Since I started teaching online, I have become quasi proficient in blogging, message boarding, tweeting, podcasting, skyping, teleconferencing, glogging, emailing politely, status updating, and now creating avatars of myself singing in Spanish.
What I haven't fully mastered is the Wiki. A Wiki is a really cool concept. A group can work on a document or other social media something together. Let's take my daughter's class for example. If they are planning a play and they have a list of jobs for the mommies: what we need to buy, what time we need to be there, etc, etc... instead of one hundred emails going back and forth over and over again, everyone can edit "the wiki" and the jobs are done and there is no animosity that five moms brought napkins and only one mom had cups.
Here's a cool video on youtube:
You know what words jump out at me as I watch this? Collaborative! Easy to create! Published immediately! Compare versions! This is cutting edge, changing the world, awesome stuff and I'm so thrilled to be learning it.
Now everybody: think about planning the "Family Christmas Event" with it.
(Pause)
I'm calling this family "The Smiths." They are going to be a generic family. They could be any family planning any event anywhere in America. Let's give them a Mama, a Papa, three grown up children (two daughters and a son). :0)
Mama Smith starts the Wiki on the second day of December:
Christmas dinner this year will be at five o'clock sharp. I will make the turkey if each of my girls will provide the side dishes, their brother will bring the beverages. At six thirty we will open presents and go youngest to oldest. I want to watch my grandchildren enjoy their gifts, so please no television. The family service starts at 8:00 we need to be in line by 7:30.
Daughter Smith-Jones "edits" round 1:
Emmaline wakes up from her nap at four and needs about thirty minutes to become pleasant again. After we read two books and do her flashcards she needs a new outfit and then we can drive the thirty minutes to the house I grew up in. So five o'clock isn't going to work. Please remember she is not allowed sugar and we prefer everything to be as fresh as possible. How about six o'clock for dinner, let the children open gifts, then get in line for the service-everyone, don't forget to make sure the iPads are charged so the children will wait quietly in line. I just found a wonderful app that can teach French and Chess strategies at the same time!
Daughter Smith-Black "edits" round 2:
My boys will only eat McDonalds Happy Meals right now and it's Ben 10 week, so I'll pick those up on the way. No one in this house has napped since 2009. Unwrapping gifts will take less than five minutes. Mother, I really wish you would buy a Wii so that we could all hear ourselves think. Check your medicine cabinet for band-aids, Neosporin, and all those other things we need for whenever my twins jump their frail cousin. I swear they didn't rip the head off the multicultural Barbies on purpose last year. Standing in line by 7:30 is possible. I just put Holiday Angry Birds on my phone.
Son Smith (single and childless) edit round 3:
Whatever..I'll be there at five.
Papa Smith can't turn on a laptop......
What awesome creative collaboration! We will re-visit this "Holiday Wiki" throughout the Advent season....don't you want a real one now?
Friday, December 2, 2011
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Day 1: A Facial from Rituals....
I went to a women's college. I was a girl-scout. I went to a camp for girls for four summers in a row. I have read The Traveling Pants series. I get sisterhood, and motherhood, and the feminine mystique.
Women need each other. You help each other out, you cry on each others shoulders, you cheer each other on. Viva la sisterhood!!!
The holidays are coming. Most of my goody-goody friends have already finished their shopping. Hurray for them. But in case you haven't started, what is one of the best gifts a woman could give another woman?
I have the answer. It came to me when I was getting one myself:
A facial!
No kidding, seriously, I am not trying to be flip. A facial is the perfect gift. Let me tell you why.
I had one at Rituals on the town green. It was a gift from some friends that thought I needed it. I was a little perplexed because in my head I didn't know how a facial could last an hour. I just thought they put some gunk on your face, let it dry, wash it off, and you go home touching the softness before the kids started screaming again that they wanted macaroni and cheese instead of the well balanced meal you wanted to feed them.
There are two nice things about one spa treatment versus a day of them:
1) you can find an hour if you try hard enough and
2) If no one gives you the gift card, you can afford one treatment every now and then.
An hour? Really? OK, someone else was paying...
