For two years of my life, my grandmas watched me during the day while my parents worked. At my maternal grandmother's house, no day was complete without soap operas. She watched CBS which included Young and the Restless, A Search For Tomorrow, As the World Turns and Guiding Light (RIP GL).
Sadly the addiction began way back as a tiny little person and it continued into my teenage years. I remember being so embarrassed when the actors would start muggin' down. I'd pretend to be reading something or looking the other way when they'd make out...which is quite a lot on soaps.
Even into my 20's I was recording soaps...you just never know what you might miss. =)
It was a sad day in September of this year when Guiding Light went to be with the Lord. That's where all good soap operas go, right? Well, it wasn't sad because I'd have a hole in my day, as I'd ceased my soap obsession, but it was like a part of my grandmother (who passed 10 years ago) died again that day. I will always think of her when I see a soap.
All of this to say (making a very long post) I think I learned not to lie from soap operas. It doesn't take long to see that there would be absolutely NO story line if the people would be straight forward and honest. I really have no patience for lying...especially from my kids.
Take today for example. I'll spare you the details but basically Girl Wondertwin disappeared for 15 minutes during Brunchinner (we woke up too late for breakfast and she leaves for school too early to eat lunch...it was also dinner because she was eating her meal from the night before that she had refused to eat). I finally got her to come upstairs to eat and I asked her if she had been watching TV. No, of course not Mom.
I knew she was lying but didn't say anything until I went downstairs and found the TV on. She lied AND didn't bother to turn off the evidence. Wasting electricity was added to her list of iniquities.
She then missed her school bus and will be spending 30 minutes in her room after school. I was TICKED.
When do children learn NOT to lie? I have little patience for it. She needs a good soap opera to teach her a lesson.
Showing posts with label Mothering Mishaps. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mothering Mishaps. Show all posts
Friday, December 11, 2009
Monday, December 7, 2009
Lost and Found
It's a day like this when I thank my Good Lord above for my blog. Buckle your seat belts, blogworld, because I'm about to vent.
Against my better judgement (but REALLY needing a workout since I skipped Saturday) I dragged my 3 to the athletic club. The twins were excited to go but Little Dude was dragging his feet (both literally and figuratively). We arrive and park as far away as humanly possible from the front of the building.
The twins fly out of the car and seemingly disappear into some portal in space. Worried about Little Dude and his ginormous fit that he his throwing, I'm consumed with him. I finally get his pants zipped and I refuse to zip his coat because I realize that the twins are long gone. I try to rush Little Dude but anyone with a 3 year old knows that this is generally counterproductive. He dug in his heels and would NOT move. Keep in mind, it's 29 degrees outside and flurries are flying.
Somehow I finally convince Little Dude to move in a forward motion. After who knows how long we arrive at the entrance of the building. Right away there is a desk where a "professional" checks you in using a membership card. I ask her, with a little bit of concern in my voice, "Did you see 2 five year olds run past here?" "Nope" she answers flppantly. A little more concerned, I say, "Are you sure you didn't see 2 five year olds run past here?" "Nope" she says without a care in the world. Just to clarify, I say, "So, you are telling me that 5 year olds did not come through here?" NOPE was her answer, obviously annoyed by my tenacity.
Worry and dread crosses my face as I begin to rush toward the child center. The woman behind me, sensing my urgency, says, "I'm sure they went to the child center". At least she cared. At least she was human.
The child center is in the very back of the building. When I finally reached the Child Center (with Little Dude still moping along SLOWLY behind me) I found the Wondertwins hanging up their coats. Relieved, I begin to tell the child care workers what happened. They could not believe the lack of concern I received at the entrance. Realizing that it wasn't just me, that this was an obvious oversight in humanity, I went back to the "professional" at the entrance.
I said to her, "Just so you know, my 5 year olds DID pass you". Without a care in the world, she says, "Well, I didn't see them". At this point I started to fume. Wouldn't a normal person say, "Oh, I'm so glad you found your kids." Or anything but how she chose to respond. I then said, "Well, I was VERY worried when you said you didn't see them and that made me think that they didn't come in...that maybe something terrible had happened to them." She says, "I just told you that I didn't see them". REALLY?? REALLY?? Is this how a normal human responds?
