First Day

Today was a day of firsts.

This morning, my big girl put on her backpack and we excitedly walked to Emmett's school, where she gleefully skipped up the stairs of the school bus and drove off to French Immersion Kindergarten in a very independant way.  The bus driver was very kind and made sure he knew which school to take her to.  (I found out later his name is Steve)  Of course, I fretted all the way home from the bus stop that she would get lost on her way to class.  When I picked her up at lunch she was quick to tell me Steve told her where to get off the bus and then she found her class all by herself. 

After getting my two big kids off to school, I packed up Matthew and he went to his very first dance class.  He was nervous at first and I had to inch my way slowly to the door when he wasn't looking.  After a while, he got comfortable.

Halfway through the class, he decided he was going to have fun after all.  I guess the ears are not really connected to the feet yet.....

I am hoping after a few classes he will get used to the routine and he will learn to settle down and listen. If not, it is going to be a very interesting year!

Oh, and for those of you concerned, my finger is on the mend, and hurting less and less every day.  Today I changed my dressing all by myself.  I guess I had a first too.

Bad day.

I have had an infected cuticle for about a week.  It didn't get better with salt water soaks and frequent dressing changes.  I went to the doctor to get some antibiotics.

I got the prescription.  Oh, and he ripped my nail off.  Despite him filling my finger with lidocaine I fainted from the pain. 

I am still  in a lot of pain.  I count down until my next dose of acetaminophen with codiene.

I will write more when I feel better.  This pain is exhausting, not to mention I have severe mobility limitations on my right hand due to the giant dressing I am sporting right now.

I am very grateful to my Grandma and my friend Jen for coming by today to help me out.  A mom usually doesn't get to call in sick.

My weekend in pictures.

Matthew turned three this past weekend.  We celebrated by taking him (and his siblings) to the zoo in the Big City.
Matthew's favourite animals were the squirrels.

Emmett and Charlotte are wearing spiffy new clothes because I left their suitcases at home.  Oops!

My favourite animal at the zoo--a Mama Lemur grooming her babies.

The best part of the day for Matthew was getting to ride this train.  A real, coal-powered steam train!

Of course he had to have an engineer's cap.  This boy will not wear a hat, but he puts this one on every day.

After the zoo, Matthew relaxed with a little video gaming.

Happy Birthday, Big Guy!

Of course, all good things must come to an end.  Today was Emmett's first day of Grade 2.

I believe in Karma.

I got a big dose of Karmic Payback today.

Want to hear a story?  Pour yourself a coffee (or tea or wine...) and get comfy.

It has been well-established that my girl has a slightly stubborn streak.  We also know that my girl thinks she should be able to do many more things than her age and society say are OK for her to do.

Tomorrow is Matthew's birthday.  I packed up Emmett and Charlotte and took them to the store down the street so they could pick out gifts for their little brother.  On the way home we passed Richard pushing Matthew in the stroller.  I found out later that Matthew wanted to see where we went so it made his night when I tooted the car horn at him.

We pulled into the driveway a few minutes before Richard got home.  Charlotte asked if she could sit outside and wait for Daddy to come home.  I said yes.  She put her little deck chair on the sidewalk and sat down to wait.  After a short while she popped her head in the door and asked if she could walk down to the corner to see if she could spot the guys.  I said yes.  She promised she wouldn't go very far.  (cue ominous music)  Richard got home.  Charlotte was not with him.

Where was Charlotte?

We started a search.  She was not in the house.  She was not in the yard.  Richard did not see her on his walk home.

Where was Charlotte?

I start heading down the street, calling her name.  Suddenly I see her skipping down the sidewalk with a little girl, her dad and their two dogs.

I freak out as she explains to me that she couldn't find Daddy so she decided to go to the park.  (The playground at Emmett's school, 1/2 Km away from our house.) She assured me the little girl she was with was taking care of her.

I grow several more grey hairs.  After dealing out punishment I call my mom.

My mom tells me a story about her own little girl.  A little girl who, at two years of age, decided she needed to go visit her Daddy at work.  This little girl, two years old, left her house and walked down a highway to visit her Daddy at the car shop where he worked.

