Tired Mama.com

Today

I've got a child home today who is not feeling well enough to go to school. I hesitate to say he is really sick but he's not one hundred percent either so the school doesn't want him there.

So, he's here with me.

And this means I get to spend the day at home.

Which is okay, because I kinda like the kid and when I spend time at home I get things done.

Like uh, cleaning out the fridge, or sorting the laundry because those things need doing.

Or, writing something to help pay the bills. Those need to be looked at too.

But first?

First, I'm gonna go and bug my son. He's lying on the couch watching TV and bugging him sounds like more fun than cleaning.

*** Ten Minutes Pass ***

And now that I've done that, I have discovered that my son is running a fever and he is now telling me that his stomach hurts.

Wow, I made the right call when I decided to keep him home. I was right. Did you hear that? I was right. That doesn't happen very often.

And you know, when it comes to thinking that my kids are brewing something and about to get sick? I wish it wasn't happening today either.

Sigh.

I wonder how much Tylenol I have in the the house? I wonder if he'll keep it down?

Double sigh. 

Roses are red...

We live close enough to the small center of our town that I sometimes let my twelve year old son bike or walk with a group of his friends downtown to get ice cream.

Last weekend they stopped on the way home and picked up hamburger buns at the bakery for me. So, this weekend I asked my son and his buddies to stop at the fruit stand and buy me some flowers.

Yep, flowers. I asked four twelve year old boys to stop and pick up flowers.

They were quite willing to run the errand since I was paying for the ice cream, but  they weren't that sure on how to buy the flowers.

'What kind of flowers?' one asked.

'Do we have to pick them?' asked another.

'How do you buy flowers at a fruit market?' asked the third.

My son, who has picked out many flowers for our kitchen table in the past, simply wanted to know what colour I wanted.

So, off the boys went and a short time later they returned with lovely yellow tulips for my kitchen table.

Perfect.

Then today I went into the fruit shop to pick up some things. The lovely lady who works there was happy to tell me that she had seen my son and his friends come in to the market to buy flowers on the weekend.

She also told me that the boys had declined her offer to help them pick out the flowers and had only smiled when she accused them of buying the flowers because they were in trouble for something.

She had then proceeded to ask the boys if the girl they were buying the flowers for was pretty. She reported that my son had answered, 'yeah, she's not bad'. Now this woman wanted to know who the lucky recipient of the flowers was.

Uh, that would be me.

But, not bad? My son thinks I'm 'not bad' looking?

I can't decide whether to be insulted or simply amused. I am, after all, his mother and he is twelve. I can't help but wish he would still think I'm beautiful like he did when he was two years old, but at least he's not telling the lady that I'm coyote ugly.

So, if you'll excuse me I'm going to go and smell my tulips. The ones my son bought for me.

Thanks, buddy.

She's a maniac...

We've all heard of multi-tasking.

Well I learned a new term today - maniac-tasking.

I think I like it.

It also seems to describe so many of my days when I just run around like crazy trying to get too many kids to too many activities and at the same time try to take care of the hundred other details that need to be done to keep this family fed, alive, solvent and uh, just going.

So, what about you? Are you a multi-tasker or a maniac-tasker?

Um, and any idea how I can become a maniac-slacker? That's the one I really want to try.

I got nothing.

Sometimes when I sit and look at a blank page I get inspired and write something fabulous.

And then there're days like this.

Sigh.

Pudgy Faced Mama

I was in a washroom at a public restaurant today and as I was washing my hands I noticed in the mirror that I no longer had eyes.

Yep, someone has stolen my eyes.

I think they're still in my face somewhere but between my lack of sleep and the extra fifteen pounds I've put on, my eyes have shrunken and disappeared into my forehead.

I think I still have eyes, as I can see, but they now look tiny in comparison to the rest of my face.

I used to have bright round sparkly eyes. Now? Not so much.

So, I have decided to eat better, sleep more and get more exercise so I can like the look of my face again and can find my eyes.

Yeah.

I'm also going to stop by the drug store today and buy some mascara and eye liner.

Sigh.

This whole aging thing is a downer, ya know?

Oh, for gosh sake

Dear Stupid Pet,

If you don't like dirty laundry being thrown on top of you, don't sleep in the laundry hamper.

