Monthly Archives: October 2011

Oct10

Choices

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Now that the kiddos are a little bit older, they have a lot of options for fun things they can do.  Too bad the Hubs and I have no idea what to pick for them!

Here is what we have been debating lately:

> Should Scorch play flag football or soccer?  Football is a new sport to Scorch, the season is shorter and it’s only offered once a year.  Soccer is the sport Scorch is familiar with, all his buddies are playing and the season spans 4 months.  Scorch isn’t much help- he doesn’t seem to care one way or the other.  The Hubs and I must have a dozen conversations about this before we finally decided to let Scorch try out football.  Scorch can play soccer 3 seasons out of the year, so it seemed to make the most sense to let him try football while it’s offered.  We’ll see how it goes!

> Scorch also came home with paperwork from school asking if he wanted to play violin.  The Hubs and I were (are) truly stumped about this one.  Scorch has never shown any interest in music before and when we ask him if he wants to learn, all he seems interested in is the fact that he can bring home an instrument every night. When we tell him he’ll have to practice and use the instrument every night, he doesn’t seem to grasp the concept nor does he seem interested.  So..do we shell out $34/month for something he may or may not care about or do we wait until he’s older and can make a more informed decision?

> Beaner, at age 3, is now old enough to sign up for dance. It’s a weekly commitment that lasts from Aug thru Dec (or Feb – May) that ends in a few recitals.  It’s not cheap and she doesn’t really show much interest one way or another. But…90% of the people I know with girls her age (or older) started their kids at age 3.   Again, right now we’re not signing her up until she’s older and can make a better decision her self- but I still worry that I’m screwing this up.

And this worry? It’s silly and neurotic and I know it.  If Scorch is meant to be a musician he will be whether he starts playing at age 5 or at age 7. Same for Bean and dance. But it knowing that it’s silly doesn’t stop me from wondering if we’re making the right choices.

Oct6

Love Thursday: The Neglected One

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Dear Bean-

It doesn’t seem fair that I wrote your brother a letter before he started Kindergarten but I never wrote you anything, does it? Then I come on here and complain about you and your crappy medicine taking skills for days. Being the second child stinks.

This morning I had to wake you up to get ready for school.  You are not a morning person (just like your Daddy) so I  honestly dread the days when you don’t get up on your own. Those are the days you typically refuse breakfast because I can’t read your mind to determine which plate you want to eat off of.  Heaven forbid you share that info with me to make life a little bit easier.

Anyhow- this morning after I work you up, you rolled over and asked if today was a school day. When I told you it was, you got a big grin and yelled “Awesome!”

And that, my dear, is how you’ve felt for the last two weeks of school. The first couple of weeks were rough, but now that you’ve got your friends (both boys, one of whom you’re married to) and you’re comfortable with the routine, you are just loving life.  And that makes my heart just about what to explode.

This year I wish so much for you, just like I wished so much for your brother. I wish you confidence. Realize that just because you’re one of the littlest people in a school that goes up to 6th grade, that doesn’t mean you should be over looked. I wish you the seeds of life long friendships. You’ll be going to school with some of the kids in your class until 12th grade.  I don’t expect you to find your BFF or true love in class, but I do hope when you’re my age you still have one friend who knew you in preschool like I do (hi Brian!).  I wish you the joy of learning.  I realize your day is 90% fun right now, and it should be- but your amazing teachers are sneaky and they work in quite a bit of education too. I hope you  latch right on to that and soak it all up.

But most of all, babes, I wish you happiness.  I hope you laugh every day and always wake up each day excited about what’s to come.

All my love,

Mom

Oct4

Admitting Defeat

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So..I’ve completely failed in my quest to get the Bean to take the medication for her ear infection.  The Hubs and I tried everything. We bribed, threatened and put her in time out.  We tried mixing it in every food possible and nothing. I couldn’t mask the taste enough and she flat out refused to take it.  Thankfully a re-check at the doctors again yesterday showed her ear was mending on its own, but I was reminded again how screwed we are.  I mean, if I can’t get my 3 year old to take her medicine now, how am I going to get my 16 year old to respect curfew?!

I mentioned this in my last post, but Beaner is 3 years old and I have still not found her kryptonite.  I haven’t found a single form of discipline that gets her attention.  Time outs? Meh.  Taking away toys? Who cares- she has 15 million others.  Losing privileges? Not a big deal- she can entertain herself just find with a stick and a piece of string. Who needs movies!

I also haven’t found anything that motivates her more then once.  She really doesn’t care about things, so the lure of a new toy doesn’t go far. She’s not food orientated, so M&M’s or other goodies not typically allowed in our home doesn’t get us anywhere.  I suppose I could ban her from hanging out with the cats or playing with her brother (her only loves), but that just seems crazy.

Thankfully in the cases of bad behavior, a combination of all of the above gets our point across 99% of the time. But when it comes to times when the Bean is flat out refusing to do something, like take her medicine, I honestly don’t have a clue. Do any of you?