Marek is a third child. As such, he is not spoiled, pampered, or fussed over, in short; he's a survivor.
His sisters love him desperately and love to be in his face and space. They have taught him that a personal bubble of space is not necessary. I shudder at future lessons...
And although I joke that Marek is a third child and we pay slightly less attention to him, it's just that we have streamlined our parenting style. Yeah, we'll go with that.
Anyway, today, I saved Marek's life.
I'll let that sink in.
Maybe I'm exaggerating slightly. Maybe not. I'll let you decide.
I went to Hobby Lobby this morning with Marek, Teagen and McKenna while Madelynn was in school. I put Teagen in a cart and then Marek in a cart. For the record, both babies were buckled in. McKenna was in charge of pushing Marek's cart, but actually, I was pushing Teagen and pulling/guiding Marek. We selected all of the bolts of fabric I needed, thirteen in total, and we waited patiently while the lady cut two yards of each. All was going well until the clerk commented, "Your children are so well behaved."
NOOOOOOO!!!!!
C'mon lady! While I appreciate the compliment, everyone knows that you don't say things like that until you're walking out of the store and the potential for damage/harm is at zero! But she jinxed me.
Not two minutes later, McKenna decided she was done watching her cut fabric patiently and was hanging off the side of Marek's cart. Not the stout, sturdy Walmart cart, but the tall, plastic Hobby Lobby cart.
You guessed it. She pulled the cart over on it's side. Yes Marek was still buckled in his seat.
I saw this whole thing happen in slow motion. I slowly reached over and grabbed the front handle with one hand and used my other hand to grab Marek by his armpit. By sheer luck or God's grace, I caught him just as his head grazed the floor and was able to right the cart. I can still see the picture of him hanging upside down, buckled into that seat with me holding him by the armpit. And while I'll never forget that image, let's hope that experience doesn't stick with him for long.
So you decide. Saved a life. Saved a head from a bump. The real question is, would this have happened when Madelynn or even McKenna was his age?
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Kindergarten
Today was the first day of Kindergarten. For my daughter. That's right, I am the mother of a grade schooler. Wow.
Here's how our morning went...
McKenna, looking fabulous as always. Thank you, Nana, for the wonderful socks! They're our favorite.
Here's how our morning went...
Sadly, we were not all happy to be awake. But I'm not brave enough to give Marek coffee yet. It might be a tough week.
Almost time to go!
Don't forget the back pack!
The walk to school. Yes, that backpack is almost as big as she is. Yes, it made me a little teary.
I do recall specifing that no toys join us on our walk to school. Marek must not consider Shrek a toy.
Waiting at the Kindergarten table for the teacher to gather us up. No worries. There were other parents gathered along the wall. I didn't embarass Madelynn. Too much.
This is the Big Girl project that McKenna got to do while sister was at school. She colored, cut and glued the pieces on the puzzle grid! What an artist!
At pick-up. I confess, I was one of the moms that was there early. Ridiculously early. When Madelynn saw me, she raised her hand. When the teacher made eye contact with me, Madelynn was allowed to leave.
And leave she did! I'd like to say that she was SO excited to see me and tell me about her day. But I was standing with Aunt Jessica and we were getting ready to go to the Kansas City Zoo. The first words out of her mouth were, "Where's Tobin?"
So, I have a daughter in Kindergarten. I don't feel that much different. I think Madelynn has always acted so much older that this seems a natural progression.
Now, McKenna's first day of Kindergarten might be a different story...
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Spankings
Branden and I spank our kids. There, now you know. It's an involved process, with a lot of warnings, talking and hugging afterwards.
One afternoon, McKenna hit her sister and I sent her to the bathroom. We discussed the wrong-ness of her actions and she got a spanking. She cried, I hugged her and she went outside to play. As the screen door was closing behind her, I heard her tell her friends that she just got a spanking. I just shook my head and didn't think anything more about it.
A few afternoons later, Madelynn committed a spanking offense and was sent to the bathroom. She stood very still and quiet while we discussed what she'd done wrong. I thought this was strange, because she's usually freaking out by this point. When the time came, she put her hands straight up over her head, dove across my lap and took a deep breath. I spanked her. Nothing. Again, strange because Madelynn is a little dramatic when it comes to spankings. (Very hard to imagine, I'm sure!) I gave her a hug and sent her on her way.
Later that evening, we were driving to dinner and Madelynn told her Daddy, "I don't cry anymore when I get a spanking." Which I confirmed.
"Why not, Madelynn?" Daddy asked
"My friend (from next door) told me that if I hold my breath while I get a spanking, it won't even hurt."
Ah hah.
