What a week!

The life of a mom is always full, and sometimes I just can't seem to get a break (translation: the easy way out) for the life of me.  I don't know if I broke a lot of mirrors in a past life, but geesh, somethings got to give!  Why is it that kids, mine at least, can go all summer long without so much as a tummy ache, and then school starts and everyone ends up sick?  Here's a timeline of first week of school at the Stine house.

Tuesday:  Owen started 1st grade. 

He loves it so far (yay!) but managed to get sick during aftercare on the third afternoon (Thursday).  He puked all over the stage in the cafetorium.  (At least it wasn't his teacher's desk.  I accidentally threw up on my 4th grade teacher's desk after she told me to go sit down because I wasn't sick.  It totally wasn't intentional to hit her desk, rather poetic justice.  She wasn't very nice!)

Friday: I got sick the next night.  Hugging the commode is not a fun way to spend a Friday night.

Monday 1:30 a.m.: I woke up to the distinctive sound of Gavin hurling in his bedroom.  Yep, the bug went from Owen to me to Gav.  Thank goodness he has hardwood floors is all I'm going to say to keep from grossing you out completely.

3:00 a.m.: I decided that there was no way Gav was going to make it to Grandma's the next day and then remembered I have no emergency sub plans for Central yet.  Argh, one of the bad things about teaching is sub plans!  So, at 3:30 I was on my way in to set things up for a sub.

2:00 p.m.:  Gav's keeping some food down, is happy watching movies on the couch, and I need a nap.  Two hours of sleep is rough, but I'm just glad I could be home with my little man.  I'm just hoping that this past week isn't a sign of what's to come in the year ahead!

A mom's job.

Some days I think being a mom is the loneliest job in the world even though you are surrounded.  I mean really, it isn't like I can actually discuss what is going on in the world with the boys!  I do a lot of telling, and they in turn do a lot of listening, but there is no real back and forth discourse.  I don't want to rush their youth, but I'm looking forward to talking to them about things besides Star Wars and Toy Story.

Speaking if Toy Story, we went to see it over the weekend.  Everyone said it was good, but no one told me I'd cry almost nonstop through it!  In many ways, it feels like I've watched Andy grow up just like I'm watching Owen and Gavin.  Seeing Andy go to college was like a look into the future for my kids.  It is times like that when I want them to stay little forever so I can keep talking Star Wars and Toy Story.  

I can only imagine how I will do when the boys leave home.  (I should probably buy stock in Kleenex right before they leave!)  Just yesterday, I nearly burst into tears while they were swimming with their cousins, Amanda and Morgan.  We have been trying to convince Owen for a year now he can swim and doesn't need floaties.  He's our safety precaution child, who last year tried wearing a ring, floaties, and life jacket in the pool.  Amanda with some amazing convincing that involved Silly Bands, got him to go in sans floaties and swim with her, with a noodle, and with a kick board.  He swam around like a little fish, while I snapped pictures, clapped, and wiped the tears that threatened to spill.      

Karate

If you've met Owen, you know he's a very active child and always on the move.  He's been asking to do karate for a long time now, and we finally found a place that fits with what we want for Owen.  The instructors do more than teach the students to throw a punch, kick, and block hits.  They also work with them on self discipline, which is a huge issue we are having with Owen of late.  It seems that any little thing that goes wrong results in a meltdown complete with wailing, hitting, and kicking.  This seems to be a side effect of his ADHD and our frustration, as well as his, has been on the rise. 

ADHD kids live in the present and can't separate out that what is going on right now (be it not having a treat now) from the future (getting the treat later).  Their grasp of time is completely different from ours, and this seems to be where Owen is struggling.  It is so sad to see our little guy transformed into someone completely different at the drop of a hat simply because he is too in the moment.  We've tried consoling, ignoring, arguing back, time outs, taking toys, rewards, you name it and nothing seems to work. 

Just this week alone, he's had meltdowns because we didn't have anymore red Popsicles and his Nutella was on a different kind of bread.  Most people would look at him mid meltdown and say, "Dang, what a spoiled brat."  That's where it gets tricky, because from all outward appearances he is behaving like a brat.  Unfortunately, Owen can't fully comprehend that what he's used to (red Popsicles and wheat bread) isn't the way it always has to be.  He gets stuck in a hamster wheel of sorts, where his mind keeps saying "This isn't how it is supposed to be.  I always have the red Popsicle.  I can't have green.  That's not how I do it.  I can't do it."  Then, BAM, on comes the meltdown, which last from anywhere from thirty minutes or until he tires himself out crying. 

