My cute baby girl dressed up warm for Thanksgiving.
Sunday, January 1, 2012
Holidays 2011
My cute baby girl dressed up warm for Thanksgiving.
Sunday, July 3, 2011
Teach Your Children Well
Last night we went to a public place to watch a public event. Upon arriving we set up our family's little area, laying out blankets, setting up a food table, setting up camp chairs, etc. Making a little space for ourselves amongst all the other people who were making spaces for themselves. To our left was, what appeared to be, a large family reunion type group with many, many children ranging in age from new born to older teens.
As we were setting up the children from this large group kept walking through our family space. I don't mean sort of through the edges, I mean THROUGH it. over our blankets, moving our chairs out of their way, through our eating area, etc. We weren't in the path, in fact, not four feet away from our space was a large sidewalk - at least 4 - 6 feet wide - plenty of space.
My kids got annoyed by this before I did (which, these days is pretty tough to do since EVERYTHING annoys me). My kids would come up and say, "mom, isn't it rude that they're walking through our stuff?" We then all sat down to eat and these other kids continued to walk through our meal time. We started asking them, to please go around. At NO point did the parents try to correct their children and tell them its rude to walk through our stuff and over our blankets.
Finally, my 14 year old took matters into her own hands. She went to the car, got out the duct tape and taped off a space - a sort of wall if you will - to prevent the kids from walking through. As she did this, the parents next to us gave us weird looks as if we were mildly crazy - perhaps, but only being driven crazy by your children who have, obviously been taught no manners.
Guess, what? the tape didn't work, the kids would then go UNDER the tape - instead of side stepping a few feet to go on the sidewalk - and walk through our area, over our blankets where we're eating and relaxing, etc. So, at one point a child stopped, looked at Stasia and Stasia said "go around" he looked at her again, and walked right across the blanket. Nate and I both said "can you go around?" And at this point the mother of the child jumped all over us telling us what horrible people we are and to not talk to her children, EVER! "How can you even come out of the house?" She shouts at me when I tell her we've asked her children for hours to go around and not walk on our stuff. "I don't get why it's such a big deal" She shouts. Things got out of hand and I was about to jump up and slap the woman if Nate hadn't calmed me down (don't mess with the pregnant woman)
She doesn't think it's a big deal that her children have absolutely no respect for people or things around them? That, as a result of her children's bad behavior and lack of respect for others, we had to barricade ourselves into a small space in an attempt to keep children (and mind you, the children who were walking through were NOT The little ones - they were anywhere from 7 - 10 and should have known better).
Now I'm left wondering about parenting - I freely admit that I'm a strict parent. My children have certain expectations about manners and decency, especially when in public. But at what point have parents stopped telling their children "no"? At what point have parents stopped teaching their children how to be polite? At what point have parents stopped teaching their children to respect people and to respect others' things? At what point have parents decided that their children are infallible and stopped disciplining them?
I then found this article last night. http://www.babble.com/mom/work-family/parenting-style-controlling-parents-child-discipline/ And it appears that this, indeed, was not an anomaly, but, rather the trend in child rearing. And a trend that, I for one, find appalling.
However, I do try to teach my kids to accept their own responsibility in events and to examine how their actions led to the break down in communication or whatever so, I must do the same. Should I have mentioned something to the parents before hand? Yes, perhaps I should have. Should I have asked the parents to ask their children to not walk through our stuff? Yup, I failed in that arena as well. But, on the other had, it was going on for TWO HOURS and the parents were oblivious to their childrens behavior and that frustrates me even more than the poor behavior of the children - how can the children learn when the parents don't seem to care?
As we were setting up the children from this large group kept walking through our family space. I don't mean sort of through the edges, I mean THROUGH it. over our blankets, moving our chairs out of their way, through our eating area, etc. We weren't in the path, in fact, not four feet away from our space was a large sidewalk - at least 4 - 6 feet wide - plenty of space.
My kids got annoyed by this before I did (which, these days is pretty tough to do since EVERYTHING annoys me). My kids would come up and say, "mom, isn't it rude that they're walking through our stuff?" We then all sat down to eat and these other kids continued to walk through our meal time. We started asking them, to please go around. At NO point did the parents try to correct their children and tell them its rude to walk through our stuff and over our blankets.
