Sometimes Twitter peeps
really make me laugh out loud.
Sometimes I need it.
When I ask the peeps
to not fart or belch loudly
they mostly do not.
Though once in a while
someone lets one slip by
and the baby wakes.
After a bad day
people in my 'puter
sometimes make me smile.
But the biggest joys
of my life will always
be my hubs and kids.
******
Awwww! Isn't that special?
Also? Who knew that Twitter peeps were so into poetry?
Showing posts with label My posse. Show all posts
Showing posts with label My posse. Show all posts
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Saturday, January 3, 2009
What NOT to do
It seemed like a great idea at the time. We would go to the Minnesota Zoo (where we have a membership but we have only gone 3 times since July) and meet up with our friends there.
I made our lunches, being a responsible mom, but cut the sandwiches into dinosaurs (because I can also be a wild and crazy mom) I threw in some carrots, (the super sweet baby carrots) because the kids will eat the whole bag at home and ask for more. I should have known that they'd reject the carrots out in public because it's just natural to make me look like a moron for packing such a thing as carrots.
We woke up...I almost had to wake M up, which never happens unless we have to be somewhere, otherwise she's up before she needs to be and whiny for the rest of the day because she's tired. The kids were excited to go to the zoo, but probably more excited to see their friends.
We put our coats in a locker then set out on the tropical trail. There are several indoor exhibits at the Minnesota zoo that are really essential to keep the zoo inhabited in the winter time, although I'd guess most of the people there today were members.
My friend and I were amazed at the length of time our kids spent at the first few animal exhibits. Generally the kids are running ahead and we're yelling for them to stop. Well, the amazement was short-lived as the kids started running ahead. I tried to not be the shrill mom screaming for her kids to stop, but I probably wasn't successful.
After the tropical trail we decided to eat lunch. My kids ate their dinosaur sandwiches and turned their noses up at the carrots. I, incidentally, ate all of my sandwich, my carrots, AND my two Campari tomatoes that I brought for myself. So, go me!
D nursed while our friends made a bathroom run, then for a little bit when they returned. That pretty much sums up the maintenance of D for the entire trip. She didn't even require a diaper change. Please God, make her continue to be so low-maintenance!
After lunch we went to a discovery play zone where the kids all played for a good while, then we hit the shark and dolphin area. The kids quickly dispersed. It was like they'd had a plan: 2 moms, 6 kids (5 mobile) break!
It was probably my fault for not telling the kids to stick together, but they were so gone! For a while I had no idea where M was, then no idea where K was, then both were gone, then found K, then M, ugh it was exhausting. (D just rode happily in the sling. Not a peep from her. Please God, make her continue to be so low-maintenance!)
When we finally found all of our kids (my friend had equal difficulties) we decided to head to the Minnesota trail. This series of exhibits is inside, but outside. It's covered, but still cold. So we needed to get our coats out of our lockers. I got the key out of my back pocket and opened the locker. First out was D's bunting, which I decided to not put on her at that point. She was riding in the sling and cozy so I decided to just put my coat over both of us and put a blanket over her as well. I handed M her coat and turned to hand K his.
Where's K?
I wasn't immediately concerned because I figured he'd be around the corner. Nope. Not there. My friend started to go one way to look for him while I stayed with the rest of the kids. (We joked when we got there that with the 6 kids between us we'd get asked if we were a daycare.) Unsuccessful, she returned and I went in search. I saw a man in a zoo uniform at an information booth and told him I'd lost my son. He smiled at me and said he'd hold my baby for me. Huh?
Getting no help from the man who I'm hoping was just hard of hearing, I continued searching the crowd. I was taking deep breaths and fluctuating between being irate and devastated. I didn't know what to do. Should I have been screaming his name? Should I just continue to look quietly?
My mind started to wander to the possibility that I would not see my beautiful, happy, vibrant, irritating, handsome, annoying, smart, curious, friendly, loving boy again. I was barely holding back the panicked tears when my friend motioned to me.
