical hormone fluctuation.
All's I'm sayin's all.
PPS Enter to win the Ultimate Girl's Day! See yesterday's post. Labels: Battle, The Destroyer
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Ultimate Girl's Day Contest!
At Scarlett Lounge, you can enter to win the Ultimate Girl's Day! Spend a day at a spa of your choice, with your new Coach Handbag and Manolo Blahnik pumps from Browns Shoes.
All you have to do is sign up at Scarlett Lounge for a chance to win this great contest!
Enter to win! Enter to win!
Labels: Contests
Monday, April 20, 2009
Spark Plug Scare
Yesterday was a freaky one. Spark Plug had to be taken to the hospital and given a once-over because she woke up lethargic and out of it. It was scary and I reached an all time anxiety high.
When Spark Plug was an infant, she experienced a couple of what was described as 'petit mal' seizures. She would blank out in a total daze and after about a minute, she would come around but jerked her head a couple of times. After that she was fine. So I followed up by getting my GP to send us to a pediatrician and to a children's hospital for an EEG. Everything turned out alright and we were told that kids sometimes have these brain storms and that they usually grow out of them. That was the last that we saw of these things. Until yesterday morning.
The Destroyer and EvieG got up as usual around 7:30 am. Spark Plug got up whimpering and wandered into our room and tucked herself into our bed to continue sleeping. This is unusual for her because she is the one who opens our blinds at the crack of dawn yelling, "Get up! It's a sunny day!" But because we have been really busy outside and on the go, I thought she was just tired. So we let her sleep in a little. This sleep in went on and on. After checking on her a few times and watching her come in and out of sleep, I noticed that she was having trouble waking up. At about 8:45 am, I tried to get her going. She would not. She just wanted to lay in bed with her eyes closed. I tried sitting her up and she would just fall back. She was lethargic with no muscle resistance or movement. She was not alert and was a little out of it. I tried to get her dressed, but she was not assisting or even aware that I was putting her socks on.
We gave her some juice thinking that her blood sugar might be really low. She took the whole cup started coming around a little bit. Hubby took her into the Emerg.
By the time they got into the doctor, she had totally perked up. The doctor there seemed to think she had experienced another petit mal seizure. And that we witnessed the after effects of it, being the lethargy and confusion. I don't know. It was all so bizarre because there were no other symptoms that went with it. She didn't have a temperature or anything. She was fine the night before.
I spoke with a neurologist who suggested we follow up with a pediatric neurologist. He said he hopes she didn't have a convulsion in her sleep. He seemed to think that her lethargy was more characteristic of a convulsion. This really freaks me out. I have booked her into our GP where we can hopefully we can get a referral. We will have to get to the bottom of this weirdness.
She was fine when they got home and has been fine since. No more symptoms. I was told to watch to see if she zones out during the day. We were also told to put a monitor in our room to hear any cries out in the night or other bizarre noises. Since her room is like 4 feet away from ours, we will keep the door wide open so we can listen. Her door is usually closed.
I am scared. I am worried about what this was, what the problem is, and I am determined to get some help with it. I was talking to a girlfriend about the anxiety a mom feels when something is not right with her child. I can calmly and carefully handle a problem in a classroom of 20 kids, no problem. But when it comes to my own kids, I feel ill, anxious, and panicked when something goes wrong. It is amazing to me.
Spark Plug drew her first family portrait. It is awesome. Check it out below.  All's I'm sayin's all. Labels: Spark Plug
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Our first contribution to the tooth castle in the sky
Kind of like Care-A-Lot up in the sky, we think that the tooth fairy lives in a tooth castle, surrounded by all things teeth, somewhere in the white, fluffy clouds above. Yesterday EvieG lost her first tooth. She claims she was unaware that it was loose. Maybe so. But for me, this is another milestone for us.
EvieG was supposedly upstairs playing horsey with Spark Plug. As she was biting her coat, just like horses do, out popped one of her center bottom teeth. She came down the stairs and announced, "Look, Mom! My tooth! I lost my tooth!"
At first, I was like, what the heck is she talking about? Lost a tooth? I don't remember experiencing any tooth drama. I couldn't recall any wiggling and wobbling and tugging. I couldn't remember any discussion about loose teeth. How is this possible?
Sure enough, she gave me this wee piece of bone. I ordered, "Open your mouth... show me the spot!" She opened her mouth and I saw the bloody spot where her tooth formerly sat.
