Working Mamma

Why No One Reads

Let me tell you what I love.  I really love it when I check the library's web site and find out that my interlibrary loan is in.  So I drag my two children to the library, let them pick out their books and video (ONE!  Just one!  You have plenty!  Just pick out one or don't get one at all!) and drag them (screaming) away from the books and bead path (why so extra awesome at library/doctor's office yet completely ignored at home?) to go up to the front counter only to be told, "Your book isn't in yet," then drag both kids home to find, waiting on my answering machine, "Hi, this message is for Tenille.  This is the public library calling and you have an interlibrary loan in."  Oh?  Really?  Could have fooled me.

Share the Love

So.  People at work give me the *cutest* hand-me-downs.  I didn't really think I'd ever take hand-me-downs, after being the youngest of four and having to wear clothes that were TEN YEARS out of style (yarg), 1) the clothes?  Too cute. 2) We be po. 

But here's the thing, I will never, never, never take hand-me-downs from anyone who says they "might" want them back some day, but "probably not."  Because what that means is, "We are totally getting pregnant five minutes from now and will be so mad if you don't give us back everything we gave you, in perfect condition, even if it was so ugly you threw it away because even people that shop at Goodwill don't want to wear it." 

Something's Gotta Give

If you use a cooler instead of a diaper bag because you have to bring food *everywhere*... you might be the parent of a food-allergic child.

If you never, ever remember diapers and are constantly bringing your baby home in borrowed wrong-size diapers that he leaks out of all over the place... you might be me.

Reassured

I was like 150, wearing support hose and telling random people how cheap things used to be, by the time I learned how to drive.  Okay, not really, I was 17, but it felt that way since all of my friends had been driving for 3 years.  (Yes the driving age was 14 in my state.)  My boyfriend drove me everywhere.  He picked me up from high school, even though he was in college by then.  He drove me to and from work.  He chauffeured me all over the place, listening to my most annoying teenage self, and he ended up married to me anyway. Wonders never cease.  Anyway, I know part of him wondered if I'd break up with him when I finally did get my driver's license.  Would I really need him anymore?  Obviously I did.

It was kind of that way when I weaned my babies.  Would they still love me?  Would I still be their go-to parent for hugs and cuddles and reassuring words?  And thankfully, the answer to that is "yes." 

In Case of Emergency

If this call had come from my house:

911: What is your emergency?

Tenille: We had an overdose and need help.

911: An overdose of what?

Tenille: Children.  We had children and I think we're dying.  We had kids and now we're dead.  The time between dinner and bedtime is passing really, really, really, really slowly.  Send some help now.

911: Have you taken anything?

Tenille: Well, I'm on the pill now and that seems to be helping.

To Done List

Come home from work - check.
Eat dinner - check.
Clean up dishes - check.
Bathe the children (Because I let them eat baked beans.  Naked.) - check.
Make children play in rooms while I watch the last ten minutes of "Big Love" that I couldn't stay awake for last night - check.
Snack - check.
Brush many tiny teeth - check.
Wean the baby - check.

My husband put D to bed last night, and thus ends the nursing.  I'd probably be more sentimental about it if I hadn't been bitten so badly the night before.

New Food

So I decided that we were going to start trying some new fruits and vegetables.  Yes, I know, very un-100-mile diet of me.

The Minneola Tangelos were AWESOME.  E kept saying, "I love these orange things!"  Part grapefruit, part tangerine, 100% awesome!

The other thing I bought was a plantain.  Except that these here Internets said I was supposed to cook it like a potato.  Really?  I assume you people know these things, as you are a wise and worldly bunch.  Should I really cook it?  Though, if I don't, I have more of this to look forward to:

Husband (holding up plantain): WHEN are you going to DO something with this?

Me: Um... it like just turned yellow, I was... um... waiting for it to ripen.  Yeah, that's it.

Husband: (Sigh.) Okay, whatever.

And, really, you can't beat that kind of marital connectedness and stimulating cerebral conversation.  Not with a stick, even.

According to D

Dinosaurs say "Arrrrrr!"
Bears say "Arrrrrr!"
Monsters say "Arrrrrr!"
Spiderman says "Arrrrrr!"
Paul Bunyan says "Arrrrrr!"
Big trucks say "Arrrrrr!"

Arrrrrr!

Baby No More

I knew this day would come.  Eventually.  But, argh, anyway.
Me: Do you want to clean up the toys or do you want a time out?  It's your choice.
E: Um.  I think I want a time out.  Is that okay?

Sigh.

Life IS Unfair. Who knew?

Number of early mornings I got up with baby: 404

Number of early mornings husband got up with baby before baby decided to start sleeping in: 1

Grrr.