Today Jack got his first haircut. I was really looking forward to it because his hair has been growing uncontrollably in all directions for the last few months and I had even given up on trying to tame it with gel in the mornings. When he was finished I just couldn't believe how much older he looked. It was like "the baby" part of him had been cut away along with is hair and now I officially have a toddler. It was bittersweet because I knew he had reached his next step in life and I would never experience being the mother of a baby again (at least not on purpose!).
This kind of got me thinking about how differently I've approached things with Jack, since he is my second child. With Drew, everything was so new and all of his firsts were also my firsts as a mother. I was so anxious to experience all of his milestones, that I pushed for them to hurry and happen. But with Jack, it's different. I know what's coming and I know how fast they grow, so I havn't necessarily been encouraging him to move as fast. I've really been enjoying him because this time around I'm more confident in myself as a parent. I don't want to keep him little forever.....just a little longer. However, the fact that he stopped taking steps and just started walking this week pretty much solidified the fact that I can't stop time. Like I said....bittersweet.
Friday, March 4, 2011
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
The Other Side of Parenthood
Like everything in life, there are good and bad sides to parenthood. Your children make you laugh and cry, they fill your heart with pride and they take your breath away.....then there are the times when they make you want to jump on the next plane out of town and never look back. This is exactly how I felt the other night.
Over the course of the last year, we've developed a tradition of meeting my family at Moe's for dinner every Monday night. Bobby was in New York for work, so it was just the boys and I meeting my mom and sisters. We were standing in line, it was crowded, and there was nowhere to sit. Jack was squirming in my arms and Drew started running up and down the line of people, shooting webs pretending to be Spiderman.
First warning: "Drew, stop, please. Come stand next to me."
He proceeded to run up and down.
Second warning (the countdown): "Drew....5, 4, 3, 2, 1."
He started hanging on the metal stand they use to form lines, blatantly ignoring me. I could see people starting to glance out of the corner of their eyes, like they were questioning whether or not I could control my child.
Third warning: "Drew, we're going to leave if you don't listen to me."
Still no response as he ran into people and teased with 2 little girls sitting nearby. I could feel myself starting to get mad.
"Ok, get your coat on, we're leaving." That did it.....he lost it. "Nooooooo!!!!! I'm not leaving. I'm not putting on my coat." He was shouting and I was struggling to keep my cool. These are the moments when you're tyring hard to remember what the parenting books said you should do, but you're drawing a blank. I wanted to stay, but I could hear the little voice in my head telling me if I gave in, it would only happen again....and it would probably be worse.
I grabbed his arm and led him to the car as he tried to escape back inside, crying and refusing to leave. I can only imagine what people around us were thinking. He wouldn't get into the car, he was screaming at me, and poor Jack was just confused. Finally, my newly married sister came outside, took Jack, and watched in horror as I wrapped my arms around Drew and wrangled him into his booster seat. He started flailing around and then he said it....."You're the worst mommy ever! You're not my mommy anymore. I'm going to go get a new mommy who takes me to Moe's every day. I don't love you." I should have been upset, but for some reason I was trying so hard not to laugh. I knew he didn't mean it and he was tired. I simply acted like I didn't even hear him. I looked at my sister and said two words....birth control.
On the way home, I didn't say a word. He calmed down and apologized. "It was all my fault we didn't get to stay at Moe's," he said. "I'm sorry, mommy. Can I watch cartoons?"
Really????
Over the course of the last year, we've developed a tradition of meeting my family at Moe's for dinner every Monday night. Bobby was in New York for work, so it was just the boys and I meeting my mom and sisters. We were standing in line, it was crowded, and there was nowhere to sit. Jack was squirming in my arms and Drew started running up and down the line of people, shooting webs pretending to be Spiderman.
First warning: "Drew, stop, please. Come stand next to me."
He proceeded to run up and down.
Second warning (the countdown): "Drew....5, 4, 3, 2, 1."
He started hanging on the metal stand they use to form lines, blatantly ignoring me. I could see people starting to glance out of the corner of their eyes, like they were questioning whether or not I could control my child.
Third warning: "Drew, we're going to leave if you don't listen to me."
Still no response as he ran into people and teased with 2 little girls sitting nearby. I could feel myself starting to get mad.
"Ok, get your coat on, we're leaving." That did it.....he lost it. "Nooooooo!!!!! I'm not leaving. I'm not putting on my coat." He was shouting and I was struggling to keep my cool. These are the moments when you're tyring hard to remember what the parenting books said you should do, but you're drawing a blank. I wanted to stay, but I could hear the little voice in my head telling me if I gave in, it would only happen again....and it would probably be worse.
