Friday, February 26, 2010
Here's What You Get When You Tell The Internet "Spring's Coming!"



Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Springing
Our snow has almost melted so I spent a few minutes in the garden on Sunday to see what was going on. It appears that Spring is springing! Those a couple of crocus coming up. AND NOT A MOMENT TOO SOON.


Sunday, February 21, 2010
Woman, 37, Lands Permanent Empoloyment, Stops Cutting Sponges in Half
Tomorrow, at 9:45am, I will sit down with my benefits coordinator and discuss things like health insurance, life insurance, 401k options and all the other fun stuff that comes with a full time staff position at a company.

I am so thrilled to have landed this full time gig where I've been freelancing. I still want to return to school, that's not totally on the backburner. There's still some stuff to figure out on that front but in the meantime, I've got things like paid sick time. Woo hoo!

To celebrate this Great Moment in Employment, I stopped cutting my sponges in half and bought brand name vinegar without a coupon (God, this recession has sucked so much out of me).


Monday, February 15, 2010
Here I Am
The only excuse I have for not posting is that when I sit down to write one, I stare at a blank post page and then give up. I turn the computer off and walk away. Just like that. I come up with BRILLIANT posts when I'm lying in bed doing the crossword puzzle, though. I jot down a line to remember the idea and the next day, when I sit down to write....all the funny things I had thought up are gone. Poof. No more.

You would have really loved the funny thing I thought up last week about the wart on Harry's foot. Seriously, it was the bomb.

Anyway, the house is clean and looking more organized that it has in months. I feel accomplished. I've watched lots of movies, Which makes me feel relaxed. We had a snow day. We baked cookies. I shoveled some of the sidewalks for the older folks on our street. That made me feel kind. Today I made banana muffins for Harry. That made me feel good, especially when he smiled when I told him they were for him. My mother is visiting to watch the kids while our sitter takes a break this week and we work. That makes me feel loved. I realized my cat is getting old. She will be 15 and is having trouble walking up the stairs. Lately she sleeps 18-20 hours a day. That makes me sad. We haven't done our taxes yet. That makes me anxious. The garden is still covered in snow but it is 4:30 and it is still light out. Knowing that in a few weeks the yard will begin greening makes me feel all spring-y.


Wednesday, February 10, 2010
You Mean There's a Name for This?
It seemed to come in cycles. I knew that much was true. There are times-weeks really-when Harry is a pleasant kid, so easy going and mild mannered. Those are the times when Harry, I think, is surely the gold standard in sons.

Ever since he turned two (maybe three), the flip side to being the gold standard in sons is when Harry just can't seem to get a grip. He cries when he runs out of blue Legos for a grand project. He stomps his feet when he runs out of train track or Matchbox race track. He whines when he can't get his shirt on (or off). He'll go days subsisting on nothing but baby carrots, fruit snacks, the odd bit of protein, and lots of mini waffles but freaks out at the thought of the bowl of lettuce being placed in front of him on taco night.

These are days when I look at him and mentally throw my hands up, not sure how to handle him. Last week I even went so far as to suggest to John that we take him to a doctor. Perhaps something was wrong? Maybe I was doing something wrong? Were we spending enough time with him? John assured me he was fine, that boys will be boys. Then last night, I learned something and suddenly there's a lot to parenting this boy of ours that makes sense now.

I picked up Harry first from the sitter last night. Halfway over to pick up Sophie from a playdate, Harry announced "I left my quarter! We have to go back!" I explanined that he'd have to wait to get his quarter back, that I wasn't going to walk back, have the sitter walk down three flights of stairs for twenty five cents. Cue the crying.

Harry cried the rest of the way to Sophie's friend's house. He whined. I explained responsibility and how if there is something you really like, you keep it safe, in your backpack. More crying.

By the time we arrived to pick up Sophie, Harry was in full out tantrum mode. So he sat outside on the stoop while Sophie got her backpack and coat on. The mom of Sophie's friend, God love her, says "I have change! Here, let me give you a quarter." When I explained that I'd prefer not to, that Harry has a habit of losing small items then demands a replacement. I went on to explain that he's been having a rough couple of weeks.

Then she said these words: "Have you ever heard the theory of equilibrium and disequilibrium?" She went on to explain that kids have periods of disequilibrium,
which is when they are learning, and often failing, at the acquisition of new skills. This results in frustration. Disequilibrium is followed by a period equilibrium, which is when the the child has successfully mastered skills and new abilities and everything is hunky-dory.

IApparently we are in period of disequilibrium! It's not him. (Or me! Or us!) Totally normal! Equilibrium is coming soon!
Hooray!


Monday, February 1, 2010
Home
Harry got fever. Not too high today but enough that he cried in school and wanted to come home.

Now that the patient is home, he is very happy that he got his first visit to the school nurse over with. Apparently, as the oldest kid in his class, he was falling behind on this all important milestone. Younger boys in his class go "ALL THE TIME!" so at the very least his pre-k reputation remains intact.

Spongbob Squarepants is currently babysitting. I'm procrastinating on two items I need to take care of for work. Once that's done there is tea and knitting and more of the Time's Sunday crossword to do and snuggling on the sofa so off I go....happy Monday everyone.