Nothing could stop me at that point, after telling her that I didn't appreciate her attitude, I went straight to the Manager. Telling him that this MUST happen on a daily basis, he responds with understanding and saying he would pull the "professional" from the front and put her on another duty after a "talk". He then offered me free lunch for my kids and myself.
I didn't take him up on his lunch. That wasn't my point. Anyone with multiple children understands how easy it is to get separated from one while tending to another. All this "professional" needed to do was offer me just a little bit of humanity. A, "Gosh, I'm so sorry" or "Can I call down to the child center and make sure they are down there" or "Wow, that must have been really scary". ANYTHING. All she did was defend herself.
I don't want this girl to get fired or anything but goodness! I think she would have been MORE concerned if I had told her I lost my earring. She would have at least directed me toward the lost and found.
What the heck is going on in this world?
Against my better judgement (but REALLY needing a workout since I skipped Saturday) I dragged my 3 to the athletic club. The twins were excited to go but Little Dude was dragging his feet (both literally and figuratively). We arrive and park as far away as humanly possible from the front of the building.
The twins fly out of the car and seemingly disappear into some portal in space. Worried about Little Dude and his ginormous fit that he his throwing, I'm consumed with him. I finally get his pants zipped and I refuse to zip his coat because I realize that the twins are long gone. I try to rush Little Dude but anyone with a 3 year old knows that this is generally counterproductive. He dug in his heels and would NOT move. Keep in mind, it's 29 degrees outside and flurries are flying.
Somehow I finally convince Little Dude to move in a forward motion. After who knows how long we arrive at the entrance of the building. Right away there is a desk where a "professional" checks you in using a membership card. I ask her, with a little bit of concern in my voice, "Did you see 2 five year olds run past here?" "Nope" she answers flppantly. A little more concerned, I say, "Are you sure you didn't see 2 five year olds run past here?" "Nope" she says without a care in the world. Just to clarify, I say, "So, you are telling me that 5 year olds did not come through here?" NOPE was her answer, obviously annoyed by my tenacity.
Worry and dread crosses my face as I begin to rush toward the child center. The woman behind me, sensing my urgency, says, "I'm sure they went to the child center". At least she cared. At least she was human.
The child center is in the very back of the building. When I finally reached the Child Center (with Little Dude still moping along SLOWLY behind me) I found the Wondertwins hanging up their coats. Relieved, I begin to tell the child care workers what happened. They could not believe the lack of concern I received at the entrance. Realizing that it wasn't just me, that this was an obvious oversight in humanity, I went back to the "professional" at the entrance.
I said to her, "Just so you know, my 5 year olds DID pass you". Without a care in the world, she says, "Well, I didn't see them". At this point I started to fume. Wouldn't a normal person say, "Oh, I'm so glad you found your kids." Or anything but how she chose to respond. I then said, "Well, I was VERY worried when you said you didn't see them and that made me think that they didn't come in...that maybe something terrible had happened to them." She says, "I just told you that I didn't see them". REALLY?? REALLY?? Is this how a normal human responds?
Nothing could stop me at that point, after telling her that I didn't appreciate her attitude, I went straight to the Manager. Telling him that this MUST happen on a daily basis, he responds with understanding and saying he would pull the "professional" from the front and put her on another duty after a "talk". He then offered me free lunch for my kids and myself.
I didn't take him up on his lunch. That wasn't my point. Anyone with multiple children understands how easy it is to get separated from one while tending to another. All this "professional" needed to do was offer me just a little bit of humanity. A, "Gosh, I'm so sorry" or "Can I call down to the child center and make sure they are down there" or "Wow, that must have been really scary". ANYTHING. All she did was defend herself.
I don't want this girl to get fired or anything but goodness! I think she would have been MORE concerned if I had told her I lost my earring. She would have at least directed me toward the lost and found.
What the heck is going on in this world?