One afternoon, McKenna hit her sister and I sent her to the bathroom. We discussed the wrong-ness of her actions and she got a spanking. She cried, I hugged her and she went outside to play. As the screen door was closing behind her, I heard her tell her friends that she just got a spanking. I just shook my head and didn't think anything more about it.
A few afternoons later, Madelynn committed a spanking offense and was sent to the bathroom. She stood very still and quiet while we discussed what she'd done wrong. I thought this was strange, because she's usually freaking out by this point. When the time came, she put her hands straight up over her head, dove across my lap and took a deep breath. I spanked her. Nothing. Again, strange because Madelynn is a little dramatic when it comes to spankings. (Very hard to imagine, I'm sure!) I gave her a hug and sent her on her way.
Later that evening, we were driving to dinner and Madelynn told her Daddy, "I don't cry anymore when I get a spanking." Which I confirmed.
"Why not, Madelynn?" Daddy asked
"My friend (from next door) told me that if I hold my breath while I get a spanking, it won't even hurt."
Ah hah.
Monday, August 8, 2011
The Family that Cleans Together...
We have come to the end of care free summer days. Our neighbor friends are no longer home during the day, yet Madelynn is not yet in school with a routine and things to do. Therefore, we are...
BORED!
I think that's the most dreaded word a mom can hear. It's awful. Especially when accompanied by whining. And fussy babies (that's right, plural).
Ok, ok, enough of the yuck. This is suppose to be the lighthearted part of your day!
Here's how we spent our afternoon, to rise from the doldrums.
First, I should explain that the only person that wears socks from April to September is Branden. We are a flip flop family. Or Crocs for a heavy duty activity. So they get pretty nasty.
BORED!
I think that's the most dreaded word a mom can hear. It's awful. Especially when accompanied by whining. And fussy babies (that's right, plural).
Ok, ok, enough of the yuck. This is suppose to be the lighthearted part of your day!
Here's how we spent our afternoon, to rise from the doldrums.
First, I should explain that the only person that wears socks from April to September is Branden. We are a flip flop family. Or Crocs for a heavy duty activity. So they get pretty nasty.
That's right. I fill up a scrub bucket (good ole Dawn) and a rinse bucket. Everyone gets there own scrub brush and away we go!
As McKenna is demonstrating, there's no need to not look fabulous!
Madelynn has not yet mastered the art of "acting natural". We'll work on that.
She's a good little cleaner, though! Her mama's proud of that!
Teach them to clean young, that's what I always say.
Truthfully, I couldn't have kept him away if I'd put a fence up. That boy loves playing in the water.
At least the Croc is clean, right?
Pick your battles, moms. Pick your battles.
Only a true anal-retentive can look at this picture and feel a peace inside.
I will sleep well tonight.
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Amy Connelly ~ Woman of Leisure
As I am free of the restraints of a time clock, I've often referred to myself as a Woman of Leisure. After some discussion with friends, I think that title needs further inspection.
According to http://www.dictionary.com/ (a staple for all you college students!), leisure can be pronounced "lee-zher" or "lezh-er". You know, like Target vs. Tarjay or JCPenny vs. Jacques Pennwa. I prefer "lezh-er", but that's just when I'm trying to sound fancy-schmancy.
Here's some definitions:
~freedom from the demands of work or duty: Well, that's a wash. I guess there's no demands that I work, but it's awful tough for me to go to bed with dirty dishes in the sink. Of course, a whiny three year old can be pretty demanding. And a fussy toddler. And a bossy princess...
~time free from the demands of work or duty, when one can rest, enjoy hobbies or sports, etc.: This is interesting. I do carve out time during the week for me to pursue my new sport. Running. This is time free of the demands of my household duties. But it's only an hour, people!
~unhurried ease: OK, anyone that knows me, knows that this does NOT describe me in the slightest. Not the least little bit. Let's just put it this way. I met Branden in July, we married in February, Madelynn was born in September. Not unhurried.
Hmmmmm..........
So I may have to rethink this idea of describing myself as a woman of leisure. Based on those definitions, the picture that comes to mind is Goldie Hawn in Overboard, when she first meets Kurt Russell on her yacht.
If you cannot bring this picture to mind, stop everything you're doing. Run to the nearest video store you can find (You may have to Google this as they're hard to find these days) and rent the movie Overboard. I command you. Your life will not be complete until you have accomplished this.
Even better, watch this at a time where you are "free of the demands of work to pursure hobbies and rest" and you will be able to claim you were a Person of Leisure, if even for a short time.
Please leave any life-changing stories in my comments area. If you are interviewed on the news, I'd appreciate a shout-out.
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