Seriously, I was never afraid of so many things before I became a parent. It has made me paranoid about everything. And my kids aren't even that old yet!
But wait, I'm not talking about being afraid of my kids getting in trouble, doing drugs, dating, you know, really scary things like that. Just ordinary, everyday things that didn't bother me before kids.
Spiders, for instance. I have never really had a problem with bugs. (with the exception of cockroaches, but that is totally reasonable!) I didn't have to call in a man to kill bugs. I have known several people who have had tarantulas, and actually thought they were pretty awesome pets. But now I have kids. And I live in the midwest. Do you know what a brown recluse is? It is a small, poisonous spider. They live in houses around here. They tend to avoid high-traffic areas, so you don't encounter them too often. Previous to having kids, I would check shoes that I hadn't worn in a while, and I was careful in the attic and basement. But now? Terrified of spiders. Why? Get down on your hands and knees. Toddler level. Look how close to spider level they are! Look at how often toys are retrieved from under furniture. Look at the bins of toys and stuffed animals that might not be cleaned out regularly. What is in there, at the very bottom? See? Terrifying!
Bees, too. Never bothered me before. But hubby is allergic to them, so now I am terrified that one of my kids will be, too.
Stairs. Scary now. Kids fall down stairs. I have to carry kids up and down stairs without holding onto the railing.
Parking lots. Ever notice how you can't see kids because they are shorter than cars? And how small children seem to dart about? Petrifying!
The list goes on... Brick fireplaces. Strangers (tell me, were you ever really afraid of strangers as a kid, or was it that your parents told you to avoid them??). Busy streets. Crowds. My kids' teachers, and what they have to say about them.
Yes, it is now 2012. According to the Mayans, the world is going to end. Scary? No. Those people lived a long time ago, and didn't even use a Gregorian calendar. But spiders? Hell yes.
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Monday, January 30, 2012
The Importance of Naptime
Naptime is a vital part of every Mommy's day. And there is a time in the life of all moms when you realize just how important this time is. That is when your child(ren) stop napping.
That is the point that I am at right now. On any given day, there is only a 50-50 chance of Elf taking a nap. Luckily, she loves to read, and is, overall, a very well-behaved child. So, even though she doesn't always sleep, I can generally count on her having a quiet time of at least an hour. Longer if I put on a show or a movie for her. At 3.5, Elf is also old enough that I can leave her to play on her own if need be. Which often is.
So why is naptime so important? What do I do? From the point of view of the kids, I must do something very interesting, as they seem to feel like they are being left out of something when they get put in their rooms for naps. Trust me, kids, if I could sleep for two hours or so every afternoon, I wouldn't ever give that up!
So what do I do?
Laundry, dusting, cleaning- any housework that I can do that is relatively quiet. Sew or work on some other craft. Knit. Write my blog. Drink coffee while it is still hot. Excercise. Sit on my butt and write my blog. Play games on Facebook. Google random stuff, like whether it is possible to buy Dinex diner supply mugs in non-bulk amounts (because these are the best mugs ever) Pin things on Pinterest.
In other words, I try to cram into two hours all the things that, before kids, I could do whenever the heck I wanted. (Ok, not really, because I had a job, but I also had the energy to get up at 5:30 to go to the gym and still stay up until eleven or so and get whatever I wanted done)
Naptime in this house is coming to an end. Which is a shame, because Elf doesn't start kindergarten for 2 more years. So, in the meantime, I try to get the kids really tired in the morning, convince Elf that she has to rest and read for a portion of every afternoon, and- here is the bad mom moment- leave the kids in their room, even when I know they are awake, so that I can finish up a project or get a (much needed) shower.
That is the point that I am at right now. On any given day, there is only a 50-50 chance of Elf taking a nap. Luckily, she loves to read, and is, overall, a very well-behaved child. So, even though she doesn't always sleep, I can generally count on her having a quiet time of at least an hour. Longer if I put on a show or a movie for her. At 3.5, Elf is also old enough that I can leave her to play on her own if need be. Which often is.
So why is naptime so important? What do I do? From the point of view of the kids, I must do something very interesting, as they seem to feel like they are being left out of something when they get put in their rooms for naps. Trust me, kids, if I could sleep for two hours or so every afternoon, I wouldn't ever give that up!