Finally, my 14 year old took matters into her own hands. She went to the car, got out the duct tape and taped off a space - a sort of wall if you will - to prevent the kids from walking through. As she did this, the parents next to us gave us weird looks as if we were mildly crazy - perhaps, but only being driven crazy by your children who have, obviously been taught no manners.
Guess, what? the tape didn't work, the kids would then go UNDER the tape - instead of side stepping a few feet to go on the sidewalk - and walk through our area, over our blankets where we're eating and relaxing, etc. So, at one point a child stopped, looked at Stasia and Stasia said "go around" he looked at her again, and walked right across the blanket. Nate and I both said "can you go around?" And at this point the mother of the child jumped all over us telling us what horrible people we are and to not talk to her children, EVER! "How can you even come out of the house?" She shouts at me when I tell her we've asked her children for hours to go around and not walk on our stuff. "I don't get why it's such a big deal" She shouts. Things got out of hand and I was about to jump up and slap the woman if Nate hadn't calmed me down (don't mess with the pregnant woman)
She doesn't think it's a big deal that her children have absolutely no respect for people or things around them? That, as a result of her children's bad behavior and lack of respect for others, we had to barricade ourselves into a small space in an attempt to keep children (and mind you, the children who were walking through were NOT The little ones - they were anywhere from 7 - 10 and should have known better).
Now I'm left wondering about parenting - I freely admit that I'm a strict parent. My children have certain expectations about manners and decency, especially when in public. But at what point have parents stopped telling their children "no"? At what point have parents stopped teaching their children how to be polite? At what point have parents stopped teaching their children to respect people and to respect others' things? At what point have parents decided that their children are infallible and stopped disciplining them?
I then found this article last night. http://www.babble.com/mom/work-family/parenting-style-controlling-parents-child-discipline/ And it appears that this, indeed, was not an anomaly, but, rather the trend in child rearing. And a trend that, I for one, find appalling.
However, I do try to teach my kids to accept their own responsibility in events and to examine how their actions led to the break down in communication or whatever so, I must do the same. Should I have mentioned something to the parents before hand? Yes, perhaps I should have. Should I have asked the parents to ask their children to not walk through our stuff? Yup, I failed in that arena as well. But, on the other had, it was going on for TWO HOURS and the parents were oblivious to their childrens behavior and that frustrates me even more than the poor behavior of the children - how can the children learn when the parents don't seem to care?
Monday, March 14, 2011
Stupid Things About Being Pregnant - TMI? - Not for the Weak of Heart
Let me forewarn all readers that what follows may be considered TMI by some people. I don't often hesitate about speaking my mind and to me, often times, nothing is off limits - and at the end of the day this is my blog and these are things that are happening in my life right now and it's all so new to me that I have to share it somehow. Also, just because I'm listing the stupid things, don't think that I'm not excited and totally in love with the idea of giving birth - just not always in love with all the changes going on in my body.
There's your warning so if you continue reading you may be doing so at your own risk.
As most of you know by now, I'm expecting my first baby. This is a long-awaited event for me and I'll be 37 by the time baby comes along but Nate (who will be 39 and it'll be his first as well) are both very excited about this event. In preparation for baby to arrive I, being of the digital age, have joined an online support group for women who are due in September and are over the age of 35 (that being the age when a woman becomes an "elderly pregnancy" lol - who knew I would be elderly already?)
Anyway, on this board to which I belong the women have been compiling a list of "Stupid Things About Being Pregnant". We're all just entering our second tri-mester so this is a list thus far in our pregnancies - I'm sure it'll expand as the months carry on.
1. Strangers will, unprovoked, tell you ridiculously personal things (“With my second child, I needed 16 stitches to sew my perineum back up!”). Labor horror stories and unsolicited parenting advice come a close second.
2. Strangers will, unprovoked, ask you ridiculously personal things (“Was this one planned? Were you trying?”). Your sex life becomes fair WikiLeaks fodder.
