Category: struggles

Sixty Three Hours

While many in the working world are dreading this rainy, dreary, traffic-filled Monday morning, I am not. Oh, it’s certainly not because of what I will be doing today. I look forward to my job about as much as, well, since many of my co-workers and boss read this, I’ll just say there are worse things I could be doing all day for money.

No, what makes me so happy on Monday morning is what I won’t be doing today. After spending the last 63 hours without a minute of peace or time to myself (also known as the weekend), it’s nice to think about sitting at my desk for hours without any crying, whining, screaming, fighting, cleaning, or interruptions. That is, until Friday, when I will have had enough of the “calm” that is my job and look forward to another 63 hours away from it.

It’s an endless cycle.

This Will Hurt Me More Than You

Today will be torture. For Thing 3. And even more so for me. Today we go to the dentist.

To avoid a complete catastrophe when the event arrives, I have been casually mentioning it over the last week. Like when I brush his teeth, I told him he can get a NEW toothbrush when we go to the dentist. You’d think a kid would like something new. But not Thing 3. He doesn’t like change at all. He prefers his old, bent bristles, ratty toothbrush. “Nooo! I don’t want to go to the dentist!”

I didn’t mentioned it again until last night at bedtime, I reminded him that I would pick him up at school at 10:30 and we’d go to the dentist. “Nooo! I don’t want to go!”

Apparently, he was worrying about this all night. He woke up in a bad mood and, with no prompting, and has told us 137 times (I counted) that he doesn’t want to go to the dentist.

I don’t know why we even bother. A dentist visit with him consists of him kicking, screaming, and fighting while I hold him down and the dentist peeks at his teeth for 3 seconds. Money and time well spent to teach a 3 year old the importance of taking care of your teeth.

Explain This One

We have settled into a new pattern with Thing 4. She has started waking up around 4 in the morning. She is wide awake and wants to crawl/walk around and play.

I guess she isn’t needing as much sleep anymore. Except, shortly after being wide awake, she is so tired, she’ll fall asleep anywhere.

This is what she looked like at 5:30 this morning, after getting up at 4:15. Passed out in the high chair.

The Problem With Holiday Gifts

It happens every year at this time. The holidays are over and we’re left with lots of new toys, games, books, crafts, silly bands, coloring books, dvd’s, and other stuff. Some of the stuff will used daily. But some will be used once and forgotten, or it will be broken after a single use.

Then there is the dreaded stuff that has a million pieces which are scattered throughout the house by Thing 3 and Thing 4 and never to be found again, rendering the game/toy/puzzle useless. If you are one of our beloved friends or family who gave one of these gems, thanks, and expect payback someday when you have kids.

And while we’re on that subject, please, please don’t get us any more toys which make constant, loud, annoying, impossible to shut off, noises. These toys will have the batteries removed by the anti-Santa. Haven’t heard of him? He’s the guy who comes at night after the kids are asleep and removes batteries.

The worst part of all the new stuff each year is finding where to put all of it. It’s not like we had all this extra room a week ago. Drawers, shelves, and buckets are already filled to the brim with stuff. And now we have all this new stuff to find room for, most of which is crap, junk, broken, or forgotten already.

I’m considering a new “zero sum” Santa policy next year. For every present he gives he also takes an old one away of equal size. So you better be careful about how many things you ask for.

And Here Comes The Payoff

After a Christmas Eve with family where they were all up way past their usual bedtime, bouncing off the walls with excitement. Then a late night for us cleaning the feast and doing Santa’s work. This morning Thing 1 led the way, up at the crack of dawn, for a morning full of presents and candy (only on Christmas morning). The afternoon brought no naps and tantrums.

All leading up to now – the big payoff. 7:55pm and all four kids are quiet in bed. Do you hear that sound? Me neither, it’s quiet. Except for
maybe the crack of another bottle of wine.

There is a winter storm warning for tomorrow. A possible Nor’easter. Which means tomorrow has the chance for 4 soon to be very well rested kids to be trapped inside the house again.

Better enjoy this while I can. Crack that wine.

Important Decision

Parenting is full of potentially life-altering, important decisions. Today I am faced with one of those crucial, everything rides on it, can’t take the pressure I need a drink kind of decisions.

Thing 3 needs new shoes. His current ones, Spiderman sneakers that light up, are worn and have holes in the front. People are going to start thinking we don’t care about the well being of his feet. Or that times are tough and we can’t afford new ones.

No, we are just avoiding the inevitable struggle that happens when we get him a new anything. Thing 3 is not exactly easygoing when it comes to change. He refuses to drink milk out of any cup but a blue one with an orange top. And this weekend he watched the same DVD a dozen times in a row. So you can imagine what getting new shoes is like.

I know what you are thinking. Get him the same exact shoes he has now. Duh. Well, a trip to Target didn’t find them in stock anymore. And not surprisingly he didn’t find anything else to his liking. Although, he wasn’t so polite in his refusal. It was more like “Nooooooooooooo!” followed by a face down in the middle of the store episode.

On to Plan B – order them online. Surely some store must have Spiderman light up sneakers in toddler size 9? Not so lucky. The only ones I can find are in size 7.

Now I’m left with one of those life altering decisions. Do I get a different Spiderman sneaker that doesn’t light up? Do I go with similar light up sneakers but with a different character? If so, which one? I found a Batman shoe that looks a lot like the Spiderman one but I don’t know how he’ll react to Batman. What about Toy Story 3 sneakers that light up? Sure, he loves, loves, loves Buzz Lightyear but for some reason refuses to wear a Buzz shirt. Lightning McQueen? Touchy subject around here.

What to do? What to do?

Vomit Everywhere

First, Thing 4 was sick with a stomach virus over the weekend. She was home sick from daycare Friday and Monday, and her classroom was like a scene from the Exorcist with so many of the kids throwing up.

Next, following his performance in the school concert, Thing 1 got sick in the backseat of my car. Lovely.

Then, an hour later, Thing 3 threw up in his bed all over Buzz Lightyear.

Laundry. Lysol. More of the same tomorrow I’m afraid.

A Picture Tells A Lot

A simple picture can tell you a lot. With just a little bit of context, this picture gives a lot of information. It was taken last Sunday late in the afternoon when he had just had a bath. Yes, Thing 3 is crying, but it wasn’t because he was hurt.? I can’t remember exactly why.? It was probably because I had given him the “wrong” color towel.

Ok, knowing this, what else can you tell from this picture?? Scroll down to find out.

1. Thing 3 skipped his nap today.

2. He’s going to have an early bedtime tonight.

3. Forget about trying to sit down for dinner tonight.? It’ll be chips and salsa until after 8pm when they are hopefully all in bed.

4. Happy hour starts now for SuburbanDaddy and Mommy