I grabbed his arm and led him to the car as he tried to escape back inside, crying and refusing to leave. I can only imagine what people around us were thinking. He wouldn't get into the car, he was screaming at me, and poor Jack was just confused. Finally, my newly married sister came outside, took Jack, and watched in horror as I wrapped my arms around Drew and wrangled him into his booster seat. He started flailing around and then he said it....."You're the worst mommy ever! You're not my mommy anymore. I'm going to go get a new mommy who takes me to Moe's every day. I don't love you." I should have been upset, but for some reason I was trying so hard not to laugh. I knew he didn't mean it and he was tired. I simply acted like I didn't even hear him. I looked at my sister and said two words....birth control.
On the way home, I didn't say a word. He calmed down and apologized. "It was all my fault we didn't get to stay at Moe's," he said. "I'm sorry, mommy. Can I watch cartoons?"
Really????
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Sweet Dreams....Finally!
It's been twelve long and uncomfortable years, but we finally bit the bullet and bought a new mattress last week. I'm not quite sure what the final straw was...could it have been the sagging middle that left our backs aching every morning or could it have been the kid pee and breast milk stains patterned across the top?
I was so excited that I immediately went out and bought new sheets, pillows, a down comforter, and I'm still on the hunt for the perfect duvet. It was delivered Tuesday and we could hardly wait to get to bed that night.....and it was sooo worth it. In fact, it was so comfortable that we overslept Wednesday morning and I got Drew to school within 1 minute of the bell ringing (poor thing didn't know what hit him when I ran into his room and jolted him from sleep because mommy overslept...he's proceeded to tell me not to "overslept" any more every night before bed).
Now the only thing we have to figure out is how to keep the kids out of the new bed.....somehow I don't think that's going to be an easy feat, but at least we'll all be having sweet, comfy dreams!
I was so excited that I immediately went out and bought new sheets, pillows, a down comforter, and I'm still on the hunt for the perfect duvet. It was delivered Tuesday and we could hardly wait to get to bed that night.....and it was sooo worth it. In fact, it was so comfortable that we overslept Wednesday morning and I got Drew to school within 1 minute of the bell ringing (poor thing didn't know what hit him when I ran into his room and jolted him from sleep because mommy overslept...he's proceeded to tell me not to "overslept" any more every night before bed).
Now the only thing we have to figure out is how to keep the kids out of the new bed.....somehow I don't think that's going to be an easy feat, but at least we'll all be having sweet, comfy dreams!
Monday, January 3, 2011
Hello 2011!
Well, one of my New Year's resolutions for 2011 is to start a blog....not really for others to read (although, they can if they want), but just for myself. Things are so hectic and busy these days that I simply forget so much.....things I want to remember; like what the kids have done and said, places we've gone, what my husband has done wrong (this one in particular because so frequently he remembers things a lot differently than I do!).
This year is off to a good start. Jack (my youngest) just turned one year old on 12/29/10, so we had a small party for him with family last night. He really liked tearing into the cake, but he had practice with a cupcake on his actual birthday, so it didn't phase him. His big brother, Drew, who is now 5, opened most of his gifts for him, as if Christmas wasn't enough.....I really think he likes playing with the baby toys more than his own. As I pull out his old toys for Jack, it's like he's reminiscing of his good ol' days.
Drew just started Kindergarten this year, so he had to get back to school this morning. I was dreading that since he is not a morning person at all, but he did surprisingly well. I only had to battle with him over his clothes for about 10 minutes, then it was over after a brief threat to take away his Nintendo DS (his lifeline these days).
Bobby and I have been a little sleep-deprived lately since I am weaning Jack from nursing and trying to get him to sleep in his own bed. We learned so much from Drew (whom we still have to lay with to get to sleep every night) and we are trying to make this go around a little smoother.....I never thought I would value 4 hours of uninterrupted sleep as much as I do, but I keep telling myself that they're only little once...then it's over and you wish you could go back to the days when they needed you so much.
Well, it's back to year end paperwork and paying bills. I look forward to writing, however often I'm able. Here's to another great year!
This year is off to a good start. Jack (my youngest) just turned one year old on 12/29/10, so we had a small party for him with family last night. He really liked tearing into the cake, but he had practice with a cupcake on his actual birthday, so it didn't phase him. His big brother, Drew, who is now 5, opened most of his gifts for him, as if Christmas wasn't enough.....I really think he likes playing with the baby toys more than his own. As I pull out his old toys for Jack, it's like he's reminiscing of his good ol' days.
Drew just started Kindergarten this year, so he had to get back to school this morning. I was dreading that since he is not a morning person at all, but he did surprisingly well. I only had to battle with him over his clothes for about 10 minutes, then it was over after a brief threat to take away his Nintendo DS (his lifeline these days).
Bobby and I have been a little sleep-deprived lately since I am weaning Jack from nursing and trying to get him to sleep in his own bed. We learned so much from Drew (whom we still have to lay with to get to sleep every night) and we are trying to make this go around a little smoother.....I never thought I would value 4 hours of uninterrupted sleep as much as I do, but I keep telling myself that they're only little once...then it's over and you wish you could go back to the days when they needed you so much.
Well, it's back to year end paperwork and paying bills. I look forward to writing, however often I'm able. Here's to another great year!
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