3. Get used to the “Is-she-pregnant-or-just-fat?” stare. If the observer decides "pregnant," you become an object of fascination.
4. If you tell someone you're pregnant, they will look at your belly. They will not be able to tear their eyes away; they must stare at your belly.
5. For you, it’s a miracle. For the ultrasound tech, it’s a yawn. Don’t be surprised if she is busy texting while you listen to your child’s heartbeat for the first time. True story.
6. When a husband goes to obstetrics, he might be treated like a wife at a car dealership: i.e. ignored, patronized, and excluded.
7. You become part of a weird club that measures everything in weeks when normal people would count in months. (After birth, you’ll be marking time in months while normal people are counting in years.)
8. Innocuous things will now seem more dire than they really are. For example, if you are enjoying a nice long bath and the pipes run out of hot water and you call out for your husband to please boil some water and fetch some clean towels—well, he might take it the wrong way.
9. Everything smells disgusting. You will smell weirdly specific things like shredded lettuce from a few hundred feet away. You can tell what brand deodorant other people use.
10. If you get morning sickness after eating something, you will never want to look at that food ever again. (Sorry, chicken.)
11. Exactly at the time when food seems most disgusting, pregnancy books will keep reminding you of it: “Your baby is now the size of an olive/strawberry/kumquat (what exactly IS a kumquat?).” “Aren’t you excited about your little butterbean/nugget/peanut?”
12. Cravings are for real. You will send your husband out with specific instructions to buy you a waffle cone. (“What do you mean what flavor ice cream? I want my waffle cone raw.”)
13. Any food or drink that ever brought you joy is now forbidden. A “wine and cheese party” is now just a “… party.”
14. You will narrow your eyes at your husband and wish he was a male seahorse. That would be awesome.
15. You will also feel jealous of marsupials. And birds (you’re good at sitting).
16. Toxic Gas! Need I say more?
17. You will buy a body pillow to help you sleep at night. You will name it Salma Hayek so neither you nor your husband will want to kick it out of bed.
18. You will feel a strange excitement when your embryo officially becomes a fetus, because that means that if some deranged lunatic killed you, he would legally be charged with TWO homicides, and you shall be doubly avenged.
19. Pregnancy message boards mean learning all new acronyms--forget any you thought you knew before. Otherwise, you'll read: "I'm a Female-To-Male and my Designated Hitter is ecxited about our new Designated Driver!"
20. Never offer an opinion or commentary on anyone’s choice of baby name. It doesn’t matter if they’re planning to spell “Mary” with 2 Ys and a silent K, or if they tell you they like “Effluvia” for a girl and “Midden” for a boy, they’re probably going to go ahead with it no matter what you say.
21. As soon as you finish dinner, you start thinking about breakfast. As soon as you finish breakfast, it's "hmm wonder what's for lunch?" and so on.
22. It is the only time in your life when I think you spend as much time in the bathroom to pee as you do sleeping.
23. Strangers, or anyone for that matter, think it's ok to touch or rub your pregnant belly! It's like cute belly=invitation to touch. My obgyn said this idea always amazes him how personal space is invaded...I mean, you wouldn't walk up to someone and grab their crotch "How you doin'?"...and we're not dogs...we don't need to sniff heineys...so rubbing bellies without permission? No thank you.
24. Sleeping does not make you less tired – you can sleep all day long and still be exhausted at 8:00 pm.
25. You have the attention span of a … oooo….what’s that? – Shiny!
26. The reason pregnant women "glow" is because all of those hormones surging through the body make every inch of our bodies and hair oily oily oily. It's not a glow you're seeing - it's the inability to decrease the amt of oil our bodies are producing.
27. You know you're going to be violently ill - you can feel it - but you also know that if you don't empty your bladder first there's going to be an even bigger mess to clean up afterward.
This is the list so far - have you been pregnant? What would YOU add?
Monday, January 24, 2011
A New Meaning to a Familiar Song
Just heard this song today for the millionth time - took on a whole new meaning to me this time...
