Cause I Just Did

Status is Everything

I'm not sure if this was mentioned previously but my husband and I are gambling junkies.    We love gambling, whether it be in Las Vegas, Lake Tahoe, or Cache Creek ... the both of us are there.     One of the greater perks is being a part of a rewards program.    You basically sign up with a hotel's rewards program and get a players card.     Based on your gambling habits (how much $$ you throw down) one accumulates points.     These points are  added up and based on your totals,  you can get comp points for food, free room, free show tickets, etc ...      As your totals get higher, your player status changes and that my friends, gives you more benefits.      Our current status allows us to move to the front of the line at restaurants, special check-in areas, preferred status for valet, cashier needs, etc ...      We figure we're going to gamble our money ... might as well get something out of it.

Oh yes, remind me to cash in my voucher for $100 ... CASH ... just all part of the rewards program.

Do the Swim Strut

Yesterday was the start of swimming lessons for my oldest.   I think I was dreading it more than he was.   I was anticipating the onslaught of "I don't want to" or "Why?" or "I REALLY don't want to go" comments.    Which of course would be delivered in his best whiny voice.    But it actually went a lot better than I thought it would have.    As if on cue when I told him it was time to got to his swim lessons, which meant he had to get out of the little pool and go into another pool, that request was declined.     My son did not want to leave his BFF who was in the little pool.  But after coaxing him, gently to come out he did.   

Next he did even more convincing that he should try to do what his teacher, was asking him to do.    My oldest politely said "no" to each request.    Then after about 5 minutes of trying to get him to go in the water with his instructor, my oldest sees his daddy and tells Miss Swim Teacher, "I want to go by Daddy".   "Ok!" was Miss Swim Teacher's reply.    The oldest jumps to her arms and then they proceed to swim over to Daddy.    That was the ice breaker.  From then on, he was participating 100% and suprise surprise was actually having a lot of fun.    He even practiced what he learned in the little pool after his lesson was done.   

The oldest was the only one in his class because 2 students did not show up, so it was like having a private lesson.     The oldest did extremely well and I made sure that I told him every chance I had.   I clapped ... I shouted "Great Job!" ... I told him "You're awesome!".   I'm sure I sounded like the mom who obviously had the "My child is not a fish yet" child.    The other mommies around barely said a word to their children who were having lessons in the same pool.   Oh well, hell, I'm mighty proud of him and made sure he knew it.   

Ask me to put my head underwater and my reply will be "Do you know how long it took me to do my hair?!  Hell with that!".

What Did You Eat?

The other night I got sick from what I think was food poisoning.   I felt dizzy and nauseaous.  As always puking everything out makes me feel better, strange but true.    After the toilet worshipping I told husband about feeling sick.

H: You think it's something you ate?

Me: Possibly.

H: What did you eat?

Me: Japanese food.

H: What was it?

Me: Some bbq beef, sashimi (raw fish), shrimp tempura, broiled mushrooms/broccoli, rice, California roll, seaweed salad, garden salad, and miso soup.

H: Geesh, what didn't you eat?

Me: (inside voice) Remind me to puke in your lap the next time I feel like vomitting.

Unwanted Behaviors

I'll make this short.    A known acquaintance is encouraging my son and his son to punch him, even elbowing him.    He thinks it's funny and a fun way to entertain his son.  I hate it.    Of course most of you must know the reason why, right?    Because he brings it home with him and unleashes that unruly energy on his younger brother and others at home.   I don't understand how a grown-up can be so immature.    Maybe I should hire Mike Tyson to "play fight" with him.

My Child is Rude

There's an interesting article on MSNBC on "What I Hate about Other People's Kids".       Interesting for most, but embarrassing for me.    Scan down to the examples of a rude child.   My child fits every single example, except for one.      Oh lordy.    I'm reading the examples and in my head I'm thinking, "yes he does that", "yes", "yes", "SIGH ... yes", ...   My child is surely gifted.

