I am not an overly anxious mom. My kid is hanging from the monkey bars screaming and I will go over to assess the situation, but I usually at least try to talk him down on his own before activating a preschool boy rescue mission. "Dude, your feet are like 12 inches off the ground. Well, maybe 18. Just drop"- that is a pretty common park statement for me.
Quite frankly, I have too many boys too close together to always be the rescuer.
Sometimes, at least, they need to assist each other or do it on their own.
Today my sister and I loaded the boys up to drive 40 minutes to the "spiderman" park. It is a huge tangle of nets, webbing, slides and tunnels. And it is pretty awesome. Of course it is geared toward kids 5 and up and they provide a "preschool play area" as well. But honestly, what 2 or 3 year old is going to want to climb across the 3 foot bridge and down the 2 foot slide when they could instead be a couple hundred feet up clutching to spiderman webs. Maybe some, but not mine.
So Karla and I took turns going up with the little ones and protecting them.
Yes, we picked the day to go when there were no less than 4 elementary aged groups there as well. The blue shirts, the purple shirts, the orange shirts and the turquoise shirts.
Lincoln was able to climb almost everything, but I was a little afraid of him getting trampled or his head stomped on by some under-observant, over-zealous tag playing 10 year old. So I followed him up there. There were a couple staff members from the other groups up there at times, but no other moms.
It is a different world up in the webs with a gaggle of elementary/preschool aged kids.
For the most part the kids were actually really pretty respectful of each other and watched out for younger kids. But some were just obnoxious.
I ran into this punk 6 year old a couple of times. He would get onto the slide, put his feet on the slide in front of him, scooting an inch at a time. He would tell the people behind him in line (with a huge grin on his face) "I am slow and you need to wait until I am at the bottom and I tell you to go". And I said, "No, you need to go fast because there is a pile up on the web behind you of people waiting to get on this slide and no one is going to wait for you to inch down." Why did I say that? because I am the crabby playground mom, that's why.
Or the elementary aged girls sitting in a tube who didn't want to get out when we came along and told Deacon, Roman and I to "just crawl over us". And I said, "No. You are going to get out. I am not going to crawl over you and my boys should not have to crawl over some 11 year old girl either." Why? Because I am the crabby playground mom.
And I am ok with that.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Monday, July 13, 2009
Controversial Monday: Tom Sawyering It
When we moved to Indiana, the first person we met was an interesting and delightful woman named Brenda.
She was also the queen of parties.
(work) parties, that is. That would be emphasis on the party with a silent work included.
Brenda wanted all the dead bugs in her scary basement removed?
She would host a "Survivor Premeier" party. Watching Survivor together complete with challenges during the commercials. Challenges like how many dead bugs can your team scoop up in 3 minutes.
Brenda wanted her piano that no longer worked broken into manageable pieces?
Introducing "Piano smashing Party" - complete with ebony and ivory deserts and a sledge hammer.
We do not have her creativity, perhaps, but we are learning her tactics.
A few years ago we got a few energetic college kids to rake our whole yard after telling them "we'd love to play Settlers, but the yard has to be raked first". I think we also gave them food.
So tonight we called some friends to help us move all the decking materials into the back yard. We offered icecream and a chance to use a (caulk) gun. Emphasis on the gun with a silent caulk included.
And they came.
And we got it done.
(thanks, guys! I also love them because they read my blog)
Are you for creating (work) parties? or against them?
What is the most horrendous job you convinced your friends to help you with?
She was also the queen of parties.
(work) parties, that is. That would be emphasis on the party with a silent work included.
Brenda wanted all the dead bugs in her scary basement removed?
She would host a "Survivor Premeier" party. Watching Survivor together complete with challenges during the commercials. Challenges like how many dead bugs can your team scoop up in 3 minutes.
Brenda wanted her piano that no longer worked broken into manageable pieces?
Introducing "Piano smashing Party" - complete with ebony and ivory deserts and a sledge hammer.
We do not have her creativity, perhaps, but we are learning her tactics.
A few years ago we got a few energetic college kids to rake our whole yard after telling them "we'd love to play Settlers, but the yard has to be raked first". I think we also gave them food.
So tonight we called some friends to help us move all the decking materials into the back yard. We offered icecream and a chance to use a (caulk) gun. Emphasis on the gun with a silent caulk included.
And they came.
And we got it done.
(thanks, guys! I also love them because they read my blog)
Are you for creating (work) parties? or against them?
What is the most horrendous job you convinced your friends to help you with?
Friday, July 10, 2009
A Little Friday Rant
I signed Deacon up for YMCA soccer class this summer.
1 hour on Thursday evenings for 7 weeks.
We wanted to avoid the U5 soccer club because we were not interested in 1 practice and 2 games a week for a 5 year old.