They said he's at the Service Desk.
Oh God! Please let him be there! I fast-walked there and at first did not see him. Then one of the women working there moved and I caught sight of my boy sitting at the end of the very long desk. He was smiling and coloring. No worse for wear.
I asked him what happened and he was stuck on the fact that he got to color with a bunch of women around. Lord, I'm in trouble.
I feel proud that I didn't kill him for wandering away from us. I feel irritated that he didn't really learn a thing since he ran ahead of us throughout the Minnesota exhibit.
My friend tells me that M started crying while we were looking for K, so yet more proof that those two love the hell out of each other and that's why they fight so fiercely. Once K was returned to us, M held his hand firmly for about the first 5 minutes, which really was a long time for a little brother to endure such dictatorship.
I'm not sure how to prevent these boisterous, friendly, beautiful, trusting children from running away from their safety zone. We've had talks about bad people (which actually are not that common) but it doesn't seem to faze them. They are wearing rose-colored glasses and I'm not sure that I should take those glasses off.
How do you keep your kids safe?
I made our lunches, being a responsible mom, but cut the sandwiches into dinosaurs (because I can also be a wild and crazy mom) I threw in some carrots, (the super sweet baby carrots) because the kids will eat the whole bag at home and ask for more. I should have known that they'd reject the carrots out in public because it's just natural to make me look like a moron for packing such a thing as carrots.
We woke up...I almost had to wake M up, which never happens unless we have to be somewhere, otherwise she's up before she needs to be and whiny for the rest of the day because she's tired. The kids were excited to go to the zoo, but probably more excited to see their friends.
We put our coats in a locker then set out on the tropical trail. There are several indoor exhibits at the Minnesota zoo that are really essential to keep the zoo inhabited in the winter time, although I'd guess most of the people there today were members.
My friend and I were amazed at the length of time our kids spent at the first few animal exhibits. Generally the kids are running ahead and we're yelling for them to stop. Well, the amazement was short-lived as the kids started running ahead. I tried to not be the shrill mom screaming for her kids to stop, but I probably wasn't successful.
After the tropical trail we decided to eat lunch. My kids ate their dinosaur sandwiches and turned their noses up at the carrots. I, incidentally, ate all of my sandwich, my carrots, AND my two Campari tomatoes that I brought for myself. So, go me!
D nursed while our friends made a bathroom run, then for a little bit when they returned. That pretty much sums up the maintenance of D for the entire trip. She didn't even require a diaper change. Please God, make her continue to be so low-maintenance!
After lunch we went to a discovery play zone where the kids all played for a good while, then we hit the shark and dolphin area. The kids quickly dispersed. It was like they'd had a plan: 2 moms, 6 kids (5 mobile) break!
It was probably my fault for not telling the kids to stick together, but they were so gone! For a while I had no idea where M was, then no idea where K was, then both were gone, then found K, then M, ugh it was exhausting. (D just rode happily in the sling. Not a peep from her. Please God, make her continue to be so low-maintenance!)
When we finally found all of our kids (my friend had equal difficulties) we decided to head to the Minnesota trail. This series of exhibits is inside, but outside. It's covered, but still cold. So we needed to get our coats out of our lockers. I got the key out of my back pocket and opened the locker. First out was D's bunting, which I decided to not put on her at that point. She was riding in the sling and cozy so I decided to just put my coat over both of us and put a blanket over her as well. I handed M her coat and turned to hand K his.
Where's K?
I wasn't immediately concerned because I figured he'd be around the corner. Nope. Not there. My friend started to go one way to look for him while I stayed with the rest of the kids. (We joked when we got there that with the 6 kids between us we'd get asked if we were a daycare.) Unsuccessful, she returned and I went in search. I saw a man in a zoo uniform at an information booth and told him I'd lost my son. He smiled at me and said he'd hold my baby for me. Huh?