Yes, I actually put laundry in there and yes, I know the kids in the house don't.

But give me a break, I get enough dirty looks from my children, I don't need them from you too.

Thanks,
Tired Mama

 

 

Pick again

My youngest is now nine.

Over the past few months she's started to make some rumblings about the state of her room. It seems she's no longer happy to have pink and purple fairies dancing around in there with a big pink crown as a head board.

My youngest seems to no longer think that she is a princess. Go figure.

So, we've picked out a new bedding set.  This one:

It's cute, bold and tweenish. I think it'll work for a few years.

I also agreed to paint her room. 'What colour do you want it to be?' I asked carelessly.

When she asked for my opinion, I told her to pick a colour from the comforter cover. I suggested pink or purple or green or even yellow.

But what does she want?

Black.

Shiny black, please.

Uh, no.

Sigh.

Henry James and Washington Square

My classes have started up again.

For those of you who haven't been keeping track this is the third year running that I've been taking classes at my local University. Yes, I am insane.

But, I'm only taking two courses this year. I was taking more the past two years but I just found that life kept getting in the way of my courses and so I decided to take less this year and see how that worked out. 

You know what? One course is almost as bad as five. I'm still waaay too busy with kid and house stuff to concentrate on school properly.

I only need three classes to get this degree though and I am going to finish it. Soon. I hope.

So, if you'll excuse me, I have to go and prepare a presentation on Henry James.

I know, you wish you were me, right?

Did I mention I'm insane?

Sigh.

Can I borrow a shovel?

It's Monday morning.

On Monday mornings I spend a fair amount of time tidying up my house. I do it because it allows me to avoid working and because, after the weekend, my house REALLY needs to be dug out from under all the crap that got thrown at it while my kids and hubby were home full time.

This morning's task is going to be to try and find my kitchen table.

I have a new kitchen table arriving in November but I still need to use my current one for dinner tonight. Right now I can't even see it because it is piled full of papers, bags of apples, dishes and goodness knows what else that my beloved family heaped on it over the weekend.

My goal is to get it dug out by dinner time.

I have two large garbage bags and an empty dishwasher so I'm hopeful.

After that I need to clean out my fridge.

No wonder people hate Mondays.

Sigh.

TGIF

It's happening.

The kid's fall activities are starting up again, the school meetings are starting up again and my classes have started again.

I'm not sure but I think I'm behind on some activity and we're only a week and a half into the fall term.

Sigh.

But today is Friday and on Friday nights we have nothing to do and no where to go.

TGIF.

Truly - TGIF.

Signs

I did a couple of things yesterday that I haven't done in a while.

In the morning I went to the local kitchen store and I bought some knives. I know, I know, I'm a party animal.

But, since my kids started helping me in the kitchen oh about, twelve years ago I haven't had any really good quality sharp knives as I never wanted my babies to grab one and hurt themselves. 

But this past weekend, as I was making a total mess of pealing a peach, it occurred to me that my youngest is now nine. I can probably trust them not to slice themselves open on a sharp knife.

Lightbulb!

So, I went out yesterday and bought two Henckels branded knives and you know what? These suckers are sharp.

The second thing I did was I went to Bath and Body Works and bought a few of their scented candles. 

For years if I bought candles my kids would either immediately blow them out, thinking they were birthday cake candles, or they'd stick their finger in them to see what would happen. I've also been known to forget all about a burning candle and leave the house or go to bed with it still lit.

I also can't stand the smell of a dirty diaper layered over with uh, a lavender scent or a green tree smell or some such thing.

Today? Now I have a 'Sweet Cinnamon Pumpkin' smell permeating my house thanks to the pretty new candle I bought yesterday.

I can do these things now. My kids are growing up.

Sigh.

Now, how long do you think it'll take before I cut my finger or burn down my kitchen?

I give myself about two days.

Wow

When pigs fly!

When hell freezes over!

When gosh um, I don't know - but there's got to be more.

What? What?

What, you ask?

Tired Papa and I stayed home today and worked around the house and um, I got all the laundry done.

All. of. it.

Alert the press, Mt. Laundry was conquered for at least six hours today.

Will wonders never cease to amaze.