So what do I do?
Laundry, dusting, cleaning- any housework that I can do that is relatively quiet. Sew or work on some other craft. Knit. Write my blog. Drink coffee while it is still hot. Excercise. Sit on my butt and write my blog. Play games on Facebook. Google random stuff, like whether it is possible to buy Dinex diner supply mugs in non-bulk amounts (because these are the best mugs ever) Pin things on Pinterest.
In other words, I try to cram into two hours all the things that, before kids, I could do whenever the heck I wanted. (Ok, not really, because I had a job, but I also had the energy to get up at 5:30 to go to the gym and still stay up until eleven or so and get whatever I wanted done)
Naptime in this house is coming to an end. Which is a shame, because Elf doesn't start kindergarten for 2 more years. So, in the meantime, I try to get the kids really tired in the morning, convince Elf that she has to rest and read for a portion of every afternoon, and- here is the bad mom moment- leave the kids in their room, even when I know they are awake, so that I can finish up a project or get a (much needed) shower.
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Endings
Tonight was one of those things that we don't really think much about. The LAST time you will do something with your child. Sure, next week will be a first, but this week was a last.
Tonight was the last of Elf and I's "Mommy and Me" music classes. She has graduated, and will start music classes on her own next week. Sure, the parents come in for the beginning and end, but it is no longer Mama and Elf time. We have been doing music for almost two years. Have I always loved it? No. Sometimes I thought it was cheesy. Sometimes I had to take Elf and leave due to toddler tantrums. Sometimes I didn't really want to sing and dance. But we did, and overall, I enjoyed it. Music has been one of the ways that I managed to spend one on one time with Elf, despite having one, then two other kids. This fall, I started G-man in music, and next fall, Bee will start as well.
Tonight was not one of the best classes. In fact, due to lack of napping, it started out being one of those classes that I wanted to leave. And, while Elf was rolling around on the floor, refusing to participate, first I wondered, is she really ready to advance to the next class? But I know that she is. As class progressed, though, she participated a little more. Then we got to rest time- quiet music plays, and tonight was our favorite song, the one that I have sung to all of my kids since they were born. Each child got a fleece blanket, and, as is generally the case, Elf wanted me to swing her in the blanket, like a hammock. I have a very small child, yet she is getting pretty heavy, and I don't always swing her in music any more. But I swung her in the hammock the whole 3+ minutes of the song, and thought about our time in music class.
And I hope, when Elf is grown, that she remembers these times. Not the ones, where, you know, I yell at her for spilling her milk or pushing her brother off the couch.
Tonight was the last of Elf and I's "Mommy and Me" music classes. She has graduated, and will start music classes on her own next week. Sure, the parents come in for the beginning and end, but it is no longer Mama and Elf time. We have been doing music for almost two years. Have I always loved it? No. Sometimes I thought it was cheesy. Sometimes I had to take Elf and leave due to toddler tantrums. Sometimes I didn't really want to sing and dance. But we did, and overall, I enjoyed it. Music has been one of the ways that I managed to spend one on one time with Elf, despite having one, then two other kids. This fall, I started G-man in music, and next fall, Bee will start as well.
Tonight was not one of the best classes. In fact, due to lack of napping, it started out being one of those classes that I wanted to leave. And, while Elf was rolling around on the floor, refusing to participate, first I wondered, is she really ready to advance to the next class? But I know that she is. As class progressed, though, she participated a little more. Then we got to rest time- quiet music plays, and tonight was our favorite song, the one that I have sung to all of my kids since they were born. Each child got a fleece blanket, and, as is generally the case, Elf wanted me to swing her in the blanket, like a hammock. I have a very small child, yet she is getting pretty heavy, and I don't always swing her in music any more. But I swung her in the hammock the whole 3+ minutes of the song, and thought about our time in music class.
And I hope, when Elf is grown, that she remembers these times. Not the ones, where, you know, I yell at her for spilling her milk or pushing her brother off the couch.
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
cleaning vs CLEANING
As most people know, there are two kinds of cleaning. There is regular old cleaning. The everyday stuff. Dust, vacuum, laundry, dishes. You know, the stuff that keeps you from being on a show like Hoarders. The kind of cleaning that, on a really good day, might leave your family room looking like you don't have kids.
