You Can’t Beat the Pay.

As any mother knows, the little moments of reward, the ones between, sometimes even during, the Frustrating Exhausting Overwhelming No-Breaks days, can doctor a mom’s spirits in a blink. A sampling of mine from the last two days:

My kindergartener, now writing in typical vowel-free phonetics, (a rush all its own), wrote me a list of “chores” yesterday. The last one was “Olwos eat brkft before worc.”

When I dropped 4 off at school, I bent down to kiss her on the cheek, but before I got a chance to tell her to have a good day she said: “Hey Mom, don’t forget to smile today.”

As I was trudging up the stairs to help Kong go potty, he yelled “No, Mom I DO IT MYSELF,” and slammed the door. A few minutes later he peered out from behind the corner of the door, dimple gleaming and eyes asparkle, then threw the door open to reveal he had completed the task AND pulled his own underwear and pants up.

“Ta-Da,” he said.

Posted in Kid Speak | |

Cupcakes Even a Fembot Would Love

I bring some gifts to the parenting table.  Unfortunately for my children, neither crafting nor cooking are among them.  Projects that combine the two leave us all cold and hungry.   I want them to learn these things. I’m just not the best person to teach them.  In fact, I’d rate my artistic talent just slightly lower than my math and science aptitude. 

Nevertheless, when holidays approach, guilt usually drives me to attempt projects I normally avoid.   Today, in honor of Halloween, we made “monster cupcakes.”  (more…)

Posted in Kid Speak | |

A little Monday giggle

My son’s Kindergarten teacher is adopting a new baby.  At least, I think that’s what this must mean:

“Mrs. J is going to be gone for awhile.  She went to China to get pregnant.”

Posted in Kid Speak | |

Maybe we should all study the Bilby.

“B-I-L-b-e, that’s the book for me…” sings 4 cheerfully after VBS this week.

“NO!” corrects 5 quickly, and, for a moment, I glimpse what life must have been like for my sister. “It’s B-I-B-L-E,” he continues adamantly, sounding each letter out slowly, then finishing up in song “that’s the book for me, for me.”

“No, it isn’t.” 4 holds her ground.

“It is. It spells Bible,” he retorts condescendingly, and starts the verse again.

“B-I-L-B-E…” 4 ignores him, undaunted.

With his oldest-child-control-freak irritation bubbling up in him, 5 interrupts, and in a chastising tone repeats “NO…, 4, it is n–”

“Fine,” she cuts him off breezily. “That can be the book for you. B-I-L-B-E, that’s the book for me.”

Posted in Kid Speak | |

Because you deserve a laugh.

Growing up, when my family would venture from our Montana homeland and trek east to visit family and friends, I used to delight in baffling the easterners with my explanations about how - in the great Out West - we did, indeed, enjoy most of the modern conveniences of the time. 

I would escape from the adult gathering with younger relatives and the similarly-aged neighbors who’d been invited over to entertain me during the visit, and regale them with tales of The West.  Some young girl would usually inquire, in innocent, honest naivety, whether I rode a horse to school or knew any real cowboys.  I once mentioned that I rather enjoyed country music, which in the 80’s was played mostly on am radio stations.  “Well, of course you do,” responded one boy, completely without sarcasm, “you don’t even have FM radio in Montana do you?”

In a way, I’ve kind of missed those days.  So imagine my joy when 5 recently asked, “when you were growing up in Montana – did you speak English, or do they speak something different there?”

I really wanted to make something up, but I refrained.  I did, however, show him this picture of me and hot little sister circa 1985 or 6.  I told him we were on our way to school. 

Posted in Kid Speak | |

Fear and Fettucine

The KidSpeak category has been big this week.  Perhaps all the running has made me loopy and easily entertained. 

We had Alfredo Broccoli Fettucine tonight.  After we had discussed the menu several times, 5 finally piped up, “Mom, why do you keep saying I’m afraid of broccoli.  I’m not afraid of it.  I just don’t like it.”

Posted in Kid Speak | |