I still love going for a drive, especially when it is sunny. Today's ride, however, while being a great alternative to staying in the house all day, was filled with explanations and curveballs - thanks to a continuous conversation with D.B.
We take a side road and slow to cross the railroad tracks - one of the few in the area that still does not have flashing lights or arms to drop when a train is coming. We get across the tracks and I continue to go slowly, as I note the hunter in orange leisurely leaning against the guide rail, waiting for traffic to pass. He has his gun pointed skyward and gives me a little wave as we pass. I wave back. We are in the friendly backwoods of Pa., after all.
D.B.'s comment: "He's going hunting."
Me (surprised): "Yes, yes he is."
D.B.: "He's going to shoot a deer."
Me: Well no, he can't shoot a deer with a gun today."
Now, I am pro-hunting and have hunted in the past. At some point in my future, I'd love to get a bow and start hunting during archery season. That said, the rest of the ride to our destination is spent attempting to bring the whys of hunting, the seasons and different animals that are hunted (No, D.B., you DON'T hunt horses. They are animals that are owned and taken care of by people. You hunt wild animals. And here's why....) down to a level an almost 5-year-old can understand. [Almost 5, where HAS the time gone?!]
I won't be teaching her that hunting is bad. If she grows to feel that way as she gets older, that is her choice.
Today was enough just trying to get some of the basics across from my perspective.
What a great little mind she has, though. After we had changed topics, I asked a few Diego-esque questions (can you shoot a deer with a gun any time of year, or are there seasons? And - Do we hunt animals that people take care of, their pets, or do we hunt wild animals?) She did retain information.
Go us. =)
Friday, October 26, 2012
Destructo's Ice Bath
It's almost bedtime and Daddy is on the phone, saying goodnight to the munchkins. I take a short break from the living room to look at the weather forecast on the computer. I get the phone back, say goodbye to my husband and walk out into the living room, only half-listening to D.B.'s newest tattling opportunity that Destructo is in the water in Daddy's work thing.
Translation: My 2-year-old is dancing in the ice water in the cooler used earlier this week during our short stint without power to keep the milk cold. There are ice cold tiny footprints and water spray tracks all over the LIVING ROOM floor. Not the kitchen, mind you, where I last saw this cooler. Oh no. Destructo has dragged the cooler into the living room to have his ice bath.
At some point he evidently sat in the cooler as well. He is wet right through to his pullup. Thankfully this escapade was planned and executed BEFORE I got him into his PJs.
After being dried off and re-dressed in a new pullup and clean, dry PJs, Destructo informs me he "wanted to take a bath in the cool-whip." Not the cool-er, which is what I said to him.
I officially call bedtime, before I completely lose my mind.
Translation: My 2-year-old is dancing in the ice water in the cooler used earlier this week during our short stint without power to keep the milk cold. There are ice cold tiny footprints and water spray tracks all over the LIVING ROOM floor. Not the kitchen, mind you, where I last saw this cooler. Oh no. Destructo has dragged the cooler into the living room to have his ice bath.
At some point he evidently sat in the cooler as well. He is wet right through to his pullup. Thankfully this escapade was planned and executed BEFORE I got him into his PJs.
After being dried off and re-dressed in a new pullup and clean, dry PJs, Destructo informs me he "wanted to take a bath in the cool-whip." Not the cool-er, which is what I said to him.
I officially call bedtime, before I completely lose my mind.
Friday, October 19, 2012
Greetings
I have been reading several parent blogs, and I figured they were far better at chronicling the typical antics of youth than I could ever be. However, now that my brood has increased to three (the number it will remain at, according to both parents on this merry-go-round of life), I realize that the entertaining statuses I post to my social media could be utilized to create an entertaining blog.
Also, of course, since Daddy doesn't get to enjoy nearly as many of these entertaining moments as I do, it will be beneficial to transcribe them for him.
Our canine and feline companions number four females to two males, and with three human females to the two males, estrogen definitely has the top rung here. This may or may not lead to surprises in the chronicles. I find thus far that we act rather predictably.
Let me introduce you to my personal cast of spellbinding superheroes. While I do not know what I would do without them, there are days I can give you a list of what I WOULD do for a short breather. =)
Our Dancing Butterfly (aka D.B.) - Our oldest, the one closest to being a cloned miniature of myself. She has little to no grace and is breathtakingly oblivious to this - breathtaking in the sense that I gasp at any real or imagined potential crisis, and I have the opportunity daily to lose my breath several times. She has the sarcasm and wit to rival a teenager and can definitely out-think me.
Luckily, she is also the best big sister ever to grace the earth. She sings to The DIVA when she's fussing and fighting sleep, reassures Destructo regarding both real and overly faked bouts of fear and helps with anything she gets away with - including diaper changes, clothing retrieval and shoe scavenger hunts. She has developed the exaggerated sigh of a teenager forced to retrieve or assist a parent, but she doesn't really understand what goes along with that. Following the sigh, she bounds out of the room to whatever errand I have sent her on.