Karma is a bitch, isn't it?

I can smell a lie like a fart in a car.

Overheard in my laundry room, about 20 minutes ago.....

Charlotte:  Mom, I just finished my supper.  Can I have ice cream now?  I didn't give any of it to Lucy.  None of it.

Me: (Barely looking up while shoving towels in the washing machine)  What did you give to Lucy?

Charlotte:  Pause with shifty gaze Nothing.


Me:  What did you give Lucy?

Charlotte:  My bread


Sigh.

Vintage Style

I have a thing for aprons.  I admire the vintage-style ones with neat little details.  They are much more fun to wear than modern, more utilitarian (ahem, rectangular) canvas ones.

I bought this one from Etsy a while back.  I love it and wear it quite often.

Of course, one apron is never enough and when I found a lovely pattern at  Tip Nut from 1945,  I ran to my box of fabric and found just the right thing:

The gingham check with daisies feels so old-fashioned and the red trim adds just the right touch.  That being said, I don't want to see red bias tape again for quite a long time!
The pattern was challenging since I had to draw out my own pattern pieces on newspaper before cutting everything out.  I actually used a serving platter and a saucer to get the curves right on the bodice!  The directions were also a bit confusing, so I used them as a general guideline only and did my own thing when assembling.  (Thank you, 4-H sewing teacher!!)  As you can see from the close-up picture I cut out my pocket on the bias, so that I wouldn't have to match up the tiny checks on the pattern.  I left the red trim off of the bottom of the apron as well.

The apron covers me up so I can be as messy as I want in the kitchen and the strap in the back keeps it from falling off of my shoulders.  The daisies make me smile.

From cutting to assembly, it took up a single Saturday afternoon.  Should I try this one next??

http://tipnut.com/polka-dot-utility-apron/

Is the Pendulum Swinging Back?

I am embarking on a new volunteer job that requires a criminal records check.     I was pretty sure I didn't want Matthew to be able to run around the police station while I was doing my business there so I hooked him up to his harness while in the parking lot.  As I stood in an office, waiting for the officer to process my paperwork she glanced up at Matthew and asked me if I ever got rude remarks about having him "on a leash".  I told her I didn't really, and more than once I have been asked where I bought it.

It seems that when this officer had children many years ago she was told by a couple of old biddies that she was being mean by having her child on a harness.  She went on to explain that she ran out to buy one after her child narrowly missed being run over by a car on a busy street.

Fast forward about half an hour.  We are now at the library and since we had to cross a busy and dimly lit parking garage, I put Matthew's harness back on--he was not in the mood to walk nicely with me and hold hands.  Once we got inside another woman glanced down at me and asked me yet again if I have ever been accused of being mean for having my boy on a leash.  She also used one on her little ones (now my age) and had to suffer negative comments from rude strangers.

I don't use the harness all the time--I do like my boy to be able to run free when it is appropriate, but in crowded places like the mall or when we went to the fair this spring, I am so very thankful I made the investment.  To me, letting Matthew have the chance to walk around and get tired out is much better for him than being tied up in a stroller all the time.  It is also a lot easier to pack a little harness in my purse than it is to lug our stroller around.

Are harnesses one of those things that fell out of fashion, but are back in style again?  Can I be hopeful and think that people are becoming more accepting of choices parents make now?  Maybe I give off a "mind your own beeswax" attitude that discourages rude comments.  (Oh wait.  Strangers save those for me and my body--they leave my kids out of it)

I can't explain it, but I will definitely take words of encouragement whenever they are given.

Sad.

Why do I do this to myself?

I just finished reading The Road by Cormac McCarthy. 
For those of you unfamiliar, it is not at all a happy story.  It is set in a scorched, post apocalyptic world and centers around two characters:  A man and his young boy who are clinging to survival in a dead world.  I could not put this thing down.  Every page was sad.  Every chapter full of despair and hopelessness.  I finished it in two days.  I had to see who was going to make it out alive.  My life is no better having read this book.  I am quite sad and depressed.  I feel mentally exhausted.  I look at my children and wonder What If.  I feel a pang of guilt when I turn on the faucet and clean cold (or hot) water comes out.  I am deeply saddened when throwing out things the characters would be so very happy to even have a scrap of.