So, where does karate fit in the picture?  Owen had two whole group lessons this week and one private lesson last week.  Yes, he's still had a meltdown almost every day, but here's the kicker - today's was over in five minutes.  His instructor really focuses on the areas where students need to improve, and he knows that this is Owen's area.  He's spent time with Owen talking about how he expects him to behave, and I honestly do think it is helping. 

As parents, we have also tried really hard to not make a big deal out of his ADHD (he's clueless that he has it), and to be well-read. We now know that putting him in a public spot (as cruel as it sounds, ADHD kids don't usually put their meltdowns on display for people outside immediate family) or withholding any and all attention usually brings meltdowns to a halt quicker.  I'm hoping that between karate, David, and I, we can help get Owen back on track.  We all know he's not happy, but are working our hardest to get him there.

It all starts when you're six.

Last Thursday Owen jumped off the bus and ran across the yard to talk to me.  It went pretty much like this:

Owen:  Maddie M. said I'm her boyfriend, she loves me, and we are getting married.

Me (stopping the lawnmower, trying not to laugh and 100% curious): Um, how did this come up in conversation?

Owen:  Well, she asked me to walk over to the trees on the side of the playground and she, you know, just told me.

Me: And what did you say?

Owen:  I told her I had to ask you if it was okay first.

Me:  Which part- the I love you, boyfriend, or marriage part?

Owen: All of it. 

Good answer, Owen!  I then went on ask if he returned her affections and was told girls are "gross and smell bad."  I asked if she was pretty, and he rolled his eyes and said she was "disgusting."  Then his little face turned the sweetest shade of pink.  That with his denial was a sure sign if any he's got a crush. 

The whole thing got me thinking- when do we start realizing the other sex is, well, attractive?  Why does he think Maddie M. is cute?  (By the way, she is a very pretty girl and, having been in her proximity, does not smell!)  Why not the other girls in his class?  And why the heck is a six year old talking love and marriage to my son?!  If they are having conversations like this now, what are they going to be discussing in first grade?  Potential baby names, kinds of cars, and where to buy a house are on the list, no doubt!  All joking aside, I hope that Owen and Gav both steer clear of the whole boyfriend/girlfriend debacle for at least another ten years.  After all, why get into a relationship with someone who is disgusting and smells bad?  Hold out, Owen, hold out.  Wait for the girl that doesn't smell and isn't gross. 

 

Is it on straight?

It is especially difficult for me to keep a straight face when it comes to Sir Gavin R. Stine when he should be in trouble.  He pulls out a complete arsonal of tricks at bedtime.  The prebed routine is always the same: bath, pjs, teeth, book, then bed.  After that, Gav seems to always come up with something new to ask or tell us to delay actually sleeping in said bed.  He's told us that he ran out of kisses and needs refilled.  He's asked for water in his room, then asked for it to be removed.  Some nights his pillow is too soft, while on others, it is too hard.  Some nights he tells us we are his "very most favorite parents" (I haven't met our competition, but they could start kicking in some child support!) or that we are his best friends.  He's told us that the neighbors smell (I only hope he doesn't tell them that!). 

Two nights this week have been pretty entertaining.  Sunday night Gav wandered out of bed to ask if giraffes wear socks.  I asked why he wanted to know, and he told me that he didn't want their feet to get cold.  I said they might wear them, so then he wanted to know how big they are, where you can buy them, who puts them on for the giraffes, and so on.  All of the sudden, I felt like I was in one of the If you give a mouse a cookie books!

Last night, Gav ambled down from bed looking like the picture that follows.  He very seriously walked into the kitchen and asked if his eye patch was on straight.  I know my face wasn't, because I INSTANTLY burst out laughing.  It never ceases to amaze me how he can make me laugh, much like David, when I am trying so hard to be stern or mad.  And everytime they get me to laugh, I forget why I was angry to begin with.  Like father, like son!   