How did this happen? How did she just lose a tooth? So easily? Was it rotten? I searched for black marks. Was it broken off? Did we have to go into the dentist for an emergency check up to make sure she was going to have to get a set of dentures by the age of 6?
I called the dentist.
"Oh, hi. My 5 year old just lost a tooth and it wasn't loose. Is this normal?"
The receptionist asked me if I had the tooth because apparently kids can swallow them and never know.... she asked me to tell her what it looked like.
"It is pointy on one side and then jagged on the other. I don't see any cavities, not that I would know what one even looked like. To me, cavities are silver. I am just hoping that her teeth are not just going to start falling out randomly or that they are super-soft and going to fall out every time she plays horsey with her sister."
The receptionist told me that this is the age where the teeth start falling out. She said it sounded normal based on my description. She instructed me to wiggle the one beside it because often they fall out around the same time. But it could also be several months.
This didn't conclude anything for me. EvieG still had a tooth out and for what reason, other than her age, I did not know.
I figured that this is normal and she has just lost her first tooth. I think my reaction was one of shock because I was not prepared for my first baby to lose her teeth yet. The tooth fairy with the pocket on the front that we were going to use to put under the pillow is packed away in storage somewhere. I am not ready.
For her sake, I made a big deal about it. We celebrated and did a little jig. This is a momentous occasion and we treated it as such. I even made chocolate pudding for dessert, especially for the girl who has an open space in her mouth. We were all very excited. I took pictures and we discussed the next steps.
EvieG hid it under her pillow at bed time. We talked about the tooth fairy and her job. I asked EvieG what she thought about the tooth fairy buying her teeth off of her. I asked her what she thought the tooth fairy did with all of those teeth. We decided that she uses them to build and make art.
Following this conversation, we had to decide how much a tooth worth these days. When we were kids, we got a quarter for them. We put the money in our piggy bank. I spoke with Uncle Jeff about it. I thought it would be reasonable to give a dollar for the small ones and two dollars for the front teeth and molars. He asked what a kid can actually buy with a dollar. I said not much if you include tax. He thought two dollars could at least give them a fun buying experience. So that is what happened last night when the tooth fairy came. She took the tooth in a zip-loc bag because the nice tooth fairy tooth holder is in the depths of the crawl space and left a toonie under EvieG's pillow.
It is these moments that I realize my Wee Ladies are growing so quickly. I can't believe we have lost teeth already. I felt lots of emotions with this whole situation, from sadness to happiness. She is so proud and excited that she will get a grown-up tooth in its place.
As she came down the stairs announcing her lost tooth and holding it up with a look of pride and maturity, I had a flash forward. We will be moving quickly to the loss of more teeth and as I hear from older moms who wish they still had wee ones around, the time flies by. This I have come to realize and EvieG has only just lost one tooth. It doesn't matter. It is still going by faster than I ever thought it would. I thought to myself as we celebrated this occasion- the next thing I know, she will be coming down the stairs in her grade 8 graduation dress. Or telling me that she has her first period. I know I will never be ready for that and like this experience, I am sure it will hit me like a tonne of bricks.
And so then our consumption of soft paper products will expand to feminine products.
I am never going to be prepared for these things to happen.
All's I'm sayin's all.
PS Enter to win the new Yo Gabba Gabba! New Friends DVD! Check out 2 posts below! Go to Contact Us at DDM and submit your name and e-mail address! Do it! Do it!
Labels: EvieG
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
She cut her own hair
EvieG came upstairs last night looking a little different. At first I couldn't figure out what it was. And then it hit me. She did it. She is that kid! She cut her own hair.
I think I did it to myself at one point. Doesn't every kid? Uncle Jeff cut my baby dolly's hair when I was about 4. He convinced me that it would grow back. I still have her and it still hasn't grown back.
I had two kids in my grade 1/2 split class who cut their hair during art class. As I moved around the class, I noticed a clump of fine hair on the floor. I looked at them, my mouth hanging open as I saw a couple of chunks taken from their bang area. They sat beaming at me, sticking their tongues out at me through their missing front teeth. Another call to the parents.
And so now it is EvieG's turn. She wasn't playing hairdresser or house. And she just had a haircut last week. She had a nice cut too, with enough taken off the front.
