Oh Yeah...This Is Why I Try Never To Take Kids Shopping!

I should have known it was a big fat mistake.   But I decided to take the kids shopping anyway.  I didn't have much to get and it was a craft store.  'How bad could it be?'  I rationalized foolishly.

I wanted to make a scrapbook of a family road trip to Cape Breton and I needed some scrapbook supplies.

In the store I found a scrapbook that was on sale for $9.99. 

We got some other things and then had to wait in a long line.  At the cash register, the scrapbook came up as being $29.99.  I explained that I was sure it was supposed to be $9.99.  There was a long line behind me so I was told I had to pay for everything else and then go get the one that was priced right and then pay for that separately.

I didn't like it, but fine.  I went to get one and made sure I got the one right in front of the sale sign so I was sure it was the right kind.

I had to wait in a long line again with two kids who were rapidly losing patience.

You know how it is; you're trying to focus on something and all you can hear is them pestering you with questions.  "Look at this, Mommy!"  "Can I have this?"  "Can we buy this?"  "What is this for, Mommy?"

It's hard enough for me to think straight on a good day, but in this kind of environment it's virtually impossible.

Anyway, you guessed it, it was the wrong scrapbook again.  The cashier called someone to help me.  Again I had to go back to the scrapbook aisle.

By this point my son was jumping on my back and whining loudly that he was so bored he couldn't stand it any longer.

We found out that the scrapbook signs were in the wrong place but I finally got the one on sale and then I had to wait in line again.

Waiting in line three times in a row with young kids?  I don't recommend it.

I should have just bought the first expensive scrapbook and then left, because by the end of it all I had spent money on crafts I had no intention of buying initially, just to keep the kids happy.

At first I was a great parent about it all.  They would say, "Can you buy me this?"  and I would say, calmly, "No, we're not getting any treats today."  "No, we're just here for scrapbook stuff, and nothing else."

By the third wait in line, they were saying, "Can we buy this humongous pack of foam bunnies?"  I thought to myself, 'the last thing I need to clutter up the house is a huge expensive pack of foam bunnies.' 

Yet by the end I was all: "SURE!  GO AHEAD!  WHY NOT GET TWO PACKS!"

Anything!  Whatever you want!

There's nothing like a long line to wear down all your parenting skills.

Note to self:  never take kids shopping if you can at all help it...

Thanks for Being Even More Disorganized Than I Am; It's Not Easy But I Really Appreciate It

I've been feeling pretty disorganized lately.  I'm busy at home and at work.  I feel like I'm losing my mind half the time.  I brought raw eggs to work this morning, planning to cook them for lunch, but by lunchtime I was thinking they were hard-boiled so I cracked them on my plate in the lunchroom only to remember they were raw.  I don't think there's anything wrong with my mind (although I'm certainly willing to entertain that idea, based on the circumstances) it's just that I am so busy that I have far too many thoughts and ideas going through my mind at once.

So it's really nice to meet someone who seems slightly more disorganized than me.

I had just met this woman in a building downtown and she was about to leave.  She couldn't find her hat, so she was delayed.  When she finally found it she began to walk out the door when I noticed her wallet lying on the floor.  I ran to her and gave it to her and she thanked me.  After she left I heard a sound I couldn't recognize; I soon realized it was her phone, that she had also left behind, that was ringing.

After about thirty minutes she returned for her phone.

When I later had to text her, the return message I got was that she was on vacation and this was in the month of August.  That was six months ago.

Thanks.  Thanks for that.  All of a sudden I feel completely put-together.  :) 
(See my post 'Must Life Humble Me This Way?' if you want me to do the same for you.)

Is Luke Skywalker Girly?

The other day we were at the hockey arena (surprise!) and my daughter was unpacking the pink bag of her extra-special toys that she brought to entertain herself.  As she lined up her pink stuffed animals, pink lip smacker, dolls and various general pink items, I thought again how funny it is how many girly traits she demonstrates even though she lives in a very boy-dominated house.  She has two older brothers.  The house is full of hockey paraphernalia, sports items, Pokemon and Magic, and other boy-themed games. 

Yet she is very drawn to dresses, fancy shoes, pink and purple anything; she loves to play with babies and dolls.  She is very emotional and nurturing.  Obviously most of it is innate.

