Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Backstage, Underage...

When I was coming back to work from lunch, Bel Biv Devoe's "Do Me" was the last song I heard before leaving my car. It's always amazing to me how a single song can transport you to another time, make you remember a person or place that you haven't thought of in years. In 1990, I was in 7th grade. *sigh* Wait... what the HELL was I doing singing a song like that?!
Anyway....
Had a great time on Saturday jamming to old music with my friends. It's not often I find people who have the same odd tastes in music as yours truly. The only thing no one seems to dig (or at least admit to) is Elvis. I'm an Elvis girl. But Rob Zombie, Aaliyah, Adina Howard, My Chemical Romance, Shai, Linkin Park, Pink... those were just some of the music that rocked out a suburban kitchen this weekend, and we happily sang along like the old, lame parents that we are.
Blackstreet - that CD was too scratched to play :( I remember seeing them live, how the bass vibrated my ribcage and changed the rhythm of my heart to match the bass line.
I must now go and find their song, Don't Leave.

Put your lighters up (or your lighter apps, iphone users!) and go listen to some of your favorite music today :)

Monday, June 15, 2009

Underwear Nation

Here we go again. Got a call from the school's day camp leader who said that Isaiah pulled up a little girl's skirt today. But here's what I don't understand - The teacher's attitude has flipped 180 degrees from last week. NOW she says it's no big deal, all the kids think it's funny, she just wants me to know. Last week they acted as if he was torturing small animals and well on his way to being a murdering, antisocial psychopath. But NOW it's no big deal. What the …?

Thursday, June 11, 2009

Pants Off Dance Off!!

Parental mortification.

It comes when your child does something that you’re so embarrassed about, you debate moving to another state. Okay, he didn’t kill anyone, but ….

Yesterday Isaiah pulled down a little girl’s pants at day camp. I was horrified. All I could think of was this little girl being scared, embarrassed, crying. My husband and I talked to him both together and separately. He wrote a note to the girl that says, “Isaiah M. is sorry. To Emma” It’s a little backwards, but gets the point across. Oh, and did I mention that Emma is not a tom boy – she’s a shy, adorable, tiny little girl. You’d think he could at least pick on someone his own size!?

This morning I march him into day camp and go to the head instructor, and Isaiah apologizes to her. Then I ask for Emma and her parents, and her mom is CONVENIENTLY sitting there in the hallway. I’m ready to defend my little guy and explain that he’s not a malicious perv in training. Her mom was accepting of Isaiah’s apology, Isaiah gave Emma his note, and Emma’s mom had her give Isaiah a hug. We chatted for a bit, and I tried to explain that we obviously don’t condone such behavior. Then she tells me that their biggest problem with it was that Emma thought it was funny. She said that she has a 2 year old boy and for all she knows, it’ll be him doing it next week.

Sometimes I forget how understanding most parents are. Raising kids is kind of a universal experience, we’ve all seen and tackled the same issues. No one wants to be too rigid, only to be the one apologizing next time.

I’m just glad he didn’t end up on the pre-k offender registry.

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Wordless Wednesday

Indiana Jones style!

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

Oh, My Balls!

While giving Belly a bath last night, he started repeating lines he's heard from movies, TV and Youtube. One of them had the word "testicles" in it. So I asked him if he knew what testicles are, and he said no.
Now, Belly's quite big enough to wash himself these days, my Mom duty is only to wash his hair and face so he doesn't blind himself. So I explained that his testicles are below his penis. Of course he got out of the water and yanked it up and said, "You mean these?"
"Yes, dear, I mean those."
He then asks for a run down of penis neighborhood parts and functions. Ever try to explain a urethra to a five year old? Do try, because it's great just to hear them repeat the word.
The he says that there's one more thing down there, but he doesn't know what it is. I ask what, and he says,
"Balls."
with such innocence and openness.
He was delighted to find out that balls are testicles, and to finally get what all the jokes mean when someone gets hit "in the balls."
(You may be asking WHY on earth my five year old would hear those jokes. Two words - Mike Meyers)
So at this point he's out of the bath and getting dried off and I'm trying in vain to get him to stop saying BALLS. So I told him it's not something to joke about, they're private parts. He retorts that private parts aren't BAD. Touche. So I said that it's not a word for kids to say.
Then the light bulb goes off over his mischievous little cherub head and he says, "I won't say it at school, and I won't say it in front of Daddy. I'll just tell you!"
Then he had one last request. "Can I say one more thing?", he asks.
"Sure," I say.
He crouches in classic ball-shot position and yells, "Oh, my balls!"

Oh, the many joys of raising male children!

Sunday, June 7, 2009

Where's the Rum?!

Spent Friday having fancy scans done on my eyes, because I'm having some sight issues. Yah, sight, that thing you need to drive, work, etc. They didn't find anything that points to VKH (the rare condition I'd been diagnosed with in 2006) Now there are just no answers about why my eyes are acting all wonky. All I know is my vision is changing, and not in a good way.
I've decided, if I go blind, I'll have to give up my plan to become a teacher. Instead, I'll be a pirate. And I'll wear 2 eye patches. And because I can't see, I'll sail in circles.
My name will be Shipwreck. And I'll hang out with Johnny Depp, of course. Ah, I love a pirate who appreciates a good red wine.

Thursday, May 28, 2009

Playing Favorites

Last week, Hubs accused me of blatantly favoring our older son. And at the time, I probably was. You see, some days he's just so much... easier. He wants to please. He wants to be The Good One. He's very agreeable. Helpful. Empathetic.
And the Belly, well... he's the Belly. Some days he's an absolute joy to be with. Other days he's argumentative, stubborn, selfish, willfully defiant.
(And all this time I'd thought he took after Hubs - I may be wrong here)

How do you balance that, especially when the kids are 5 years apart?

Had a really rough day today. Wanted nothing more than to watch a Korean horror movie with an extra large glass of red wine by my side. But my mom came knocking, she'd had a bad day and needed someone to unload on. And so I listened and commiserated. She finally left, but then I found out the dog peed a river on the floor, so instead of relaxing, I started floor cleaning. 15 minutes later I *finally* drop down on the couch, then Belly walks in and says, "I can't sleep. Please come and sit with me?"
I wanted to be mad and scold him, I did. But I couldn't. I took his tiny hand and led him back to bed, where I kissed his head and held him until he fell asleep.

Maybe in the end, this whole favoring thing all evens out.

Oh, and then there's Rob Pattinson....