An Iowa Mom

The Grass Is Always Greener

Today is the day that Molly doesn't have preschool.  She goes four days a week and on Friday's she is all mine.  For most of the morning she was playing with all her Fisher Price stuff that she had worked so hard to drag up from the basement and scatter all over my living room floor.  She is a master at doing that.

Then, mid-morning, she came bouncing up to me and said, "Can we have a really fun day today and not clean?"

"Sure!" I agreed, since little did she know all of my cleaning was done anyway.  "What shall we do?"

She looked over to the mess she had made in the other room and smiled.  Off we went to have some Fisher Price village, castle, farm, house, parking garage and school kinda fun. 

Of course, I wanted to take control (which yes, I know I shouldn't but I JUST CAN'T HELP IT) and organized all the structures into what made sense and formed a cool little "town".  Pushing little cars up and down my imaginary roads and making all the tiny plastic people talk in squeaky, high-pitchedvoices, I was truly having a good time.

And then ... and then ... and then ... Molly placed a hand on my shoulder ...

"Mom.  I don't think we should play together right now.  I just love you TOO much."

What the heck is THAT supposed to mean?

I am guessing that she was having about the same amount of fun playing with me, that Lucky was having with the girls in this picture ...

Yet Another Bad Parenting Moment

At one point, early on ... I debated whether or not I should number my "Bad Parenting Moments" in the title of my blog posts.  Ya know, just for fun.  Let me just say, I am so glad I didn't.  The sheer NUMBER of these moments would just be too embarrassing. 

But not embarrassing enough to stop sharing them with you.  Yeah ... one could say I'm not always the brightest bulb in the chandelier, but since I'm aware of that little fact, you can't really make fun of me and talk behind my back about it.  Well ... I guess you could ... but it wouldn't be nearly as much fun as it would be if I was totally oblivious.

Just sayin'.

Anyway - Emily asked me to put her hair in pig tails this morning.  And I did.  For the first time in the history of Emily, she was satisfied and happy with something I had done for her.  She even smiled.  And hugged me. 

I know!  Blew me away too.

So, as she was putting her coat on getting ready to catch the bus, she was hesitant when I handed her the same ol' black hat she has worn on her head every single day since the temperatures have dropped.  Her nose wrinkled a bit, and muttered, "It's going to mess up my hair!"

What the heck?  It's Friday.  I tossed that hat into her backpack and zipped it up, patted her on the head and sent her on her way.

OH YES!  YES, I DID!

Regardless of whether I did that to merely to avoid a fight with my daughter (because we all know there would have been one hell of a fight) ... or if I was just ecstatically happy that she was totally unaware that I SUCK at doing pigtails ... it was not a great parenting moment sending my kindergartner off to school in below freezing temperatures without a hat on ... SO SHE DIDN'T MESS UP HER HAIR!

Again.  I'm aware.  So you can just skip all the hate mail.  M'Kay?

Following In My Footsteps

The other night, my oldest son informed me that he has started a blog.  Just like his mother.  Yup.  All on his own.  I played no part in any of it.  Seriously.

Why did he tell me this bit of information?

Well ... I think he's using me.  Using me for YOU.  I didn't come to this conclusion the first three times he asked if I'd tell you all about his blog ... but then this morning ... nestled snuggly under my keyboard, I found this:

 
So, as any good mother would do ... or because I'm just sick of hearing it ... I'd like to share with you ...

Life Of An Iowa Boy

I give him just a couple of days before he forgets to post. 

Just sayin'. 

I mean, they are MY footsteps he's following in after all.

Add Another To The List

Emily is special. 

Of course, all of my children are special. 

Heck, every CHILD in the world is special ... but ever since Emily was born ... there was just something different about her.  It's really hard to explain.

We've found nothing that wasn't of interest to her.  She loves to play ANYthing and with ANYone.  In our experience with the other three children, we've found that there are certain things that spark their interest ... and have a handful of things that they are "obsessed" with.

Emily is obsessed with everything ... and thrives at it all.  Anything she comes in contact with, you'd believe was her "passion".  Shoot, anything she comes in contact with I believe SHE thinks is her passion.  And, after the comment she made to me Monday evening ... I think we can add yet another to her growing list ...

"Oh my gosh, Mom!" she gushed, with all the emotion she could muster, "The Bachelor is soooo much better than The Golden Globe Awards!  I mean look at that ... their dresses are just incredible!!"

Yeah ... I think we can add FASHION to the list.

Or maybe ACTING.

Oh, who am I kidding ... probably BOTH!

Good Thing

The other morning our household was beginning to rise ... which brought Molly shuffling into our bedroom.  Sleepily rubbing her eyes, she crawled up into our bed to snuggle.  After a few seconds of silence, she blurted, "I don't lick my butt!"

Now ... that comment will jolt a parent awake in a hurry.  Believe me.  It WILL!

Big Daddy and I turned to look at each other.  A bit scared at how the brain in our youngest child was wired. 

And then she finished very matter of factly, shaking her head ... "Because I'm not a dog!"

Whew.  Relief.

See? I Told You So.

Do I know myself or what? 

You won't find me in therapy trying to figure out who I am.  Now, I'm not saying that I won't be layin' on the black leather couch for some other reason ... but to figure out "who I am"?  Not gonna happen.  I am completely aware of who I am.

So, just how many Project 365 posts did I do?

Eight, I think.

Not sure though.

Anyway ... I DO know that it's been six days since my last one was posted.

Yeah.

I suck.

There are lots of great photos that are wondering if my memory card will end up being their permanent residence, but I assure you (and them) that I will transfer them to a much better place within the next couple of days.

And I bet there is a story or two to be shared about them as well.

So anyway ...

Yup.

Told ya so.  I knew I wouldn't be able to do Project 365 every.single.day.

I knew it.  I knew it.

One thing you should know right now ...

I'm never wrong.

Just sayin'.

Let's Go Back ...

This morning before Jake left for school, he informed me he needed a baby picture of himself.  Ya know, because it's his eleven year old job to enlighten me about these kinds of things three minutes before the bus is expected to arrive ... even when it was running on a two hour delay.

So, I grab the photo album labeled 1999 to snag a photo of the kid.  Once I ripped it from the page and flung it in his direction quickly to assure he'd make his way onto the bus, I noticed the following picture staring up at me.

Holy Bajeezers!  I hardly recognized these two people.  This photo was taken of Big Daddy and me ten years ago, at my high school reunion.

It's amazing what a few years and four children can do to people, isn't it?