Breakfast of Champions

So, would you give your kids freshly baked (still warm) frosted brownies for breakfast?

If you're the kinda Mom who thinks this sounds like fun, then yes, of course when my kids asked me if they could have brownies for breakfast I let them eat some from the pan that I had just baked.

If you think this is totally unhealthy and only a horrible Mom would let her kids have brownies for breakfast then tsk-tsk, of course I didn't let them have any, I made them wait until dinner.

Besides, warm frosted brownies? I love brownies. Do you honestly think there'd be any of them LEFT for the kids to eat?

Okay, maybe a few. Very few. 

What can I say? We're pudgy, but we're happy.

Enjoy your Sunday. 

What I added to the fall schedule

I decided a few months ago that I should find some place that needed someone like me to help them get something done.

In other words, I decided to look for a volunteer position in my community so that I could give something back to my uh, world.

I found Ten Thousand Villages.

Why here? Well, I liked their vision:

"One day all artisans in the developing countries will earn a fair wage, be treated with dignity and respect and be able to live a life of quality."

I also liked what I read on their web page...

"Men and women around the world have a simple dream – to earn an honest living, provide a home, food and education for their children, and to be gainfully employed in a job that brings dignity and joy. Ten Thousand Villages partners with thousands of talented artisans in a healthy business relationship.

Often referred to as ‘Fair Trade,' our philosophy of helping to build a sustainable future is based on the principle that trade should have a conscience. Through ‘fair trade,’ artisans receive respect, dignity and hope from working hard and earning fair value for their work."

I've been told that 70% of the people we help are women from developing countries. With the help of Ten Thousand Villages these women can now support their families and give their children a better future.

It's a good thing and it's only four hours a week of my time.

I'm just a tiny cog but hey, it's a start.

"Be the change you wish to see in the world.” -Mahatma Gandhi

Pass the meds

Today my eldest came home from her first day of high school.

She came home happy.

And seeing her smile made me feel like a ton of bricks had just been lifted off my shoulders.

Only eight kids from my daughter's middle school are attending her high school so in her freshman class of four hundred she doesn't know a lot of other kids. 

I was uh, concerned - a little.

But it sounds like everything went okay.

The school she's attending is big and it sounds like she got lost, a lot.

She also told me that she talked to a few new kids and got into a fight with her new locker when it wouldn't open.

I gather her language teacher seems intimidating and the school's drama department is putting on a musical that she thought she might be interested in participating in. 

She also talked about trying out for the school field hockey team.

Overall, it was all good stuff.

Eight hours down and only a zillion to go until she graduates. 

After hearing about her day today, I think she'll be fine.

I, on the other hand, may need wine, or Valium or something even stronger to get through the next four years.

Do you think we'll ever stop worrying about our kids?

Sigh.

Thank goodness

Grab a Mai-Tai and join the conga line....

School starts again tomorrow for my trio.

If it wasn't for the homework, the extra curricular activities that require me to drive all over town and the early mornings I'd be a deliriously happy lady tonight.

As it is? I'm simply happy.

Very happy.

I just keep hitting the delete key.

Can someone please help me tell the places that keep filling my in-box that:

1) I have never, nor will I ever, be interested in playing in an on-line casino.

2) I don't need to buy cheap drugs from Canada. I live here. If I need them I get a prescription.

3) I don't want to lose weight using Acai berries. Unless of course one of you tells me that they really work with no evil side effects, then I might change my mind.

4) I don't need to verify any account information with any financial institution with any personal information anywhere, anytime, anyhow. Nor am I interested in helping you get your money out of your country. I may be slightly crazy but I'm not stupid.

5) Finally, I don't have a penis and I'm not interested in making anything on me larger.

Thanks.

I'm trying hard

Okay, so if you happen to make a mistake and drive right past the window speaker at a drive-through restaurant, what are you supposed to do?

When I did this today at my local Tim Horton's, I got out of my van and walked back the few feet to the speaker and yelled my order into it. I then got back into my van and moved up in the line to the pick-up window.  

There were cars ahead and behind me in the line-up. It was bumper to bumper, I couldn't have backed up without hitting someone.

What else should I have done?

And why did everyone in the line around me find this so darn funny? Yes, people were laughing at me. I think someone was even taking pictures of me with their flippin' cell phone. Wait, that might have been my kid.