I'm not surprised
Not everything lasts
I've broken my heart so many times
I stopped keeping track
Talk myself in
I talk myself out
I get all worked up
Then I let myself down
I tried so very hard not to lose it
I came up with a million excuses
I thought I thought of every possibility
And I know someday that it'll all turn out
You'll make me work so we can work to work it out
And I promise you kid that I'll give so much more than I get
I just haven't met you yet
I might have to wait
I'll never give up
I guess it's half timing
And the other half's luck
Wherever you are
Whenever it's right
You'll come out of nowhere
And into my life
And I know that we can be so amazing
And baby your love is gonna change me
And now I can see every possibility
And somehow I know that it'll all turn out
And you'll make me work so we can work to work it out
And promise you kid I'll give so much more than I get
I just haven't met you yet
They say all's fair in love and war
But I won't need to fight it
We'll get right
And we'll be united
And I know that we can be so amazing
And being in your life is gonna change me
And now I can see every single possibility
And someday I know it'll all turn out
And I'll work to work it out
Promise you kid I'll give more than I get
Than I get
Than I get
Than I get
Oh you know it'll all turn out
And you'll make me work so we can work to work it out
And promise you kid to give so much more than I get
Yeah I just haven't met you yet
I just haven't met you yet
Oh promise you kid to give so much more than I get
(I said love love love love love love love love)
I just haven't met you yet
(Love love love love love love)
Such a good day yeah
I just haven't met you yet
I'm not surprised
Not everything lasts
I've broken my heart so many times
I stopped keeping track
Talk myself in
I talk myself out
I get all worked up
Then I let myself down
I tried so very hard not to lose it
I came up with a million excuses
I thought I thought of every possibility
And I know someday that it'll all turn out
You'll make me work so we can work to work it out
And I promise you kid that I'll give so much more than I get
I just haven't met you yet
I might have to wait
I'll never give up
I guess it's half timing
And the other half's luck
Wherever you are
Whenever it's right
You'll come out of nowhere
And into my life
And I know that we can be so amazing
And baby your love is gonna change me
And now I can see every possibility
And somehow I know that it'll all turn out
And you'll make me work so we can work to work it out
And promise you kid I'll give so much more than I get
I just haven't met you yet
They say all's fair in love and war
But I won't need to fight it
We'll get right
And we'll be united
And I know that we can be so amazing
And being in your life is gonna change me
And now I can see every single possibility
And someday I know it'll all turn out
And I'll work to work it out
Promise you kid I'll give more than I get
Than I get
Than I get
Than I get
Oh you know it'll all turn out
And you'll make me work so we can work to work it out
And promise you kid to give so much more than I get
Yeah I just haven't met you yet
I just haven't met you yet
Oh promise you kid to give so much more than I get
(I said love love love love love love love love)
I just haven't met you yet
(Love love love love love love)
Such a good day yeah
I just haven't met you yet
Monday, March 29, 2010
Not Me Monday
Inspired by Brandie ( http://www.rudyfamilyrukus.com/2010/03/not-me-monday_29.html ) I'm joining in "Not Me Monday" -
I did NOT send my son to school in his pajamas because he forgot to take his clothes with him to grandmas to get dressed this morning. Not me. I would never be that cruel to my son.
And I most certainly did not spend the entire drive to grandmas this morning chewing out my children for not cleaning the car out yesterday like I had asked them to do.
And further, I would never, ever transition from being angry at them for not cleaning said car to using a guilt trip on them by saying "it really just makes me sad that, after the great weekend we just had, you couldn't do one little thing for me that asked." I would NEVER use that line of reasoning with my kids.
Finally, I'm not at all bitter that I have to go to work today when it's such a loverly, lovely day outside.
I did NOT send my son to school in his pajamas because he forgot to take his clothes with him to grandmas to get dressed this morning. Not me. I would never be that cruel to my son.
And I most certainly did not spend the entire drive to grandmas this morning chewing out my children for not cleaning the car out yesterday like I had asked them to do.
And further, I would never, ever transition from being angry at them for not cleaning said car to using a guilt trip on them by saying "it really just makes me sad that, after the great weekend we just had, you couldn't do one little thing for me that asked." I would NEVER use that line of reasoning with my kids.