Then, when she had all her pink items lined up and ready, she suddenly leaned toward me and said in a deep voice, "Come to the dark side, Luke!"

Hmmmmm.  I guess the boys have had some influence, after all!

 

A Ringing Endorsement for Extra-Curriculars....And A Ringing Endorsement for Teachers

I love this quote from Ed Robertson of The Barenaked Ladies about extra-curriculars:

“I wouldn’t be where I am without public school music education...Studies show that kids who study music and art do better in math and science.  And for me, and I know a lot of people, that’s the only reason we went to school, whether it was band or choir or the hockey team. It’s the extracurricular stuff at school ... that’s the reason you suffer through all the other crap.” 
(Article in Hamilton Spectator, February 2013.)

I agree.  I think children need the whole experience.

But don't think I'm bashing teachers, because I'm not.  I love my son's teacher at school right now.  He seems to really 'get' boys, which I love in a teacher.

This is an actual quote from my son's agenda the other day:  "I saw some extraordinary leadership qualities in Ryan during group work today! (He is reminded to leave his whoopee cushion at home.)"

My son had snuck it into his backpack; I had no idea that he had even taken it to the school.  I can only imagine what transpired in the classroom to result in the note.

I love the compliment first, and then the gentle reminder.  Another teacher could have been extremely upset about the whoopee cushion.  I love teachers who can see the positive aspects in a child while still acknowledging rules they need to follow.

And I promise, every morning I will search my son's backpack before he goes to school!

 

Wheat and Sugar Free Update

I've been eating a lot of the above, including flax, salba, quinoa, brown rice, potatoes, kale, onions, and yes, dark chocolate (90%).

In the morning I love my smoothies:  I put almond milk with either lettuce or kale, blueberries and a few cherries, salba and flax. 

I have to admit, the first time I made one I was all, "It looks so healthy and yet... it tastes like complete crap!"

Luckily I just had to add more almond milk and it was fantastic.  I'm addicted to them now.

I also love eggs over sauteed kale, mushrooms and shallots.

I've been eating lots of vegetable soups - potato and leek, tomato, and so on.  Yummy.

I have survived very well; as long as I can have my coffee and dark chocolate I am okay.  What am I saying, I am great!  I couldn't do it without them; let's just call it like it is.  Also I love all the nuts and seeds.  And Greek yogourt is delicious.

I admit that I've had to buy some brown rice crisps, because I missed eating crunchy salty things.  They're good too.

I won't do it forever, because it's not my goal.  But it's been great to try out new foods and make some new healthy habits.

And once when I made my son a morning smoothie I snuck in some spinach and he didn't even know.

(If you're saying 'you go, girl' I completely agree.)

And go veggies!

What a Beautiful Sentiment...Not Really

I was driving behind a truck the other day.  When we were stopped at a red light, I noticed stickers of birds all over the back window of the truck.  There were all different kinds of birds depicted in flight.

I thought to myself, "That's so nice.  He loves birds! I completely agree.  They're so beautiful, especially when they're flying."

I love to see birds; all different kinds of them, sitting on wires together in a group, flying randomly in the sky, flying in formation, swooping over fields.  It's peaceful to watch them.

Then I noticed the sticker at the top of his window.  It said, "If it flies, it dies!"

How beautiful.  How...touching.  How depressing...

Echoing the (sort of) words of the Beatles, I say, "Live and let fly!"

Well, This Is Embarrassing!

I was playing charades with my children.  My daughter had an 'action' phrase.  It was 'making the bed'.

She started acting out the motions.

My son couldn't get it.

"Making a cake!" he yelled.  "Riding a bike!"

My daughter decided to give him a clue. (Because, let's face it, if she didn't we were going to be there all day.)

"You know, it's something we do when people are coming over." she said earnestly to him.

Not, 'something we do every day', or even 'something we do every weekend'.  No - something we only do if people are coming over to the house.

Well.  It's true.  But embarrassing.

Does everyone make their beds every day?  Are we really the only ones?

Maybe one glorious day I will feel organized enough and like I have enough time to make my bed, along with getting three kids breakfast, making three lunches, and getting myself ready for work.

Maybe.

Not holding my breath.