So, as you can see it's been a while since I've updated this blog. I could give all kinds of excuses, but what does that chat sound like with my daughter - "I was too busy to do the fun stuff," "I always have to work, so I didn't take the time to do the relaxing stuff," - uh no, so I'll just say I'M BACK!
This is the I'm back post. Back to doing the fun stuff, back to relaxing and letting it all just happen when it's supposed to happen, or not and back to just getting a chance to share what The Syd and I are talking about now a-days. She's six now! Yes six and with six comes new conversations and I'm back is perfect for such a time as this.
The Syd just came back from Spring Break which she spent with her Momo and PaPa (my step mom and dad). She couldn't wait to go to Momo and Papa's for a number of reasons - chickens, horses, dogs, cats, chickens, rabbits - to name a few. She talked all about her trip and how she couldn't wait to be there and leave me here. We talked about whether she would miss me or not and she said NO! Now some mothers could run from the room crying and I must admit that there was a twinge of hurt that I felt initially, but I know The Syd and I know that in time she'll BE BACK and with BE BACK comes I miss you mom.
Four days (not even the full seven) and it happened - I miss my mommy! (happy dance, she really does love me) Day seven does finally get here and she proclaims when she gets in the house - "I'M BACK and I'm so glad to be in my house." Of course there's further conversation that goes something like this . . .
The Syd: Mommy, I had fun at Momo and Papa, but I'm glad to be back.
Mom: So, did you miss me?
The Syd: Yes, and I'm glad to be back.
Mom: Why are you so glad to be back?
The Syd: I'm glad to have my bed.
Mom: What about you wanting to be at Momo and Papa's forever?
The Syd: Mommy, can you go with me next time so that you can be there with me and we can both be glad to be back.
Mom: Sure.
The Syd: Okay, can we eat?
Needless to say, she had a good time and did miss me, but was glad to BE BACK. This is of significance because as I work to raise this well balanced, appreciative, and loving little girl it's important that she understand the importance of getting back and appreciating that place that provides the comfort of not being back.
The Syd
The Seven Year Old Without Limits
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
Saturday, March 31, 2012
Don't Smell the Toilet
Okay, so you know how your mom tells you stories that you say "oh mom that never happened?" Well here is the story that Sydney will NEVER admit to remembering and I will laugh each and every time I tell it to her boyfriends, good girlfriends, future "loves of her life"(that's a whole 'bother blog), the husband, my grandkids, the in-laws, oh, the list goes on.
So, Sydney and I were at a restaurant recently and we, of course, had to go to the bathroom just as I was ready to put the fork to my mouth (ugh, cold mommy meal again). I digress . . .We head to the bathroom and finish what we went to do when my fabulously smart, highly intelligent, and yes, if I haven't told you, extremely bathroom cleanliness conscious daughter looks into the toilet to see the deodorizer that the restaurant has placed in this particular commode. I should put here that we were not necessarily in a 5-star restaurant - AHEM! Anyway, she goes to point to ask "what is that" and of course, in my famously motherly fashion I go to explain the the toilet has something like perfume and the restaurant puts it there to keep the toilet clean and keep the bathroom smelling pretty (again, motherly fashion of communicating bathroom smells). So, with that descriptive and commentary I proceed to head out the door to go wash hands and hope that my meal has some warmth to it when I turn todrag encourage Sydney out of the toilet and all of a sudden I just see her head deep in the toilet, doing what???? SMELLING THE DEODORIZER! <PAUSE FOR YOUR VISUAL AND TEARS OF LAUGHTER>
Needless to say, I immediately went to, first, avoid her hair from touching the deodorized toilet water and second, to get her nose out of a public restroom. At this point you should insert a visual into your head of a dazed and confused 5-year old and her mother, equally confused on what in the world would make you smell the toilet? It didn't take long before the explanation started that she wanted to smell the perfume to see if it smelled like the perfume I wore and to see where the color came from. Now, I'm laughing.
The conversation didn't last long and it was pretty simple in the end - you DON'T SMELL THE TOILET because the perfume isn't as good as mommies (or at least I hope).
So, Sydney and I were at a restaurant recently and we, of course, had to go to the bathroom just as I was ready to put the fork to my mouth (ugh, cold mommy meal again). I digress . . .We head to the bathroom and finish what we went to do when my fabulously smart, highly intelligent, and yes, if I haven't told you, extremely bathroom cleanliness conscious daughter looks into the toilet to see the deodorizer that the restaurant has placed in this particular commode. I should put here that we were not necessarily in a 5-star restaurant - AHEM! Anyway, she goes to point to ask "what is that" and of course, in my famously motherly fashion I go to explain the the toilet has something like perfume and the restaurant puts it there to keep the toilet clean and keep the bathroom smelling pretty (again, motherly fashion of communicating bathroom smells). So, with that descriptive and commentary I proceed to head out the door to go wash hands and hope that my meal has some warmth to it when I turn to
Needless to say, I immediately went to, first, avoid her hair from touching the deodorized toilet water and second, to get her nose out of a public restroom. At this point you should insert a visual into your head of a dazed and confused 5-year old and her mother, equally confused on what in the world would make you smell the toilet? It didn't take long before the explanation started that she wanted to smell the perfume to see if it smelled like the perfume I wore and to see where the color came from. Now, I'm laughing.
The conversation didn't last long and it was pretty simple in the end - you DON'T SMELL THE TOILET because the perfume isn't as good as mommies (or at least I hope).