 

Knitting

One of the things I said I wanted to do after I finished my Masters was learn to knit.  You'd think I'd learn to crochet since my Mom is the master of the hook.  Ha!  She tried teaching me a time or ten and we both decided that in order to preserve our mother-daughter relationship, we needed to give up.  I figure if I learn to knit, she won't be able to spot my mistakes as easily. 

Our FACS (fancy was of saying Home Ec) teacher Sharon knits and has a friend Millie (sorta like Maxine from the cards, only funnier) who was willing to come in to North Side to teach a few of us.  Our first meeting was a week and a half ago.  I learned to cast on like a champ and the simple knit stitch...  or so I thought.  If you know me well, you know I do most things backwards for some unknown reason.  I practiced my mad skills and at our next meeting, Sharon took one look at my masterpiece and asked me to show her what I was doing.  It turns out I was doing it exactly backwards and created a whole new stitch, which shall be referred to as the Stine.  She showed me how to do it the correct way, and wouldn't you know, there is a reason no one does it my way!  The right way is much easier.  I have no idea what I'm making, but I'm trying.  My goal is to make my Mom a pot holder for Mother's Day. 

I am not a bear

1. I woke up at 3:00 a.m. to put dogs out to potty and grumbled about the cold and snow.
2. Gav woke me up again at almost 8:00. He wanted to play with his train set. I got to be Molly. Why? Gav's response was "because she's a girl." He then went to find his dad, because I wasn't following his instructions to stay off the track. How are you supposed to play train if you can't be on the track? I crawled back into bed and zonked out completely.
3. I woke up for the third time at 10:30!
4. With David's help, I highlighted my hair. The boys said I looked like an alien with my sexy little bonnet on and hair sticking through the holes. I don't think that was a compliment.
5. Next, I swept, made the beds, did some laundry, and watched a cooking show. David took the boys sledding, and I was told to make the hot chocolate. I'm pretty sure I got the better end of the deal. Snow is cold and not fun.
6. At 1:00, the boys were STARVING, not just hungry. I made their lunch, and they both were in bed for a nap at 2:00.
7. I wandered up to our room intending to read a book with Alfie curled up at my side. The little persuasive guy he is, I was soon asleep - this time until 5:00!!!
8. We went to the in-laws for pizza and Wii and got home at 9:30. The boys were in bed 15 minutes later.
9. Since then, I've Facebooked, done some online price comparisons, read a little, done some laundry, and wished I hadn't taken a nap, because now I can't fall asleep.

Note to self: You are not a bear. Therefore, you do not need to hibernate or pack on excess weight in winter. You need to stop doing both before Monday.

Resolutions, err, objectives

David doesn't like making resolutions or setting goals, so we compromised and decided to call them objectives. I made all of his for him and he agreed to them, which goes well with his first objective.

1. Say yes more often: He is addicted to the word no. Me: David, do you want to go do something? David: No. So, his objective is to say yes at least once a day to me or the boys. Sounds easy enough, right? So far today, he said yes to going out to breakfast (but really only because the boys weren't ready to be picked up yet) and to going to a furniture store. Both are pretty big deals because he doesn't like spending money on food or shopping.
2. Be a nicer person: If you ask David if he likes people, he'll tell you he doesn't. He is going to attempt to be nicer to people around him that he actually knows. He can be a complete angel when it comes to interacting with strangers, but a pain in you know what when it comes to being around those he knows. He's sort of like a lovable prickly cactus.

My objectives are similar.

1. Say no more often: I have this bad habit of agreeing to things before fully thinking them through. Then I grumble because of the extra stress I took on, making me less than pleasant to be around.
2. Make more time for me: This really goes with the first objective, but deserves its own number. I'm making it my goal that each month I will do one thing just for me, whether it be working on scrapbooks, getting a pedicure, or trying a new recipe - just because I want to. I get so caught up in making sure the house is clean, the boys are occupied, and David is happy that I forget about me a lot of the time. I know I'm a better person when I have me time, so finding some is very important.
3. Document our family better: I'm going to attempt to update our blog more often and take at least one photo to capture each day. I'm really intrigued by the idea of making a scrapbook with 365 pictures.

These are our resolutions, err, objectives. Here's to making 2010 the best year yet!