Finally, I'm not at all bitter that I have to go to work today when it's such a loverly, lovely day outside.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
My Trek to the 5K
I'm going to run a 5K this year, damnit! I've been going to the gym about 5 times a week for the last 6 weeks and running, on average, about 2.5 miles. Now, I say running, but what I really mean is moving my arms and legs comparatively fast while on an elliptical. I've been told that this is very, very different from street running so I decided to concede and start today training by street running.
My 5K debut is going to May 15, 2010. Keeping that in mind, I have just under two months to train for this 5K. I have, since January 1, 2010 dropped a total of 34 pounds and lowered my BMI by 5.1 points. WOOT! Give it up for me. But, I still have a long way to go to be my goal weight. However, I believe, this is only 5K and even I, who is medically defined as obese can do a 5K, right?
So, I mapped out my round trip course around my neighborhood, changed into my gym clothes plus a jumper to keep me warm (Jumper = sweatshirt for those who don't speak British)and headed off.
Holy FUCK! I'm a terrible runner! Why did I not realize that I'm such a shitty runner? Ahh...I DID realize this. Thus the reason I've never really been a runner before. As soon as I set off I realized my body was all tense "relax" I kept telling myself over and over. "Don't over do it. This is just your first time running since, um the 10th grade - 1990 - 20 years ago - and you were a shitty runner back then too, remember?" "Keep breathing. Relax your stride." etc. I think all the calming talk stressed me out even more. Add to that the fact that I have terrible balance - I can fall over just by walking - in flat shoes - across flat land - with no cracks or bumps - and you can imagine how incredible I looked.
I ran about .2 miles before needing a break. Stellar, I know. And then I continued to alternate walking and running. This is good, I know. During one of my walking stretches a very attractive and VERY fit man goes jogging past me, kitted out in his top of the line running gear - compared to my oversized shorts (due to the weightloss) oversized jumper (due to my not being able to find another clean one today) and over-old running shoes (due to the fact that I'm about as broke as can be right now and can't afford new shoes). He looks over at me, gives me the thumbs up and says "great job!" HA What a nice guy.
Well, needless to say, I didn't run the full 3.1 miles today. I did, probably just under half. My body hurts worse than 2.5 - 3 miles on the elliptical and so do my lungs. Those silly machines are made to deceive us into believe we're making good progress...just like in the 80's and 90's when clothes makers started making womens clothes bigger with the same sizes on them...it's all deception I tell you.
But, here's the thing. I'm going to do this! I know that I can do it! I may be slow and it may be painful, but it's going to happen. I'm going to give myself the opportunity to build up to what I want to do and not let it overwhelm me.
If you're looking to start running as well, here's a site I'm using to help me out.
http://www.coolrunning.com/engine/2/2_3/181.shtml
I'll keep you all updated on my progress.
Just FYI, I'd LOVE to have anyone and all of you join me for the run. Like I said, if I can do it, anyone can!!
My 5K debut is going to May 15, 2010. Keeping that in mind, I have just under two months to train for this 5K. I have, since January 1, 2010 dropped a total of 34 pounds and lowered my BMI by 5.1 points. WOOT! Give it up for me. But, I still have a long way to go to be my goal weight. However, I believe, this is only 5K and even I, who is medically defined as obese can do a 5K, right?
So, I mapped out my round trip course around my neighborhood, changed into my gym clothes plus a jumper to keep me warm (Jumper = sweatshirt for those who don't speak British)and headed off.
Holy FUCK! I'm a terrible runner! Why did I not realize that I'm such a shitty runner? Ahh...I DID realize this. Thus the reason I've never really been a runner before. As soon as I set off I realized my body was all tense "relax" I kept telling myself over and over. "Don't over do it. This is just your first time running since, um the 10th grade - 1990 - 20 years ago - and you were a shitty runner back then too, remember?" "Keep breathing. Relax your stride." etc. I think all the calming talk stressed me out even more. Add to that the fact that I have terrible balance - I can fall over just by walking - in flat shoes - across flat land - with no cracks or bumps - and you can imagine how incredible I looked.