Friday, June 24, 2011
Why are you rushing?
Never be late. When you're late, what you're saying is that your time is more important than the other person's time. That's pretty egotistical.
Alice Cooper
Musician
When I had my daughter I knew that my life would change. I would have to carry more stuff (baby stuff when she was little and now Hello Kitty EVERYTHING), my organizational skills would be challenged everyday at home and that I would have to limit my happy hours with friends once my bundle of joy entered the picture (just keeping it real), but NEVER did I once think that I would have to have conversations with a four year old (yes, later in life, but 4???) about time and how she needed to get her butt in gear and move it - I'm the MOMMA. But alas, the other day this fabulous and loving jewel in my crown (note: this title will change daily) had the nerve to ask me "why are you rushing mommy."
A little history is needed here! I have always been the person who is on time. On time means early in my book. I grew up a military brat, knowing and understanding military time AND, if late, there were consequences from the military dad in my family (hi dad, love you!). My friends used to and up until recently roll their eyes when they had to go somewhere with me because they knew I was not having any lateness in my car (uhem my dear friend Tiffany). So, it pains me to be late to anything. If you say 11:00 a.m., it will be 10:45 a.m. in my book. Time management is so relevant to my life that I tell my husband we have to be somewhere usually 30 minutes before we have to actually be to our destination because he too has time issues. But I digress.
So, you get the picture. On time . . .let's go . . .what's the problem. Well, the four year old had a very clear and concise question and answer to her time management issues or rather my rushing issues. The dialogue:
The Syd: Mom why are your rushing?
The Mom: What do you mean rushing?
The Syd: Why are you rushing tying my tennis shoes?
The Mom: We need to get out the door and head off to school and work, we're late - AGAIN!
The Syd: Mom, you shouldn't rush because your face gets sad looking, my tennis shoes get tied too tight and then we have a BAD DAY.
*(enter mom pause)*
Has my obsession with time management gotten to the point of making my four year old have a bad day? Were we really so late or had I just set an expectation that I wanted to be out the door at a certain time? What's the lesson I'm teaching my daughter by always being in a rush to meet some vague deadline that's been set in the morning that all working moms have, right? So I took a step back.
The rest of the conversation.
The Mom: Syd, we are a little late getting to school, so mom is just trying to get you to school so you can get your morning snack and we can respect your teacher's time and start your circle talk time with everyone in class. You know you like to be in circle time, right.
The Syd: Oh, then let's go because we don't want to be late.
Now did I teach her anything that morning, I think a little. Did I teach myself something about rushing and ushering my daughter and myself into a "bad day" because of a little timing issue - absolutely. My hope is that I can teach my daughter to be respectful of people's time and really work to meet expectation when you've set an appointment, but for me it's about not always being in a rush. Is it going to kill me not to get to the mall at 12:00 p.m. as planned, or will 12:15 p.m. work and no yelling, screaming or sad faces have to come out? I have to answer in the affirmative. Timeliness and respect for other people's time is important, but as important is the ability to take it a little easier and just enjoy the time tying the shoes that will soon become pumps and be put on behind closed doors with a simple "mom I'm leaving" and a door slam.
A little history is needed here! I have always been the person who is on time. On time means early in my book. I grew up a military brat, knowing and understanding military time AND, if late, there were consequences from the military dad in my family (hi dad, love you!). My friends used to and up until recently roll their eyes when they had to go somewhere with me because they knew I was not having any lateness in my car (uhem my dear friend Tiffany). So, it pains me to be late to anything. If you say 11:00 a.m., it will be 10:45 a.m. in my book. Time management is so relevant to my life that I tell my husband we have to be somewhere usually 30 minutes before we have to actually be to our destination because he too has time issues. But I digress.
So, you get the picture. On time . . .let's go . . .what's the problem. Well, the four year old had a very clear and concise question and answer to her time management issues or rather my rushing issues. The dialogue:
The Syd: Mom why are your rushing?
The Mom: What do you mean rushing?
The Syd: Why are you rushing tying my tennis shoes?
The Mom: We need to get out the door and head off to school and work, we're late - AGAIN!
The Syd: Mom, you shouldn't rush because your face gets sad looking, my tennis shoes get tied too tight and then we have a BAD DAY.
*(enter mom pause)*
Has my obsession with time management gotten to the point of making my four year old have a bad day? Were we really so late or had I just set an expectation that I wanted to be out the door at a certain time? What's the lesson I'm teaching my daughter by always being in a rush to meet some vague deadline that's been set in the morning that all working moms have, right? So I took a step back.
The rest of the conversation.
The Mom: Syd, we are a little late getting to school, so mom is just trying to get you to school so you can get your morning snack and we can respect your teacher's time and start your circle talk time with everyone in class. You know you like to be in circle time, right.
The Syd: Oh, then let's go because we don't want to be late.
Now did I teach her anything that morning, I think a little. Did I teach myself something about rushing and ushering my daughter and myself into a "bad day" because of a little timing issue - absolutely. My hope is that I can teach my daughter to be respectful of people's time and really work to meet expectation when you've set an appointment, but for me it's about not always being in a rush. Is it going to kill me not to get to the mall at 12:00 p.m. as planned, or will 12:15 p.m. work and no yelling, screaming or sad faces have to come out? I have to answer in the affirmative. Timeliness and respect for other people's time is important, but as important is the ability to take it a little easier and just enjoy the time tying the shoes that will soon become pumps and be put on behind closed doors with a simple "mom I'm leaving" and a door slam.
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