She came into the bedroom and I asked, "What did you do to your hair? Did you cut your hair?" She replied, "Yes." Baffled, I then asked, "Why did you do that? You just took a huge chunk out of the front of your head! And now it looks funny! Go! Look for yourself!" She went into the bathroom and looked in the mirror. She was really expressionless. Nothing. No excitement that she thought it looked grand, and no real worry that it looked terrible either.
Her reasoning? She didn't want it in her eyes. BUT SHE JUST HAD A HAIRCUT! There was no hair in her eyes! At all! If she had done this before her cut, I would have genuinely understood and felt like total crap that I had neglected to get my kid's hair cut; that I had driven her to the point of where she had to take matters into her own hands. But this wasn't the case! We paid money to get this taken care of!
Here are the things that were going through my head:
- We are trying so hard to grow her hair out, now it will take that much longer. - The teacher is going to think I am a moron. - She looks like I am improperly supervising her. Well, maybe I was. Apparently I was. Now I have been caught. There is proof on the front of my kid's head. - Where is the mess of cut hair? Where will I have to clean up yet another mess? In the living room? The bathroom? All over the floor? In the toilet? Would she be that neat and tidy? If I had been properly supervising her, we wouldn't be in this predicament.
- I wondered why things got so quiet.
And so she went to school today with a chunk out of her bangs. I tried to hide it as best I could, but to no avail. I along with EvieG would be the talk of the teaching staff.
After we discussed it, she said without any real concern, "Don't worry, Mom. It will grow back."
That's what she has learned from me. After I shave my under arms and lower legs, I always say to Hubby, "There, isn't that nice? Feel how smooth it is. And don't worry! It will grow back all nice and long. Just for you!"
It's all my fault.
All's I'm sayin's all.
PS Two posts today! Check out the giveaway below! Enter to win! Labels: EvieG
Yo Gabba Gabba! DVD Giveaway!
I am giving away a copy of the new Yo Gabba Gabba! DVD titled, New Friends! This DVD had 4 episodes on it and retails for a suggested $16.99. The episodes are titled New Friends and features Jack Black. The second is Find, third is Greetings, and fourth is Share.
The Wee Ladies and I are regular Gabba viewers. I dig this show. It is geared to preschoolers, but I like it just as much. It is colourful, catchy, and memorable. Viewers hang out with and learn simple yet important life lessons with Gabbaland’s friendly monsters Brobee, Foofa, Muno, Toodee, and the robot, Plex. DJ Lance Rock brings these creatures to life and hosts the show by facilitating and encouraging participation, laughter, and fun through dance and interactive segments. Each episode uses repetition and original song to highlight a particular message. At the end, the lessons are reviewed through an original music remix. The music is a nostalgic mix of genres ranging from Hip Hop to rock to British Invasion. There is a definite retro feel and the combination of music, animation, and puppets remind parental viewers of their childhood past. The Wee Ladies and I watched these 4 episodes now available on DVD. We enjoyed them all. New Friends features Jack Black, who in this episode gets lost in Gabbaland when his mini bike runs out of gas. He meets and befriends all of the Gabba characters who help him out by refueling his bike. He sings and dances and even gets his own DJ Lance jumpsuit. EvieG loves his featured Dancey Dance, and she now knows how to do his ‘Disco Roll’. Find is an episode where the Gabba characters use their imagination to uncover things that may be different or frightening. They sing songs that encourage their learning about different animals. The classic ‘Keep Trying‘ song is sung and the Wee Ladies played Peek-a-Boo with the Gabba gang. Greetings is an episode that focuses on manners and greeting others politely. The songs are easy to learn because they are so repetitive. The Wee Ladies and I are always singing along. Biz Markie comes on and does his Beat of the Day, which is totally fun. Share is the last episode where the Gabba characters learn the lesson of proper sharing and communication. They learn not to take things away from others and they are encouraged to ask first if they want to play with someone else’s toy. The Wee Ladies are always singing Gabba songs, even when the show is not on. They will all be sitting around the dinner table and if one of them doesn’t like what they are eating, the other two will break into the Keep Trying song. It is awesome. This show is a great one for kids to learn from and enjoy. You turn it on for the great lessons it teaches, but stay for the catchy tunes and 80’s video game animation. Here in Canada, we watch it on Treehouse TV. You can watch it on Nickelodeon in the US. To win the copy of Yo Gabba Gabba! New Friends! go to my Contact Us section and submit your name and email address. I will draw a name from random on Friday, April 24th. All’s I’m sayin’s all. Labels: Contests
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Our insane consumption of soft paper products
Everywhere I turn, I find another empty box of Kleenex or roll of toilet paper. Here's the thing- we only have 2 out of the three Wee Ladies potty trained. If we are going through this much toilet paper now, what is it going to be like when they are all using the bathroom non-stop wiping, blotting, smudging, and dabbing? We are going to have to take stock out in Proctor and Gamble, who make Charmin, or one of the other huge tissue companies, like the Kimberly-Clark Corporation.