This was also the first time I had gone to Rituals for anything other than waxing. I don't see waxing as pampering, I see it as a necessity. I'd rather not look like my Uncle Wade, so I get waxed.
The first thing that they do is take you to a gorgeous bathroom that is not filled with plastic toys and towels that have Disney characters on them. Then they hand you a fluffy bathrobe, towel, and sandals and tell you to change. Why do I need to wear a robe to get my face done? A facial is not just a facial at Rituals.
Now, who to give this to? That is a very good question. I came up with a list!
1) Another mom with kids as rough as yours. Think of the times you are in line and everyone's kids are standing there and yours are going crazy. One other mom has a kid going nuts too. She should have a facial.
2) A teacher. She gets flack from parents, students, other teachers, and her administrator. Give her the facial.
3) This one is rough, but think of a woman you might not have been so nice to-either directly or indirectly. Maybe she should get a facial? (Warning-don't make a list of all the women that owe you a facial-that isn't part of the holiday spirit.)
4) Your very best friend in the whole wide world who has gone above and beyond for you over and over again...
5) Your own mother? Just saying....
Women need each other. You help each other out, you cry on each others shoulders, you cheer each other on. Viva la sisterhood!!!
The holidays are coming. Most of my goody-goody friends have already finished their shopping. Hurray for them. But in case you haven't started, what is one of the best gifts a woman could give another woman?
I have the answer. It came to me when I was getting one myself:
A facial!
No kidding, seriously, I am not trying to be flip. A facial is the perfect gift. Let me tell you why.
I had one at Rituals on the town green. It was a gift from some friends that thought I needed it. I was a little perplexed because in my head I didn't know how a facial could last an hour. I just thought they put some gunk on your face, let it dry, wash it off, and you go home touching the softness before the kids started screaming again that they wanted macaroni and cheese instead of the well balanced meal you wanted to feed them.
There are two nice things about one spa treatment versus a day of them:
1) you can find an hour if you try hard enough and
2) If no one gives you the gift card, you can afford one treatment every now and then.
An hour? Really? OK, someone else was paying...
This was also the first time I had gone to Rituals for anything other than waxing. I don't see waxing as pampering, I see it as a necessity. I'd rather not look like my Uncle Wade, so I get waxed.
The first thing that they do is take you to a gorgeous bathroom that is not filled with plastic toys and towels that have Disney characters on them. Then they hand you a fluffy bathrobe, towel, and sandals and tell you to change. Why do I need to wear a robe to get my face done? A facial is not just a facial at Rituals.
Now, who to give this to? That is a very good question. I came up with a list!
1) Another mom with kids as rough as yours. Think of the times you are in line and everyone's kids are standing there and yours are going crazy. One other mom has a kid going nuts too. She should have a facial.
2) A teacher. She gets flack from parents, students, other teachers, and her administrator. Give her the facial.
3) This one is rough, but think of a woman you might not have been so nice to-either directly or indirectly. Maybe she should get a facial? (Warning-don't make a list of all the women that owe you a facial-that isn't part of the holiday spirit.)
4) Your very best friend in the whole wide world who has gone above and beyond for you over and over again...
5) Your own mother? Just saying....
Monday, November 28, 2011
Advent 2011 is here
Wow, another block of Ordinary time is gone again. The Sundays after Pentecost went from around Memorial Day weekend, until yesterday, the first Sunday in Advent. The fact that this was called "Ordinary" time in the liturgical church calendar floors me because the "Page" calendar from Memorial Day weekend until last week was anything and everything but ordinary.
Perhaps that is why it is God's calendar and not my calendar that matters?
No matter whose calendar you choose to follow, it's that time before Christmas again. Some people call this the shopping crunch time. Some people dread the travel time. Some families do a Christmas tree and Santa Claus. Some families do the Nativity and the birth of Christ. Some families celebrate the "other" seasonal holidays. Some families roll their eyes at all of it. No matter what, it is "that time." And you need to embrace it-even if it means planning your shopping trips accordingly so you can park.
I thought after last year I couldn't have twenty five more posts in my head to reflect on the holiday season and my life in general.
I was wrong, and I can always admit when I am wrong.