Am I on YouTube now?

So, what's the etiquette here anyway?

Someone? Anyone?

Sigh.

It's a big cut in the Back to School budget

I'm doing one of those smallish insane things today. You know the kinda thing, the one that if you heard some other Mom was doing it you'd shake your head and roll your eyes, then probably (hopefully?) forget about it.

Yep, I'm doing one of those.

I'm taking my fourteen year old daughter for a haircut today at one of those over the top expensive hair salon places.

Yep, I am - but let me defend myself.

You see, I went to this expensive salon five weeks ago out of desperation.

My reasonably priced nice hairdresser has left town and my bangs and hair were getting so ratty and long that I couldn't see. I looked pretty bad and worse yet? I was getting grey. So, I took a friend's recommendation and went to this nice swanky salon.

I almost had a heart attack when I went to pay, but my hair looked great so I decided that I was worth it.

Yes, as a matter of fact I can justify just about anything.

And yes, I did hide the receipt from Tired Papa.

Yesterday I had two people comment on my hair - FIVE weeks later. This just doesn't happen EVER, but my hair still looks good, it's easy to take care of and well, it's working for me.

At my age I'll pay a little extra for that.

My daughter? She got a teen cut at the mall a few weeks ago. Now, her hair is gorgeous. It's thick, wavy, naturally highlighted and just plain lovely to look at. Right now with this 'long bang teen thing' going on however it looks less than stellar. It looks heavy and lank and it's hiding her pretty face. It's just not working.

So, I'm paying to get it cut again, by the same stylist who did mine, for her first day of high school.

Sigh. 

I know I may never get her to go back to reasonably priced cuts once I start paying for her to have expensive ones, but school starts in five days and I don't know what else to do.

So, I'm just gonna pull out the credit card and close my eyes to the price. 

Let the eye rolling begin. 

High School?

So, my daughter picked up her high school timetable today.

High. School.

Just yesterday Tired Papa and I were thinking about having children and now, boom! - next week she starts high school.

So, personally? I'm in denial about the whole thing.

Fortunately, I had a fairly decent high school experience.

I did well, I had friends and I didn't make too many geeky mistakes.

I wish the same for her.

Good luck eldest daughter and um, I'll be here for you every step of the way. Especially on the days when you don't want me there.

Yep, that's a promise.

Love you too.

I don't like this feeling

It's that time of the year.

Summer is winding down which means I need to attend the end of the year baseball and soccer finals as well as buy new shoes and supplies for school.

The family is coming over for a BBQ tomorrow because we haven't seen some of them all summer (guilt) and we've got a birthday party to go to tonight for a good friend.

It seems busy right now and school and all the fall activities haven't even yet begun yet.

I've started thinking about Christmas too. I even went to the local electronics store and pre-ordered one of the new video electronic thingys that's being released in October. My kids have already mentioned it and I'm not standing in line in December EVER again to find out I can't get one of these stupid must have teen things.

I've started making lists again. I haven't had to do that for a while - okay, I haven't done it for a few weeks.

I'm starting to feel it - that panicy busy feeling is starting to return.

Sigh. Where did the lazy summer days go?

It really is the most wonderful time of the year

It's only eleven days, twenty hours and about about fifty-one minutes away.

If this means nothing to you then you don't have children who go back to school after the Labor Day weekend.

Yes, we're VERY ready here for some time apart.

Kids, if you're reading this? I do love you, but you know it's true.

And yes, it works both ways.

Hugs.

Klutzy Kids

My youngest daughter fell out of her bed last night and woke up the whole house.

My eldest daughter fell off her rolling desk chair today. It sounded like she was falling through my office ceiling.

My son kicked a wall today while walking and bruised his foot quite badly.

Yes, my children seem to be uh, balance-challenged these days.

They get that from their father's side of the family.

Dreaming

As I sit here and listen to my children bicker in the next room, I can hear my husband trying to intervene to create peace.

Me? I'm dreaming of being single and living somewhere exotic.

I'm dreaming of beaches, floaty dresses, fruit drinks, warm weather and a life of financial freedom.

Reality?

I need to go get groceries and throw in a load of laundry before heading out to my daughter's soccer game. It's pouring rain out too.