It seems like we are going through a lot of toilet paper and facial tissues. I recycle the empty rolls and I feel like I am going to be the talk of the people at our local recycling depot pretty soon. "Hey, have you seen the number of toilet paper rolls that chick goes through every week?" "I know! Did you happen to notice how many cans of beans got dumped in the bin?" Guffaw. I refuse to buy the package of 24 single rolls. I would rather have the 12 double rolls. Because then I don't look like a total TP waster. And then I feel like I am being more efficient in going through less. The opposite is probably true. I would certainly change the TP even more often with the single rolls, but with the double rolls, we are probably going through more than we think because of the illusion of having more there.
We have lost whole roles in the toilet. The Destroyer thought it would be a good idea to see what a water-logged roll looked like. I can't afford to keep losing TP and tissues. Especially when Spark Plug and The Destroyer find a box of Kleenex and then drop them downstairs to the first floor one at a time like softly falling snow. I usually try to put the unused Kleenex back into the box. I can't say the same for the toilet paper.
The Wee Ladies don't know what the term 'moderation' means yet. When they have a cold and have to blow their horn, they end up taking fistfuls of tissues for one blow. And they still manage to cover their faces and shirts with goop. And when they go to the washroom, they pull and tug and pull on the roll of toilet paper until they could easily compete with the Bounty paper towels to absorb any spill.
When they are potty training, they use the toilet paper even when they are not actually going to the bathroom. But they are actively practicing going through the entire washroom process. Complete with flush and a wave good-bye. We can't win. They know they have to use the stuff, and so they do.
We will have to introduce a new math game with them. We are going to have to play the Count-Out-the-TP-Tickets Game. We will have to teach them that they can only use a set number of TP tickets each time they use the bathroom. And what happens if they use more than the allotted number? Well, I don't know. I am just making this up as I write. Suggestions are welcome.
Plunging the toilet because it is clogged with too much TP is nothing to be proud of. The real reason for plunging? Well now, that is a different story!
All's I'm sayin's all.
PS Happy Easter! I hope everyone enjoys the holiday. We are guaranteed to go overboard in chocolate but I am cool with that. I will be back next Tuesday. Labels: Battle
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
New Reviews
I have posted some new reviews in DDM's Try Ons section. You can head on over to check them out. I will be posting a few more and will keep you updated.
I will also keep you posted on our next giveaway which will be happening soon.
Who's DDM? for April should be up today.
All's I'm sayin's all. Labels: Announcements
Monday, April 6, 2009
A stranger nicely told me that I am a nag
I was at the doctor's office today when a stranger pointed something out to me that all moms do. Something that we don't always realize we are doing. We are giving orders, and the same orders, on repeat. Even after the child has followed the given directions, we still give the orders.
Today's scenario- I was getting the Wee Ladies dressed to leave the office. I asked Spark Plug to come over to me to get her coat on. She did just that. As she was standing right in front of me, practically on my toes, I said, "Please come here and get your coat on!"
The lady sitting beside us blurted, "But she is 'here'. She is standing right there in front of you!" And she laughed. She proceeded to tell me about all the times she used to say the same things to her daughters. Things like, "Come here, Julie! We need to go now!" Her other daughter would say, "Mom, Julie is right in front of you. You don't need to keep telling her to come over there. She is there!"
It is like telling EvieG to buckle up in the car 40 million times before I put The Guzzler in drive. She buckled up after the 5th time I asked. I-am-on-autopilot. I get into the groove with a mission in mind to get the Wee Ladies organized and prepared for departure or asking them to get things done. And they get so annoyed with the record-repeat.