I'm going to blog again for the 25 days of Advent quacks. They will officially start on Thursday but since the first day of Advent was yesterday I thought I would go ahead and get this up today. Calendars are made up by people anyway. According to Kris Kringle in Miracle on 34th street, "Christmas isn't just a day, it's a frame of mind."
If you have it, even a Grinch can't steal it.
I'll see you on the first!
P.S.-You can always go back an re-read Advent 2010
Perhaps that is why it is God's calendar and not my calendar that matters?
No matter whose calendar you choose to follow, it's that time before Christmas again. Some people call this the shopping crunch time. Some people dread the travel time. Some families do a Christmas tree and Santa Claus. Some families do the Nativity and the birth of Christ. Some families celebrate the "other" seasonal holidays. Some families roll their eyes at all of it. No matter what, it is "that time." And you need to embrace it-even if it means planning your shopping trips accordingly so you can park.
I thought after last year I couldn't have twenty five more posts in my head to reflect on the holiday season and my life in general.
I was wrong, and I can always admit when I am wrong.
I'm going to blog again for the 25 days of Advent quacks. They will officially start on Thursday but since the first day of Advent was yesterday I thought I would go ahead and get this up today. Calendars are made up by people anyway. According to Kris Kringle in Miracle on 34th street, "Christmas isn't just a day, it's a frame of mind."
If you have it, even a Grinch can't steal it.
I'll see you on the first!
P.S.-You can always go back an re-read Advent 2010
Friday, November 11, 2011
One bag of Oreos
When one of my kids has a tantrum or refuses to follow directions, or even more creatively does the opposite of what I say just because I said it, I have to remain calm. I don't always. Girl, every mother loses it every now and then, but if I want results, I need serenity. I need to wait out the rebellion and then they will do what I asked.
I simply say, "Go ahead, I'll wait." I'll wait until you pick up the Legos. I'll wait until the stuffed animals are in the cabinet. I'll wait for you to brush your teeth. I am in no hurry, especially now that I'm back in town. All three reluctantly, eventually, do what I say. The more I keep this up, the quicker they catch on that mom means it.
Sometimes I think when we are called "Children of God." This is what they mean. God keeps telling me to do something and I keep throwing a fit or doing the opposite of what he wants for me and he says, "Go ahead Page, make the bad choice, I'll wait, then you're going to do what I asked you to do in the first place."
Whatever....anyway, what I would tell a mom when she first hears her child is on the autism spectrum is...
I give you permission to eat one entire bag of Oreos-here is a box from me to you:
What was it like for me? I was relieved the first time that I had a name for it. PDD-NOS sounds a lot better than, "She is just going at her own pace." I had been told for a couple of years not to worry. Don't worry at the twelve month check up, don't worry at 15, don't worry at 18. Hello pediatricians, exactly when should I worry?
But with my son I was devastated. You can read that post here. It is true, I went home from that parent team conference and I downed a bag of Oreos. I give you permission to do the same. Do something sad and unhappy. Oreos, ice cream, M&Ms, Doritos...eat a whole thing by yourself and wash it down with a soda that isn't diet. You just won the anti-lottery.
I know some women like me that were relieved to finally have answer, but I have talked to lots of women who were destroyed with the diagnosis. I know women in denial. I know women that locked themselves away and cried. You may do this for a day or a weekend if you must-get your anger out, get your anguish out, and then move it along. Intervention means just that-jumping in and shifting the way things are going and it isn't passive. You are going to be surrounded by a lot of people with opinions and you will need to focus on what is best for you and your child.
One bag of Oreos is acceptable to express your disappointment in the situation. It is not going to turn you into a blimp unless you do it three times a day for a month. Which you won't be having time for because you have a lot of work to do now girlfriend...
If you aren't ready, fine...I'll wait.
I simply say, "Go ahead, I'll wait." I'll wait until you pick up the Legos. I'll wait until the stuffed animals are in the cabinet. I'll wait for you to brush your teeth. I am in no hurry, especially now that I'm back in town. All three reluctantly, eventually, do what I say. The more I keep this up, the quicker they catch on that mom means it.
Sometimes I think when we are called "Children of God." This is what they mean. God keeps telling me to do something and I keep throwing a fit or doing the opposite of what he wants for me and he says, "Go ahead Page, make the bad choice, I'll wait, then you're going to do what I asked you to do in the first place."
