(image from celluloidheroreviews.com) No wonder his parents gave in to his request. Look at that face! Too bad my kid has a cute face, too.
“I want a Red Ryder carbine action two-hundred shot range model air rifle. Oooooooh!”
Now, instead of a round-faced spectacled young boy, picture a curly-haired, green-eyed young girl saying:
“I want a Cinderella dress that lights up with a Cinderella ring and a Cinderella salon. Oooooooh!”
With Ralphie-like enthusiasm, my preschooler knows what she wants for Christmas. Over and over and over again, when asked by aunts, grandparents and friends, this has been her response. It wasn’t always this answer, though. First, it was “sparkly pink light-up shoes.” So, we got her some. They’re waiting anxiously in my closet, ready to be opened Christmas morning. But will she have an enthusiastic response? Or …
…I went on a date with a young man. One I’d met while we both worked at Sheplers, after I’d asked him to “clean my boots.” (Read the full story here.) He was charming, and funny, and handsome, and I fell head over western heel. Yesterday, that same young man had his attention on another girl at Sheplers. At 41 inches tall and 38 pounds, she consumes his whole heart. As he helped her buy her first pair of “real” boots, I couldn’t help but stare in wonder. Never in my wildest dreams did I see this in my future when I was 18 and flirting with a cute coworker. Never did I imagine that we’d be back here together, our little family of four. He stole my heart, and now she’s stolen …
Normally, I try and slip into another mother’s (or father’s) shoes before I give them the mental stink eye. Parenting is tough, and you just never know what someone else is going through. But there are a few occasions where I judge, and judge hard. Sometimes, parents make stupid decisions, or are just plain stupid in general. Like what I witnessed at the zoo a couple of days ago.
As I pushed my toddler in circles in her stroller, hoping to stave off the “I’m tired and overstimulated” tantrum that was building, I couldn’t help but count my blessings that I had come to the zoo with backup. My mother-in-law had taken my preschooler to the bathroom as we were making our way towards the exit. (And trying to get out through the gift shop without …
Somersaults aren’t the only thing she’s learned at dance class.
I tried something new at dance class tonight. I left. Usually, I’m chasing my 18 m/o around the studio while my 3 y/o attempts to follow the instructor’s directions. It’s chaos. So, I decided to take the toddler outside to run around while my big girl did her thing inside. I thought all was going well (no shouting, screaming, etc.) until the end of the class. That’s when I heard crying. Loud, soulful crying. It was my kid. Sigh. I hurried in to her, expecting to find her with a stubbed toe, rug-burned knee, or some other dance-class casualty. No. She was sitting in closing circle, crying her eyes out while the other girls looked on with uncertain expressions.
“What’s wrong?,” I coaxed. Had she suddenly remembered I’d …
There’s nothing like Facebook (and a pumpkin muffin from Panera), to distract you while your toddler is crying it out in her room at 1 a.m. (She’s fine, just mad I won’t give her milk.) Here’s a little poem I wrote about items from my news feed to commemorate the occasion.
(image from insidefacebook.com)
Laundry mishap
Mommy rant
Messy child
Pink elephant
Starbucks coupon
Ikea plug
Baby pictures
Cute lil pug
Someecards
Random meme
Family photo
Star Wars theme
Politics
Silly joke
Kitty faces
Thankful note
Gee I’m glad
I logged in
What would I do
Without my friends?
“I apologize, but this just has to be said. “you suck!” can you tell I’m super jealous?!”
This was the comment from a dear friend on a Facebook status I posted this morning. Granted, my original status was a little Pollyannish, “Brr! Cuddling under a blanket and movies are on our agenda. Really loving my job today! ;-)”
You see, I feel like I’ve been complaining quite a bit lately about this SAHM gig. A preschooler who escapes from her carseat and sinks her teeth into your forearm while you’re driving down the road will do that to you. (This was after her cowgirl boots were chucked at my head.) It was a bad day. But they’re not all bad days. Like today, for example. I felt like I needed to share some of the good moments …