Strike

So, it's been a long day. I've been thinking about one of my childhood neighbors--Sister Rose-- and I think I would like to follow her lead. I vividly remember Sister Rose getting fed up with her husband and kids. One night she was serving dinner and one of her boys made a comment about how gross the food was and that put Sister Rose over the edge. It was at that very moment that she went on strike. When I looked in their backyard, Sister Rose was always hanging laundry on her clothesline, or she was taking in down, folding it and putting it in the basket. After she went on strike, the clothesline was eerily empty and instead of a busy lady, I saw Sister Rose laying on a lawn chair in her swimming suit reading a magazine. I used to hear Sister Rose calling her kids and giving them jobs, but not anymore. Her kids would come out to talk to her and she would put her hand up, tell them she was on strike, and turn away. This lasted for a few days until she got her point across. Today, I'm thinking a strike is the way to go. I feel like I work all day and I don't get anything done. I know Casey thinks I just sit home and watch T.V. What an insult. I am a crazy lady all day long and he thinks I spend the day relaxing--don't I wish. If I do watch TV, it's when I'm folding HIS laundry, or doing busy work for the office. I would hardly call folding laundry while watching Cheetah girls, relaxing!!! (As a side note, I don't know how they made 1 Cheetah Girl movie--let alone 3!! And, these girls do concerts--I just don't get it!! I haven't seen the 3rd one yet, but I'm guessing that the girls are really excited to do something, they all get mad at each other, and somehow they have a new song and dance and win a contest--I don't know, it's just a guess, but if you haven't seen it, I'm pretty sure I spoiled it for you.) Right now, I feel like the laundry, cleaning, cooking, shopping, bill-paying, organizing, working, carpooling GHOST in the family. Yes, I feel invisible, so why not strike. Maybe if I didn't do anything, others would see how much I really do!!

Getting a Leash on Things

For years and years, when I would see parents who were dragging their kids around on a leash, I would think "how can a parent do that?? It's a child not a dog--that's soooo inhumane." Now that I have Buggie, I think "Who wouldn't want a leash and where can I get one?!?!" After a day at Lagoon and a little trip to the grocery store with Luke, I'm thinking a leash would be one of the greatest investments I can make. That kid does NOT like to be confined and he thinks running away is the funniest thing. We were at Smiths Marketplace and he took off running (for the millionth time on this little outing) He ran the length of the grocery store over into the clothing section. By the time I caught up to him I had had it!! I was so mad and I let him know he was in Trouble (trouble, with a capital T). I scolded him, picked him up, and started walking. Luke was just screaming that loud, high pitched scream, and EVERYONE was looking at us. Everytime we walked past someone, Buggie would reach his arms out and beg for ANYONE to take him. If anyone had reached back, I would have happily passed him along. I had smoke coming out my ears. I know from the looks we were getting, that everyone was thoroughly entertained. The rest of the shopping trip, I had every person in that store over the age of 75 coming up to me telling me they know just how I feel. No, they don't!! They have never had to deal with Buggie in public--it's exhausting mentally and physically. I'm thinking that for Luke's safety and my sanity, I might join the world of inhumane parents and drag my little boy around on a leash!!

A Boost

If anyone needs to boost your self-esteem, might I suggest a day at Lagoon. I walked into that place feeling like an ugly, frumpy, post-partum mom wearing running shoes with capris, and after a couple hours, I was suddenly feeling like a supermodel--not a model, a "supermodel." Not only did I feel a whole lot cuter, I also felt a lot smarter. I was proud that I had never come up with the idea to have cherries tattooed ALL OVER one of my thighs--yes, just one thigh covered in cherries. I was glad that I knew it was summertime, so I didn't come to Lagoon wearing thick sweats. I was glad that I know when NOT to wear a tank-top. I was glad that I didn't wear a mid-rift with my big belly hanging out. I was glad I don't look like Beaker on the Muppets. I saw a lady that looked EXACTLY like Beaker. Her mouth had lines that curved down like his and she had wide eyes and orange poofy hair. I felt really bad for her because that's genetics, not something she chose. I felt a whole lot better when I saw a wedding band on her finger and then saw her husband being very sweet to her because although I don't know her, there was something inside me that didn't want her to be alone because of her looks. Anyway, I enjoyed the euphoria I felt all day at Lagoon and I'm glad I did because the second we pulled out of the park, I was that ugly, frumpy, post-partum mom wearing tennis shoes with capris.