Two Volumes

These days I only seem to have two volumes when I talk to my children.   It's either in my normal voice or I'm yelling.    I don't have anything in between the two.  I'm not sure if I'm supposed to have an in between volume but I definitely don't.     I'll ask my oldest to stop scaring his younger brother.   Of course his selective hearing turns on so he pretends he doesn't hear me.   The second time I tell him to stop I'm yelling at him, loud enough for the whole neighborhood to hear me.    I guess subconsciously I'm tired of asking him to stop 4 or 5 times before I start yelling.   Overall I suppose I'm just tired in general.    So tired of telling my children the SAME thing over and over again.   It's either hear me now or face my wrath.   Though I think that my children have seen my wrath so frequently lately that it's not anything to fear.   "Oh my mommy always talks like that.", I can just imagine my oldest telling his friends or his teachers when they hear me yell.

Happy Father's Day!

Happy Father's Day to my wonderful husband and my dear father.      May you both have a very special day!!!

Whose Child are You Yelling At Now?

I don't know why but my husband is a yeller.    Lately I've noticed that he yells a lot more in the past few years.     Whenever my boys do something that is well, bad, he yells.     Most of the time, he yells.  But the fuse is short and sometimes I cringe when it starts.    Now don't get me wrong, he's not a mean person.   He's as sweet as pie, sometimes even a pushover.   But I noticed that when the boys need a scolding he's quicker to scream and yell, rather than reason.    That annoys me.    Of course I yell, I scream, I holler at times, but I try to remain calm and reason with my boys.    Though trying to compromise with a 2 year old doesn't always work.   

Getting back to hubby, his yelling now has gone outside our family circle.   I now noticed he's started to raise his voice at my son's friends.   When I first heard it I dismissed it as "Oh well, he's not familiar with playground politics."   But now it's happened more than a few times and I'm almost well embarrassed when it happens.    I mean, the boy is not mine.    He does deserve a scolding but from someone else?     My husband?     My friend, the boy's mom, though has her hands full most of the time so I know she doesn't always see or hear what her child does.     Thus one can't say she's letting the bad behavior go.     She just doesn't have those most wished upon feature all moms want ... eyes behind our head.   At times I scold the boy if need be.   I don't raise my voice but I do bring attention to the bad behavior in hopes my friend will see.    A great majority of the times she does.   But my husband ... sigh, he yells, not all the time, sometimes.     I hate it.    I feel weird.   He's not our child so we don't "deserve" to yell.   It's not our "right".     I haven't told him how I feel.   I'm not sure how he'll react, telling him he's doing something wrong.    But sometimes I'm wondering if maybe telling him to stop makes me the one that is wrong.

Stay Cool or Skinned Knees?

I'm always thinking of this when the weather is hot like it is today.    Most times in the afternoon we all head to the park.    The boys ride their bikes and plays on the jungle gym.     My dilemna is do I dress them in shorts because it's so hot?   Or do I leave them in jeans to protect their knees for in case they fall?       Sweaty or bloody knee?     You would think, well sweaty is better than bloody knees, but I hate being sweaty.  I'm not sure if the boys care or not but I hate it.   I only mildly tolerate it when I workout at the gym, but other than that, I'd prefer not to.      Ah decisions decisions ...      

If Only He'd Listen

I find it so frustrating as a mom to tell my oldest the SAME thing OVER and OVER and OVER AGAIN.    Sigh.   I think it's cruel in constructing the mind of a toddler that for some reason the toddler has no desire to listen.    Why does it have to be so difficult?    Difficult for me, difficult for my oldest, and difficult for my younger son who unfortunately receives the brunt of the oldest's actions.      How do I teach my children the importance of listening?    I don't talk just to hear my voice.     Of course I'm just bitching to the empty air above my head as I know, here in the real world, my oldest is behaving like a pretty typical toddler.    

But it doesn't make it any easier to deal with.     Mommy needs a glass of wine ... hell, give me a shot of tequilla and hold the salt.