And then there is CLEANING. You know, the kind of cleaning where you empty drawers, move furniture, take out bags and bags of garbage, re-discover lost items and the surface of those clutter spots. And even after you are done, the house doesn't look clean.
I didn't get up today planning on CLEANING. My plan was to dust the downstairs. But, I have ADHD tendencies and OCD, and like some people get distracted by shiny things, I get distracted by clutter. The first was simple enough. I needed to dust the dining room. I used the dining room to wrap all our Christmas presents, so I had to clean up first. (No, we have not eaten at our dining room table since before Thanksgiving) Clean off table. See bin of clothes that G-man has outgrown, and remember that I need to send them to his cousin. Sort that bin, put clothes in a box, put bin next to stairs to go to attic. Then I decide that I need to break down the boxes that are still in the dining room from gifts. We are only allowed the recycling that will fit in our bin. If we put recycling next to the bin, even if it is huge and obviously recyclable (like the boxes that a dollhouse and a pottery barn chair came in) the recycle truck won't take it, the trash people will. So we have to sort-of dole out our recycling after we make a big purchase, or after a holiday. Boxes broken down, I take the smaller stuff to the garage, and use the large boxes to block the doorway to the dining room so the dogs can't go in. Thus, even though I CLEANED out the entire room, it still looks like crap.
The bins need to go upstairs, so I carry them up. There was an empty one, so I decide to empty a nightstand in G-man's room and take it downstairs. G-man is getting a big-boy bed and a new dresser, so we will need to re-home some of his furniture. I get the nightstand cleaned out, and I move it to the hall. Go downstairs with all the dirty laundry, put the wash from last night into the dryer and start another load of clothes. Go to the den to move the phone table so that I can bring down the nightstand. But then realize that I want to tidy up the wetbar area. The previous homeowners must have been big drinkers- we have a wet bar in the family room, and another in the basement. My long term plan is to take the sink out of the den, and just put built-ins in. For now, the sink is full of yarn and other knitting stuff. I move the yarn and knitting, find: a pair of Ellie's pants, a pair of my shoes, a sweater of Brenna's, and four coasters. But, since I haven't brought the furniture down, I have no place to put the rest of the stuff- an entire year's worth of Family magazine, nail polish, cotton balls, some dog stuff.
No matter. I go to put some post-its in the secretary in the kitchen. You know, that area of the kitchen that should be really useful- a little desk with some handy storage cubbies and drawers. That area where EVERYTHING that doesn't really belong in the kitchen gets piled. I have a computer there, which I put there in hopes that it would help me to keep the area clean. HA! So, I decide I am going to clean this area up. I throw a lot of things away. Expired coupons, old Christmas cards (sorry, if there is no photo on your card, it gets trashed!) One of those coupon books that is supposed to save you a bunch of money, but never really pays off (it expired last year) All that kind of stuff. Success! I can see the top of the desk. Yes, there is still a can of red spray paint behind the computer, but I will deal with that later.
Having broken down a bunch of boxes already, I decide that I need to get rid of the boxes that we are currently using in the place of furniture. I move the phone table next to Elf's play kitchen, you know, because she needs more counter space she has so much play food! Now, I have someplace to move the nightstand to.
Then I figure, you know, before my mom gave me this couchback table, all this crap on it was put away someplace. Clear off the table (between clothes that need to be put away, trash, and everything else, I pared it down to a small bin of stuff that actually needs to be in the den. That stuff all fit under the pack n play. Well, since I had broken down the box that blocked the dogs from getting in the diaper pail, I need something (a trash can) to put the wet bag in. Oh, there is one in the office. Filled with about a year's worth of trash from the office (no worries, it is all paper and plastic stuff!) I fill two trashbags from there, take the trash can into the den. There. One corner looks nice. Bring the nightstand (which is solid wood) down without killing myself. Put stuff in it. There, I now have achieved one desktop that can (mostly) be seen, and two tidy corners of the den.
But now it is lunch time, and I have to feed the kids. That done, it is nap time. Then I remember... I emptied out and moved the other nightstand in G-man's room but left a bunch of stuff up there. Well, since G-man is in a toddler bed, he often climbs out. So nothing pointy, toxic, or otherwise dangerous can be left in his room. So I quickly throw all that stuff into a bag and take it downstairs so that naptime can happen.