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
SAX HELL
Will I ever learn? After almost 6 years of parenting, I should be a pro at this right? A good mom knows her kids' limitations. She knows what her kids can handle and when to call it quits.
Well, this highly choleric personality knows those limitations well but constantly crosses the line.
Take today. We had Bible Study this morning and afterward, we decided to meet my mom for lunch. We went to sit down restaurant and besides the 3 kids going to the bathroom twice each, they sat still well and ate their lunches. Even my husband would have called it a successful lunch. I promise that's saying a lot. He's the same man who has told them numerous times that they will NEVER again see the inside of a restaurant.
Somewhat impressed with my 3 under the age of 6, we piled into the van. Eyeing the mall across the street, I couldn't resist. I've been meaning to step into SAX for a few weeks now. I just couldn't resist. (Side note, I go to SAX maybe twice per year. It's not a regular stop on my mall tour. I needed something that is only sold in that particular store). I thought Sax would be an easy stop since it's just in and out. No need to even enter the Mall. So I thought.
We walked to the escalators and went up. That's sounds easy right? Did I neglect to mention that they had to put their tiny little mits on EVERY Christmas decoration we passed? Don't forget the endless commentary about the mannequins, which ones were headless, which ones didn't have faces etc. Oh, and my kids have no idea what an inside voice is so every grandma in the store turned to either smile (as in, Oh, I remember) or scowl (as in, what evil human would bring those germ freaks in MY store while I'M having a nice relaxing day.)
We finally hit the department I was looking for. Lucky me. It's right across for the the children's department. The 6 little paws preceded to tear apart the whole place while I chased from one to the next..."No, don't touch, put that down. That's not yours. Etc." You get it.
I peeled them away from the kids' area, only to observe some of the most atrocious behavior I've ever exhibited out of my children (in public). As I was looking at the desired item (the reason for this particular hell) my boys started a spitting fight. Yep, you know those nasty raspberries that kids like to pass back and forth. The woman, old, ugly and obnoxious might I had, was helping me with the item. She then turns and says, "Your children are spitting all over the clothes."
Yes, thank you Ms. *^(^#&)(#%. I really need your commentary.
I grabbed two hands, yelled for Girl Wondertwin to follow behind us and through the store I marched these hoodlums. We found the exit quickly and I might have yelled the whole way home. I can't exactly remember but I know my voice is hoarse so I must have been yelling.
Needless to say, I put the kids straight to bed when we got home. They don't nap often anymore but today was not an option. It was either they go to sleep or I was going to have to leave the house. To avoid possible jail time, I decided forced sleep was the only option.
Grr. I'm still bitter.
Oh, one more thing I forgot to mention, Girl Wondertwin was messing with a toy gum ball machine that was FOR SALE and not in it's box. She somehow got a gumball out of it AND ate it. The boys then had fits because they didn't get one. And this lady was surprised that a little kid would actually try to eat the gum in the machine that was placed at KID LEVEL. Stupidity abounds.
Well, this highly choleric personality knows those limitations well but constantly crosses the line.
Take today. We had Bible Study this morning and afterward, we decided to meet my mom for lunch. We went to sit down restaurant and besides the 3 kids going to the bathroom twice each, they sat still well and ate their lunches. Even my husband would have called it a successful lunch. I promise that's saying a lot. He's the same man who has told them numerous times that they will NEVER again see the inside of a restaurant.
Somewhat impressed with my 3 under the age of 6, we piled into the van. Eyeing the mall across the street, I couldn't resist. I've been meaning to step into SAX for a few weeks now. I just couldn't resist. (Side note, I go to SAX maybe twice per year. It's not a regular stop on my mall tour. I needed something that is only sold in that particular store). I thought Sax would be an easy stop since it's just in and out. No need to even enter the Mall. So I thought.
We walked to the escalators and went up. That's sounds easy right? Did I neglect to mention that they had to put their tiny little mits on EVERY Christmas decoration we passed? Don't forget the endless commentary about the mannequins, which ones were headless, which ones didn't have faces etc. Oh, and my kids have no idea what an inside voice is so every grandma in the store turned to either smile (as in, Oh, I remember) or scowl (as in, what evil human would bring those germ freaks in MY store while I'M having a nice relaxing day.)