Last night was week 3.
He loves the class, likes his coach.
All good, right?
Wrong.
I can barely stand to watch.
There are 2 kids in his class (their families know each other) that are so out of control, it is appalling.
The first week they pretended to be airplanes during drills
Knocked over the goals during the game.
Paid no attention to instructions at all.
And simply did their own thing during the entire hour.
Very little intervention from the parents.
The second week one of them was gone, and it wasn't quite as bad.
But last night.
Terrible.
The poor coach is trying to coach 12-14 5 year olds in soccer and is having to deal with these two.
The parents tried to intervene, but obviously had no control at all.
I was really irritated.
All the other kids are doing their drills and trying to play soccer.
And having to deal with 2 tornados causing havoc.
And at the end their mothers told them, "you guys are doing much better, you just need to keep listening".
WHAT? Much better. Not so much.
No, don't get me wrong. I have children that have their own problems and strange, disruptive behaviors.
But I hope that if it ever comes to that, I would have the guts as a parent to pick my kid up, put them in the car and take them home. And maybe try again next week.
1 hour on Thursday evenings for 7 weeks.
We wanted to avoid the U5 soccer club because we were not interested in 1 practice and 2 games a week for a 5 year old.
Last night was week 3.
He loves the class, likes his coach.
All good, right?
Wrong.
I can barely stand to watch.
There are 2 kids in his class (their families know each other) that are so out of control, it is appalling.
The first week they pretended to be airplanes during drills
Knocked over the goals during the game.
Paid no attention to instructions at all.
And simply did their own thing during the entire hour.
Very little intervention from the parents.
The second week one of them was gone, and it wasn't quite as bad.
But last night.
Terrible.
The poor coach is trying to coach 12-14 5 year olds in soccer and is having to deal with these two.
The parents tried to intervene, but obviously had no control at all.
I was really irritated.
All the other kids are doing their drills and trying to play soccer.
And having to deal with 2 tornados causing havoc.
And at the end their mothers told them, "you guys are doing much better, you just need to keep listening".
WHAT? Much better. Not so much.
No, don't get me wrong. I have children that have their own problems and strange, disruptive behaviors.
But I hope that if it ever comes to that, I would have the guts as a parent to pick my kid up, put them in the car and take them home. And maybe try again next week.
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Do you ever get tired?
Do you ever get tired...
of calling your husband at work to ask him if he knows where the brontosaurous who has transformed into a Hamster Wonder Pet has gone?
Do you love him a little more...
when he does have a clue that leads you to the recovery of "Lenny"?
Do you ever get tired...
of having multiple projects in process but not one of them actually finished?
Do you love him a little more...
when you come home to find a new lock on the dooor?
Do you ever get tired...
of brushing 3 sets of teeth?
Do you love him a little more...
when he offers to do all 3 instead of just 1.5?
Do you ever get tired...
of him going to bed first when you are still working
Do you love him a little more...
when you go upstairs to find him still awake and reading his Bible?
Do you ever get tired...
of kids climbing all over you?
Do you love him a litle more...
when he invites them all to climb on him instead?
Trying to be a little less tired,
and love a little bit more.
of calling your husband at work to ask him if he knows where the brontosaurous who has transformed into a Hamster Wonder Pet has gone?
Do you love him a little more...
when he does have a clue that leads you to the recovery of "Lenny"?
Do you ever get tired...
of having multiple projects in process but not one of them actually finished?
Do you love him a little more...
when you come home to find a new lock on the dooor?
Do you ever get tired...
of brushing 3 sets of teeth?
Do you love him a little more...
when he offers to do all 3 instead of just 1.5?
Do you ever get tired...
of him going to bed first when you are still working
Do you love him a little more...
when you go upstairs to find him still awake and reading his Bible?
Do you ever get tired...
of kids climbing all over you?
Do you love him a litle more...
when he invites them all to climb on him instead?
Trying to be a little less tired,
and love a little bit more.
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
My Home Depot Peeps
*When we first moved into our house we spent every Friday night at Home Depot.
Looking at paint samples.
Buying yet another brush.
And still another mailbox.
New locks for the doors.
Flooring.
*Last fall we spent Saturday mornings there, this time loaded down with 3 kids.
Looking at outlet covers for our new room.
Hauling cabinets and cupboards for the laundry room.
Getting electrical advice.
More paint.
*this spring we were back again
trying unsucessfully to find countertops
even more unsucessfully to find new bathroom cabinets
and only partially successfully to find a new mirror
and more paint
*Once again we are back on an every other day basis
Kurt and Matt (the service desk guys) know Noah by name and are very familiar with our current projects
We have spent more time with Paul, Mark and Tim (the decking guys) this month than with most of our friends
Doug from tool rental officially thinks I am crazy and my husband must be one lazy dude to sent me to pick up the power auger by myself
Oh, and Pat (I think that is his name) challenged me to bring back the rigid shovel if I managed to break it, but cautioned me that it was not to be used as a "lever". What else is one supposed to use as a lever?
