(Disclaimer - Sorry for anybody who gets this post twice. Blogger apparently ate it yesterday after I posted it the first time. I'm also missing a draft I was working on - anybody else having issues?)
My daughter was sporting shorts this morning at the park. I got multiple compliments on her adorable chubby thighs. (She really does have some deliciously impressive rolls on her legs.)
I'm guessing an adult would get a different reaction if they were rocking a similar look.
Then I saw this headline - Police nab armed 'Batman' in small Michigan town'
Apparently some dude was hanging off a building in a Batman costume armed with a baton and pepper spray in Michigan. According to the article, he didn't really have an explanation for the behavior.
My little man spends quite a bit of time either in costume or pretending to be some super friend or another. He rarely has an explanation for any behavior.
It's just funny to me how something can be cute at 4 and totally inappropriate at age 31. (31 happens to both the age of the bizarre batman from article and myself.)
I guess that's just part of growing up. At least we adults can get eat cookies for dinner if we want, get driver's license and buy booze, even if nobody thinks our fat legs are cute and pretending to be super heroes just gets us booked. I'd take the perks of adulthood over the free pass of childhood any day of the week.
May 13, 2011
May 8, 2011
Mommy Madness
My son's preschool puts on a Doughnuts for Dads and a Muffins for Moms one morning each spring. Muffins for Moms was last Friday to kick off the Mother's Day weekend. You go to school a half hour early and in theory enjoy a treat with your little one before delivering them to their classroom.
In actuality, the kids form a feral pack and wreck major havoc while the moms endure a stressful a half hour and are then extra grateful to give them to their teachers. The best part is that the moms are expected to provide the refreshments which just seems cruel to me.
Part of the tradition is that the kids give the parents a little present on their special morning. My husband got this:
I got this:
(In case it's not readily apparent, it's a recipe card holder. And yes, that's an upside down duck)
So to recap, the dads got trophies and the moms got... recipe card holders.
Is it just me or is that a bit unfair?
It's like getting a vacuum cleaner for Mother's Day. Even if it's cute, I don't really want anything that is used to cook or clean for Mother's Day...or really ever as a gift.
(My husband took me shopping for clothes so that was awesome. He even watched the kids so I could browse in peace.)
So Happy Mother's Day to all you mommies out there. I hope your day was filled with frivolous, impractical beautiful things.
You all deserve a trophy in my book!
In actuality, the kids form a feral pack and wreck major havoc while the moms endure a stressful a half hour and are then extra grateful to give them to their teachers. The best part is that the moms are expected to provide the refreshments which just seems cruel to me.
Part of the tradition is that the kids give the parents a little present on their special morning. My husband got this:
(In case it's not readily apparent, it's a recipe card holder. And yes, that's an upside down duck)
So to recap, the dads got trophies and the moms got... recipe card holders.
Is it just me or is that a bit unfair?
It's like getting a vacuum cleaner for Mother's Day. Even if it's cute, I don't really want anything that is used to cook or clean for Mother's Day...or really ever as a gift.
(My husband took me shopping for clothes so that was awesome. He even watched the kids so I could browse in peace.)
So Happy Mother's Day to all you mommies out there. I hope your day was filled with frivolous, impractical beautiful things.
You all deserve a trophy in my book!
May 5, 2011
The Difference
“Mama, mama.”
I looked down at my daughter. “Audrey, do you need something.”
She looked at me like I’d grown another head. (It’s amazing how she has already perfected that look.)
She said “mama, mama” again with a little more force and patted herself on the chest. Then she picked up her favorite doll and patted its back gently and said “baby”. She then put the doll on her hip and continued flipping through the books on the shelf with her other hand.
I had no idea that she understood so much already.
It’s also funny how that same doll had just enjoyed a brief, but exciting stint as a missile. My son had just used her to bomb an enemy camp of super villains, complete with enthusiastic sound effects.