We finally hit the department I was looking for. Lucky me. It's right across for the the children's department. The 6 little paws preceded to tear apart the whole place while I chased from one to the next..."No, don't touch, put that down. That's not yours. Etc." You get it.
I peeled them away from the kids' area, only to observe some of the most atrocious behavior I've ever exhibited out of my children (in public). As I was looking at the desired item (the reason for this particular hell) my boys started a spitting fight. Yep, you know those nasty raspberries that kids like to pass back and forth. The woman, old, ugly and obnoxious might I had, was helping me with the item. She then turns and says, "Your children are spitting all over the clothes."
Yes, thank you Ms. *^(^#&)(#%. I really need your commentary.
I grabbed two hands, yelled for Girl Wondertwin to follow behind us and through the store I marched these hoodlums. We found the exit quickly and I might have yelled the whole way home. I can't exactly remember but I know my voice is hoarse so I must have been yelling.
Needless to say, I put the kids straight to bed when we got home. They don't nap often anymore but today was not an option. It was either they go to sleep or I was going to have to leave the house. To avoid possible jail time, I decided forced sleep was the only option.
Grr. I'm still bitter.
Oh, one more thing I forgot to mention, Girl Wondertwin was messing with a toy gum ball machine that was FOR SALE and not in it's box. She somehow got a gumball out of it AND ate it. The boys then had fits because they didn't get one. And this lady was surprised that a little kid would actually try to eat the gum in the machine that was placed at KID LEVEL. Stupidity abounds.
Monday, June 1, 2009
More about feeding kids...
So, 2 posts ago entitled Feeding the 5000, I mention I hate to feed my kids. Or maybe I wasn't that blunt but you get the idea. Anyway, I'm all about kids becoming self-sufficient before the age of 18 (not before the age of 5). My kids have caught on to that I guess because they try things that I never would suggest or even guess they would have the ability to accomplish.
Case in point, when my twins were 3.5 years old, one of them decided Terrence was cold and he needed to be warmed up in the microwave. This was before I had my laptop and I was in the basement working on my computer. I hear screaming from upstairs..."BWT made the kitchen on fire".
Of course my ears perk at that one so I run upstairs to find the microwave engulfed in flames. Fortunately when I opened the microwave, the flames went down and I was able to put the rest out with a towel. No firetrucks needed.
This is what I found in the microwave...RIP Terrence.
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Case in point, when my twins were 3.5 years old, one of them decided Terrence was cold and he needed to be warmed up in the microwave. This was before I had my laptop and I was in the basement working on my computer. I hear screaming from upstairs..."BWT made the kitchen on fire".
Of course my ears perk at that one so I run upstairs to find the microwave engulfed in flames. Fortunately when I opened the microwave, the flames went down and I was able to put the rest out with a towel. No firetrucks needed.
This is what I found in the microwave...RIP Terrence.
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Feeding the 5000
That's how it feels around here. Technically, I only have 3 kids but you know what I mean. Even if you one child, you know feeding time is a nightmare. Dinner time I can handle. I make one meal for our family of 5 and if the kids don't like it, they don't eat.
Lunch is different though. For some reason I've allowed myself to become a short order cook. I make what they want to eat...and sometimes they want 2 or 3 of whatever it was. I can handle the cooking part but afterward, my kitchen looks like a bomb went off. How can 3 little people make such a big mess? I would love to go for just ONE day without sweeping my floor. A girl can dream, right?
Seriously this parenthood stuff would be a lot more fun if I didn't have to feed these banschees.
Lunch is different though. For some reason I've allowed myself to become a short order cook. I make what they want to eat...and sometimes they want 2 or 3 of whatever it was. I can handle the cooking part but afterward, my kitchen looks like a bomb went off. How can 3 little people make such a big mess? I would love to go for just ONE day without sweeping my floor. A girl can dream, right?
Seriously this parenthood stuff would be a lot more fun if I didn't have to feed these banschees.
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