I know that these things are what make this book so well written.   I felt everything the characters felt.  I became very emotionally invested in them.  The scenes in the book were laid out beautifully and clearly.  Did I mention this book won a Pulitzer? 

This has happened before.  Angela's Ashes and We Were the Mulvaneys also left me feeling empty and sad inside.  You would think I I would have learned my lesson.  As I was devouring The Road last night Richard told me over and over to stop reading it and walk away.   He knew how it would make me feel.

I doubt I will ever learn my lesson, but I do need something more uplifting to tide me over until the next installment in my beloved Pendragon series comes out in paperback.

Does anyone have any suggestions?

Everyone's a critic.

I snagged a copy of the soundtrack to the movie Swingers while at the secondhand store this morning.  I listened it while putting away groceries and making lunch when we got home.  This particular song came on and of course I had to start dancing.

Charlotte then shot me a dirty look and said dryly:  "Mom.  Stop.  I don't like your dancing."

Sheesh!  Can't a girl have a little fun while doing chores?????

If you click on the link I dare you to sit still!!!

Good Hair Day.

I was bored yesterday so I spent the morning colouring over my blonde highlights with some Manic Panic.  (Deadly Nightshade, if you are curious) Richard took a couple of pictures so I could update my Facebook page.

I love this shot.  The only thing missing is Emmett, but as those of you with more than two kids know, it is SO hard to get three kids smiling for one shot, so we take what we can get!

If only I could look that cute on my driver's license!

Don't worry, I'll be back to writing stories soon....I am still in shock from back to school shopping at the moment.

We have some Winners!!!

Today is the day I give away the prize from my Playhouse Disney Draw.  Random Dot Org chose rocyn!  Congratulations.  Watch out for my email so I can get your prize to you.

I also have a winner for my trivia contest.
Remember this picture?

Well, as soon as I saw it, I thought of the Bremen Town Musicians.  Ashlee Rose thought so too.  I will get your book out to you very soon.

Congratulations to the winners!

Click to find out what is cooking at my food blog today.

Here is a little hint.

Blue Steele*

This car is very special to Richard.  He has had it many years.  10 years ago he paid a body shop $800 to have it repainted.  This paintjob was starting to show a lot of wear and tear, but Richard didn't want to drop another grand on a new paintjob for this old car.  He took matters into his own hands.  He did some research and found out that you can paint a car by yourself for around $50.  Off to Home Depot we went. Why did I go?  I was the colour consultant.  So, over the course of three days Richard sanded, taped, primed, painted, sanded and then painted some more.

He is finally finished. It looks great. 

Look, kids! This is a cassette player.** It plays music on a special magnetized tape that rolls from reel to reel in that black plastic case. Mommy and Daddy have had to change their music formats FOUR times in their lives. Hey, just for fun, ask Grandma and Grandpa about 8-Tracks!

Just to the left of the cassette deck is the dash mounted bottle opener. Klassy.  They sure don't make cars like they used to!!

We hope Matthew isn't too traumatized by the change.  As I have mentioned before, Matthew loves this car.




*Do you like how I so deftly snuck that Zoolander reference in?

**The tape in the deck is the B52's Cosmic Thing. I don't know why I still have it. If you suddenly have Love Shack stuck in your head, you are around my age.

Makeover Time!

Today is the last day of vacation for us.  We head into the Big City to pick up our little people tomorrow.  In the meantime, I finished touching up the paint in Matthew's room today and put everything back in.  Want to see the before and after shots??  Of course you do!!

Before:  There was an ugly and unsafe blind, peeling wallpaper border and too-small crib.

After: Fresh paint, new curtains (Sewed by me!  Thank you 4-H sewing teacher!), new bed, and some fun wall decals.

