The Parenting Files: Bringing Mt. Washmore to the Children

I learned how do laundry when I was 9.   My Dad would wash everything in hot water and it would shrink my clothes.  I loved my baggy clothes (no thanks to early onset puberty).  
So, I know full well that my children are old enough to start learning the basics of their laundry care. 

This excerpt is taken from a flylady email:

"The secondary payoff came several years later when first DS went to college. He held laundry classes in his dorm, because he was the only one of his friends who knew how to do their own laundry. I got one of those treasured phone calls in which he said, "Thank you, Mom, for preparing me. I can't believe these people don't know how to do their own laundry." "

When I was in college I worked part time in a laundromat.   A guy came up to the counter and asked me to quietly explain to him how to wash his laundry.  I came out and proceeded to show him the routine and the whole time he kept shushing me because he didn't want the other patrons to know that he was learning. 

My daughter was working on cleaning her bedroom (which I can almost walk thru now) this weekend and bellowed from her room that it was time for me to wash her clothes because her hamper was full.  I responded by telling her that she had better whisk her basket of dirties to the washing machine then if she wanted clean clothes.  

My children are babied entirely too much and I know this.  But, I am determined that they will know how to do their own laundry, how to do basic cleaning and how to cook a few simple meals before they leave my house. 

The Parenting Files: Soccer Mom

When I've lost count of the different teams, colors and seasons of my 8 year old's soccer career
When I hear myself shouting from the sidelines and not just for my own child
When I can sort of keep track of who is slacking and who has improved their skills
When my child asks me how she's doing and I give her an honest critique and tell her what she needs to improve
When we're buying more soccer shoes than dresses
When I tell my 5 year old to suck it up, quick crying like a baby and kick the ball
When I find myself pressuring my husband to make sure to sign her up for the next season and then directly follow it up with another one
When I sort of stopped caring that our weekends have become about soccer because I like watching her on the field- because well the Girl has game
When we even sort of consider having her try out for a select team when it means twice a week practice, more money, more travel and a big commitment
I finally realize I might just be a soccer mom.

Now if we could only figure out what Little Guy's thing is.

The Parenting Files: Where'd My Baby Go?

Today my eight year old daughter asked me for a cell phone because many other kids in her class already have them. And she is starting to worry that she's not as cool as the other kids -all the time. She has become an anxious kid, a worrier.


No longer the happy go-lucky munchkin who was content to play with my old dishcloth while I prettied up her hair.

She's no longer as content with the little things in life like a nap on the floor while Elmo entertains.




And this little boy is now facing the problem of being the weird meltdown kid on the soccer field and almost incapable of playing with others and following directions. We worry about his future and if he'll always be the odd one out. Will he ever be able to go with the flow?
He's still a snuggler. But, I wonder if anyone else besides our family will ever be able to appreciate his sweetness and his creativity. Will anyone besides his family ever get him to take turns or play nicely?

This part is much harder than being sleep deprived or potty training.

The Parenting Files: The Good Daddy

My Husband spent 45 minutes installing the light in this train toy by using a dremel tool and a the light from a McDonalds toy. The joy on our son's face was priceless as he flopped around the house telling me how cool his toy was going to be after his Daddy fixed it. Sometimes the smallest things are the biggest blessings to little people.

The Parenting Files: Why I love living with kids

Elmo's wardrobe changes never cease to amuse me.

The Parenting Files: Back To School

School starts tomorrow for both of my kidlets.

It's been busy around here gathering paperwork, buying supplies, and getting clothes together.
Today I spent $25 on two kids hair cuts. I am not talented enough to do it myself and Hubby should not attempt it again either after the last butchery he did on my baby boy. ; )

Even using coupons and stockpiling- I still ended up spending about $30 just on Little Guy's school supplies. The teacher wanted a lot of clorox cleaner, hand wipes, and anti bacterial gel and that added up. It would be a terrible thing if an errant germ were to escape alive.

It's going to be an adjustment getting the whole family up and ready early in the morning when we've gotten lazy this summer about sleeping in until 8:30. I think my kids are both ready for school though. I'm looking forward to seeing them both blossom this school year. Is it wrong that I'm confident that our teachers will love my children (even if my little boy is a little too exuberant sometimes?)?

It does make me a bit sad that my little baby girl is already losing teeth and going into first grade. I still sometimes see a a glimpe of the pie faced three year old that I loved so much. But, that little face is changing into a curious and sharp minded individual's face. And I can't help but love that too.

The Parenting Files: Grateful for the Little Things

Today I'm grateful that daughter has a loving set of Grandparents who have a small farm AND a pony for their grandchildren. Even when she's an old woman I'm sure she'll remember the smell of the hay, feeding the chickens, riding that pony, and picking vegetables out of their well tended garden. Happy childhood memories don't have to start or end in the toy aisle.

The Parenting Files: Free Joy for the taking.

Despite a crumby start to my day (my full coupon box tipped over, I forgot Little Guys lunch at home, etc) I have to admit that the one thing that always puts a smile on my face is the silliness of my boy.

We spied the baby geese who live in our neighborhood on our way home from school. We sat in our car for a minute watching their little yellow selves waddle around in the water puddles on this rainy day. Never straying too far from their parents, they moseyed from puddle to grass shoot inspecting their new world. Little Guy of course wanted to take one home and voiced this loudly when we pulled away from them. Yeah, I know how he feels.




This is him five minutes ago. He heard the recycling truck coming and jumped up on his computer table to get a better look. He'll let me know when it gets to our house.