I ran about .2 miles before needing a break. Stellar, I know. And then I continued to alternate walking and running. This is good, I know. During one of my walking stretches a very attractive and VERY fit man goes jogging past me, kitted out in his top of the line running gear - compared to my oversized shorts (due to the weightloss) oversized jumper (due to my not being able to find another clean one today) and over-old running shoes (due to the fact that I'm about as broke as can be right now and can't afford new shoes). He looks over at me, gives me the thumbs up and says "great job!" HA What a nice guy.
Well, needless to say, I didn't run the full 3.1 miles today. I did, probably just under half. My body hurts worse than 2.5 - 3 miles on the elliptical and so do my lungs. Those silly machines are made to deceive us into believe we're making good progress...just like in the 80's and 90's when clothes makers started making womens clothes bigger with the same sizes on them...it's all deception I tell you.
But, here's the thing. I'm going to do this! I know that I can do it! I may be slow and it may be painful, but it's going to happen. I'm going to give myself the opportunity to build up to what I want to do and not let it overwhelm me.
If you're looking to start running as well, here's a site I'm using to help me out.
http://www.coolrunning.com/engine/2/2_3/181.shtml
I'll keep you all updated on my progress.
Just FYI, I'd LOVE to have anyone and all of you join me for the run. Like I said, if I can do it, anyone can!!
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Understanding Boy Barbies
I grew up in a household of all girls so the idea of Barbies is not uncommon. Neither is the idea of the male Barbie (i.e. Ken). My parents didn't have any taboos about getting Ken dolls; except that we were poor so Ken dolls were few and far between due to lack of money. Or perhaps they just used no money as an excuse not to get them for us. I know I use that excuse a lot "Mommy can I have a candy bar?" "Nope, I don't have any money" as I proceed to buy myself something lovely that I don't really need but just strongly desire like a yummy soy mocha (nothing tastes yummier than mocha made with soy) but, I digress.
So, while I understand the young girl fascination with Barbies, I don't, or haven't yet come to terms with what I call the barbie for boys. My son, L, HATES this term. Let me explain, the other day he was telling me yet another thing he wants for Christmas; I can't remember everything he's asked for but at least he hasn't asked for a planet like one of my friends children have. He prefaces his request like this "You know mom, I really don't have any toys at your house to play with. If I did, maybe I would want to spend the night here more often" - he's a clever young man and has already begun to master the art of manipulation. "is that right, L?" "yeah, I was thinking about what kind of toys we should have here at your house. The one thing I really need is ONLY $16.50. So, do you have $16.50 I can borrow to get me it?".
Notice how he knows the exact price of the toy as well as uses the term "borrow", as if he's going to pay me back? I doubt it.
"Well, why don't you tell me what it is? It's Christmas time, you know, and all mama's extra money has to be sent to Santa Clause" I told my kids a few years back that the reason santa brings some kids more presents than others (they asked) was because Santa doesn't have enough money anymore to pay for all the toys the kids want so moms and dads have to send money to santa to help pay for the cost of the toys. "If you tell me what it is I can send the $16.50 to Santa and see if he'll bring the toy to you" Have I taken all the fun, joy and excitement out of Christmas? Perhaps but my kids still believe!
L then tells me about this COOL toy that is G.I. Joe Ninja's - both the black one AND the white one in one box "You get BOTH of them mom!" He tells me all about them and I say "Oh, so they're G.I. Joe, Barbies?"
That was the wrong thing to say. His jaw dropped to the ground and looked at me in disbelief as if I was calling him a girly boy or something. "NO! Not Barbie's!" "But it's like a Barbie, right? Except G.I. Joe and with guns?" "No, not anything like a Barbie mom, it's G.I. Joe." "Yes, I understand, but it's as big as a Barbie, right?" "Yeah, I guess so" "So, it's like a Barbie, it could be like Barbie's G.I. Joe husband or something" "Mo-om. G.I. Joe, is G.I. Joe. He can't be Barbie's husband." "why not?" "Because he's G.I. Joe" "Oh, but couldn't Barbie's husband job be being G.I. Joe?"