I didn't think I was going to repaint after removing the (blasted, stubborn, hateful) wallpaper border, so the bedding and curtains were decided before I realized the border had been there long enough to damage the paint underneath it.  We actually had the paint custom-tinted to match what was there before.  This meant only one coat was required to spruce everything up.  I can't believe the difference curtains over that old dusty blind made to the overall look of the room.  I am very happy with the results and hope Matthew isn't too shocked to see his crib gone. Ok, so technically, a mattress on the floor does not constitute a bed.  We find that transitioning from a crib to a mattress on the floor is much easier than going from a crib to a bed that is off the floor.

Selling the crib is a milestone for us.  It means there will be no more babies in our house.  I am on to a new phase of parenting now.  I am entering uncharted waters. I now have Kids in my house!

This is just a gratuitous shot of a great piece of art Richard's Aunt gave us.  It decorated her boy's rooms as babies and I just love it.  Do you know what story these characters are from??  I am going to make you guess!  It reminds me of a  favourite story from my own childhood.  In fact, let's make this interesting.  The first person to guess correctly will win a copy of the book.  (This is also a reward for reading this far!)

Oh, I wasn't the only one redecorating on our vacation.  Richard undertook a project of his own, in between helping me with mine.  Once he takes his after shots, I will share.  What he accomplished is very impressive!

Geeking Out

I am sorry I haven't posted here lately.  The main topics of this blog are off on adventures with their Grandparents and Aunties and Uncle.

My life has slowed down these past two weeks.  Sitting around, catching up on reading and movies and TV do not make interesting blog posts.  OK, I will tell you that if you haven't seen Inception, do.  It is incredible.  It will leave you thinking for days afterward.

Cooking grown up food is fun, and maybe I will write about  that on my food blog.  Do want to know what I cook when I don't have to take into consideration the likes and dislikes of three little critics?

I am making over Matthew's room into a Big Boy room.  When the transformation is complete, I will share the story with you.

So, where does Geeking Out come into play?  Yesterday Richard and I packed our overnight bags and headed into the Big City for a concert.

Who did we see?

Why Weird Al, of course!!!!

I knew this wouldn't be your typical concert from the moment I spotted the people waiting in line for t-shirts.  This could have easily been a gaming convention.  Nerds to the left of me, Dorks to the right, a Geek wearing a t-shirt showing a dejected Pluto in the solar system that rejected it next to me.(oh wait, he came with me, and I bought that t-shirt)  We were among our People.


 There were many moments of happy geekiness throughout the show.  The crowd went crazy when he played Canadian Idiot (he politely asked if we knew the definition of irony before starting the song).  Everyone sang along to the encore of The Saga Begins and Yoda.  (yes, we all knew all the words to those songs...are you going to beat us up and steal our lunch money now??)

Oh, and one of the great benefits of going to a Geeky concert is that no one really gets drunk and disorderly. (Unlike the Elton John show where Richard was repeatedly elbowed by a very drunk woman sitting next to him) and after the show we were able to have drinks in a largely empty bar at the venue since so many people had children with them!  

It was such a great evening for us.  So far, vacation time is treating us very well!

Public Service Announcement

As you all know, I was at summer camp last week.  I had dinner at the Director's house one evening after a particularly busy afternoon patching up campers.  We had a great discussion about what we wish parents knew before sending their kids off to sleep away camp.   Since blogging is more fun than putting my suitcase away, I thought I would share some of what we talked about