The longer I’m a mom the more I’m leaning towards the nature side of the nature versus nurture debate. Obviously, I believe that parenting and environment matter, but my kids certainly came with some hard wiring already in place.
I try not to force anybody into any roles, but at this point gender stereotypes are alive and well in my house. It’s definitely an adventure parenting one of each gender. I love it and I can’t wait to see how it all plays out as they grow up.
I looked down at my daughter. “Audrey, do you need something.”
She looked at me like I’d grown another head. (It’s amazing how she has already perfected that look.)
She said “mama, mama” again with a little more force and patted herself on the chest. Then she picked up her favorite doll and patted its back gently and said “baby”. She then put the doll on her hip and continued flipping through the books on the shelf with her other hand.
I had no idea that she understood so much already.
It’s also funny how that same doll had just enjoyed a brief, but exciting stint as a missile. My son had just used her to bomb an enemy camp of super villains, complete with enthusiastic sound effects.
The longer I’m a mom the more I’m leaning towards the nature side of the nature versus nurture debate. Obviously, I believe that parenting and environment matter, but my kids certainly came with some hard wiring already in place.
I try not to force anybody into any roles, but at this point gender stereotypes are alive and well in my house. It’s definitely an adventure parenting one of each gender. I love it and I can’t wait to see how it all plays out as they grow up.
May 3, 2011
Runaway
I ran away from home last weekend. (Don’t worry, I willingly surrendered to authorities Sunday night and I’m back on responsible mom detail again.)
But I did spend one glorious night away from my family. Just me, two friends and a tiny amount of luggage that didn’t involve a Pack ‘N Play, diapers or the kitchen sink.
This is the first time I’ve left my daughter for more than an afternoon and leaving at all is fairly new since she was nursing until last December. I had only left my 4 year old twice before and once was a work trip so it doesn't really count in my book.
It was the best weekend in a looong time.
We drove a little over two hours away to Charlottesville, Virginia which is a perfect example of a cute college town.
I ate fantastic meals at places that did not have chicken fingers on the menu. I shopped for clothes that didn’t have an elastic waist. I bought a pair of earrings I loved for the hell of it. I even got a professional massage.
It had been a long time since I had a chance to be spontaneous and just wander through a day. I didn't have to worry about nap time or bed time or really anything at all. This weekend was a breath of fresh air and I feel more like myself than I have in recent memory.
I just got a chance to remember what it is means to be just me. Not “mommy”, just Kim. And it felt good...really, really good.
After a day and a half of freedom, I also remembered what it’s like to miss my family.
I thoroughly enjoyed my weekend of freedom, but I also remembered that I don’t really want to be “free” all the time. A break is fabulous, but so is having a beautiful family. (That said, I can't wait to do it again next year.)
Have a great day.
But I did spend one glorious night away from my family. Just me, two friends and a tiny amount of luggage that didn’t involve a Pack ‘N Play, diapers or the kitchen sink.
This is the first time I’ve left my daughter for more than an afternoon and leaving at all is fairly new since she was nursing until last December. I had only left my 4 year old twice before and once was a work trip so it doesn't really count in my book.
It was the best weekend in a looong time.
We drove a little over two hours away to Charlottesville, Virginia which is a perfect example of a cute college town.
I ate fantastic meals at places that did not have chicken fingers on the menu. I shopped for clothes that didn’t have an elastic waist. I bought a pair of earrings I loved for the hell of it. I even got a professional massage.
It had been a long time since I had a chance to be spontaneous and just wander through a day. I didn't have to worry about nap time or bed time or really anything at all. This weekend was a breath of fresh air and I feel more like myself than I have in recent memory.
I just got a chance to remember what it is means to be just me. Not “mommy”, just Kim. And it felt good...really, really good.
After a day and a half of freedom, I also remembered what it’s like to miss my family.
I thoroughly enjoyed my weekend of freedom, but I also remembered that I don’t really want to be “free” all the time. A break is fabulous, but so is having a beautiful family. (That said, I can't wait to do it again next year.)
Have a great day.
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