We will be walking and I will state in multiple layers, one after the other, "Come on! Stay with Mommy! Hey! Hurry on! Come on!....." and over again, in that order. And they are with me. In fact, they are only about two steps away from me. What do I think they are going to do if I turn off the repeat-mode? Run out onto the street in front of a bus? Jump into the fast flowing stream to our left? Really, I mean is it that necessary for me to be repeating myself like I have completely lost my mind and need to use my outer-monologue for fear of losing my train of thought or the task at hand?
The classic for me is the old, "Come on! Get dressed! You have school! Are you getting dressed?" This drives EvieG nuts. "Moooommmm! I am!" she will moan. It is like I think my power-pellet-repeat is going to get her to dress faster. In fact, I think it does the opposite. It distracts her and irritates her to the point of where my 5 year old is rolling her eyes at me.
I think the stranger in the doctor's office did her good deed for the day. She made me realize that I am in such a pattern of repeating myself that I don't even hear what I am saying anymore. She totally called me on it. And not in a snitty way. In a humourous way because we had a good chuckle about all the things we say but don't hear.
I am going to try and listen a little better.
I wonder how many times I say, "Shhhhhhhh!" in a day. Maybe I should start a tally. Just like I did with how many times I said, " Just a minute!"
All's I'm sayin's all.
Labels: DDM, Reflection
Friday, April 3, 2009
Spark Plug brings in three years with sugar
Spark Plug announced, "I love my bir-day, Mommy!" this morning while we drove EvieG to school. I'll take that as another mission accomplished. We had a birthday celebration yesterday that was certainly Estrogen-Only. Flowers was the theme. Initially I thought tulips, but could only find flowers of all varieties. It worked well.  EvieG was at school yesterday which actually worked out well because Spark Plug and I had a lot of time together, especially when The Destroyer was napping. We prepared, played outside, read books, iced her cake, got dressed. It was really fantastic. We both enjoyed the time. After school, another little friend came over and the party started. We had pancakes, fruit, cake, ice cream, presents, and finished it off with a trip to the back 40 where the Wee Ladies proceeded to wade through a foot of water. Ending the party with wailing due to cold water up to their knees and mega soakers, we settled them down with a warm bath and books. They needed some down time because they were wired after the sugarfest. Only an estrogen-only party would be guaranteed to end with crying and discontent. Spark Plug had a blast. She lapped up all the attention and wishes she had a birthday everyday. It was tough to explain to the other Wee Ladies that it was Spark Plug's special day and that we had to support her and make sure she had a good time. I explained that everyone has one special day a year and it is important to be happy for that person. EvieG understood and after a couple of snits, realized the truth and helped make Spark Plug's birthday a real fun one. The Destroyer was just fine. She did run off with her new crown and princess shoes a couple of times. You must remember my cake from EvieG's party last summer. Click here for a refresher. I made another DDM classic- a chocolate cake in the shape of a tulip. I carved out the tulip shape myself...no special pan for this one! It wasn't from a box either, but it was close. Our oven is a little inconsistent and the middle took an extra long time to bake. The outside was a little crisp. I included greens and all for special effect. Check it out....  I loved planning and executing this shin dig. It was great fun for everyone. All's I'm sayin's all. PS Thanks for reading! I will be back next week with more! Labels: Family, Fun, Spark Plug
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Upcoming Changes
As we have settled into our new digs, our schedules have shifted. There is good news and bad news with this. We have become busier, which is a good thing. The Wee Ladies and I are doing more together, especially now that it is warmer and easier to get outside. They are wanting to be out all the time exploring and riding their bikes. The bad thing is that I am sometimes struggling to get the blog written everyday. And so I am going to cut back in my daily blogs. I will not be writing 5 times a week, but will aim for 2 or 3. This way I can better balance our life in our new place. I hope you will understand. I have a mountain of reviews to catch up on, so I am going to work on those over the next several days. I will keep you posted on when I get them up in DDM's Try Ons. Spark Plug's 3rd birthday is tomorrow and I will post as soon as I can after the festivities are over. I love writing the blog and I thank you all for your ongoing support. I am not going away- I am just going to be posting a little less. This writing keeps me sane. I need to keep it up. I want to make sure that it is quality writing and not filler. Thanks for reading. And keep coming back for new posts and reviews. There is an upcoming giveaway too! Thanks for your support. All's I'm sayin's all. Labels: Announcements
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