Maybe in August we will see the inside of a movie theater instead of The Depot.
But I doubt it.
Looking at paint samples.
Buying yet another brush.
And still another mailbox.
New locks for the doors.
Flooring.
*Last fall we spent Saturday mornings there, this time loaded down with 3 kids.
Looking at outlet covers for our new room.
Hauling cabinets and cupboards for the laundry room.
Getting electrical advice.
More paint.
*this spring we were back again
trying unsucessfully to find countertops
even more unsucessfully to find new bathroom cabinets
and only partially successfully to find a new mirror
and more paint
*Once again we are back on an every other day basis
Kurt and Matt (the service desk guys) know Noah by name and are very familiar with our current projects
We have spent more time with Paul, Mark and Tim (the decking guys) this month than with most of our friends
Doug from tool rental officially thinks I am crazy and my husband must be one lazy dude to sent me to pick up the power auger by myself
Oh, and Pat (I think that is his name) challenged me to bring back the rigid shovel if I managed to break it, but cautioned me that it was not to be used as a "lever". What else is one supposed to use as a lever?
Maybe in August we will see the inside of a movie theater instead of The Depot.
But I doubt it.
Monday, July 6, 2009
Controversial Monday: Potlucks and Picnics
I don't like it when I have to bring a food item somewhere. Basically, I don't like to cook and I am not good at advance prep.
At our house the night before the potluck:
9pm
J- are we going to the potluck tomorrow?
N- I don't know. Maybe we should. Maybe not. Potlucks are so sketchy (Noah doesn't like "mixed together" food. He likes his steak. His mushrooms. His onions. His potato. All separate and all from the grill.
J- well, if we went then we wouldn't have to cook tomorrow.
N- no, we would just have to keep the kids from dumping lemonade on each other's heads.
J- remind me to bring L a sippy cup
J- What should I make?
N- don't know. Do we have anything?
conversation ends.
11pm
J- I suppose I should throw something together for the potluck. Do you think anyone would eat orange/lime/blue rasberry jello mixed together with...um...maybe some canned apricots cut in? Oooo...score! I have a brownie mix....but no eggs...
I guess we could just pick up some chips and potato salad.
N- if we are going to do that, we may as well just pick up some steaks and eat at home.
My potluck philosophy is that I bring whatever I have that I can throw together quickly. And yes, I wouldn't advise you to attend potlucks with me.
My mom likes to bring things that my dad doesn't like but she does.
Some people always bring the same thing.
Others like to test out new recipes.
What is your potluck standard? Do you always bring the same thing? Do you even go? Or are you the awesome one who brings the fried chicken from the deli?
At our house the night before the potluck:
9pm
J- are we going to the potluck tomorrow?
N- I don't know. Maybe we should. Maybe not. Potlucks are so sketchy (Noah doesn't like "mixed together" food. He likes his steak. His mushrooms. His onions. His potato. All separate and all from the grill.
J- well, if we went then we wouldn't have to cook tomorrow.
N- no, we would just have to keep the kids from dumping lemonade on each other's heads.
J- remind me to bring L a sippy cup
J- What should I make?
N- don't know. Do we have anything?
conversation ends.
11pm
J- I suppose I should throw something together for the potluck. Do you think anyone would eat orange/lime/blue rasberry jello mixed together with...um...maybe some canned apricots cut in? Oooo...score! I have a brownie mix....but no eggs...
I guess we could just pick up some chips and potato salad.
N- if we are going to do that, we may as well just pick up some steaks and eat at home.
My potluck philosophy is that I bring whatever I have that I can throw together quickly. And yes, I wouldn't advise you to attend potlucks with me.
My mom likes to bring things that my dad doesn't like but she does.
Some people always bring the same thing.
Others like to test out new recipes.
What is your potluck standard? Do you always bring the same thing? Do you even go? Or are you the awesome one who brings the fried chicken from the deli?
Thursday, July 2, 2009
I'm back
No internet and phone or 24 hours stinks.
What we do have:
6- 4 foot holes in the backyard
A half removed ledger board
6 railroad ties that need a home
a frayed comcast line
lots of stories about:
good neighbors
power augers
Doug at Home Depot
Strawberry picking
oh, and how all this is affecting our marriage
What we do have:
6- 4 foot holes in the backyard
A half removed ledger board
6 railroad ties that need a home
a frayed comcast line
lots of stories about:
good neighbors
power augers
Doug at Home Depot
Strawberry picking
oh, and how all this is affecting our marriage
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