Thanks Little Guy for keeping me grounded and always managing to put a smile on your tired mama's face. I love you to the moon.
The truck is here and you're calling me to join you. Must go.

The Parenting Files: Mothering FAIL

The list I had to get done today- I haven't accomplished much.

Dinner is in the oven- check.

The laundry is sitting in the floor in front of me waiting to be folded.

Little Guy would not nap. In fact he had a kicking and screaming fit when I took him to his room for a nap. Potty training? Not so great. Two pee undies, one pee on the floor, and two poopy diapers. He pooped in his morning diaper before I changed it and he pooped in his nap diaper as soon as I put on him. I did hear what sounded like something being poured into the toilet and jumped up to see what he was up to. Mid trot I tripped on my pajama pant and fell down. I got carpet burn on my hand and leg and I tore my thumb nail. I turned around to see him sitting backwards on the potty (that's how he rolls) and looking at me like I was an idiot. He came to check on me and said, "Mommy, you fall!" which sounded more like "Mommy, you are an idiot" to me. And sadly, I couldn't argue with that.
As of fifteen minutes ago, I gave up for the day and put him in a pull up.

They've been self serve snacking like rabid hyenas since Big Girl came home too. Pretzels, peanuts, apples, the candy bowl before I put it on top of the refrigerator. The dog even got a healthy dose of peanuts when Little Guy spilled them on the floor. I got to him just in time to keep him from re-filling the canister from the floor. And apparently the dog is feeling better since she hoovered up the fallen legumes like a anteater at an all you can eat ant buffet. And I found a banana peel sitting all brown, rotty, and forgotten on the fireplace. No one would claim it. I think for a minute Big Girl wanted to argue that it was mine and I had left it there. Because I do that all the time. Whenever I'm done with a banana I just toss the peel over my shoulder. Right.

And fighting. They love to fight with each other. I don't normally spank but today I had enough of their bickering and they both got a swat on their butt after hitting each other. And do you know what I said after I swatted their butts? "This is a no hitting family." Way to go Mom. Do you know what they were fighting over? A throw blanket that Little Guy would not share. Apparently she was too tired to turn around and grab the other throw that was resting right behind her head.

Hubby will be home soon and I'll retreat upstairs for a moment of peace while I put laundry away and can actually scratch one thing off of my to do list for the day.
I think it will be an early night for all of us. At least I get another chance tomorrow.

The Parenting Files: Why I never get anything done... (or maybe I just blog too much)

I've donned my Santa apron, lit a vanilla spice Febreeze candle, made a to do list, and put on The Nutcracker Suite to set the mood. Meanwhile the kids who were _supposed_ to be cleaning up their toy room messes are having a crazy concert on top of the toy room table. Notice the busy little reindeer doing a crazy dance.

Wordless Wednesday: What happens when you buy pink cowgirl boots.

The Parenting Files: The beginning of a beautiful friendship.

Sorry about your brush, honey. Oops.

The Parenting Files: First Day of Kindergarten

I wasn't the only parent with a few tears in my eyes as I said goodbye to my Big Girl this morning.

Sigh. Has it really been five years since I brought a wriggling, crying baby girl home for the first time? Has it been two years since I dropped her off for her first day of preschool and she clung to my leg and cried? Today she didn't even look up when I waved goodbye. Sniff. I'm so proud, sad, happy....

The Parenting Files: When your audience stinks

Ah lazy Sundays- when personal hygiene needs are sometimes pushed back in favor of leisurely french toast breakfasts, racing choo-choos and an impromptu concert in the toy room by our favorite 5 year old.


It's just after lunch and I'm cleaning our dishes up. I can hear our daughter singing and talking after she invited her Daddy into the playroom for a "Tickbuck 3" (Timbuk 3 is a favorite of my hubby) concert. After the first few songs my hubby tried to excuse himself for a shower.
"No, Dad. The audience is supposed to be stinky!"

The Parenting Files: Toilet Paper as an Accessory

My Big Girl's requested dinner of Egg Drop Soup and Cinnamon Rolls required a trip to the grocery store today. Not being in the mood lately to don my Super Mommy cape- I let her wear a Burger King Crown festooned with a toilet paper garland. Halfway through the grocery store we passed another child laden cart with a Mom Jockey. A little girl who looked much like my own loudly exclaimed, "I want a crown like that one!"
You know what- me too.

The Parenting Files: When the student surpasses the teacher

Today the kids and I had a big grocery shopping trip with coupons today. I had a long list to knock out and Big Girl was a willing helper until her little legs started to get tired. She asked me what was taking so long this time. I told her that I was trying to save our family money and using coupons took more time.

She pointed to the full cart and said in an annoyed and tired voice, "How are you going to save money if you keep putting stuff in the cart?"

The Parenting Files: The best freebie of all

Hugs from someone you love are great.

They don't go bad. They don't cost anything. They don't take a lot of time. And you can give one almost anywhere.

The Parenting Files: Too Much of a Good Thing

You know it's time to make the pacifiers disappear when one isn't doing the job.


**I just noticed the dirt behind my back door. Ignore it if you can. I've tried everything but Scrubbing Bubbles which are supposed to work wonders on nasty stained linoleum floors. That's next.**

The Parenting Files: When peanut butter and cheerios meet

At least the peanut butter and cheerios are organic. ; )

The Parenting Files: When your kids decorate your tree

Hmmm, four golden acorns on one branch.... interesting. And what is that black thing? Oh, it's the missing vacuum cleaner part.