G Update

I wish I could say that her outfits have toned down as she matures like Little M's did, but alas no. They seem to get even crazier as she ages than her preschool outfit pictured above. Before I forget, I must tell you that she says "gotten-for-ed" for forgotten. "Find" as the superlative of fine. For example, if she has a super fine day, when asked, she will reply, "My day was find!" instead of, "My day was great!" It is distinctly different than a "fine day." Little M is her preferred source of comfort as well as joy, even when he is the cause of her hurt. She builds room-sized obstacle courses for Thunder Baby referred to as, "otter dens." Through these dens, she lugs Thunder Baby who grins his thanks to be included with the big-kid activity. Muppets are "muffets." Stuffed animals and costumes are preferred over dolls and princess/fairy/ballerina outfits. She is more of a fish than Little M ever was at her age which says a lot. Her swim lessons are spent mostly under water with the instructor waiting and waiting for her to come up for air so that a 2-second instruction can be made, "Please swim on top of" swim, swim, swim, "the water." "Please" swim, swim, swim, swim, "do the backstroke," swim, "right now," swim, "try to touch, " swim, "the sky" swim, swim, "like this." As usual, we are all hoping she acquiesces. She certainly won't change her vocabulary or her dress for the rest of the world, why swim like the rest of us too?

Why are you talking?

It doesn't matter if you know me well. It only matters if you are with me to witness my superhero power. My power is one which calls out to essential strangers to divulge to me what most would consider to be private or quite personal information. Those who have not witnessed this power of mine often credit it as a mistake on my part. They say that I am mislabeling the information as private or that my introspective and private nature finds a typical sharing of oneself to be shocking. Or, simply that people find I exude a comforting vibe and seek me out for solace. But then, they witness a virtual stranger's verbal belch and they are converted. They know my superhero power is real and that of confessor to the penitent stranger.

Take this past week. After Little M's swim team practice, we picked G and Thunder Baby up from the swimclub's day care. I had seen B only once as we are new to the swim team. She said, "Hello!" I gave her my card and name and B sent a message back to her co-workers that we were there for the littles. Then, B said, "What a stormy Thanksgiving that was." I said, "I know!" B said, "My Dad in Utah ended up in jail with what?! His 3rd DUI?! And I couldn't go out there for Thanksgiving. Instead I stayed here and couldn't even earn money as everyone who was covering my shifts wouldn't give them back. He is just, ugh, my Dad..." Another mother came up collected her children and yet another two mothers did as well. It takes a while to get Thunder Baby ready to leave day care and Little M and I wandered about a bit. Each mother collected their children with us essentially out of earshot and without much more than a pleasant smile and thank you and good bye from B. We approached B again and she continued with the story about her father, "....yah, you'd think he could keep it together for a visit from me that he had wanted for a whole year! I'm totally giving up on him..." To which I said, "Oh, that must not have felt very good. I hope you at least got a nice break and a few good naps in," and during which Thunder Baby arrived in my arms and Little M quietly said whilst peaking over the edge of the counter, an edge of disbelief in his voice,"Why are you talking to my mom?" Sigh, poor Little M. Tis my superhero power. It is real.

the better of everything

Today, Little M said, "Ketchup is the better of everything." I wanted to tell him, "No, having you and G and ThunderBaby and Big M - that is the better of everything." But, then I thought maybe I shouldn't correct him. Not for any big parenting philosophy type reason, but simply because I have not kissed any of them with ketchup and Little M, who seems to have errant bits of ketchup crusted on his lips even after swimming in a pool for an hour and even after I wash his face and even after brushing his teeth, has probably, somehow, kissed us all with ketchup. Therefore he probably is in a position to make a maxim like, "Ketchup is the better of everything."

Armpit Farts

Somehow, in a 6 year old boy's mind, one can accidentally lick their palm.

And, accidentally put that damp palm under his armpit in gym class.

And, then, accidentally make an armpit fart noise and accidentally get into the wee, tiniest bit of trouble. Accidentally. Just once. Or maybe twice. Accidents are hard to remember in a 6 year old boy's mind, too.

eco - this, baby!

I dare anyone to embrace the GO GREEN! ethic like my children do. They have their own toilet upstairs and I have discovered it left unflushed for hours? days? uhm? at a time. While this "conserves water for fish and fowl" according to Little M with a resounding "Yah Mum" by my transplanted Glaswegian G, it is, I think, a practice too disturbing for most to adopt. It is now on my list to check the toilet daily but as the days and nights are still a little mixed up with our Thunderbird Baby I cannot guarantee it is a daily check according to conventional calendars. I am also not sure that they wipe their bums as often as would be hygenically recommended which does indeed save trees from becoming toilet paper, but worries my illness avoidance streak. Call me crazy as Little M does. I am fine with that. I will own it. I will also own that limited time has made a mockery of my once neurotic cleaning skills (Mom, I am so sorry, but I was a late bloomer regarding cleaning and they did not flourish til I left home...). However, I am perplexed by their preference to eat stale food found in surprising corners guarded by dust bunnies asking for beer over fresh, warm, homemade food. Though, be sure, I am thankful when food does not go to waste. My kids also share toothbrushes. All toothbrushes. Again, too be fair, sharing does extend the life cycle of these toothbrushes. But why they bicker of sharing toys and not germ laden tooth scrubbers I don't know. Then there is the act of... oh nevermind. The list could continue, but I am just too grossed out.