• Please, be honest on the health forms.  Staff don't ask questions to judge your child, they want to be able to provide the best camp experience possible.  I had an incident where a camper fainted in the heat.  We got her rehydrated and cooled off and she was fine later.  The next day the camper fainted again.  This incident was different than the first one--I could tell the camper was faking.  I called home and found out that this person will pretend to be sick to get attention or to get out of doing stuff (like going on a hike)  This is important to know!  Put it on the forms!  If you have a bedwetter or a sleep walker, if the camp staff knows ahead of time, they can be placed with the more experienced councilors who will be better equipped to handle the situation while preserving your child's dignity.
• If you send medication with the child, label it please.  I was given a pill box with random medications in it and neither the camper nor the mother could tell me which pill was which or what dose they were. They were important medications for her to take and thankfully I was able to look them up, but this is a risky thing to do.  If you can't send meds in the original packaging, WRITE EVERYTHING DOWN please.
• When you are packing your child for camp, get them to help.  At the very least, make sure they watch what you are putting in their bags.  The Director and I were talking about the shocking amount of really expensive clothing in the lost and found box that goes unclaimed.  It dawned on us that most of the campers probably have no idea what is theirs and what isn't since they they didn't see it go into  the suitcase.  This is especially true for boys, who will sometimes live in the same two or three smelly t-shirts for the whole week of camp.  I have seen an entire cabin's worth of clothing in one giant pile during cabin inspection Writing some initials on tags with a Sharpie or investing in some labels couldn't hurt either.
• Consider cutting your child's ADD medication dose.  I know this is a touchy subject and I have no personal experience with ADD, but I have seen kids go off of their meds for camp and do just fine.  I had kid last year who was on a sliding dose and asked me for exactly what he needed every morning at breakfast (he always chose the half dose and did great). This year I watched a child plead with his mom during my registration interview.  He wanted his dose cut but she wouldn't even consider it.  It was very hard to watch this.  I know it is hard to quit those drugs cold turkey, but kids are running around so much at camp, that they often don't have the same problems with focusing and paying attention that they do at school since they get so tired out the old fashioned way. 

Do I have any former camp councilors reading this?  Did I miss anything?

I'm home.

Today while the blossoms still cling to the vine

I'll taste your strawberries, I'll drink your sweet wine

A million tomorrows shall all pass away

Err I forget

All the joy that is mine

Today

Who pushed the fast-forward button?

This was sitting in my drafts folder--it was supposed to be published in the first week of July, but I couldn't figure out how to finish it.  I think the information is still pertinent. --Jen

I have had a quiet week this week.  Emmett and Charlotte were both at day camp.  After the initial rush of lunch packing and drop offs in the morning, Matthew and I had the day to ourselves. He loved the one-on-one time we had. 

It is weeks like this that make me realize how much everyone is growing.  My baby Charlotte disappeared with her bag lunch for the whole day and didn't miss me.  Emmett went to Mini University and did just fine without a helper to facilitate communication.  Next year Emmett will be old enough to come to the camp where I work and be in a cabin with the other campers.

I am trying so hard to keep Matthew from catching up, but my efforts are fruitless.  He is developing a real mind of his own!  He has grown physically so much we need to retire the crib this summer.  Cognitively, his personality is really starting to shine through and he is wanting more and more autonomy with decision-making.

He is the last baby I will ever have to potty-train.  This makes me unbelievably happy. 

Every time I get wistful for the smell of a newborn and feel that little baby itch come on I just remind myself that any new baby I have will need to be potty trained.  That shuts my ovaries right up!

So, who pushed the fast forward button?  Where have my babies gone??

Hello from the Woods

These past few days have kept me busy with campers and Matthew.  Today Emmett and Charlotte came for the day, and now everyone has been loaded into Grandma and Grandpa's car and are on their way for a brief stopover in The Big City before their big adventure in a cabin Way Up North.

Today is Pirate Day at camp.  It rocked Emmett's world!!!  He and Charlotte are well versed in Pirates.  We read lots of pirate story books and have a couple of pirate movies on heavy rotation at home.( The Pirate Movieand Pirates Who Don't Do Anything: A Veggie Tales Movie (Widescreen), Pirates Don't Change Diapers and Pirate Pete)

Everyone was sad to see Matthew go.  He was the camp mascot for the past few days and he and the Programmer are bestest best buds--they were last year too.

Now, the Thomas Trains have been packed up, Matthew's bed stripped, and the knitting is out of it's bag.  It's time for me to switch gears.  I'll probably go to campfire tonight and see if I can still remember the old songs.

Digging for treasure in the volleyball court

On the steps of my cabin

Seconds after this picture was taken Matthew took two more steps and filled his boots.

