10 year old to mom: daddy treats me like a two year old
Mom: maybe you should start acting your age
++++++++++
Homework with my child, who apparently needed some (unusual for her) hand-holding (aka attention from mom- (not unusual)) I can't sit still during this drawn out procedure and grab a Clorox wipe and start getting at the fingerprints all across the walls and door ways, patiently answering all the questions with questions (as I am not smarter than a 5th grader) and intentionally saying descriptive terms to get her to look for her own answers. And as if I am not paying attention (because I am not looking at her while she is thinking and making up stuff )-- I get the dramatic head and arms thrown back while she says, "Oh my gosh, mom, you are OBSESSED with cleaning!" (Any of you who know me knows this is a gross overstatement of my cleaning prowess). I stifle my laughter with a sigh (while my thoughts are going 1000 miles a minute, basically saying, yeah, like anyone would believe that!) I gently, pointedly, ask her to tell that to her father when he gets home!
++++++++++++
Yesterday after school, I make the boy a PB&J. The girl just starts over reacting cuz HE is MAKING me do stuff that I am not supposed to do!!! It went like this, "Are you hungry, what would you like for a snack?" "PB&J" "OK". (AS you can see, no forcefulness involved.)
She started in on how the boy has two legs and hands, he should be able to make his own sandwich, (I don't disagree) just like she did when she was 7! (yeah, she was happy to do anything on her own as soon as she could). She was appalled that he would stoop to that level AND that I, her mother of all people!, would even remotely entertain the idea! She just knew I was being taken advantage of and would not have any of that!
After listening, quizzically looking at this crazy 10 year old feminist, I just said, "Chill."
I appreciate the thought, but really-- over an after school snack?
The boy, who initially was going to try to defend himself, politely took the sandwich and walked away.
Thursday, November 8, 2012
Cowboys
Hello,
So in the mist of after school rush and fast food for dinner, me, the girl and the boy are in the car on the way home for a brief stop before Tae Kwon Do and swimming.... the girl has finished her meal already and takes a big dramatic (is there any other kind with her?) sigh. Her head is off to the side and her eyes closed. While driving, and hopefully paying attention to the road as much as I believe I am while stuffing french fries into my mouth, I ask if she was tired with all the activities going on, I look over after a beat of silence and see that her eyes are shut. I go about driving and stuffing and dipping and stuffing oh, and driving.... (perhaps in hindsight I shouldn't have been so distracted....hmmm) Ok, I'm quietly chewing, lost in my own thoughts, the boy is just fine, happily eating his nuggets and fries....
Then, the girls left hand flies up in a "talk to the hand" flurry. She sits straight up and looks directly at me and says (with half her face sagging down as if she has bells palsy, and super slow-like), "I don't really like it when cowboys talk out the side their mouth like this." Oh! O.K. She continues, with a perfect southern drawl by the way, "They sound funny and it's like the one side of their face is all smooooshed down and it dudn't work". I laugh, what else? "How do they talk like that? I mean, it's like hard to talk that way." Then to accentuate the hilarity of the moment she says, "Wol, hat dig-it-T-y, der dig" again in perfect southern drawl. Her face of course, this whole time still looking like it got stung by a scorpion and was drooping down to her neck.
So, now we know. The girl don't know why cowboys talk like that.
So in the mist of after school rush and fast food for dinner, me, the girl and the boy are in the car on the way home for a brief stop before Tae Kwon Do and swimming.... the girl has finished her meal already and takes a big dramatic (is there any other kind with her?) sigh. Her head is off to the side and her eyes closed. While driving, and hopefully paying attention to the road as much as I believe I am while stuffing french fries into my mouth, I ask if she was tired with all the activities going on, I look over after a beat of silence and see that her eyes are shut. I go about driving and stuffing and dipping and stuffing oh, and driving.... (perhaps in hindsight I shouldn't have been so distracted....hmmm) Ok, I'm quietly chewing, lost in my own thoughts, the boy is just fine, happily eating his nuggets and fries....
Then, the girls left hand flies up in a "talk to the hand" flurry. She sits straight up and looks directly at me and says (with half her face sagging down as if she has bells palsy, and super slow-like), "I don't really like it when cowboys talk out the side their mouth like this." Oh! O.K. She continues, with a perfect southern drawl by the way, "They sound funny and it's like the one side of their face is all smooooshed down and it dudn't work". I laugh, what else? "How do they talk like that? I mean, it's like hard to talk that way." Then to accentuate the hilarity of the moment she says, "Wol, hat dig-it-T-y, der dig" again in perfect southern drawl. Her face of course, this whole time still looking like it got stung by a scorpion and was drooping down to her neck.
