Here's a place where Sarah writes what's on her heart and mind for whomever will read it. Sometimes it's hilarious, sometimes it's little pieces of life that I'm grateful for. Enjoy!
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Friday, March 27, 2009
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Friday, March 20, 2009
Kid Leash Part 2
Since they first came out, I have hated mini-vans. I think they are hideous and look like rats. I'm sorry if you drive one. A mini-van is also a sure sign of a distracted driver, so I like to steer clear of them on the highway. I hate them and mock them every chance I get.
It's the same with kids on a leash. Who is such a bad parent that they can't hold their kid's hand and prevent them from running in the street? Kids are not dogs. It's medieval, barbaric, and shameful.
Claire wore one again yesterday. My fear is that the next step to my loss of self-respect is the purchase of a mini-van.
We rode the TRE to downtown Dallas with Adam's mom and Morgan. I carried Paul in the Baby Bjorn again so I wouldn't have to mess with pushing a stroller and parking it on the train. As soon as we got off the train, Claire started fidgeting and getting cranky. "I don't want to hold your hand!" she yelled at me. She actually requested the leash. I was horrified but complied. It kept her from running in the street, so I'm glad we had it.
Some pre-teen boys passed us and were obviously talking about Claire. I was mortified and confronted them. "Yes," I said. "I know it's awful. She is on a leash. I have to keep her out of the street." Their mom graciously came up to me and said, "Hey, whatever works. You have to keep your kid safe. It's actually pretty cute."
The whole day I pitied myself for getting to the point that I had to leash up my child. I don't think I was very pleasant. (Add more shame to my self-pity when Claire pulled the fire alarm in an elevator. Luckily I cancelled it.)
On the train ride home, I was wallowing in self-pity and exhaustion. (Carrying a 23-lb. child on the front of your chest and a loaded backpack on your back really wears you out.) Then another mother got on the train who obviously deserved my pity more. She had three kids, one of whom was suffering from extreme allergies, with puffy eyes and a runny nose. One kid, who was Claire's age, was wearing pajamas, and her third kid was strapped in her overloaded double-stroller. She looked homeless and exhausted.
I offered her my water, wipes, diapers, hand sanitizer, crackers, cookies, and everything else I had been whining about that was weighing down my backpack. She accepted immediately and her kids started eating everything I had given them. They were obviously hungry. She told me that they had been homeless for a long time, but just a week ago got an apartment. I told her I was proud of her. We commiserated mom-to-mom.
And then I felt better. My backpack and heart was lighter. Who cares if I have to put my kid on a leash at the zoo or downtown Dallas? She's safe. We have a home, food, and friends. That's the important part. And even if I'm forced to drive a mini-van someday, I will try to remember what's important and thank God for my vehicle.
It's the same with kids on a leash. Who is such a bad parent that they can't hold their kid's hand and prevent them from running in the street? Kids are not dogs. It's medieval, barbaric, and shameful.
Claire wore one again yesterday. My fear is that the next step to my loss of self-respect is the purchase of a mini-van.
We rode the TRE to downtown Dallas with Adam's mom and Morgan. I carried Paul in the Baby Bjorn again so I wouldn't have to mess with pushing a stroller and parking it on the train. As soon as we got off the train, Claire started fidgeting and getting cranky. "I don't want to hold your hand!" she yelled at me. She actually requested the leash. I was horrified but complied. It kept her from running in the street, so I'm glad we had it.
Some pre-teen boys passed us and were obviously talking about Claire. I was mortified and confronted them. "Yes," I said. "I know it's awful. She is on a leash. I have to keep her out of the street." Their mom graciously came up to me and said, "Hey, whatever works. You have to keep your kid safe. It's actually pretty cute."
The whole day I pitied myself for getting to the point that I had to leash up my child. I don't think I was very pleasant. (Add more shame to my self-pity when Claire pulled the fire alarm in an elevator. Luckily I cancelled it.)
On the train ride home, I was wallowing in self-pity and exhaustion. (Carrying a 23-lb. child on the front of your chest and a loaded backpack on your back really wears you out.) Then another mother got on the train who obviously deserved my pity more. She had three kids, one of whom was suffering from extreme allergies, with puffy eyes and a runny nose. One kid, who was Claire's age, was wearing pajamas, and her third kid was strapped in her overloaded double-stroller. She looked homeless and exhausted.
I offered her my water, wipes, diapers, hand sanitizer, crackers, cookies, and everything else I had been whining about that was weighing down my backpack. She accepted immediately and her kids started eating everything I had given them. They were obviously hungry. She told me that they had been homeless for a long time, but just a week ago got an apartment. I told her I was proud of her. We commiserated mom-to-mom.
And then I felt better. My backpack and heart was lighter. Who cares if I have to put my kid on a leash at the zoo or downtown Dallas? She's safe. We have a home, food, and friends. That's the important part. And even if I'm forced to drive a mini-van someday, I will try to remember what's important and thank God for my vehicle.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Kid Leash
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I am typing this with one eye peeking out from my hands which cover my face in shame. I put Claire on a leash today.
And I now apologize to my friend who gave me the leash (She didn't know I cringed when I received it.) and every mother I've ever laughed at for putting her child on a leash. Please accept my humblest of apologies.
Our niece, Morgan, is staying with us for her spring break. She's eight and a good helper/Claire distracter. We took her to the zoo today, which sounded like a good idea until we realized 10,000 other people had the same idea.
