Meltdown Mandy strikes again!
The drama that is generated by one tiny 7 year old girl is truly a feat of nature. If the energy that is generated by the screaming, feat stomping and hysterical crying could only be harnessed, our energy crisis would be history. Hmmm... maybe I can figure out a way to strap her to the roof and power our entire house instead of putting up expensive solar panels.
I get that it's early, I get that school can be a drag, I get that guitar lessons this afternoon cause anxiety (despite the fact that she begged for those lessons for a year). Still.... just brush your darn teeth!!!!!!
What Mandy doesn't like to do:
1. Brush teeth.
2. Get dressed.
3. Clean room.
4. Pack lunch.
5. Make her own breakfast.
5. Go to school.
6. Do homework.
7. Practice the guitar.
If anybody can figure out what my 7 year old precious love of a daughter DOES like to do... please let me know!
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
A Laugh a Day
My mornings getting three girls ready for school are always crazy. The clothes, the hair, the breakfasts and lunches... it usually leads to a lot of yelling, fighting, and crying. In short... I hate mornings. By the time we actually get into the car I am so looking forward to getting them out of the car and having a few hours to myself.
This morning it wasn't much different, but when we got in the car the tide turned. My 5 year old had gotten a cheap little plastic toy from McDonalds the other day. It was an iCarly Spencer's Magic Meatball. For those of you who don't know what this is (I didn't either) it is something along the lines of a Magic 8 Ball. You ask it a question and it gives you an answer.
The kids started asking questions...
Temera asked if she was going to her friend's house after school (she is).
Answer: Magic Meatball says YES
Amanda asked if she was going to have the best day ever at school.
Answer: Magic Meatball says NO
Okay... this would be funny enough but Amanda kept asking the same question over and over again. Was she going to have the best day ever at school. The answer kept coming up: Magic Meatball says NO.
We laughed every time it said that. And laughed. And laughed.
By the time we got to school we were all laughing so hard. It was wonderful.
I can't remember the last time I laughed so hard with my daughters. Amazing how a plastic Magic Meatball can turn a miserable morning into a joyous one.
This morning it wasn't much different, but when we got in the car the tide turned. My 5 year old had gotten a cheap little plastic toy from McDonalds the other day. It was an iCarly Spencer's Magic Meatball. For those of you who don't know what this is (I didn't either) it is something along the lines of a Magic 8 Ball. You ask it a question and it gives you an answer.
The kids started asking questions...
Temera asked if she was going to her friend's house after school (she is).
Answer: Magic Meatball says YES
Amanda asked if she was going to have the best day ever at school.
Answer: Magic Meatball says NO
Okay... this would be funny enough but Amanda kept asking the same question over and over again. Was she going to have the best day ever at school. The answer kept coming up: Magic Meatball says NO.
We laughed every time it said that. And laughed. And laughed.
By the time we got to school we were all laughing so hard. It was wonderful.
I can't remember the last time I laughed so hard with my daughters. Amazing how a plastic Magic Meatball can turn a miserable morning into a joyous one.
Monday, March 8, 2010
What a Waste!
So I go get the mail today and in the box I find a letter from the United States Census Bureau. Well, with all the advertising they have been doing lately (and I mean a hell of a lot of advertising - expensive advertising) I assumed it was the Census form we need to fill out. Wrong!
What I received in the mail was a letter informing me that I would be receiving a letter - next week - that I would need to fill out and return.
So let's review... I got a letter telling me I'm getting a letter? Yep, that's right!
Not just any letter... a first class ($) folded letter ($) stuck inside an envelope ($). Hmmmm... can you add up the money for this one? I can ($$$)! And while we are at it, how many trees were destroyed just to send everyone a letter telling them they'll be getting a letter? No, I'm no tree-hugger, but seriously? Our country has no money and they are wasting what little we have on this crap?
And yes... I will be sending a letter to my Congressman, Senator, the White House... and whoever else I can think of who won't care and doesn't give a damn.
What I received in the mail was a letter informing me that I would be receiving a letter - next week - that I would need to fill out and return.
So let's review... I got a letter telling me I'm getting a letter? Yep, that's right!