So, now we know. The girl don't know why cowboys talk like that.
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
School!
Hello All,
Today is the first day of school for my 2nd and 5th graders. Yipee. One of them is super excited and the other "ready to learn", I think they both are super ready to have a routine. We all are.
I've had a nice break. Sick last Thursday, Friday thru Monday scheduled off. We didn't have one last hurrah! before school with the usual end of summer festivities. It was very nice.
So I'm writing to inform that I have finally made some decisions in the direction of my life. Who knew? 37 and still trying to figure it out. Which of course, has some splainin to do. -- I'm not happy with my job. Really, I know a ton of people aren't, and I should be glad I have one....I am glad. I am thankful for all the flexibility I have and that I am able to be open enough with my boss to tell her I am exhausted, tired and fed up and she still requires my services. For summer I cut back 10 hours to 30/week. It wasn't as nice as you would think. Well, the time off was, however, being on the ball about which days who was watching whose kids was more painful and then all the hemming and hawing about well, Di's not here today blah, blah blah from work.
So officially I have decided that working 30 hours/week and being home when the kids get on and off the bus is important to me. Also decided that being a full-time working mother is a backwards way to look at what I am trying to do here. I am a mom (don't forget wife) who works. Different. Eye-opening and awesome.
OK Goal 1: Be the best wife and mother: including making my family life (which of course includes cooking and cleaning but I'm not quite ready to say that yet) a priority. Remembering: Not a working mom but a mom who works.
Goal 2: Finish my Masters degree. But not the MBA I was going for, it has been a hard decision but one that is completely thought out. (Have you met me?) I'll go for Psychology, not Counseling but Psychology, what's the difference? Well, terminology for one. Counseling requires all kinds of licenses which require renewals and continuing education. And, not to mention, I don't want to be a counselor. (There's that.) Psychology on the other hand, gives you the opportunity to gain those licenses should you want to, but it also allows for a wide range of behavioral education. One I have always been interested in is Forensic Psychology. Why I didn't just stick to it -- hmm, the story just keeps getting longer and longer. But why I'm coming back to it -- indirectly you could say, is because it has always been there. Also, I know it is a long road and would rather spend my time being interested in these studies than the MBA which the few classes I have already taken has helped me job wise. Anyway, this is what I've got for today.
Goal 3: Keep my CEAP credential and continue to participate in EAPA. This has been a wavering thing for the last 3-5 years. Why? Who knows, indecisiveness is paralyzing. My boss and mentor has pushed this on me since the last person she pushed quit and left her high and dry. Of course I was getting something out of it. Continuous education, a basis of thinking that explains some of my values, a group of peers etc. And of course, the leadership skills I needed work on, particularly public speaking and decisions.
Goal 4: CISM training. Critical Incident Stress Management (or D for Debriefing). Time to take my future into my own hands. While my boss is willing to brainstorm with me on how to get there and different management consultations/presentations I can do to get there, I've finally stopped sitting on the sidelines and will push myself to make this happen. There are some very brilliant people in this field and I've made in-roads with some already. Can't wait to get started.
Hope some clarity comes to you as well. Real-life Solution: Make your future happen.
Today is the first day of school for my 2nd and 5th graders. Yipee. One of them is super excited and the other "ready to learn", I think they both are super ready to have a routine. We all are.
I've had a nice break. Sick last Thursday, Friday thru Monday scheduled off. We didn't have one last hurrah! before school with the usual end of summer festivities. It was very nice.
So I'm writing to inform that I have finally made some decisions in the direction of my life. Who knew? 37 and still trying to figure it out. Which of course, has some splainin to do. -- I'm not happy with my job. Really, I know a ton of people aren't, and I should be glad I have one....I am glad. I am thankful for all the flexibility I have and that I am able to be open enough with my boss to tell her I am exhausted, tired and fed up and she still requires my services. For summer I cut back 10 hours to 30/week. It wasn't as nice as you would think. Well, the time off was, however, being on the ball about which days who was watching whose kids was more painful and then all the hemming and hawing about well, Di's not here today blah, blah blah from work.
So officially I have decided that working 30 hours/week and being home when the kids get on and off the bus is important to me. Also decided that being a full-time working mother is a backwards way to look at what I am trying to do here. I am a mom (don't forget wife) who works. Different. Eye-opening and awesome.