Whatever....anyway, what I would tell a mom when she first hears her child is on the autism spectrum is...
I give you permission to eat one entire bag of Oreos-here is a box from me to you:
What was it like for me? I was relieved the first time that I had a name for it. PDD-NOS sounds a lot better than, "She is just going at her own pace." I had been told for a couple of years not to worry. Don't worry at the twelve month check up, don't worry at 15, don't worry at 18. Hello pediatricians, exactly when should I worry?
But with my son I was devastated. You can read that post here. It is true, I went home from that parent team conference and I downed a bag of Oreos. I give you permission to do the same. Do something sad and unhappy. Oreos, ice cream, M&Ms, Doritos...eat a whole thing by yourself and wash it down with a soda that isn't diet. You just won the anti-lottery.
I know some women like me that were relieved to finally have answer, but I have talked to lots of women who were destroyed with the diagnosis. I know women in denial. I know women that locked themselves away and cried. You may do this for a day or a weekend if you must-get your anger out, get your anguish out, and then move it along. Intervention means just that-jumping in and shifting the way things are going and it isn't passive. You are going to be surrounded by a lot of people with opinions and you will need to focus on what is best for you and your child.
One bag of Oreos is acceptable to express your disappointment in the situation. It is not going to turn you into a blimp unless you do it three times a day for a month. Which you won't be having time for because you have a lot of work to do now girlfriend...
If you aren't ready, fine...I'll wait.
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Snow in October....
I had never heard of snow in October-ever.
Until Yesterday.
So what do I know now that I didn't know before? Which cliche should I go with? To live is to see it happen? Nothing is impossible? To never say never? Did I really need Mother Nature to remind me of something I should have learned a long time ago? I guess I did or it wouldn't have happened. That's my new philosophy.
We played in the slush for about an hour. I really had it in my head that it wasn't going to last very long, then I started reading Facebook updates about "Noreasters" and "Power out." Crap-better do everything I possibly need to get done before we are sitting in the dark freezing in feet pajamas.
The kids and I decided to carve our Jack-o-Lantern. That's right-let's make a huge mess in the kitchen just in case we lose power. I didn't think that maybe the power would go out in the middle of the project and I would be stuck with three kids, pumpkin pulp, and carving knives in the dark. Fortunately that didn't happen.
My children can't just carve a pumpkin-they have to plan it. They got out crayons and paper and sketched Jack-o-Lantern after Jack-o-Lantern until they had exactly what they wanted me to carve.
Those are kind of hard to see-but think of how many sketches Picasso did to finally reach the Guernica!
I learn so much from the north and my days in this town with my three children-slow down, expect the unexpected, and if you are going to make a mistake-do it on a piece of paper instead of the big orange gourd.
Because the last place I wanted to be yesterday was driving back to Bishop's for another pumpkin in the snow....
Until Yesterday.
So what do I know now that I didn't know before? Which cliche should I go with? To live is to see it happen? Nothing is impossible? To never say never? Did I really need Mother Nature to remind me of something I should have learned a long time ago? I guess I did or it wouldn't have happened. That's my new philosophy.
We played in the slush for about an hour. I really had it in my head that it wasn't going to last very long, then I started reading Facebook updates about "Noreasters" and "Power out." Crap-better do everything I possibly need to get done before we are sitting in the dark freezing in feet pajamas.
The kids and I decided to carve our Jack-o-Lantern. That's right-let's make a huge mess in the kitchen just in case we lose power. I didn't think that maybe the power would go out in the middle of the project and I would be stuck with three kids, pumpkin pulp, and carving knives in the dark. Fortunately that didn't happen.
My children can't just carve a pumpkin-they have to plan it. They got out crayons and paper and sketched Jack-o-Lantern after Jack-o-Lantern until they had exactly what they wanted me to carve.
Those are kind of hard to see-but think of how many sketches Picasso did to finally reach the Guernica!
I learn so much from the north and my days in this town with my three children-slow down, expect the unexpected, and if you are going to make a mistake-do it on a piece of paper instead of the big orange gourd.
