Men have selective hearing. We all know that. But did you know that it actually starts when they're at the tender age of four. Case in point, Lil T.
Lil T has remarkable hearing. He can hear the faintest of whispers. Conversations that Papa in Suburbia and I don't want him to hear, he hears. We could be whispering in the next room and he'll hear every word of the conversation. We could speak in cryptic and he'll understand what we're talking about. He can make out the lyrics of a song that's playing on the radio, which he'll sing along to each time it. Even I have a hard time hearing what these singers are singing sometimes. Yes, he'll croon "Rollling in the Deep" right along with Adele. But when it comes to me giving him a simple directive like, "Okay time to wash up for dinner" or "Clean up, it's time for bed", he'll totally "not hear" me. I have to repeat it about 3 times, each time a little louder and with more annoyance in my voice.
Scenario - It's time for dinner and Lil T is playing in the living room and I'm in the kitchen. Mind you, there are no doors or walls blocking the travel of sound.
Me - "It's time for dinner. Go wash up please." Silence.
Me - "T, did you hear me? It's time to wash up for dinner." I wait another second. Total silence.
Me - "I'M NOT GOING TO SAY IT AGAIN. GO WASH UP NOW OR YOU'RE GOING TO TIME- OU...!" Before I even have time to finish the sentence....
Lil T - "Mommie, what-cha say????"
ARGH!!! It drives me nuts!
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Friday, September 16, 2011
Being in control is over-rated.
Hello. My name is Mama in Suburbia. I am a stay-at-home mom and...I'm a control freak.
There. I said it.
Okay, in my defense...I'm not exactly a control freak. I just like things done a certain way. I like organization. I like cleanliness. I like order. I don't like chaos.
Hmmmm, on second thought, I'm not only a control freak...I'm an anal perfectionist. Great!
You see, this isn't really a terrible thing. Yeah okay, maybe it is. But what makes it bad is that I am constantly at war with my I-need-to-be-in-control-also four year old. Yes, it's the mommy/son battle for control. Already. I am sooo not looking forward to the teenager years.
I am turning into one of those moms you see at the playground or at the store. The ones who you try to avoid. You know, the ones constantly yelling at their kids. "Stop doing that." "I told you to stop already." "Don't play with that." And all he ever hears is "whaar, whaar, whaar, whaar, whaaar...." (just like Charlie Brown's teacher). And the more I yell, the more defiant he gets. He gets that crazy glimmer in his eyes, a devilish smile starts to form, and off he goes. And off I go. Yeah I know, I'm not the control freak. He is.
What I need to do isgo have a couple of drinks breathe, before reacting. Wooooo-saaaaaa. Breathe and think before I overreact. 1. Is he in any danger? 2. Am I or anyone else in any danger? 3. Are sharp objects involved? 4. Will I regret this later on? Probably so, but it's okay. If the answer is "no", let it be. Seriously. Kids will be kids. They want to have fun. They are going to test you. So as long as there is no danger involved and no one gets hurt, I need to just take a chill pill. Right? Easier said than done...but I will try. I don't want to be a screaming mom all the time. It's annoying. And it's exhausting. I just need to let loose with the control once in awhile. It's a give and take. I let loose the reins a bit, he won't pull as hard. Kinda like...walking a dog? Or something like that.
It's no fun butting heads all the time. This anal, perfectionist, control freak of a Mama will learn to let go a bit. Once in a while.
Come to think of it, by doing so, I might actually be gaining all the control. Muahahahahah....
There. I said it.
Okay, in my defense...I'm not exactly a control freak. I just like things done a certain way. I like organization. I like cleanliness. I like order. I don't like chaos.
Hmmmm, on second thought, I'm not only a control freak...I'm an anal perfectionist. Great!
You see, this isn't really a terrible thing. Yeah okay, maybe it is. But what makes it bad is that I am constantly at war with my I-need-to-be-in-control-also four year old. Yes, it's the mommy/son battle for control. Already. I am sooo not looking forward to the teenager years.
I am turning into one of those moms you see at the playground or at the store. The ones who you try to avoid. You know, the ones constantly yelling at their kids. "Stop doing that." "I told you to stop already." "Don't play with that." And all he ever hears is "whaar, whaar, whaar, whaar, whaaar...." (just like Charlie Brown's teacher). And the more I yell, the more defiant he gets. He gets that crazy glimmer in his eyes, a devilish smile starts to form, and off he goes. And off I go. Yeah I know, I'm not the control freak. He is.
What I need to do is
It's no fun butting heads all the time. This anal, perfectionist, control freak of a Mama will learn to let go a bit. Once in a while.
