I think I've finally realized why this parenting thing is so damn hard for me: They are boys. Loud, unmanageable, risky, dirty, stinky boys. They challenge me on every. single. thing. They have to be spoken to directly and to the point as their attention lasts about as long as the first two words that come out of my mouth. They cannot sit still for...pretty much any time whatsoever. They have to be directed, as in given things to do- they aren't the best at getting lost in imaginary play, which is pretty much all I did from my earliest memories. This was proven, once again tonight, when I said, OK, I'm going to go take a shower (here's to hoping they don't kill themselves while I'm predisposed for twenty minutes!) Well, the little one, he decided to come with me. The older one got a crazy hair and said, "OOo! OOO! I'm going to do P90X!"
Knock your socks off.
By the time the little one I had finished our shower and had our jammies on, Ethan had done one whole CD plus the fit test.
He was about to put in another when he suddenly decided he'd like to have a dance party instead. Insert Pandora Club Radio and instant party.
It reminded me (why don't I remember this???) that my boys need to be occupied. They like to have some direction, something to accomplish, something to do.
So I've got it under my belt now-
the next time I wanna rip my hair out at the sheer insanity of it all, hopefully that'll trigger this insightful evening: PUT IN AN EXERCISE VIDEO (P90X or INSANITY WILL DO) AND TELL THEM THEY HAVE TO COMPLETE IT. And, like shampoo: REPEAT IF NECESSARY.
They'll love it.
BTW, Noah just ends up spinning in circles, but that's OK. Toddlers have this thing that defies dizziness. He can spin for half an hour and be sober as priest, although I want to puke after watching him for about two seconds.
The feeling, at least, of understanding what is going on.
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Sunday, October 28, 2012
Run, baby, run.
Sunday evening at home, resting. Or resting as much as you can with the littles around. They seem to always be hungry, or bored, or yelling at each other, or having to take a pee. Which reminds me: the other day Noah runs out of the bathroom and says to me, "Mama! Mama! I put all my pee in the trash!" At least he was aiming somewhere.
We had a wonderful weekend together up at the cabin. The older I get, the busier I get, the more I appreciate our little reprieve in the woods. It's easier up there to say yes to Ethan to play UNO or Battleship; easier to cook a meal; easier to stay up late cuddling on the couch with Joey in front of the fire talking. Usually I'd include wine in that picture perfect moment, but the older I get wine puts me in a coma. After one such coma Friday night, where I was barely able to get up off the couch to get into bed, I told Joey I guess I need to switch to cocktails that are at least half Redbull. All part of getting old, I guess.
The Giants are in the World Series. I'm assuming you probably have heard. I'm happy for my better half-he's been watching the Giants ever since he was Ethan's age. He even has an opportunity to go to game six if they make it that far- Being a good wife, and just an all around good person, I have encouraged him to go.
I'm also praying mightily they win tonight and save us god knows how much money it will cost for him to go.
Went for a run today before we came home from Graeagle. It's such a treat to run up there. Today it was cool and brisk and felt so clean. The aspens have all turned a burning gold, outlining the dark Feather River in color like a ribbon. Only in Graeagle do I NOT want to stop running. I always wish I could run longer, see what's down that road, what's around that corner. Last trip I ran so far I threw my hip out and after three weeks of trying all sorts of yoga/kickbox maneuvers that usually pop it back in, I'm finally desperate enough I'll go see a chiropractor this week.
My runs always clear my mind, allow me to pray, and give me ideas to write about. They give me energy and at the same time they take away building reservoirs of irritation and frustration and stress-from home or work. I recently had to write a bio for one of the gyms I teach at and as I started to write I realized how important exercise is to my life-emotionally, spiritually, and physically. I read "Born to Run" this summer and in it the author talks about all these amazing people (the only one I can remember is Nelson Mandela) and how all of them were runners. He posed the question: were these all great leaders that just happened to run, or did running somehow play a part in their greatness? Just an FYI to blow your undies off, Mandela ran seven miles in place in his cell, everyday. He was in jail for almost twenty five years. And we think a treadmill at the gym gets old.
Anyway, I always go back to what my hubby told me when I very first started to run and could barely make a mile: running would always give me back so much more than what I had to put into it. He was so so right. It's a guaranteed investment with a return that cannot even be measured. Another thing I've learned, if you are on the fence and thinking about running, is that even a ten minute run is better, so much better, than nothing. It boosts your metabolism and brightens your mood. I can only imagine this is why they have "15 minute" recess for children every morning and afternoon- even this little bit of time makes such a huge difference in kids' moods and their ability to concentrate. We were meant to move. We get cranky and lack focus when we do not.
Now, let's watch those Giants run, and win!
We had a wonderful weekend together up at the cabin. The older I get, the busier I get, the more I appreciate our little reprieve in the woods. It's easier up there to say yes to Ethan to play UNO or Battleship; easier to cook a meal; easier to stay up late cuddling on the couch with Joey in front of the fire talking. Usually I'd include wine in that picture perfect moment, but the older I get wine puts me in a coma. After one such coma Friday night, where I was barely able to get up off the couch to get into bed, I told Joey I guess I need to switch to cocktails that are at least half Redbull. All part of getting old, I guess.
The Giants are in the World Series. I'm assuming you probably have heard. I'm happy for my better half-he's been watching the Giants ever since he was Ethan's age. He even has an opportunity to go to game six if they make it that far- Being a good wife, and just an all around good person, I have encouraged him to go.
I'm also praying mightily they win tonight and save us god knows how much money it will cost for him to go.