Because the last place I wanted to be yesterday was driving back to Bishop's for another pumpkin in the snow....
Saturday, October 29, 2011
Pumpkin Spice in a place not always nice
One thing that floors me about New England is the dramatic change from small town to small town. I don't sugar coat jack-the people one town over can be downright snobby. I grew up hearing about Madison, CT, from my mother actually. One of her best friends from college lives there, and has always lived there. (People don't leave the shoreline). My mom would go visit this "Madison." It took almost an hour to get there from the airport and they ate chopped up lobster on a hotdog bun. Oh, and they were always going to day spas. That is what my "twelve year old self" in Greensboro, North Carolina remembers of the place she can semi-call home twenty-five years later.
I moved here three Octobers ago-October is always my personal new year, and the only preschool spot available was in Madison. Boy was that a way to throw yourself into a cultural immersion. No, I did not go into labor on my yacht. I went into labor in an IMAX movie theater. No, I don't shop at the health food store. I shop at the grocery store for my chicken nuggets. Yoga? No, I have never been to India.....
Other than preschool, I have a few other reasons for traveling to Madison. I feel a wave of arrogance go through me when I cross the boarder of the towns, but alas, I am an addict, and Madison has allowed one little piece of commercialism into its stellar little town.
Last Saturday I was getting my usual and it was quite crowded with the usual people placing the most ridiculous orders I have ever heard-non fat, caffeine free, use soy, etc.... but then all of a sudden the baristas were calling the same drink over and over again: Pumpkin Spice, Pumpkin Spice, Pumpkin Spice...at least eight times I heard this called. What is up here?
When people are doing something, you have to decide: Am I going to do what they do, or am I going to stick with my Skinny Vanilla? The good news about a blog is that you can always say you did it for the blog.
Yesterday, I had a very overwhelming day. I had one too many meetings on my computer and I had thirty minutes to get my boys to school before another meeting. Plus I had made a Halloween blog commitment. I'm in Madison, I have twenty five minutes, and I need a Halloween theme blog topic: Pumpkin Spice anyone?
The particular drink is plastered in posters and signs everywhere: Drink Me! Drink Me! You are not a true coffee drinker/ Starbucks shopper if you don't order Pumpkin Spice. I should have tried green tea instead.
As a reminder of where I was, a woman whose kids had been in gymnastics with my kids for three years was walking out as I was walking in. She went right by without so much as a nod. Gone are those days-I turned my head, said Hello-and asked how "Billy and Benny" were doing this year, just so she knew I took the time to care. Those are fake names, I promise the real names are the top two on the social security website name list. No, she had not been in a hurry, and no, she did not forget me. Nobody forgets me.
Back to the line: I ordered the drink.
This is too funny not to post:
Me: "Grande Pumpkin Spice Latte, please" Maybe the please threw her off.
Barista: "You want whole milk?"
Me: "Sure, why not, I ran this morning."
Barista: (big round eyes) "Do you want whipped cream?" Oh I am going to mess with her..
Me: "Absolutely! Why don't you go dust off the can!"
Barista to the other Barista: Grande Pumpkin Spice Latte all the way!
Other Barista: "All the way?? " (Did I order rat poison? Ladies, I need to take you south!)
I didn't take any pictures but boy did I want to-I was paranoid. I got in my car to get home to yet another webinar, and took a sip.
YUMMMMMM! Like a liquid pumpkin pie.
It was worth extra time in Madison for that treat. I'll have to go again, only I'll get a tall, with skim milk, and no whip from now on.
I live on the Shoreline after all....
I moved here three Octobers ago-October is always my personal new year, and the only preschool spot available was in Madison. Boy was that a way to throw yourself into a cultural immersion. No, I did not go into labor on my yacht. I went into labor in an IMAX movie theater. No, I don't shop at the health food store. I shop at the grocery store for my chicken nuggets. Yoga? No, I have never been to India.....
Other than preschool, I have a few other reasons for traveling to Madison. I feel a wave of arrogance go through me when I cross the boarder of the towns, but alas, I am an addict, and Madison has allowed one little piece of commercialism into its stellar little town.