OK Goal 1: Be the best wife and mother: including making my family life (which of course includes cooking and cleaning but I'm not quite ready to say that yet) a priority. Remembering: Not a working mom but a mom who works.
Goal 2: Finish my Masters degree. But not the MBA I was going for, it has been a hard decision but one that is completely thought out. (Have you met me?) I'll go for Psychology, not Counseling but Psychology, what's the difference? Well, terminology for one. Counseling requires all kinds of licenses which require renewals and continuing education. And, not to mention, I don't want to be a counselor. (There's that.) Psychology on the other hand, gives you the opportunity to gain those licenses should you want to, but it also allows for a wide range of behavioral education. One I have always been interested in is Forensic Psychology. Why I didn't just stick to it -- hmm, the story just keeps getting longer and longer. But why I'm coming back to it -- indirectly you could say, is because it has always been there. Also, I know it is a long road and would rather spend my time being interested in these studies than the MBA which the few classes I have already taken has helped me job wise. Anyway, this is what I've got for today.
Goal 3: Keep my CEAP credential and continue to participate in EAPA. This has been a wavering thing for the last 3-5 years. Why? Who knows, indecisiveness is paralyzing. My boss and mentor has pushed this on me since the last person she pushed quit and left her high and dry. Of course I was getting something out of it. Continuous education, a basis of thinking that explains some of my values, a group of peers etc. And of course, the leadership skills I needed work on, particularly public speaking and decisions.
Goal 4: CISM training. Critical Incident Stress Management (or D for Debriefing). Time to take my future into my own hands. While my boss is willing to brainstorm with me on how to get there and different management consultations/presentations I can do to get there, I've finally stopped sitting on the sidelines and will push myself to make this happen. There are some very brilliant people in this field and I've made in-roads with some already. Can't wait to get started.
Hope some clarity comes to you as well. Real-life Solution: Make your future happen.
Thursday, August 23, 2012
Blog Guff
Hello Again,
It has been a while again. Yes, I've gotten tons of grief about it. I think about blogging alot considering I have two funny kids and a husband. I just have to do it. This seems to be an over arching problem of procrastination (aka laziness) not only in the writing excerpts but in life in general. I woke up the other morning and looked at my 1/2 moved into 1/3 organized space that I call my bedside table. Kids crafts, make up or lotion or some such thing I probably should toss since I'm not even sure what it is, loose change, and earing or two (maybe they match, maybe they don't) chap stick, a pair of socks, one would think that the pile of stuff would get in the way or instigate some sort of chaous subconsiously. I don't know, I kinda don't even see it. Until that one morning. then I'm thinking hey, I wonder how this pile of crap effects the people around me. (note that I am not thinking soley about myself ...) Ok, so I start thinking about all the places and types of cool little earing holders and kid craft containers or displays or something, because of course your kids need to see that you love and cherrish the water color kite they gave you 8 months ago and don't even remember making at some craft time from some place where they weren't with you to begin with, cuz you are too busy to make paper water color crafts WITH them, ahh. I digress. Anyway, sticking them on the wall would be better (however, there must be some sort of "my space" unwritten rule or plan where unforgetable, forgetable things don't have to remain bedside for a terminal amount of time........ so, moving forward - display case (cuz now I'm feeling guilty) and whispy fancy jewelery holder thingy for earings and then put the socks AWAY, why is that so hard, and what else, oh chap stick, well, I use that all the time.. sigh. So, this has all happened in the 30 seconds of me waking up and seeing chaous on the side of the bed.
Obviously there are so many other things that need to be done, like say a comforter that actually fits the king size bed we are sleeping in (not that I don't like the way our blankets are set up he's hot, I'm cold 1/2 here, partial there, it works for us, but it isn't say....pretty), or say, new carpet and different siding...not siding, paneling, same thing to me and the bathroom really needs a cleaning and a shower installed would help too. Oh, hi kitty, you need more food? Ugh, ran out of toilet paper, just kidding, that rarely happens at my house, I value the toilet paper, it has got to be top 10 on the "important list".
Is there such a thing as inactivity because of stress, or being overwhelmed or is it just lazy? I know, don't be hard on myself. yeah, yeah.
BTW, haven't moved anything on my bed side table yet. Got too much to think about....