Sigh.

My meat sauce is doing what?

Great.

One of the quick and easy meals that my family eats regularly is pasta with meat sauce. I serve it to them with salad and rolls.

To make a quick meat sauce I brown ground beef and then stir in the sauce.

Easy and quick. My whole family loves pasta and I can have dinner on the table in about fifteen minutes. Some nights that's even too long for me to get dinner on the table before my kids turn into bears or before someone has to be at some activity.

The problem with this meal, I discovered tonight, is that I have always used a Teflon based frying pan to brown the meat.

A few people on the internet seem to think using this pan is killing me and my family.

Yikes.

Does anyone know anything about Polytetrafluoroethylenes?

I'm almost scared to ask the question.

I need to sleep nights and I'm not sure I can handle the guilt of knowing that I've been inadvertently poisoning my family for the last fifteen years or so.

Sigh.

Anyone know anything about this? Please share if you do.

Gently.

Thanks.

Sittin' in the evening sun

If you want to see some great photography go over to this site.

http://www.soeursdujour.com/

Today Kath posted a 'school report' about being at the cottage for her summer vacation. She inspired me to put up my favourite picture from my cottage vacation too.

You know what? I could sit by a lake in a muskoka chair watching the sunset forever. Yep, I could. Vacations are just waaaay too short.

Gutsy

One word.

Wow.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/16/fashion/16drunk.html?pagewanted=1&_r=2

Good for her.

I've always assumed that when Moms talk about drinking on blogs that we're all kind of kidding around about it.

Naive little me, I guess.

I give this lady credit; I wouldn't have the guts to come clean on the web and in the NY Times like this.

I'm also blessed that I don't need to. Honestly? I don't drink excessively because when I do, I babble on like an idiot to anyone who will listen and then I hate myself the next day.

Usually I like who I am, and so I try to keep it that way as often as possible.

Yeah, words to live by, I know.

Sigh.

Mums aren't us - yet.

Yep, I'm back.

And yes, I had a wonderful two week northern cottage vacation - thank you for asking.

The down side of being away however is that some of my flower pots uh, died.

Yes, we finally had sun and heat while I was gone and it seems my plants had gotten use to all that cool rainy weather we had here for the ENTIRE month of July.

So, when I was picking up milk and bread tonight I had a quick peek at the garden centre to see what was available to replace my dead flowers.

What did I see?

Fall Mums.

Ack.

It's way too early for Mums.

I guess we'll be plantless for a few weeks.

Sigh.

Can you say, stupid?

My eldest daughter has school exams in June every year.

My youngest daughter has musical voice exams in June and dance exams in February.

So, I decided this year to have them both do their piano exams in August instead of June to kinda spread things out a bit.

We have now come home from our two week cottage vacation to spend two days doing the girl's piano exams.

Yeah.

I know, what was I thinking?

We won't be doing this again. Summer is no time for piano lessons or exams.

Sorry guys, Mom blew this one.

What can I say? It seemed like a good idea at the time.

Sigh.

*****
Edited to add:
Yes, my kids are in too many activities and yes, they actually do practice and prepare without complaining and yes, I am INSANE. Thanks for asking.

Warm, comfy and possibly slightly insane too

I’ve decided that I’m going to spend the rest of my life living in track pants.

Yep, I am.

It’s been cold up here in my vacation country and so yesterday I did a wander through the seven shops that are located in the small town by the cottage we’re renting, I ventured into the teen shop and saw that they had fleece track pants on sale. I haven’t worn fleece track pants in eons but since I was cold I bought myself a pair in size large.

They are now my new best friend. Track pants have totally changed since I was a teen. These pants are soft, warm and are quite possibly the most comfortable thing I have ever worn. They are also almost two feet too long for me and so when I sit down they totally cover my feet and keep them warm too. I love them.

This cottage has no full length mirrors but heck, I’m in northern Canada so who is even gonna notice how wide my behind probably looks in track pants these days.

I tell you I don’t think the bears and the deer up here really care and although I haven’t checked what the mosquitoes think, I gotta tell you these things are so thick I don’t think they’ll be able to bite through them.

I don’t care if I’m stylish - I’m comfy, warm and bug bite free.

I love vacations.