At this point, my house still looks trashed. As I type this, there are two loads of laundry to fold, a bag of stuff that needs to be sorted at the bottom of the stairs, two bins that need to go to the attic at the top of the stairs, and of course, a kitchen and den that definitely look like I have kids. Possibly a dozen of them. And that I might just be on the verge of being turned in to that Hoarders show.
Oh, well.
And then there is CLEANING. You know, the kind of cleaning where you empty drawers, move furniture, take out bags and bags of garbage, re-discover lost items and the surface of those clutter spots. And even after you are done, the house doesn't look clean.
I didn't get up today planning on CLEANING. My plan was to dust the downstairs. But, I have ADHD tendencies and OCD, and like some people get distracted by shiny things, I get distracted by clutter. The first was simple enough. I needed to dust the dining room. I used the dining room to wrap all our Christmas presents, so I had to clean up first. (No, we have not eaten at our dining room table since before Thanksgiving) Clean off table. See bin of clothes that G-man has outgrown, and remember that I need to send them to his cousin. Sort that bin, put clothes in a box, put bin next to stairs to go to attic. Then I decide that I need to break down the boxes that are still in the dining room from gifts. We are only allowed the recycling that will fit in our bin. If we put recycling next to the bin, even if it is huge and obviously recyclable (like the boxes that a dollhouse and a pottery barn chair came in) the recycle truck won't take it, the trash people will. So we have to sort-of dole out our recycling after we make a big purchase, or after a holiday. Boxes broken down, I take the smaller stuff to the garage, and use the large boxes to block the doorway to the dining room so the dogs can't go in. Thus, even though I CLEANED out the entire room, it still looks like crap.
The bins need to go upstairs, so I carry them up. There was an empty one, so I decide to empty a nightstand in G-man's room and take it downstairs. G-man is getting a big-boy bed and a new dresser, so we will need to re-home some of his furniture. I get the nightstand cleaned out, and I move it to the hall. Go downstairs with all the dirty laundry, put the wash from last night into the dryer and start another load of clothes. Go to the den to move the phone table so that I can bring down the nightstand. But then realize that I want to tidy up the wetbar area. The previous homeowners must have been big drinkers- we have a wet bar in the family room, and another in the basement. My long term plan is to take the sink out of the den, and just put built-ins in. For now, the sink is full of yarn and other knitting stuff. I move the yarn and knitting, find: a pair of Ellie's pants, a pair of my shoes, a sweater of Brenna's, and four coasters. But, since I haven't brought the furniture down, I have no place to put the rest of the stuff- an entire year's worth of Family magazine, nail polish, cotton balls, some dog stuff.
No matter. I go to put some post-its in the secretary in the kitchen. You know, that area of the kitchen that should be really useful- a little desk with some handy storage cubbies and drawers. That area where EVERYTHING that doesn't really belong in the kitchen gets piled. I have a computer there, which I put there in hopes that it would help me to keep the area clean. HA! So, I decide I am going to clean this area up. I throw a lot of things away. Expired coupons, old Christmas cards (sorry, if there is no photo on your card, it gets trashed!) One of those coupon books that is supposed to save you a bunch of money, but never really pays off (it expired last year) All that kind of stuff. Success! I can see the top of the desk. Yes, there is still a can of red spray paint behind the computer, but I will deal with that later.
Having broken down a bunch of boxes already, I decide that I need to get rid of the boxes that we are currently using in the place of furniture. I move the phone table next to Elf's play kitchen, you know, because she needs more counter space she has so much play food! Now, I have someplace to move the nightstand to.
Then I figure, you know, before my mom gave me this couchback table, all this crap on it was put away someplace. Clear off the table (between clothes that need to be put away, trash, and everything else, I pared it down to a small bin of stuff that actually needs to be in the den. That stuff all fit under the pack n play. Well, since I had broken down the box that blocked the dogs from getting in the diaper pail, I need something (a trash can) to put the wet bag in. Oh, there is one in the office. Filled with about a year's worth of trash from the office (no worries, it is all paper and plastic stuff!) I fill two trashbags from there, take the trash can into the den. There. One corner looks nice. Bring the nightstand (which is solid wood) down without killing myself. Put stuff in it. There, I now have achieved one desktop that can (mostly) be seen, and two tidy corners of the den.