It has been a while again. Yes, I've gotten tons of grief about it. I think about blogging alot considering I have two funny kids and a husband. I just have to do it. This seems to be an over arching problem of procrastination (aka laziness) not only in the writing excerpts but in life in general. I woke up the other morning and looked at my 1/2 moved into 1/3 organized space that I call my bedside table. Kids crafts, make up or lotion or some such thing I probably should toss since I'm not even sure what it is, loose change, and earing or two (maybe they match, maybe they don't) chap stick, a pair of socks, one would think that the pile of stuff would get in the way or instigate some sort of chaous subconsiously. I don't know, I kinda don't even see it. Until that one morning. then I'm thinking hey, I wonder how this pile of crap effects the people around me. (note that I am not thinking soley about myself ...) Ok, so I start thinking about all the places and types of cool little earing holders and kid craft containers or displays or something, because of course your kids need to see that you love and cherrish the water color kite they gave you 8 months ago and don't even remember making at some craft time from some place where they weren't with you to begin with, cuz you are too busy to make paper water color crafts WITH them, ahh. I digress. Anyway, sticking them on the wall would be better (however, there must be some sort of "my space" unwritten rule or plan where unforgetable, forgetable things don't have to remain bedside for a terminal amount of time........ so, moving forward - display case (cuz now I'm feeling guilty) and whispy fancy jewelery holder thingy for earings and then put the socks AWAY, why is that so hard, and what else, oh chap stick, well, I use that all the time.. sigh. So, this has all happened in the 30 seconds of me waking up and seeing chaous on the side of the bed.
Obviously there are so many other things that need to be done, like say a comforter that actually fits the king size bed we are sleeping in (not that I don't like the way our blankets are set up he's hot, I'm cold 1/2 here, partial there, it works for us, but it isn't say....pretty), or say, new carpet and different siding...not siding, paneling, same thing to me and the bathroom really needs a cleaning and a shower installed would help too. Oh, hi kitty, you need more food? Ugh, ran out of toilet paper, just kidding, that rarely happens at my house, I value the toilet paper, it has got to be top 10 on the "important list".
Is there such a thing as inactivity because of stress, or being overwhelmed or is it just lazy? I know, don't be hard on myself. yeah, yeah.
BTW, haven't moved anything on my bed side table yet. Got too much to think about....
Friday, March 30, 2012
funny things
Haylee: "Moooommmmm, my sarcophagus hurts". I laugh and say "honey, a sarcophagus is like a tomb that mummies are in", she says "oh, well I guess if it was my sarcophagus, my throat wouldn't hurt cuz I'd be dead."
I'm telling the kids to get ready to go, come on, come on, lets go, no you have to wear shoes not sandals, because it is cold out, yes, 50 degrees is still cold, come on Logan, did you brush your teeth? Go brush your teeth. Haylee stop bossing your brother. Did you brush your teeth? Ok comb your hair, Haylee you have to wear a jacket or a sweatshirt, yes you do, yes you do, Haylee. Yes You Do. Logan, where are you buddy, are you ready to go? Logan, it isn't play time, don't you want to go with us? Come on, put your shoes on. I don't know, one under the table in the living room and look in your room.There's only one table in the living room, check there. Come on Logan! Logan, you came home with both shoes on right? Then they must both be here. Haylee, brush your hair, no you didn't, well it needs to be brushed again. Sorry about that but you can brush it or I can. Logan, SHOES. Haylee I see the hat, did you brush your hair? Well too bad, you have to brush your hair. Logan, look your shoe is right there. Put it on. Haylee stop bossing your brother, did you do what I asked you to do? Logan you can't wear the shirt out in public you wore to bed last night, change your shirt, put on a long sleeve or sweatshirt. Come on Logan. Maybe you don't want to go mini-golfing, do you want to stay home? Logan looks at me dazed and says exasperated, "where ARE we going?" I say, "we are going to play mini-golf like we decided we would do today". "Oh! I wanna go! I wanna go! Where's my sweatshirt?"
This is the price you pay having free thinkers.
