Teach Me How to Mommy

I took the kids to a different splash pad last week and within ten minutes of splashing I observed two moms completely losing their shit. Both kids seemed to have pushed their moms' last buttons.  One for failure to apologize, the other for constant near escapes.  Both valid concerns, I too have felt my blood boil for those very reasons. I couldn't help but wonder though, had it been June, if those same moms would have been screeching, "I am so done with this kid" or "I've told you a thousand times and you NEVER listen."  Even if I think those things, I never say them out loud - I'd be too nervous of the judgement that accompanied it.  But these moms - there were no inhibitions - they were at their breaking point. I think, more likely, it's Mid-August Syndrome .  Moms, Dads, caregivers and more have spent the summers entertaining and stimulating their kids.  We've packed and unpacked for the beach, traveled to museums, spent countless, ho

Just when you think you've got it all together.... Your son comes to tell you that there is poop on the floor.  So even though he's been potty trained for a nearly a year and ASKS for privacy when he goes, there are still mishaps.  Like, well this: He was such an easy kid to potty train...a few skittles here, a few there and BAM, bye bye diapers.  Yet, he has his quirks.  For instance, I am not sure why his own private potty ended up getting flipped over, but I do know that he was in there building a fortress with toilet paper.  It's what he does - I don't know, I tend to think it's creative and not destructive. I think my mistake was loading up the shelf with fresh new rolls (I did that at 7am).  It was all just too exciting for him. And so even though this was the first day in history that both children slept until 8am allowing me to deep clean the bathroom (again at 7am) I was right back at it at 11am. Please remind me of this as I have a full-blow

Please don't be 3.....    I can't explain the anxiety that comes along with having a child that doesn't sleep well.  I can probably count on one hand the number of times from the age of 0-12 months that we received 5 hours of consecutive sleep.  I used to DREAD making small talk with people when Colin was an infant because the FIRST question a new mom is asked is, "hows the baby sleeping".  I always wanted to look them dead in the eye and scream, Like fucking SHIT.  I never did... I smiled and tried to change the conversation...    Also... when did a baby sleeping through the night at 4 weeks old become a milestone?  Babies are babies!  ughhh.... I digress... .   At 12 months, things started to turn bright.  The beginning of the school year was lovely and Colin learned that Mommy & Daddy NEED a full night's sleep to function as parent's and teachers.  I started to think that maybe ye olden days of sleepless nights were behind us.... Then,