Yesterday morning Matthew walked into my room, handed me my glasses, and then handed me my camera.

Contest Time!

I am participating in the Playhouse Disney Program by Mom Central.  I received a Playhouse Disney Prize pack and a thank you gift card to facilitate this post.  The opinions on this blog are my own.


I am the first to admit my kids probably watch more TV than they should.  That being said, I am quite picky about what I do allow them to watch.

My kids really enjoy the shows on Playhouse Disney.  I feel comfortable letting them watch as the shows are fun, often educational, and the characters are very entertaining  without teaching  my kids inappropriate behaviour.  (I find a lot of shows fun for kids, but they come back after watching saying all sorts of awful things or doing terrible things to each other.)

Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, My Friends Tigger and Pooh, and Handy Manny are very popular with almost-3 year old Matthew.  I often catch my seven year old watching with him!  Mickey Mouse Clubhouse helped teach my Matthew his colours and some basic counting skills.  Charlotte loves Little Einsteins.  One day after watching I caught her running through the house.  She said "Mommy!  I'm going Allegro!"   I think I like Bear in the Big Blue House more than anyone does.

Mickey and I go way back!  I am wearing a Mickey Mouse watch I received for my 13th birthday right now (let's not mention how long ago that was, OK?)  I marched in a parade in Disney Land while in High School with Mickey and Minnie on a float behind my band.

I am so happy I can share my favourite characters with my kids today and meet some new friends too.

If you would like a chance to win a prize package furnished by Playhouse Disney, leave me a comment telling me your child's favourite Playhouse Disney show.

The prize consists of a DVD with five different episodes of Playhouse Disney shows (perfect for a rainy day or a long road trip) as well as a few extra surprises.

You must be resident of Canada to enter, and the draw will take place on August 18th

Good Luck!

For more chances to win, visit the Playhouse Disney Facebook page, where other blogs featuring this giveaway will be listed.  You can only win one prize, though.

You might be a camp nurse.....

.....if you are asked to help a counselor remember the words to a campfire song he has to lead in a few minutes while tending to his injury.

(Hey!  I have wireless!  I am blogging at camp!)

What are you reading?

I'm at camp, and since I kind of have to wait for trouble to find me, I find I have lots of time to read when I am not chasing Matthew around the volleyball court.

This is what's in my bag:

Buffy The Vampire Slayer 1
Yep.  A Vampire book.  I didn't say I was ant-vampire, just anti-Twilight!
Buffy and I are old friends and this book seems like the perfect book to sit on the deck with.

Runner's World Complete Book of Running.
I borrowed this from the library, but will probably end up buying a copy.  I figured that since I just signed up for my second race and am contemplating a 10K and a half-marathon next year, I should probably do some formal research!

Edgar Sawtelle
My mom loaned me this book.  It is a bit heavier than my other two selections, but I can't let my brain turn totally to mush, right?

Jamie's Italy
Another Library book.  I love reading big gorgeous cookbooks full of pictures that transport you away.  This book will fit the bill nicely.  It will probably come home from the lake full of bookmarks showing recipes I will want to try when I get home!

What's in your beach bag or on the table beside your deck chair??

I'm on vacation!

It's time for me to pack my bags and head up to my Happy Place.

I love summer camp.  I loved it as a child, and I love it as an adult.

As you are reading this I am somewhere between my Mom's house and Camp, the land of spotty internet availability.

This isn't the only post I have prepared for you.

Stay tuned!

2/3 of my guys.

Aren't they cute?  Matthew loves this car as much as his Dad does.

Twilight, you have officially gone too far.

Yeah, yeah, I know everyone is entitled to their own opinion.  Well, guess what.  You are in MY world so you get MY opinion!

I am not a fan of Twilight.  Have I mentioned that before???  (My real-life friends are rolling their eyes right now.)
I read the book.  I could go on and on about the bad writing, transparent characters, weak females and abusive relationships glorified for young girls.  Don't get me started on the sparkly vampires.