I'm telling the kids to get ready to go, come on, come on, lets go, no you have to wear shoes not sandals, because it is cold out, yes, 50 degrees is still cold, come on Logan, did you brush your teeth? Go brush your teeth. Haylee stop bossing your brother. Did you brush your teeth? Ok comb your hair, Haylee you have to wear a jacket or a sweatshirt, yes you do, yes you do, Haylee. Yes You Do. Logan, where are you buddy, are you ready to go? Logan, it isn't play time, don't you want to go with us? Come on, put your shoes on. I don't know, one under the table in the living room and look in your room.There's only one table in the living room, check there. Come on Logan! Logan, you came home with both shoes on right? Then they must both be here. Haylee, brush your hair, no you didn't, well it needs to be brushed again. Sorry about that but you can brush it or I can. Logan, SHOES. Haylee I see the hat, did you brush your hair? Well too bad, you have to brush your hair. Logan, look your shoe is right there. Put it on. Haylee stop bossing your brother, did you do what I asked you to do? Logan you can't wear the shirt out in public you wore to bed last night, change your shirt, put on a long sleeve or sweatshirt. Come on Logan. Maybe you don't want to go mini-golfing, do you want to stay home? Logan looks at me dazed and says exasperated, "where ARE we going?" I say, "we are going to play mini-golf like we decided we would do today". "Oh! I wanna go! I wanna go! Where's my sweatshirt?"
This is the price you pay having free thinkers.
At long last
Hello All! It's been a while.
Where to start ~ the kids are goofy, work is crazy and my hubby got a new job! Yipee! I've been thinking for months about catching up and I finally have time to do it! So.... it is amazing how much time a workaholic. like myself, works. The funny part about me is that I think a lot for work. (So much so that I don't remember some words anymore!)
The part I like best about work is pulling all the pieces together to make them work, and by pieces I mean people and their job/tasks/opinions/feelings etc. What I do though is hear all the different perspectives and then decide what to do or how to do it. This is not most people's work style. Some want to be told what to do in specific terms and not variate from that routine. It is very hard for these people when I come along and want to know what they think.
Some people want to be completely left to their own devices except for when they don't, and since it is very hard to tell when people need something UNLESS THEY ASK these people tend to be the ones talking behind backs or covertly doing something to get your attention, like come in late, stay on the personal call a little too long ~ things that if you as a manager 'truly cared' about them would notice and speak up about. They are just pushing buttons. What I've learned is that the minute I get word that someone is off the norm you must go pay attention to them. At first they may be quiet and bitter (because you 'didn't care' last week or because their anger is eating them up, not to mention you didn't know last week there was a problem but enough about you and back to them) after they warm up they'll still be eying you distrustfully of course but if you are persistent they will eventually tell (or ask) what it was they should have asked a week ago.
Some of you may be thinking, yeah well, if they have attitude that's their problem. Well yes and no. Remember, a happy employee is a productive employee. :0)
I think I'll stop here. Not so much of my usual humor and yet, way too much whining. At least I got back on the blog. I can do that now since I'm now at 30 hours a week. I think I might become a little more sane every week that I can get time to clear my head. (Although less work means more kids, I'll enjoy that for uhh, a couple days.) Just kidding, I love those rotten brats.
Di
Where to start ~ the kids are goofy, work is crazy and my hubby got a new job! Yipee! I've been thinking for months about catching up and I finally have time to do it! So.... it is amazing how much time a workaholic. like myself, works. The funny part about me is that I think a lot for work. (So much so that I don't remember some words anymore!)
The part I like best about work is pulling all the pieces together to make them work, and by pieces I mean people and their job/tasks/opinions/feelings etc. What I do though is hear all the different perspectives and then decide what to do or how to do it. This is not most people's work style. Some want to be told what to do in specific terms and not variate from that routine. It is very hard for these people when I come along and want to know what they think.
Some people want to be completely left to their own devices except for when they don't, and since it is very hard to tell when people need something UNLESS THEY ASK these people tend to be the ones talking behind backs or covertly doing something to get your attention, like come in late, stay on the personal call a little too long ~ things that if you as a manager 'truly cared' about them would notice and speak up about. They are just pushing buttons. What I've learned is that the minute I get word that someone is off the norm you must go pay attention to them. At first they may be quiet and bitter (because you 'didn't care' last week or because their anger is eating them up, not to mention you didn't know last week there was a problem but enough about you and back to them) after they warm up they'll still be eying you distrustfully of course but if you are persistent they will eventually tell (or ask) what it was they should have asked a week ago.
Some of you may be thinking, yeah well, if they have attitude that's their problem. Well yes and no. Remember, a happy employee is a productive employee. :0)
I think I'll stop here. Not so much of my usual humor and yet, way too much whining. At least I got back on the blog. I can do that now since I'm now at 30 hours a week. I think I might become a little more sane every week that I can get time to clear my head. (Although less work means more kids, I'll enjoy that for uhh, a couple days.) Just kidding, I love those rotten brats.
Di
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