But now it is lunch time, and I have to feed the kids. That done, it is nap time. Then I remember... I emptied out and moved the other nightstand in G-man's room but left a bunch of stuff up there. Well, since G-man is in a toddler bed, he often climbs out. So nothing pointy, toxic, or otherwise dangerous can be left in his room. So I quickly throw all that stuff into a bag and take it downstairs so that naptime can happen.
At this point, my house still looks trashed. As I type this, there are two loads of laundry to fold, a bag of stuff that needs to be sorted at the bottom of the stairs, two bins that need to go to the attic at the top of the stairs, and of course, a kitchen and den that definitely look like I have kids. Possibly a dozen of them. And that I might just be on the verge of being turned in to that Hoarders show.
Oh, well.
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Since we're in the kichen...
I love to bake. Yup, I am THAT mom. I don't always bake from scratch, and I don't ALWAYS have homemade treats, but then again, I also have 3 kids 3 and under. For a while, before my last pregnancy, I was making homemade bread on a (at least) weekly basis.
Now, I will admit, I cheat sometimes. I have a bread machine, so I am certainly not spending a ton of time kneading and tending to bread. I toss the ingredients in and go.
I use mixes for my cakes. I have NEVER made a good cake from scratch. I can do pie, and cookies, and a lot of other stuff, but cakes, not really.
This afternoon I made cookie bars (or I should say, am making, they are in the oven as I type). Why? I felt like we needed cookie bars.
So why does this make my a bad mom? Three reasons.
First off, what were my kids doing while I was baking? Bee was sleeping on the floor. G-man was emptying the play kitchen and just in general being destructive (at least there wasn't any dog-food eating today!) and Elf was parked in front of Phineas and Ferb. So, yup, I neglect my kids in order to make them treats. Seriously non-healthy treats.
Second, I bake when I should be doing other things. Like laundry. Or dusting. Or vacuuming. Or really any other form of housework. So, I may have good treats, but my house is a wreck and the laundry doesn't get folded when I get it in my head that I need to bake.
Third, and possibly most important, I don't cook. That's right, I bake, but I don't cook. Not to say I NEVER cook, I do... I make pasta or crock pot meals and a few other things. But on a day-to-day basis, my husband (have I mentioned he is wonderful?!?) Does the cooking. If it weren't for him, we would either a) starve or b) live on cereal.
So, we are having cookie bars for dessert.
And Lord help me if my kids go to a school that doesn't allow homemade treats!
Now, I will admit, I cheat sometimes. I have a bread machine, so I am certainly not spending a ton of time kneading and tending to bread. I toss the ingredients in and go.
I use mixes for my cakes. I have NEVER made a good cake from scratch. I can do pie, and cookies, and a lot of other stuff, but cakes, not really.
This afternoon I made cookie bars (or I should say, am making, they are in the oven as I type). Why? I felt like we needed cookie bars.
So why does this make my a bad mom? Three reasons.
First off, what were my kids doing while I was baking? Bee was sleeping on the floor. G-man was emptying the play kitchen and just in general being destructive (at least there wasn't any dog-food eating today!) and Elf was parked in front of Phineas and Ferb. So, yup, I neglect my kids in order to make them treats. Seriously non-healthy treats.
Second, I bake when I should be doing other things. Like laundry. Or dusting. Or vacuuming. Or really any other form of housework. So, I may have good treats, but my house is a wreck and the laundry doesn't get folded when I get it in my head that I need to bake.
Third, and possibly most important, I don't cook. That's right, I bake, but I don't cook. Not to say I NEVER cook, I do... I make pasta or crock pot meals and a few other things. But on a day-to-day basis, my husband (have I mentioned he is wonderful?!?) Does the cooking. If it weren't for him, we would either a) starve or b) live on cereal.
So, we are having cookie bars for dessert.
And Lord help me if my kids go to a school that doesn't allow homemade treats!
Friday, January 6, 2012
The Kitchen (and other dangers)
We just had a well-baby check-up. Which basically means that I hear things that I already know. You know, like lock the doors so that your 18 month old can't escape. Use outlet covers. Your 18 month old will be interested in climbing everything, so keep an eye on him.