Paul was strapped to my chest in the Baby Bjorn and Claire rode in the wagon/held hands. Morgan rotated between pulling the wagon and riding in it. All was well until Claire started getting tired and fussy. She didn't want to hold hands, she didn't want to ride, she really wanted lunch and a nap, but wasn't getting the nap yet. In desperation, I got out the kid leash.
It's not horrible looking. It's actually quite friendly-looking. It's shaped like a monkey backpack, with the tail as the restraining mechanism for your unruly child.
So I was tired, tired of carrying a giant baby on my chest, tired of the crowd and heat, and tired of fighting with Claire. I hooked her on the leash, swallowing all my pride and yours, too.
I scanned the crowd, searching people's faces for the response I know I give others who use kid leashes. No one seemed to notice or care. Except Claire. She loved it! "This is my monkey leash!" she said proudly. Morgan held her leash and was able to show her several exhibits I couldn't get to with the wagon and Buddha baby on my belly.
So I apologize. The leash saved my child and my sanity today. I didn't have to spank her or fight with her or search the zoo for her. She was happy, and actually cried when we took it off. If you want to put your kid on a leash, I will no longer judge you.
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Sunday, March 15, 2009
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Friday, March 13, 2009
Updates
Paul started crawling today. Watch out! I have been looking forward to/dreading this day for a while. Now I have two mobile kids to keep up with.
Claire has been developing her social skills with regular playdates. When we started playing with other kids a few months ago, she fought and wouldn't share. She's getting the picture now and even offers turns on different toys. That's not to say that she doesn't yell "Mine!" every once in a while, but she is getting better.
According to the Wii Fit, I am no longer obese, just overweight.
I have been staying home more the past few weeks and loving it. I don't get cabin fever. There's always something to do and never enough time to do it.
Adam and I are watching less and less television. We were Tivoing all our favorite shows, but it is impossible to watch TV at the dinner table with two kids. We try (and often fail) to have conversations instead.
Because I paid dues for a semester, I returned to the mom's club at the local Baptist church. This month, everyone wore pajamas. I literally didn't get the memo. Since I don't attend that church, I miss out on stuff like that. Also, gambling was brought up, and all the ladies at my table told me with a straight face that if they were in Vegas or Shreveport they wouldn't even play slot machines. "We're Baptists. We don't believe in gambling." I told them my Baptist grandma gambles in Shreveport regularly....They said, "Well, she must not really be Baptist." I told them my grandpa is a deacon in the church...That shut them up.
I find that group of ladies exclusive, condescending, and unfriendly. There is one nice lady in the entire group. She is the main reason I go. But I started thinking, and if I joined this group to meet ladies in my neighborhood and make friends, and I'm not doing that....And if I come home from each meeting disappointed and judgmental, maybe I should quit. Adam reminded me that, while many things that happen are often ridiculous to us, I am going on their turf and should be more respectful.
I've also gotten smart about cleaning house. I have a regular date set up on Friday mornings for one of Claire's friends to come over to distract her so I can clean. This morning I vacuumed, swept, and mopped the entire house while they played. It was awesome.
And tomorrow Adam is taking Claire to Sweetwater, OK for something called the Rattlesnake Roundup. Apparently it's a county fair with rattlesnakes. I will be taking Paul to an immigration hearing in Dallas.
I think that gets us all caught up on the news in our house.
Claire has been developing her social skills with regular playdates. When we started playing with other kids a few months ago, she fought and wouldn't share. She's getting the picture now and even offers turns on different toys. That's not to say that she doesn't yell "Mine!" every once in a while, but she is getting better.
According to the Wii Fit, I am no longer obese, just overweight.
I have been staying home more the past few weeks and loving it. I don't get cabin fever. There's always something to do and never enough time to do it.
Adam and I are watching less and less television. We were Tivoing all our favorite shows, but it is impossible to watch TV at the dinner table with two kids. We try (and often fail) to have conversations instead.
Because I paid dues for a semester, I returned to the mom's club at the local Baptist church. This month, everyone wore pajamas. I literally didn't get the memo. Since I don't attend that church, I miss out on stuff like that. Also, gambling was brought up, and all the ladies at my table told me with a straight face that if they were in Vegas or Shreveport they wouldn't even play slot machines. "We're Baptists. We don't believe in gambling." I told them my Baptist grandma gambles in Shreveport regularly....They said, "Well, she must not really be Baptist." I told them my grandpa is a deacon in the church...That shut them up.
I find that group of ladies exclusive, condescending, and unfriendly. There is one nice lady in the entire group. She is the main reason I go. But I started thinking, and if I joined this group to meet ladies in my neighborhood and make friends, and I'm not doing that....And if I come home from each meeting disappointed and judgmental, maybe I should quit. Adam reminded me that, while many things that happen are often ridiculous to us, I am going on their turf and should be more respectful.
I've also gotten smart about cleaning house. I have a regular date set up on Friday mornings for one of Claire's friends to come over to distract her so I can clean. This morning I vacuumed, swept, and mopped the entire house while they played. It was awesome.
And tomorrow Adam is taking Claire to Sweetwater, OK for something called the Rattlesnake Roundup. Apparently it's a county fair with rattlesnakes. I will be taking Paul to an immigration hearing in Dallas.
I think that gets us all caught up on the news in our house.
Monday, March 2, 2009
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