Went for a run today before we came home from Graeagle. It's such a treat to run up there. Today it was cool and brisk and felt so clean. The aspens have all turned a burning gold, outlining the dark Feather River in color like a ribbon. Only in Graeagle do I NOT want to stop running. I always wish I could run longer, see what's down that road, what's around that corner. Last trip I ran so far I threw my hip out and after three weeks of trying all sorts of yoga/kickbox maneuvers that usually pop it back in, I'm finally desperate enough I'll go see a chiropractor this week.
My runs always clear my mind, allow me to pray, and give me ideas to write about. They give me energy and at the same time they take away building reservoirs of irritation and frustration and stress-from home or work. I recently had to write a bio for one of the gyms I teach at and as I started to write I realized how important exercise is to my life-emotionally, spiritually, and physically. I read "Born to Run" this summer and in it the author talks about all these amazing people (the only one I can remember is Nelson Mandela) and how all of them were runners. He posed the question: were these all great leaders that just happened to run, or did running somehow play a part in their greatness? Just an FYI to blow your undies off, Mandela ran seven miles in place in his cell, everyday. He was in jail for almost twenty five years. And we think a treadmill at the gym gets old.
Anyway, I always go back to what my hubby told me when I very first started to run and could barely make a mile: running would always give me back so much more than what I had to put into it. He was so so right. It's a guaranteed investment with a return that cannot even be measured. Another thing I've learned, if you are on the fence and thinking about running, is that even a ten minute run is better, so much better, than nothing. It boosts your metabolism and brightens your mood. I can only imagine this is why they have "15 minute" recess for children every morning and afternoon- even this little bit of time makes such a huge difference in kids' moods and their ability to concentrate. We were meant to move. We get cranky and lack focus when we do not.
Now, let's watch those Giants run, and win!
Sunday, October 7, 2012
Days Like Today.
It's been one of those days. One of those ripped my piercing out, had two cavities filled, realized we've ruined the finish (and warranty) on our new floors kind of day.
I'm learning to keep my eyes up, off the imperfect floor, off the stuff in life that brings me down, and instead, look to the skies. To the One who is eternal, and who is mine. That's going to be enough.
I took Noah to preschool for the first time today. He looked so small, his Mario backpack hitting his shins as we walked into the school. "I'm going to a new gool today!" he says.
I had to pack him his own lunch and snacks and Capri Sun. As I left him-he was so brave-I thought about how we are leaving a certain phase of life, the time when babies run everything and you feel like you never get a moment, like your life stopped for three years while you attended to all their needs. We are not in the clear yet, but I see this desperate phase coming to an end.
My mouth is still numb from the shots they give you before the cavities. It numbed me all the way up to my eyeball. If my face were planet earth, my right side of my face feels like a great glacier, cold and huge. I am able to see what I would look like if I ever had a stroke.
***********************************************************************************
I wrote that awhile ago and never printed it. It's funny now, so far away from that crappy day.
I've had the boys to myself all weekend as Joey has been hunting. He needs that time away, with his brother.
It's good for us to be away from each other too, to miss each other. It's too easy to take him and all he does for this family for granted.
I was thinking today how awesome it would be to date Joey again, away from all the responsibilities that come with having a life together-
You know, where all he would be was a good looking, sweet guy with a truck. Somebody who could talk to me for awhile deep into the dark, fall nights.
He's still that guy to me. We just have a life to run together, and the late night talks in his truck get thrown our with all the other non essentials.
Or maybe they are essentials.
Anyway, I miss him. We are in a time of life that is really crazy town. We have young, demanding boy and we have young, demanding careers. We are laying a foundation for our life, but the soil is so hard to break. It's back breaking. Day in, day out, work. work. work. With very little time to breath or look at each other, let alone talk and understand how the other is growing or changing or who the other one is nowadays.
He's hoping to get home around 4, then he'll go into work at 6.
Two hours.
Here's hoping for at least a chance to look him in the eyes.
I'm learning to keep my eyes up, off the imperfect floor, off the stuff in life that brings me down, and instead, look to the skies. To the One who is eternal, and who is mine. That's going to be enough.
I took Noah to preschool for the first time today. He looked so small, his Mario backpack hitting his shins as we walked into the school. "I'm going to a new gool today!" he says.
I had to pack him his own lunch and snacks and Capri Sun. As I left him-he was so brave-I thought about how we are leaving a certain phase of life, the time when babies run everything and you feel like you never get a moment, like your life stopped for three years while you attended to all their needs. We are not in the clear yet, but I see this desperate phase coming to an end.
My mouth is still numb from the shots they give you before the cavities. It numbed me all the way up to my eyeball. If my face were planet earth, my right side of my face feels like a great glacier, cold and huge. I am able to see what I would look like if I ever had a stroke.
***********************************************************************************
I wrote that awhile ago and never printed it. It's funny now, so far away from that crappy day.
I've had the boys to myself all weekend as Joey has been hunting. He needs that time away, with his brother.
It's good for us to be away from each other too, to miss each other. It's too easy to take him and all he does for this family for granted.
I was thinking today how awesome it would be to date Joey again, away from all the responsibilities that come with having a life together-
You know, where all he would be was a good looking, sweet guy with a truck. Somebody who could talk to me for awhile deep into the dark, fall nights.
He's still that guy to me. We just have a life to run together, and the late night talks in his truck get thrown our with all the other non essentials.
Or maybe they are essentials.
Anyway, I miss him. We are in a time of life that is really crazy town. We have young, demanding boy and we have young, demanding careers. We are laying a foundation for our life, but the soil is so hard to break. It's back breaking. Day in, day out, work. work. work. With very little time to breath or look at each other, let alone talk and understand how the other is growing or changing or who the other one is nowadays.
He's hoping to get home around 4, then he'll go into work at 6.
Two hours.
Here's hoping for at least a chance to look him in the eyes.
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