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What to do, what to do…
My son. Where do I begin. He is a charming, loving, intelligent, ball of fire… who happens to be manipulative, disobedient and slick. Oh, what a combination! Now I love my son to death, but I’m not one of those parents who thinks they have a perfect child. No, I’m the kind of parent who looks at the other parents who are forming judgements to themselves and agrees with them (audibly)… “yeah, he’s bad.” And I don’t say this because I’ve given up or I think it’s acceptable, I say this because I feel good in my skin when I am authentic. And I truly believe that my kid can…
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Nightmare at the Public Restroom
It can make an easygoing parent un-nerved… and a germaphobe parent down right frightened – the public restroom. I am a recovering germaphobe. My second child has helped me to move past some of my old anxieties. But put me in a public bathroom with the kids and I start getting nervous. So yesterday we were on the road and made a pit stop at Wendy’s. Brogan had to go potty, and so off we went. Now Brogan is in an “independence” phase, which means he wants to do everything (he wants to do) on his own. Using public restrooms is one of those new solo acts. So when we…
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Words of Wit and Wisdom
So I’m not sure what I expected communicating with a 3-year-old would be like before mine could talk. But I am daily amused and amazed (and occasionally appalled) by his wit, his intellect and his sass. I think all parents go through this when their children start speaking like little adults. They’ve soaked up words and phrases from school and family members (and you) and TV, and then those little brains get to processing and they blurt out something way beyond their years. A couple funny ones from Brogan recently… the italicized words reflect real inflection in his voice. The funniest part to me may actually be the way he…
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The Email from School
The email from school… similar to the call from school – the heart drop that follows seeing the school’s name on the caller ID – it’s not what a parent wants to see in their inbox. So today’s email from Brogan’s preschool director went something like this… I told Brogan I was going to email you to let you know about his behavior today walking to and from the library. He was refusing to acknowledge whether or not he heard us talking to him, calling his name, etc. On the way back he was walking across an area closer to the road so I called his name to stop. He…
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The things I didn’t know about myself… until I became a parent
Becoming a parent is an enlightening experience. You see life through a whole new lens – you gain an instant appreciation (and admiration) for your own parents; the screaming children on a plane or in a restaurant create empathy (for the parents) instead of anger; in the presence of your kids you develop critical eyes (and ears) for television and song lyrics and others’ conversations, constantly filtering for appropriateness. But the biggest change for me has been within… or a new vantage point to myself as I discover things about me that were unknown before kids. I can handle a lot more than I ever thought. Not that I ever…
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Why I’m Not the Soccer Mom I Hoped I’d Be
Soccer mom – it’s what a lot of us strive to be – myself included. Ever since I found out there was tot soccer in our area, and Brogan expressed an interest in playing, I was pumped to get this title. I didn’t have great expectations for this 6-week “season.” I knew there would not be any real games, just “sessions” where the kids play, run and kick around a soccer ball. I was happy to ease into it all and thrilled to see Brogan in what I thought would be his element. But what being a soccer mom has meant for me is embarrassment and shame. Trying to deal…
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Interview with a Three-year-old
It’s a pretty ridiculous idea, but as I was swinging the boys on their play set and I was asking Brogan questions about his day, I thought, what if I just started asking him random questions – like I was interviewing him? Wonder what sort of answers I’ll get… Me: Brogan, what is mommy’s favorite thing to do? Brogan: Cook. But you’re just a home cook. Daddy’s a chef. Me: What’s daddy’s favorite thing to do? Brogan: Put the boys to bed Me: What’s your favorite thing to do? Brogan: Play fire trucks woo woo woo [spot on sound effects] Me: Why do you like playing fire trucks? Brogan: Because…
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I Speak Mommy
Foreign language was never my strong suit. I took two years of German in high school and all I can remember is how to count to 10, “guten tag” and “ich habe die nase vol!” (“I’ve had it up to here,” for all of you non-German speakers) – sorry Mr. Brown. They say emersion is the best way to pick up another language. I’d have to agree. Turns out that after spending three years in a home with a baby (and then another), I now fluently speak mommy. The problem is, as I’m sure happens to other folks who are bi-lingual, I’ve been finding myself intertwining the two languages when…
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Leaving the warm and cozy den of ignorance
Sometimes it would be easier to live in ignorance – to be oblivious. Much easier than dealing with reality, especially when the reality is that you have made some serious mistakes as a parent. Before I was a parent, I felt certain that I would be no-nonsense. I would be tough. I had a clear vision of what was right and wrong; what was acceptable and not acceptable. With clarity like that, it should be easy to be consistent, right? Well it’s not. Before I was a parent, I knew things like “no” would mean no, period. That you don’t coddle, that you don’t give in. That you see right…
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My Son, the Country Music Singer
I’m pretty sure I don’t always make the right parenting decisions. I don’t follow all the latest parenting trends; I don’t subscribe to all the things the experts say you should do (or not do). I, like other parents, don’t really know if the things I let (or don’t let) my kids do today will scar them in the future or set them up for great things. So I do the best I can and just go with my gut. We like country music in my house. A lot. Weekend mornings mean country music videos; car rides mean Luke Bryan, Jason Aldean and Blake Shelton from my iPod on repeat. …