Because I disliked the book so intensely I have avoided the movies.  My playgroup mom friends know this so they made sure not to invite me on their girl's night out.  My feelings were not hurt.  I am not going to invite them to the Harry Potter movie either.  (Can we meet in the middle and see Eat, Pray Love?)

I witnessed a bit of the craze for the newest movie a couple of weeks ago when I was walking out of the theatre with Richard.  People were lining up three hours early to catch the midnight showing of the premiere.  I chuckled as I saw Canadian Blood Services setting up a table in view of the line up.  (Their tag line? "Find out if you are Jacob or Edward's type)  Hey, the need for blood rises in the summer and donations drop.  You have to respect the person who came up with that promotion!

This morning Richard had a craving for a certain fast food breakfast sandwich you can only get at Burger King.  We thought we could have a family outing and go there for a treat.  We got to the restaurant and I made note of the display of promotional toys that went in the kid's meals.

The toys promote the new Twilight movie.

Really, Burger King?  Really?  At the risk of sounding hypocritical, I was not as upset at the sight of the Iron Man 2 toys--I would not take my kids to that movie, but the robots were fun to play with and easy to talk about. I am not ready to have the "vampire boyfriend" talk with my kids just yet and really, these toys are very inappropriate for their target demographic.  Young kids don't need Edward and Jacob wallets or backpack charms.  BO-ORING.  Do tweens buy kid's meals?

A quick Google search shows that Summit Entertainment, the company that produced the Twilight movies, also produced the new kid's movie, Despicable Me.  Why didn't they make toys to promote that movie?

I did the proper irate Mom thing.  I complained on Facebook.  I mentally outlined my blog post.  Then I did something else.  I opened up my word processor.  I looked up on Google how to format a business letter (shut up.  I learned that in Jr. High.  That was a very very very long time ago)  I wrote an actual letter, signed it and put it in an actual envelope.  BK Canada is going to hear about this too.

Next time I want to get fast food for my kids, I am going to Wendy's.

I told the Burger King people that too.

Anger Management

In my last post I briefly touched on a class I recently took on anger management.  The class was advertised as a class to take to teach your child to deal with his or her anger.  Of course, in teaching your child a new skill you really learn something about yourself and how your own behaviour informs your child's behaviour.

I didn't really learn anything at the class I didn't already know.  I am an old hat at using "I feel" messages and "If/then" statements. Some days they work,  some days they don't.

I did meet some interesting characters and made one friend that I am very happy to have met.  We bonded over our quirky kids and how we never really seem to find what we are looking for at these classes. (except for a couple of moments where we got to hear some stories from a family who would be right at home on Jerry Springer's sound stage)

My Charlotte is a ticking time bomb.  The smallest thing will set her off.  She responds the same way to minor things as she does to major things.  This is proving to be dangerous for her.  When she screams her head off at me because I have given her the wrong colour cup to drink from, I don't respond very quickly when she is screaming her head off because she has hurt herself.   Often the words she screams have come right out of my mouth and into her head.

It turns out I am a ticking time bomb too.  If you push just the right combination of buttons at the right time of day I will explode.  This usually always happens around dinnertime.  You know, the magical time of day when a parent is trying to get food on the table while her tired and cranky offspring are melting down around her.  My kids know all of the buttons well and will smash them all at once with a sticky paw.

Some days I cope well.  I deal with the various crises with dignity and calmness.  Other days my coping skills deteriorate into blatantly ignoring the kids by blasting my Mp3 player in my ears or or pouring  a beer and clamato to dull the rough edges.  Some days I scream right along with them. (Those are the worst days).  On the worst days I often put on my exercise gear and wait anxiously at the door for Richard to get home so I can literally run away.  Putting a few kilometers between me and the house really helps to calm my shattered nerves.  I am sure the rush of endorphins doesn't hurt either!

I wish I knew the secret to dealing with anger.  I guess it is like anything else.  You have to exercise your anger control muscle so it gets stronger and stronger.  Some days are good days, other days you feel achy and sore and defeated. 

You just have to get out of bed, put on your grown-up underwear and try again.