Failing

I'm seriously failing my children!! Isn't it my responsibility to teach them how to treat things and others with respect?? I feel like I'm totally failing in that area. I just can't seem to teach them how to treat their things with respect. They can make a huge mess in a matter of minutes, but cleaning it up is a whole different story. I started my back to school spring clean today. We started in the toy room at 11:00 am this morning. It is now 1:00 am and I just barely finished the room. It's not like I've gone the entire summer without cleaning it up!! One of the things I love best about my kids is that they will go in the toyroom and play for hours. I would rather have them do that than watch tv, but they get EVERYTHING out and mix it all together and spread it all around the house. I have tried every sort of organizing methods with their toys, but it's the same old story. My girls just gather all these little random toys and shove them in the oddest of places. I would love to find the guy who invented Polly Pockets and dump my vacuum bag over his head. I think I should sue him for a new vacuum, since I am constantly vacuuming up all those tiny pieces. They are the dumbest toys. The kids always need help because the pieces are so tiny--I hate those things. Why do girl toys have so many tiny pieces?? I threw out 6 garbage bags of old, broken, and dumb toys and games and we still have so much!! If I was more consistent making my kids clean-up their stuff, I could really manage this better. I am going to beat this battle with the toyroom!! Coming from two clean freaks, where did my kids get this from??

Hovering

I was suppose to have a date with Case last night. It was the first real date we had planned in months. Since he had to stay in Cali, I took my sister to see Brian Regan. On the way home, I was super tired and the wind was blowing really hard. I could feel the wind pulling the car and I felt like the car in the lane to the right of me kept veering my way, so I was straddling the line a bit. I pulled into the next lane. At that point, the car hit a piece of debris or something, so I decided to pull into the carpool lane and just be away from everything. As soon as I pulled into the carpool lane, I saw the red and blue lights flashing. Annie was sure I was getting pulled over for crossing the double line in the carpool lane. Well, I actually got pulled over for "hovering"the lanes. I told him that I knew I was all over the place and he asked me if I had been drinking!!!!!Suddenly thoughts of me having to walk the line were racing through my mind, and though I've never even tasted alcohol (though sometimes I think I might have gotten drunk just from smelling Irish men's breathe) I was getting a little nervous that I wouldn't pass the test because I was soooo tired!! Thankfully, he just checked my info and let me go. It sounds like a good ending, but it's not. I have officially lost all rights to tell Case how to drive, which I really need to do because I get carsick driving 2 miles with him. I guess I can't say much if I get pulled over for drunk driving when I'm totally sober!!

Thanks Norma!!

On days when I feel like less than the perfect mother, I am so thankful for Norma.
Who is Norma?? She is one of my visiting teachers and I love her. She is probably in her late 70's or early 80's. She is a sweet, genuine, and good person. She always seems to know when I'm sick and she'll call telling me she "felt" like she should bring me chicken noodle soup. She insisted on watching my kids when I was in the hospital and she brought us dinner TWICE. That's just Norma--everytime she comes VTing, she brings my kids a treat or a prize from the dollar store. She gives me a wonderful lesson and stays 20 minutes max!!
Anyway, after Norma watched my kids, she brought me a list telling me why she thinks I should have a lot of children and why she thinks I'm a good mother. I have that list hanging up in my kitchen, so on days like today, I can look at it and know that someone thinks I'm doing ok!! It's such a simple list, but such a boost to my spirit!! Thanks Norma!!
FYI my other VT has the same stats!!

Skinny gods

Ok, I swear the "skinny gods" HATE me. I just started my THF program today and I KNOW they just can't let me get skinny and I have proof.
#1 Case is in Cali for work and is suppose to come home tomorrow night. He got a call this afternoon telling him that his boss would like him to stay until next Monday!! How am I suppose to get to the gym if he can't watch the kids???
#2 I was grilling my chicken and my grill ran out of propane.
#3 I thought "no problem, I'll just use my indoor grill." Yeah right!!! I couldn't find the plug anywhere.
#4 Next option...broil the chicken. Too bad my broiler pan is nowhere to be found. I was NOT going to fry my chicken---just a tip.....microwaved chicken is just as gross as it sounds.
I'm embarassed to say I don't have a clue how to change the propane tank. It's just a given in our relationship that I wipe off the kitchen counters and scrub the toilets and Casey mows the lawn and changes the propane tank. Anything else is fair game.
#5 I'm grill-less for the week and I grill a lot on this program.

My retaliation:
#1 I ate the microwaved chicken
#2 I somehow managed to get a decent work-out at home
#3 I will change the propane tank myself!!

I am not going to let anything get me off course!!