Fat Questions

I believe in being honest with your kids about the important things. And, I also know that Thing 1 is at the age where he's learning about judgment, comparisons, opposites, etc. So,when Thing 1 asked me "mommy, are you fat", I felt obligated to answer him honestly "yes, mommy is fat. But, I'm also healthy". Which I think is the important things. I'd like to teach my kids about being healthy and living a healthy lifestyle as being important.

I'm working on a healthy attitude towards body image. I just hope that there are other things that my kids will focus on to be embarrassed about. I mean, it's me, and I have plenty of ammunition to give them.

So for now, I have instructed Thing 1 to answer anyone who mentions that he has a fat mommy with "she's not fat, she's fluffy". That seems to have made him happy.

Red Hot Chili Pepper

My 2 1/2 yr old decided that it would be a good idea to eat a chili packet of peppers left over from one of our Round Table Pizzas today. I doubt she'll be exploring any more packages with her mouth any time soon...the bright side? She wasn't hurt, and the bright tomato red shade didn't last, as she returned back to her normal shade of color within a few minutes (and after chugging a lot of milk). Oh, and her sinuses are clear for the moment...

Jesus Power

I just made the switch to Catholic school with Thing 1 and Thing 2. They both are adjusting differently. Thing 2 has taken off! She loves it, and has learned so much already. My once shy violet has bloomed with open arms to this confident, social butterfly. She doesn't hesitate as much in the world around her, and I can see the effects of positive teaching and a little (more) encouragement.

Thing 1 has had a different experience. My once super popular child is a little more tentative. The teachers are great and he's learning a lot, but they don't cater to him like other teachers before him. He's a little more reserved now, and he's finding it a little difficult to find his groove. I have confidence, though, that he'll find it.

One of the big things that a parochial school teaches is about religion, which I have to admit, I've been lacking. Not for lack of faith, but mostly because the idea of G-d and Jesus is a hard concept to teach without sounding scary (which is apparently the impression I left on my older child).

I am enjoying listening to their concepts about Jesus and the world around them, as it relates to G-d. I love hearing their sweet little voices singing about praise, blessings, and thanksgiving. It's exciting!

Of course, being young, they have a different take on the subject of Jesus. My children were in the back seat of the car, arguing about who was stronger.

Thing 1: I'm strong. I'm stronger than Daddy!
Thing 2: I'm stronger than you.
Thing 1: No, I'm stronger than you. I can make clouds from Jesus.
Me: What? You can make clouds from Jesus? Don't you mean with Jesus?
Thing 1: No, from Jesus, I can make clouds. (makes a muscle) With Jesus, I can do anything!

You know, he's got a point.

Funny things heard around the house that make you go hmm...

Thing 1 approaches my husband and I about 2 hours before bedtime to complain about his sister's toy: Can you tell her to turn it off? I need my beauty sleep.

Um, okay...?

Whining Wednesday

Spouse: someone who'll stand by you through all the trouble you wouldn't have had if you'd stayed single.

Being married takes a lot of work. I admire the people like my parents who make it look easy. I've read something that a long marriage is two people dancing a tango while doing solos. That is so true. There's a lot of compromise and a lot of giving.

With my spouse, I love him and cannot imagine my life without him. Though, there are times, naturally, when I think life would be so much easier. Things in the house would stay where they remain, I wouldn't be disappointed when I came home to yet another mess I didn't create, and I wouldn't have to rely on anyone creating more work for me.

Wednesdays are his nights to play with the guys while I take care of the household. I'm glad he gets to go out and blow off some steam, and in return I ask for a little help. I get disappointed in myself for feeling this way, because he does work hard, like I do. And, I genuinely want the best for him, but I just wish for once, he'd understand, that sometimes, all I really need in life is to walk home and see the good things he does, not see his faults.

Strike an average between what a woman thinks of her husband a month before she marries him and what she thinks of him a year afterward, and you will have the truth about him. ~H.L. Mencken

Don't ban skippy...

To parents whose kids have extreme food allergies, I my heart goes out to you. You have a very difficult task in keeping your kids safe and healthy. However, you go too far when you suggest the world bend to your individual needs. Take for example Lisa Conquet http://www.babble.com/best-recipes/healthy-eating/raising-child-peanut-allergy-risks-food-intolerance/ No doubt do I feel bad for the hoops you and your family jump through. But to suggest that the world stop eating peanuts in public places just to accommodate your need, is a bit extreme. Sadly, you are not alone. The anti-peanut sentiment is on the rise for the small majority of parents whose kids have extreme allergies.

What about parents whose kids are allergic to gluten, and cannot be around any wheat? Should we banish all bread and wheat items? Kids with milk allergies? Soy? Products made with eggs? What about the parents of the kids allergic to bees? Should we ban all bees? Don't even get me started on pets...

There's never going to be a safe environment. And, like a left handed person living in a right handed world will tell you, you have to be adaptable, because the world will not stop for you.

Registering for a good school

I've got school anxiety. For my kids. We've decided to switch Thing 1 and Thing 2 to a different private school so that they can go to this elusive kindergarten. The politics behind a good education is crazy. You have to promise to do everything short of giving your organs. I'm glad we checked into it early, otherwise we'd have never made the donor, er, I mean waiting list.

The amount of research spent on educational points, grades for schools, and teacher to child ratio, I could be doing something more enriching such as learning a new language, taking up knitting, or following up on my fantasy football team.

In the long run, I hope that we're making the right choices now. Parenting is harder than it looks!