These Kids, no respect

Now I know I haven't mentioned this but I took the position of P.E. teacher this year at my children's school. My husband calls this stalking, I call it being "involved". Anyway, our gym is a cafeterium. Meaning we do everything there, eat breakfast, lunch, have gym, assemblies, etc.

So, yesterday I was putting up tables and getting ready for class when I saw another sweatshirt on the floor. I feel like there are always like five sweatshirts on the floor in the gym. In my head I am cursing the child who has left their sweatshirt on the floor like this is their house and I am there mother picking up after them. I get enough of this at home I don't need to bring this to my place of employment.

I make my way over to the sweatshirt and flip up the tag hoping the name is in there somewhere so I can return the sweatshirt and enlighten the owner to pick up their clothes. I look down only to see my own name staring back at me. So, it was my child's sweatshirt and I was their mother picking it up. They are going to hear about this. I know they love having me around at school more!

Riddle me this Batman

I am sitting on my computer, minding my own business when a bottomless two-year-old marches up to me and says, "I didn't poop in my pants it was an accident." toddlersayswhat?!

I decide I should inspect the nearest bathroom. I flinch and heave as though I have just wandered onto a murder scene. There were poopy undies on the floor, but the dog had taken care of it and now neither the dog or the poop was anywhere to be found.

Parenting lesson 2345: I tuck away in my memory bank that when baby girl ends anything with, 'it was an accident' that means to ignore whatever she has said previously and quickly get the dog outside.

by the way, my camera may have broke for the final time yesterday so my posts will be depressingly sans photos.....at least until christmas I hope

Look at what a great mom I am!

The other day when I had just laid baby girl down for her nap. I hurried to the shower to take advantage of my free moment. While I had been unable to take a shower the day before I found this shower to be particularly relaxing and I was relishing every moment of the hot water.

That is when Buster Brown peeked his head in as he usually does. "Mom, is it OK if I make a sword?" He asked in his sweetest little boy voice. "Of course, sweet heart." I replied still feeling the effects of the soothing shower. I knew that we had just read a story yesterday about Franklin the turtle making a sword from cardboard and my boy found that particularly amazing.

I continued to let the hot water wash over me and was particularly pleased with my parenting skills at the moment. I was able to have some free time and my little man was entertaining himself not with the TV but with a craft.

When I got out of the shower I was a little shocked when Buster revealed his craft. Apparently he had gone to the best place to get craft materials in our house, the recycle bin. His sword was made of empty beer cans and a wrapping paper roll. My dreams of becoming Mom of the year quickly faded. While I let him play with it for a while we did make him disassemble it on trash day.

Parenting Happiness

Since school has started we have been particularly busy. There are cross country and flag football practices, girl scout meetings, birthday parties, meets and games, and the list goes on and on.

What I have noticed is despite the hectic schedule, I am loving it. I am loving this phase of life when I am up to my ears in sewing badges on sashes and Tae kwon do uniforms. I love cheering them on at their games. I love taking them to the playground and just spending time with my kids. I love their contagious belly laughs. I love sleepovers, OK maybe not the sleepovers so much (it can't all be blissful).

They are getting so big and I hope I appreciate every minute, because when we are at Holiday World or cooking out in the backyard I look around and think there will come a time when they would rather be with their friends then with us, so for now I will soak up every minute of their time with me.

The Pinch Heard 'round the World

OK, every family has a dirty little secret, some little bad habit that goes on behind closed doors. Some may burp at the table, some may fart at will, others like to walk around in their underwear. What is ours you ask? We pinch each others buns. Dad pinches Mom's, Mom pinches Son's, everyone pinches Baby Girl's and Baby Girl pinches Dad. Well, you get the idea.

Yesterday our Dirty little secret was exposed. Buster Brown pinched one of his classmate's buns. As a Mom this is when I know a bad habit has gone too far. I just kept thinking of his poor kindergarten classmate who may not be used to bun pinching and doesn't know that in the eyes of Buster Brown this means I like you and you are officially my buddy.

The teacher told me what had happened and I wanted to blurt out, "I don't know where he learned that! Probably his father." But I kept my mouth shut and shoved my pinchers in my pockets.

So, last night at dinner we made a conscience decision to lay our pinchers to rest. There will be no more red buns in our home.