Not just any letter... a first class ($) folded letter ($) stuck inside an envelope ($). Hmmmm... can you add up the money for this one? I can ($$$)! And while we are at it, how many trees were destroyed just to send everyone a letter telling them they'll be getting a letter? No, I'm no tree-hugger, but seriously? Our country has no money and they are wasting what little we have on this crap?
And yes... I will be sending a letter to my Congressman, Senator, the White House... and whoever else I can think of who won't care and doesn't give a damn.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
The Tantrum
1. We walk into the mall.
2. We order Mandy lunch from Panda Express.
3. They are out of chow mein - it will take 10 minutes to make more.
4. Lauryn asks for a toy.
5. I say no.
6. Lauryn throws a temper tantrum in the mall in line at Panda Express while we are waiting 10 minutes for chow mein.
7. We go to Hot Dog on a Stick to order lunch for Temera.
8. Lauryn points to the lemonade.
9. I ask Lauryn if she wants lemonade.
10. She says no.
11. Temera gets her food and we sit down.
12. Lauryn says she wants lemonade.
13. I tell her she already said she didn't want it and I wasn't going back to get it.
14. Lauryn throws temper tantrum #2 at the table in the middle of the food court at the mall.
15. Temera and Amanda finish their lunch (quickly) and we come straight home.
No shopping.
No birthday gift for Mandy's friend.
No stopping at Trader Joes to pick up dinner.
Everybody miserable!
An average day in my life!
2. We order Mandy lunch from Panda Express.
3. They are out of chow mein - it will take 10 minutes to make more.
4. Lauryn asks for a toy.
5. I say no.
6. Lauryn throws a temper tantrum in the mall in line at Panda Express while we are waiting 10 minutes for chow mein.
7. We go to Hot Dog on a Stick to order lunch for Temera.
8. Lauryn points to the lemonade.
9. I ask Lauryn if she wants lemonade.
10. She says no.
11. Temera gets her food and we sit down.
12. Lauryn says she wants lemonade.
13. I tell her she already said she didn't want it and I wasn't going back to get it.
14. Lauryn throws temper tantrum #2 at the table in the middle of the food court at the mall.
15. Temera and Amanda finish their lunch (quickly) and we come straight home.
No shopping.
No birthday gift for Mandy's friend.
No stopping at Trader Joes to pick up dinner.
Everybody miserable!
An average day in my life!
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
My Newest Pet Peeve
We have a day off of school this week and where do you think most of the kids will be? Disneyland!
I don't get it... my girls come home every week telling me about a friend (or several) who is going to Disneyland for the day (or weekend). Now we make a pretty decent living... my kids have plenty of clothes, shoes, warm jackets and enough toys to keep them busy for weeks. What I don't understand is how most of these other families are actually affording to take their kids to Disneyland every month. I may not be an accountant but I can figure out that the cost for 5 of us to go to Disneyland will run us about $320 a pop - NOT including parking AND food AND souvenirs! That seems a little excessive to me.
Now I do understand that since we live in Southern California that many, many people actually do work for Disney - lucky them, they get in FREE!!!! (Not sure why we don't have ANYONE in our family that works for Disney.) But really, aren't amusement parks supposed to be special? Aren't they supposed to be a once in a while event? Maybe for a birthday... or Spring Break?
Hearing my kids tell me they want to go is painful. I know their friends go all the time... we just can't afford to shell out over $400 for a day of fun. We've only taken our kids to Disneyland once in their young lives... and that was 3 years ago.
So parents... if you are going to actually take your kids OUT of school for the day just to go have fun at Disneyland... please don't tell the entire school about it. It's making the rest of us parents look (and feel) bad.
I don't get it... my girls come home every week telling me about a friend (or several) who is going to Disneyland for the day (or weekend). Now we make a pretty decent living... my kids have plenty of clothes, shoes, warm jackets and enough toys to keep them busy for weeks. What I don't understand is how most of these other families are actually affording to take their kids to Disneyland every month. I may not be an accountant but I can figure out that the cost for 5 of us to go to Disneyland will run us about $320 a pop - NOT including parking AND food AND souvenirs! That seems a little excessive to me.