Getting no help from the man who I'm hoping was just hard of hearing, I continued searching the crowd. I was taking deep breaths and fluctuating between being irate and devastated. I didn't know what to do. Should I have been screaming his name? Should I just continue to look quietly?
My mind started to wander to the possibility that I would not see my beautiful, happy, vibrant, irritating, handsome, annoying, smart, curious, friendly, loving boy again. I was barely holding back the panicked tears when my friend motioned to me.
They said he's at the Service Desk.
Oh God! Please let him be there! I fast-walked there and at first did not see him. Then one of the women working there moved and I caught sight of my boy sitting at the end of the very long desk. He was smiling and coloring. No worse for wear.
I asked him what happened and he was stuck on the fact that he got to color with a bunch of women around. Lord, I'm in trouble.
I feel proud that I didn't kill him for wandering away from us. I feel irritated that he didn't really learn a thing since he ran ahead of us throughout the Minnesota exhibit.
My friend tells me that M started crying while we were looking for K, so yet more proof that those two love the hell out of each other and that's why they fight so fiercely. Once K was returned to us, M held his hand firmly for about the first 5 minutes, which really was a long time for a little brother to endure such dictatorship.
I'm not sure how to prevent these boisterous, friendly, beautiful, trusting children from running away from their safety zone. We've had talks about bad people (which actually are not that common) but it doesn't seem to faze them. They are wearing rose-colored glasses and I'm not sure that I should take those glasses off.
How do you keep your kids safe?
Thursday, August 9, 2007
Obsessed
My son has been asking for these trains since playing with them at his friends' house last winter. He was with me when I bought a set for him and I told him that they would be for his birthday. This was in April or May. Every day since then he asked me if it was his birthday.
So, both kids got some GeoTrax for their birthdays. And we've added some since then. The train tracks take up our entire living room floor. K and M both like to play trains, but not nearly as much as their Mom I fear.
I like making the tracks and making new configurations. I might be obsessed.
It's really wrong when you go to a friend's house and spend at least 10-minutes on the floor in the playroom coming up with a track for our boys. And you're having fun doing it.
Clearly, I have issues.
So, both kids got some GeoTrax for their birthdays. And we've added some since then. The train tracks take up our entire living room floor. K and M both like to play trains, but not nearly as much as their Mom I fear.
I like making the tracks and making new configurations. I might be obsessed.
It's really wrong when you go to a friend's house and spend at least 10-minutes on the floor in the playroom coming up with a track for our boys. And you're having fun doing it.Clearly, I have issues.
Tuesday, August 7, 2007
Friends
About a year ago, I wrote a very whiny post about not having any friends. It was a lie of sorts, because I regularly had contact with women who could technically be considered friends. However, my "friend" standard hadn't really been met at the time.
I'm so lucky to be able to say that I have friends now. I'm not going to identify them online, but I'm sure they know who they are.
These women have saved my sanity more often than they know. Now, our kids will be off to Kindergarten (mine, already...others in September...others will be schooled at home). I fear that we will lose touch and that our parenting and friend bonds will fade.
I picked up the August 2007 issue of Better Homes and Gardens at the dollar store (Love getting magazines there!) and found and article about "healing friendships" that resonated with me.
The article has the statistics (we all know that you can find a statistic for almost anything can't we?) that made me so happy to be able to say I have friends.
One landmark study of nearly 7000 residents in Alameda County, California, found that women who spent time with friends five or more times a month were less likely to die over the nine-year-follow-up period of the study. A second study, conducted at Mercy Medical Center in Maryland, revealed that men and women who had at least 10 friends were half as likely to have health challenges and disabilities that interfered with their daily lives as those who had only two friends.
I'm not sure that I have 10 friends, but I'm infinitely grateful for the 5 (in real life) that I feel like I can call for anything, anytime, and if they can possibly help me they will.