Come to think of it, by doing so, I might actually be gaining all the control. Muahahahahah....
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
It's NOT just another Hallmark holiday...
Maybe it's me. Maybe I'm just a thoughtful person. Or maybe it's a female "thing". But when it comes to birthdays and anniversaries, I feel that these are special days. And special days need to be celebrated. Right?
Well, yesterday was my birthday. And as much as I hate to celebrate a day that reminds me that I'm another year older (much, much older), it's still a special day to me. And call me selfish and self-centered if you'd like, but I think a birthday needs to be celebrated. Just my opinion.
So here's my 2 cents, for what it's worth. Just some advice for all the boyfriends and husbands out there on celebrating your girlfriend or wife's birthday:
1. Birthdays and anniversaries are not "Hallmark" holidays. These are special occasions and deserve some special attention. They're not like Veteran's Day or Columbus Day (not that those aren't important holidays). And they're not "just another reason for Hallmark to make and sell a card". You need to buy a card. Preferably prior to that special day and not just stopping at CVS on the way to dinner so you can pick one up and scribble a note on it in the bathroom. Plan ahead.
2. Birthdays and anniversaries deserve a gift. No matter what your girlfriend or wife says, you need to get her a gift. Again I repeat, GET A GIFT! If you ask her what she wants, pay attention. Even if she says she doesn't want anything...PAY ATTENTION! GET A GIFT! Notice I didn't say buy a gift. If you're short on cash, you need not spend a lot of money or any money. You can make her something too. Write her a poem. Not a literary genius? Make her a jewelry box. Not a handyman? Give her an "IOU voucher" for a favor or a project that she's been wanting you to do. You get my drift. It's really the thought that counts. I know, it's so cliche. But it's true. The fact that you thought enough of her to buy or make her something special...it means alot.
If you're going to buy her something but don't know what to get, get her a gift card. Some people think gift cards are thoughtless. They're not. Get her a gift card to her favorite store (hopefully you have some clue as to where that would be). At least she can use it to buy something she likes. Don't ever say, "I didn't get you anything because you said not to." She was being nice when she said that, idiot! And don't ever say, "You always return everything I get you, so I didn't get you anything." Big mistake! That's why you buy a gift card...
3. Flowers are nice. Unless she's allergic to them. But if not, buy her a nice bouquet. Short on cash? A single rose will do. This will definitely earn you some bonus points.
4. Don't forget about the kids. If you have kids, get her something from them too. Go pick out a card with them or have them make a card. It really means alot. She'll treasure it. I know I would.
5. Make dinner plans. Either cook her a special dinner or make reservations. She should not have to cook today. To earn bonus points...make her breakfast. In bed is preferable, but not a must.
6. Get a cake. We love dessert. Don't collapse it with candles that remind her of her age. One or two is enough. Who doesn't love blowing out candles?
And there you have it. Not too hard, right? It's totally doable. Seriously, it doesn't matter how much she says she doesn't want to celebrate. She does. Who doesn't want to be treated extra special once in a while. Trust me, just do it. It'll make her happier... and your life easier in the long run.
Well, yesterday was my birthday. And as much as I hate to celebrate a day that reminds me that I'm another year older (much, much older), it's still a special day to me. And call me selfish and self-centered if you'd like, but I think a birthday needs to be celebrated. Just my opinion.
So here's my 2 cents, for what it's worth. Just some advice for all the boyfriends and husbands out there on celebrating your girlfriend or wife's birthday:
1. Birthdays and anniversaries are not "Hallmark" holidays. These are special occasions and deserve some special attention. They're not like Veteran's Day or Columbus Day (not that those aren't important holidays). And they're not "just another reason for Hallmark to make and sell a card". You need to buy a card. Preferably prior to that special day and not just stopping at CVS on the way to dinner so you can pick one up and scribble a note on it in the bathroom. Plan ahead.
2. Birthdays and anniversaries deserve a gift. No matter what your girlfriend or wife says, you need to get her a gift. Again I repeat, GET A GIFT! If you ask her what she wants, pay attention. Even if she says she doesn't want anything...PAY ATTENTION! GET A GIFT! Notice I didn't say buy a gift. If you're short on cash, you need not spend a lot of money or any money. You can make her something too. Write her a poem. Not a literary genius? Make her a jewelry box. Not a handyman? Give her an "IOU voucher" for a favor or a project that she's been wanting you to do. You get my drift. It's really the thought that counts. I know, it's so cliche. But it's true. The fact that you thought enough of her to buy or make her something special...it means alot.