Now I do understand that since we live in Southern California that many, many people actually do work for Disney - lucky them, they get in FREE!!!! (Not sure why we don't have ANYONE in our family that works for Disney.) But really, aren't amusement parks supposed to be special? Aren't they supposed to be a once in a while event? Maybe for a birthday... or Spring Break?
Hearing my kids tell me they want to go is painful. I know their friends go all the time... we just can't afford to shell out over $400 for a day of fun. We've only taken our kids to Disneyland once in their young lives... and that was 3 years ago.
So parents... if you are going to actually take your kids OUT of school for the day just to go have fun at Disneyland... please don't tell the entire school about it. It's making the rest of us parents look (and feel) bad.
Friday, February 19, 2010
Tiger Apologizes
So Tiger Woods held a press conference this morning to apologize for his behavior. To be honest, I thought this would be his way of "getting it over with" so to speak, so he could come back to golf and put the whole ugly mess behind him. I ended up being surprised at his words.
My first thoughts after his car accident and the outing of his many affairs was that the Media should just leave him alone. He certainly needed to work things out with his wife and family and it really was a private matter that was none of our business. I still believe that to an extent, however, I was pleasantly surprised when he took the bold approach of admitting not only that he was wrong to cheat on his marriage, but that he was wrong to feel "entitled" to do so. I can't stand when celebrities get away with bad behavior. They certainly do feel that the laws don't apply to them and usually they don't. It isn't right. So when Tiger said that he thought the same rules didn't apply to him and that he was entitled to take liberties that go against the "norm", it was a big step not only for him, but I think it was something the general public needed to hear.
I think he was being sincere. I think getting up in front of America (and probably the world) and admitting that you were wrong, your behavior was unexcusable, and you were going to do everything in your power to right the wrong is something to be admired. Yes, it is going to take a lot on his part to make it right... and I feel for Elin and the kids because nobody deserves to be treated like that... but I think he'll do what it takes to make people feel proud of him and respect him again. I hope he does.
My first thoughts after his car accident and the outing of his many affairs was that the Media should just leave him alone. He certainly needed to work things out with his wife and family and it really was a private matter that was none of our business. I still believe that to an extent, however, I was pleasantly surprised when he took the bold approach of admitting not only that he was wrong to cheat on his marriage, but that he was wrong to feel "entitled" to do so. I can't stand when celebrities get away with bad behavior. They certainly do feel that the laws don't apply to them and usually they don't. It isn't right. So when Tiger said that he thought the same rules didn't apply to him and that he was entitled to take liberties that go against the "norm", it was a big step not only for him, but I think it was something the general public needed to hear.
I think he was being sincere. I think getting up in front of America (and probably the world) and admitting that you were wrong, your behavior was unexcusable, and you were going to do everything in your power to right the wrong is something to be admired. Yes, it is going to take a lot on his part to make it right... and I feel for Elin and the kids because nobody deserves to be treated like that... but I think he'll do what it takes to make people feel proud of him and respect him again. I hope he does.
Friday, February 5, 2010
Rainy Day Blues
So I've got three kids home sick today... my 10 year old, my 7 year old and my 45 year old. The two youngest are watching TV, eating cinnamon toast and drinking tea with lots of lemon and honey. The older one is still sleeping. Something tells me he'll be sleeping most of the day.
It's pouring out and I still need to go out and pick up my 5 year old. Yuk! All I really want to do is build a fire, cover myself with a snuggie and read a good book. Mom never gets a break.
Chicken soup is on the stove simmering and the 7 year old has only asked me about 25 times when the soup is going to be ready. Give me a break... homemade chicken soup takes time... lots of time... mixed with lots of love. It'll be ready when it's ready. Besides, I need to make matzah balls too.
It's pouring out and I still need to go out and pick up my 5 year old. Yuk! All I really want to do is build a fire, cover myself with a snuggie and read a good book. Mom never gets a break.
Chicken soup is on the stove simmering and the 7 year old has only asked me about 25 times when the soup is going to be ready. Give me a break... homemade chicken soup takes time... lots of time... mixed with lots of love. It'll be ready when it's ready. Besides, I need to make matzah balls too.
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