Of course at this point I'm just winding my son up and he is too dumbfounded at the THOUGHT of G.I. Joe being a Barbie that he just doesn't see the wind up. I then told him that mommy doesn't have enough money to buy the G.I. Joe's he wants but I could buy a Ken doll, which is a boy Barbie and I could buy army clothes and a gun for the Ken doll. - Now let's be honest, it's the same thing really, right?
The girls, btw, thought that I was being completely logical about the entire conversation and saw nothing wrong with what I was saying. Of course GI Joe could be Barbie's husband and of course it's the exact same thing but to a little boy,the notion that he's playing with a doll (which he is) seems to be far too overwhelming.
On a side note to the whole conversation when I mentioned that boys used to play with G.I. Joes when I was a kid L looked at me as if I was totally stupid and said "no, mom, this is the REAL G.I. Joe I'm talking about."
I'm wondering if I have any male readers who can shed some light on the whole G.I. Joe is not a doll thing because I'm still not convinced, but I let it go because it was blowing my sons mind.
So, while I understand the young girl fascination with Barbies, I don't, or haven't yet come to terms with what I call the barbie for boys. My son, L, HATES this term. Let me explain, the other day he was telling me yet another thing he wants for Christmas; I can't remember everything he's asked for but at least he hasn't asked for a planet like one of my friends children have. He prefaces his request like this "You know mom, I really don't have any toys at your house to play with. If I did, maybe I would want to spend the night here more often" - he's a clever young man and has already begun to master the art of manipulation. "is that right, L?" "yeah, I was thinking about what kind of toys we should have here at your house. The one thing I really need is ONLY $16.50. So, do you have $16.50 I can borrow to get me it?".
Notice how he knows the exact price of the toy as well as uses the term "borrow", as if he's going to pay me back? I doubt it.
"Well, why don't you tell me what it is? It's Christmas time, you know, and all mama's extra money has to be sent to Santa Clause" I told my kids a few years back that the reason santa brings some kids more presents than others (they asked) was because Santa doesn't have enough money anymore to pay for all the toys the kids want so moms and dads have to send money to santa to help pay for the cost of the toys. "If you tell me what it is I can send the $16.50 to Santa and see if he'll bring the toy to you" Have I taken all the fun, joy and excitement out of Christmas? Perhaps but my kids still believe!
L then tells me about this COOL toy that is G.I. Joe Ninja's - both the black one AND the white one in one box "You get BOTH of them mom!" He tells me all about them and I say "Oh, so they're G.I. Joe, Barbies?"
That was the wrong thing to say. His jaw dropped to the ground and looked at me in disbelief as if I was calling him a girly boy or something. "NO! Not Barbie's!" "But it's like a Barbie, right? Except G.I. Joe and with guns?" "No, not anything like a Barbie mom, it's G.I. Joe." "Yes, I understand, but it's as big as a Barbie, right?" "Yeah, I guess so" "So, it's like a Barbie, it could be like Barbie's G.I. Joe husband or something" "Mo-om. G.I. Joe, is G.I. Joe. He can't be Barbie's husband." "why not?" "Because he's G.I. Joe" "Oh, but couldn't Barbie's husband job be being G.I. Joe?"
Of course at this point I'm just winding my son up and he is too dumbfounded at the THOUGHT of G.I. Joe being a Barbie that he just doesn't see the wind up. I then told him that mommy doesn't have enough money to buy the G.I. Joe's he wants but I could buy a Ken doll, which is a boy Barbie and I could buy army clothes and a gun for the Ken doll. - Now let's be honest, it's the same thing really, right?
The girls, btw, thought that I was being completely logical about the entire conversation and saw nothing wrong with what I was saying. Of course GI Joe could be Barbie's husband and of course it's the exact same thing but to a little boy,the notion that he's playing with a doll (which he is) seems to be far too overwhelming.
On a side note to the whole conversation when I mentioned that boys used to play with G.I. Joes when I was a kid L looked at me as if I was totally stupid and said "no, mom, this is the REAL G.I. Joe I'm talking about."
I'm wondering if I have any male readers who can shed some light on the whole G.I. Joe is not a doll thing because I'm still not convinced, but I let it go because it was blowing my sons mind.
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