Starbucks
Last Saturday I was getting my usual and it was quite crowded with the usual people placing the most ridiculous orders I have ever heard-non fat, caffeine free, use soy, etc.... but then all of a sudden the baristas were calling the same drink over and over again: Pumpkin Spice, Pumpkin Spice, Pumpkin Spice...at least eight times I heard this called. What is up here?
When people are doing something, you have to decide: Am I going to do what they do, or am I going to stick with my Skinny Vanilla? The good news about a blog is that you can always say you did it for the blog.
Yesterday, I had a very overwhelming day. I had one too many meetings on my computer and I had thirty minutes to get my boys to school before another meeting. Plus I had made a Halloween blog commitment. I'm in Madison, I have twenty five minutes, and I need a Halloween theme blog topic: Pumpkin Spice anyone?
The particular drink is plastered in posters and signs everywhere: Drink Me! Drink Me! You are not a true coffee drinker/ Starbucks shopper if you don't order Pumpkin Spice. I should have tried green tea instead.
As a reminder of where I was, a woman whose kids had been in gymnastics with my kids for three years was walking out as I was walking in. She went right by without so much as a nod. Gone are those days-I turned my head, said Hello-and asked how "Billy and Benny" were doing this year, just so she knew I took the time to care. Those are fake names, I promise the real names are the top two on the social security website name list. No, she had not been in a hurry, and no, she did not forget me. Nobody forgets me.
Back to the line: I ordered the drink.
This is too funny not to post:
Me: "Grande Pumpkin Spice Latte, please" Maybe the please threw her off.
Barista: "You want whole milk?"
Me: "Sure, why not, I ran this morning."
Barista: (big round eyes) "Do you want whipped cream?" Oh I am going to mess with her..
Me: "Absolutely! Why don't you go dust off the can!"
Barista to the other Barista: Grande Pumpkin Spice Latte all the way!
Other Barista: "All the way?? " (Did I order rat poison? Ladies, I need to take you south!)
I didn't take any pictures but boy did I want to-I was paranoid. I got in my car to get home to yet another webinar, and took a sip.
YUMMMMMM! Like a liquid pumpkin pie.
It was worth extra time in Madison for that treat. I'll have to go again, only I'll get a tall, with skim milk, and no whip from now on.
I live on the Shoreline after all....
Thursday, October 27, 2011
The Grocery Store Diaries: Halloween Special!
I own the grocery store parking lot now. All three of them know they don't open a single door until I give them the go ahead. All three of them know they can't ask for junk. All three of them know we stick together and don't scatter in 101 directions. I said they know it. I didn't say they do it.
The pumpkins outside the store would be fight number one- but we get to avoid this because we have already gone to the "pumpkin patch" in town and we don't need anymore. Last year I went to the patch for the pictures and then bought the pumpkins at the grocery store. Oh well, every now and then I do something the way other women would do it.
Even though we had a few days left, I decided to go ahead and get the candy during this trip. I know that buying candy early is going to force me to run six miles a day instead of three. I can also look at all the flyers and handouts on my desk and know that we have a very busy weekend ahead and finding time to brave a store might not be on the to do list.
Why oh why didn't I just grab whatever was on sale and bury it under the bread and frozen vegetables? Did I really have to take the time to engage the three of them in conversation? Think about the opportunities for speech the candy aisle provides a mother and her children.
This is a "good mommy" banter:
Look kids, what shapes do you see?
What are the different colors?
What flavors are in those?
How many lollipops do you see?
Ok my loves, can we pick out the best candy for all our special friends in the neighborhood? And we know we aren't opening the bag until Monday, right? Then we eat one piece a day until Christmas.
Then you watch this woman and her kids skip happily through the check out aisle.
OK, that was fun.
Now, here are MY THREE in the candy aisle:
F: "OK, I want this one for today, and we can eat this bag tomorrow....So we better get at least five bags...
L: "Candy Corn! Candy Corn! I want candy corn!"
K: "Oh come on, Lowell, if we pass out candy corn no one will ever speak to us again, you know how mom gets when no one will talk to her..."
F: Lollipops would work (whispering to Kenneth) we can hide these in my room and she won't know...
K: You hide the lollipops and I'll hide M&Ms-you are so right, she will never find them....