Also, it means that I get to "fib"to the doctor to avoid lecture. I have 3 kids. I don't count every bite they take, I don't tally every word they know. I don't know exactly how many diapers my child goes through in a day. With two in diapers, I just know I deal with a lot of poop. So, I tell her what she needs to hear. I know my kid isn't sick, so I tell her, Yes, G-man drinks 3-4 cups of milk and poops at least once a day. He says 10-12 words (this really depends on how you define "words" I guess). He only eats table food. Not baby food. Which is technically true, but brings us to the kitchen.
This morning I mopped the floor. I try to do this every week, since between the two dogs and three kids, if I didn't, we might be in health code violation. This is what mopping involves: Getting the steam mop (best invention ever!) Taking off the dirty mop head. Getting a clean one. Filling the steam mop with water while G-man "helps." Remember that you had left Bee half naked because G-man was eating dog food. Put a diaper on the baby and move her to her floor mat to squirm around. Make sure that Elf is watching something appropriate on the TV. Plug in and turn on steam mop. Start mopping, moving things that cover large areas of the floor, push small items out of the way with the mop. Mop around G-man, making a mental note to get that spot later. Pay special attention to the area under the high chair and the kitchen table. Try once more to get the red streak off of the floor. Fail. Oh, well. At least the spot has been sanitized. Move G-man away from the dog food, and pry any pieces out of his mouth. Continue mopping, being careful to not steam G-man's feet. Move him away from the dog food again. Finish the mopping, and wind the cord, stopping to tell G-man that he will be ok after he just tripped over the cord. Put the mop away. In the laundry room. Where you realize that you have two loads to fold, and at least 3 more to wash today. No, make that 4 since socks need to be done. Socks are a separate load in our house, but that is a neurosis for another day. Put in a load of laundry.
Move G-man away from the dog food 3 more times.
Notice the things that I did not do in this post. I did not remove or replace outlet covers. We don't use them. Or child locks on our cabinets. I only use baby gates to keep the kids from going up the stairs. Yup, I walk on the wild side, and would rather just teach my kids what is safe. I am on number 3, and have not had any major incidents yet. So, back to the beginning of this post. According to our doctor, I am a DANGEROUS mom. My child could open the door and wander out into our (fenced) back yard. He could eat DOG FOOD (which is required by law to be safe for human consumption, though it might be gross). He could try to put something in the outlet. He could touch the steam mop. Elf could watch too much TV (and probably does) Bee might pee on herself because I forgot to finish dressing her. But really, how is this any different than a diaper?
So, if you come over to my house, just remember, I am a DANGEROUS mom. And if I had a busy week, our kitchen just might be on the verge of breaking several health code violations.
Also, it means that I get to "fib"to the doctor to avoid lecture. I have 3 kids. I don't count every bite they take, I don't tally every word they know. I don't know exactly how many diapers my child goes through in a day. With two in diapers, I just know I deal with a lot of poop. So, I tell her what she needs to hear. I know my kid isn't sick, so I tell her, Yes, G-man drinks 3-4 cups of milk and poops at least once a day. He says 10-12 words (this really depends on how you define "words" I guess). He only eats table food. Not baby food. Which is technically true, but brings us to the kitchen.
This morning I mopped the floor. I try to do this every week, since between the two dogs and three kids, if I didn't, we might be in health code violation. This is what mopping involves: Getting the steam mop (best invention ever!) Taking off the dirty mop head. Getting a clean one. Filling the steam mop with water while G-man "helps." Remember that you had left Bee half naked because G-man was eating dog food. Put a diaper on the baby and move her to her floor mat to squirm around. Make sure that Elf is watching something appropriate on the TV. Plug in and turn on steam mop. Start mopping, moving things that cover large areas of the floor, push small items out of the way with the mop. Mop around G-man, making a mental note to get that spot later. Pay special attention to the area under the high chair and the kitchen table. Try once more to get the red streak off of the floor. Fail. Oh, well. At least the spot has been sanitized. Move G-man away from the dog food, and pry any pieces out of his mouth. Continue mopping, being careful to not steam G-man's feet. Move him away from the dog food again. Finish the mopping, and wind the cord, stopping to tell G-man that he will be ok after he just tripped over the cord. Put the mop away. In the laundry room. Where you realize that you have two loads to fold, and at least 3 more to wash today. No, make that 4 since socks need to be done. Socks are a separate load in our house, but that is a neurosis for another day. Put in a load of laundry.