The article in BHG also had a sidebar about The New Backyard Fence. It related the reality of the Internet as a new connection mechanism. It told of the number of people who felt "very close" (23) to someone online and the number who felt "somewhat close" (27) to someone online. Seriously, the blogosphere and miscellaneous bulletin boards really do become "friends" to many. I'd say that I have several online "friends" that I have never met in real life. The best part of this sidebar gave me hope. What's more, instead of the popular image of a lonely person hunkered down in front of a screen, the Pew study found that those who make contact online are 50 percent more likely to have in-person contacts as well, than those who never touch a computer. Computers, it seems, are simply another way to make even more friends.
I'm convinced that this is the phenomenon that is keeping Rachael at Life with Hannah and Lily going. She has hundreds of new online friends to join her real friends to help her through her nightmare.
My friends have helped me in ways that they don't know. I'm sure that they don't. I can only hope that I have helped in the same way.
From the article again: "Our biology likes positive relationships," says psychologist Teresa Seeman, Ph.D., associate chief of geriatric research at the UCLA School of Medicine. "We're still trying to unravel why this happens. Among younger adults, [younger is not quantified in the story] it's the spouse who seems to have the biggest effect. But as you age, that doesn't seem to be as true. It's your friends."
I think I'll try to maintain all relationships, just to be safe. And because I rather like my husband...and my friends.
I have to say thank you to my husband AND all my friends, whether in real life or online. You've added much color to my life, and it is much-appreciated.
I'm so lucky to be able to say that I have friends now. I'm not going to identify them online, but I'm sure they know who they are.
These women have saved my sanity more often than they know. Now, our kids will be off to Kindergarten (mine, already...others in September...others will be schooled at home). I fear that we will lose touch and that our parenting and friend bonds will fade.
I picked up the August 2007 issue of Better Homes and Gardens at the dollar store (Love getting magazines there!) and found and article about "healing friendships" that resonated with me.
The article has the statistics (we all know that you can find a statistic for almost anything can't we?) that made me so happy to be able to say I have friends.
One landmark study of nearly 7000 residents in Alameda County, California, found that women who spent time with friends five or more times a month were less likely to die over the nine-year-follow-up period of the study. A second study, conducted at Mercy Medical Center in Maryland, revealed that men and women who had at least 10 friends were half as likely to have health challenges and disabilities that interfered with their daily lives as those who had only two friends.
I'm not sure that I have 10 friends, but I'm infinitely grateful for the 5 (in real life) that I feel like I can call for anything, anytime, and if they can possibly help me they will.
The article in BHG also had a sidebar about The New Backyard Fence. It related the reality of the Internet as a new connection mechanism. It told of the number of people who felt "very close" (23) to someone online and the number who felt "somewhat close" (27) to someone online. Seriously, the blogosphere and miscellaneous bulletin boards really do become "friends" to many. I'd say that I have several online "friends" that I have never met in real life. The best part of this sidebar gave me hope. What's more, instead of the popular image of a lonely person hunkered down in front of a screen, the Pew study found that those who make contact online are 50 percent more likely to have in-person contacts as well, than those who never touch a computer. Computers, it seems, are simply another way to make even more friends.
I'm convinced that this is the phenomenon that is keeping Rachael at Life with Hannah and Lily going. She has hundreds of new online friends to join her real friends to help her through her nightmare.
My friends have helped me in ways that they don't know. I'm sure that they don't. I can only hope that I have helped in the same way.
From the article again: "Our biology likes positive relationships," says psychologist Teresa Seeman, Ph.D., associate chief of geriatric research at the UCLA School of Medicine. "We're still trying to unravel why this happens. Among younger adults, [younger is not quantified in the story] it's the spouse who seems to have the biggest effect. But as you age, that doesn't seem to be as true. It's your friends."
I think I'll try to maintain all relationships, just to be safe. And because I rather like my husband...and my friends.
I have to say thank you to my husband AND all my friends, whether in real life or online. You've added much color to my life, and it is much-appreciated.
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