Why do they think I can't hear them?
OK ENOUGH! Each of you pick one bag and then we are shopping for real food....
The decoration aisle is not my thing. My mother sent them pumpkin place mats and we will paint and carve pumpkins this weekend. That is as far as I have time to take it. Everyone knows not to ask me for scarecrows and spiders that end up in the storage closet later.
We are shopping fine-like any other Shoreline mommy with nothing else to do on a weekday afternoon...
Until...
There is this scary looking life sized witch that laughs an evil cackle when you walk by her. My three year old has perfected jumping out of the cart and climbing up my side and clutching to my hair for dear life when we get near that thing. I want to tell him that there are plenty of witches in the grocery store all year long, but lately I am keeping such opinions to myself.
Do his brother and sister comfort him and tell him it isn't real? Do they try to ease his pain? What do you think?
"Look Lowell, she is going to get you!" He climbs higher up my head.
"Hey Mom-we could by one for our living room." Then the baby really starts screaming...I wonder if my sister has these third child torture stories...
The check out is fine-five bags of candy (one of which they have already eaten), all the staples my children love, and no witch. Unless you count me....
Rock it out this Halloween....In preparation for my Advent tradition, four more "Halloween Quacks" are coming!
The pumpkins outside the store would be fight number one- but we get to avoid this because we have already gone to the "pumpkin patch" in town and we don't need anymore. Last year I went to the patch for the pictures and then bought the pumpkins at the grocery store. Oh well, every now and then I do something the way other women would do it.
Even though we had a few days left, I decided to go ahead and get the candy during this trip. I know that buying candy early is going to force me to run six miles a day instead of three. I can also look at all the flyers and handouts on my desk and know that we have a very busy weekend ahead and finding time to brave a store might not be on the to do list.
Why oh why didn't I just grab whatever was on sale and bury it under the bread and frozen vegetables? Did I really have to take the time to engage the three of them in conversation? Think about the opportunities for speech the candy aisle provides a mother and her children.
This is a "good mommy" banter:
Look kids, what shapes do you see?
What are the different colors?
What flavors are in those?
How many lollipops do you see?
Ok my loves, can we pick out the best candy for all our special friends in the neighborhood? And we know we aren't opening the bag until Monday, right? Then we eat one piece a day until Christmas.
Then you watch this woman and her kids skip happily through the check out aisle.
OK, that was fun.
Now, here are MY THREE in the candy aisle:
F: "OK, I want this one for today, and we can eat this bag tomorrow....So we better get at least five bags...
L: "Candy Corn! Candy Corn! I want candy corn!"
K: "Oh come on, Lowell, if we pass out candy corn no one will ever speak to us again, you know how mom gets when no one will talk to her..."
F: Lollipops would work (whispering to Kenneth) we can hide these in my room and she won't know...
K: You hide the lollipops and I'll hide M&Ms-you are so right, she will never find them....
Why do they think I can't hear them?
OK ENOUGH! Each of you pick one bag and then we are shopping for real food....
The decoration aisle is not my thing. My mother sent them pumpkin place mats and we will paint and carve pumpkins this weekend. That is as far as I have time to take it. Everyone knows not to ask me for scarecrows and spiders that end up in the storage closet later.
We are shopping fine-like any other Shoreline mommy with nothing else to do on a weekday afternoon...
Until...
The witch!
There is this scary looking life sized witch that laughs an evil cackle when you walk by her. My three year old has perfected jumping out of the cart and climbing up my side and clutching to my hair for dear life when we get near that thing. I want to tell him that there are plenty of witches in the grocery store all year long, but lately I am keeping such opinions to myself.
Do his brother and sister comfort him and tell him it isn't real? Do they try to ease his pain? What do you think?
"Look Lowell, she is going to get you!" He climbs higher up my head.
"Hey Mom-we could by one for our living room." Then the baby really starts screaming...I wonder if my sister has these third child torture stories...
The check out is fine-five bags of candy (one of which they have already eaten), all the staples my children love, and no witch. Unless you count me....
Rock it out this Halloween....In preparation for my Advent tradition, four more "Halloween Quacks" are coming!
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