Move G-man away from the dog food 3 more times.
Notice the things that I did not do in this post. I did not remove or replace outlet covers. We don't use them. Or child locks on our cabinets. I only use baby gates to keep the kids from going up the stairs. Yup, I walk on the wild side, and would rather just teach my kids what is safe. I am on number 3, and have not had any major incidents yet. So, back to the beginning of this post. According to our doctor, I am a DANGEROUS mom. My child could open the door and wander out into our (fenced) back yard. He could eat DOG FOOD (which is required by law to be safe for human consumption, though it might be gross). He could try to put something in the outlet. He could touch the steam mop. Elf could watch too much TV (and probably does) Bee might pee on herself because I forgot to finish dressing her. But really, how is this any different than a diaper?
So, if you come over to my house, just remember, I am a DANGEROUS mom. And if I had a busy week, our kitchen just might be on the verge of breaking several health code violations.
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
THE TOY
I am not one to buy into getting THE TOY of the Christmas season. Elf is 3.5, and really not old enough to understand wanting something. As I mentioned in a previous post, I pretty much tell her what to ask Santa for.
This year, THE TOY, the one that is sold out everywhere, and selling for hundreds on e-bay would be the Leappad. I love LeapFrog. They make great toys. We have several of them, and they are always a big hit with the kids. I looked at the LeapPad. And the Explorer. And the Leapster 2. And I can actually tell you what is different about them. But I won't. The gist of the LeapPad, for those of you who don't have kids, is that it is basically a tablet PC for the toddler set. It has apps. And games. And I figured, yes, it is cool. But if I can't go into the store, pick one up, and buy it (or even better, order it from Amazon so I don't even have to leave my house) then I wasn't going to get one. Besides, this is a toy that requires extra purchases. You can't buy the LeapPad and be done. It needs apps. And games. And batteries. And maybe a nifty carry case so that all those extras stay together. But then it happened.
I was at Target today, buying peanut butter (you know, so the kids won't starve) and of course, it being Target, I had to wander around the whole store. (Besides, I had to get a prescription. Which apparently can't be filled until tomorrow. Awesome.) And there it was. ONE LeapPad. PINK. I look around suspiciously. Put it in my cart. With it in my cart already, I text the husband. Should I buy this? Sure, he says. So I finish my shopping, fully prepared, as I wander through the underwear section (because, again, I am at Target, and I only have Bee with me, and my MIL gave me a gift card to Victoria's Secret, so maybe she thinks I need new underwear) to defend myself should anyone say anything about the LeapPad.
Get checked out and go home and feed the now screaming Bee, then go to the car and unload my booty (peanut butter, diapers, 4 pairs of pants for Bee who outgrew her 0-3 mo clothes, and for some reason only has 4 pairs of 3-6 mo, nursing pads, new underwear since we are going to visit the in-laws, two boxes of triangle crayons which won't roll away when we are on the plane and Elf and G-man don't have to share, two pixie movies, ezcema lotion for Bee and the aforementioned LeapPad and one game) Get kids down for nap and decide to plug this thing in. I have read the reviews, and I know I want it prepped before she opens it, so that it is ready to go.
First challenge- getting it out of the box. It took two different attachments on a swiss army knife to get it out and assembled. Find 4 AA batteries. They are not all the same brand. I walk on the wild side.
Second challenge- Get the thing working. Put in the CD, which apparently has nothing on it, because you immediately have to download software. I do this. Twice. Plug in the LeapPad. Turn it on. Crash the browser. Wait and play on FB and start writing post while it connects and downloads. Choose my free app. (I was a little peeved here, because you can't choose from all the apps, just a few, which I suspect are not the star players on their list. But Elf is 3. who cares?) Talk to my mom on the phone while the apps download and I see what other damage I can do to our credit card.
Play with the thing. You know, to make sure it works. And because I don't have anything more pressing, like laundry or dusting or packing to do! Update later on how it plays. So far, as long as you prep it before giving, it seems like an awesome toy.
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