If you're going to buy her something but don't know what to get, get her a gift card. Some people think gift cards are thoughtless. They're not. Get her a gift card to her favorite store (hopefully you have some clue as to where that would be). At least she can use it to buy something she likes. Don't ever say, "I didn't get you anything because you said not to." She was being nice when she said that, idiot! And don't ever say, "You always return everything I get you, so I didn't get you anything." Big mistake! That's why you buy a gift card...
3. Flowers are nice. Unless she's allergic to them. But if not, buy her a nice bouquet. Short on cash? A single rose will do. This will definitely earn you some bonus points.
4. Don't forget about the kids. If you have kids, get her something from them too. Go pick out a card with them or have them make a card. It really means alot. She'll treasure it. I know I would.
5. Make dinner plans. Either cook her a special dinner or make reservations. She should not have to cook today. To earn bonus points...make her breakfast. In bed is preferable, but not a must.
6. Get a cake. We love dessert. Don't collapse it with candles that remind her of her age. One or two is enough. Who doesn't love blowing out candles?
And there you have it. Not too hard, right? It's totally doable. Seriously, it doesn't matter how much she says she doesn't want to celebrate. She does. Who doesn't want to be treated extra special once in a while. Trust me, just do it. It'll make her happier... and your life easier in the long run.
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
What did people ever do without electricity?
I will no longer take electricity for granted.
We survived Hurricane Irene. Or was it Tropical Storm Irene? In any case, we emerged somewhat unscathed. House is still standing. No major damages. Other than some yard cleanup of tree debris and a fallen tree limb, we're fine. The only issue we had was the loss of power. No electricity. For 7 whole days. With a 4 year old. Not fun.
Granted, we were away for 3 of those nights on vacation in Pennsylvania (where electricity was in abundance). But still.
We left the day after the storm. And 4 days later when we returned, I walked into a stinky house. The food in our fridge had gone bad. Everything in my freezer defrosted. Meat juices were aflowing. There was nothing left of the box of popsicles I had, except the sticks and the wrappers. Popsicle juice and meat juice combined does not make for a nice cleanup job. Or a nice smelling house. I guess we were lucky we still had running water. No hot water, but at least we had running water.
And let me tell you, a power outage with a 4 year old makes it even more fun. I lost track of the amount of times I was asked, "What is there to do?" and "When is the power back?". Geez, I don't know but it's only been 30 seconds since you last asked me. It made for a very long day. And an even longer night. Lil T still sleeps with a night light. Thank goodness for our solar lights. We took a solar light from our yard and it kept his room softly lit through the night. Phew.
The power finally came back on, on Day 7. Hallelujah!!! I don't think I've ever been so excited to do laundry, vacuum the house, or to cook. Ever.
Thank goodness for our vacation plans, a wonderful friend who provided us with showers and a hot meal, our outdoor grill, our solar lights, and boxes and bottles of baking soda and Oust for getting us through the aftermaths of Irene.
Electricity...oh how I love thee.
We survived Hurricane Irene. Or was it Tropical Storm Irene? In any case, we emerged somewhat unscathed. House is still standing. No major damages. Other than some yard cleanup of tree debris and a fallen tree limb, we're fine. The only issue we had was the loss of power. No electricity. For 7 whole days. With a 4 year old. Not fun.
Granted, we were away for 3 of those nights on vacation in Pennsylvania (where electricity was in abundance). But still.
We left the day after the storm. And 4 days later when we returned, I walked into a stinky house. The food in our fridge had gone bad. Everything in my freezer defrosted. Meat juices were aflowing. There was nothing left of the box of popsicles I had, except the sticks and the wrappers. Popsicle juice and meat juice combined does not make for a nice cleanup job. Or a nice smelling house. I guess we were lucky we still had running water. No hot water, but at least we had running water.
And let me tell you, a power outage with a 4 year old makes it even more fun. I lost track of the amount of times I was asked, "What is there to do?" and "When is the power back?". Geez, I don't know but it's only been 30 seconds since you last asked me. It made for a very long day. And an even longer night. Lil T still sleeps with a night light. Thank goodness for our solar lights. We took a solar light from our yard and it kept his room softly lit through the night. Phew.
The power finally came back on, on Day 7. Hallelujah!!! I don't think I've ever been so excited to do laundry, vacuum the house, or to cook. Ever.
Thank goodness for our vacation plans, a wonderful friend who provided us with showers and a hot meal, our outdoor grill, our solar lights, and boxes and bottles of baking soda and Oust for getting us through the aftermaths of Irene.
Electricity...oh how I love thee.
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