Destructo - Our middle child, who happens to be the only male of our three. He, like his father, is in the minority in our household. He seems to use the position to his advantage, however, as he capitalizes on more than either sister thus far. He ended up the blond, curly haired one of the mob, which is funny since that requires both he and his father to keep their locks closely cropped. He has an engaging smile and an intelligence well beyond his years. This will be Karma's way of biting me repeatedly throughout the years, I have a feeling.
The DIVA - Our youngest, who only graced us with her presence early this year. She already has Daddy and grandparents wrapped around her tiny fingers (and her long, monkey toes). She is growing far too fast and learning quickly. She wants to be with her siblings and into as much trouble as them already. With that as her goal, she has developed the ability to scoot backwards across the floor. She loves all of our animals and thoroughly enjoys sharing nap time or her play mat or blanket with any furry creature silly enough to come close (which is most of them).
Happy Reading. I hope the entertaining moments retain their pure shock factor when processed into a written version.
Also, of course, since Daddy doesn't get to enjoy nearly as many of these entertaining moments as I do, it will be beneficial to transcribe them for him.
Our canine and feline companions number four females to two males, and with three human females to the two males, estrogen definitely has the top rung here. This may or may not lead to surprises in the chronicles. I find thus far that we act rather predictably.
Let me introduce you to my personal cast of spellbinding superheroes. While I do not know what I would do without them, there are days I can give you a list of what I WOULD do for a short breather. =)
Our Dancing Butterfly (aka D.B.) - Our oldest, the one closest to being a cloned miniature of myself. She has little to no grace and is breathtakingly oblivious to this - breathtaking in the sense that I gasp at any real or imagined potential crisis, and I have the opportunity daily to lose my breath several times. She has the sarcasm and wit to rival a teenager and can definitely out-think me.
Luckily, she is also the best big sister ever to grace the earth. She sings to The DIVA when she's fussing and fighting sleep, reassures Destructo regarding both real and overly faked bouts of fear and helps with anything she gets away with - including diaper changes, clothing retrieval and shoe scavenger hunts. She has developed the exaggerated sigh of a teenager forced to retrieve or assist a parent, but she doesn't really understand what goes along with that. Following the sigh, she bounds out of the room to whatever errand I have sent her on.
Destructo - Our middle child, who happens to be the only male of our three. He, like his father, is in the minority in our household. He seems to use the position to his advantage, however, as he capitalizes on more than either sister thus far. He ended up the blond, curly haired one of the mob, which is funny since that requires both he and his father to keep their locks closely cropped. He has an engaging smile and an intelligence well beyond his years. This will be Karma's way of biting me repeatedly throughout the years, I have a feeling.
The DIVA - Our youngest, who only graced us with her presence early this year. She already has Daddy and grandparents wrapped around her tiny fingers (and her long, monkey toes). She is growing far too fast and learning quickly. She wants to be with her siblings and into as much trouble as them already. With that as her goal, she has developed the ability to scoot backwards across the floor. She loves all of our animals and thoroughly enjoys sharing nap time or her play mat or blanket with any furry creature silly enough to come close (which is most of them).
Happy Reading. I hope the entertaining moments retain their pure shock factor when processed into a written version.
Burned - the first of many
So Destructo, who was suffering from the effects of the flu vaccine (Eeeeevil!), has found some strength and realized he is hungry. He comes downstairs with me and watches as I set The DIVA on a multi-colored mat of puzzle pieces, left by D.B. as she headed off to bed blithely unaware of the chaos she left in the living room.
Destructo: "Mama, why did you do that?"
My somewhat distracted answer consisted only of "Because...." as I considered peanut butter & jelly versus something more time consuming but less messy.
Destructo: "Mama, Because is not an answer."
Now, flashes of earlier today and preceding days chase each other through my mind. I see pictures of D.B. doing various things she shouldn't - to the dog, to her toys, to her brother. After each incident, I hear myself ask her why she thought that was a good idea. Her answer, of course, was "Because" followed by a never-ending pause as she hoped I would fill in the rest. Hence my response to her each time, "Because is not an answer."
At least someone was listening, I guess. Too bad, instead of taking it to heart, Destructo chose to turn it back upon the initiator.
I feel the burn.
Also, a few short minutes later, I told him to stop repeating himself.
Me: "Please stop repeating yourself, I hate when you do that. I hear you. Please give me a chance to answer."
Destructo: "Mama, don't say hate. We don't say hate. It's not nice."
Burned again. However, I take a little reassurance in the fact that at least this message WAS directed at Destructo himself, who is in the midst of using various inappropriate words during his terrible two's tantrums.
Destructo: "Mama, why did you do that?"
My somewhat distracted answer consisted only of "Because...." as I considered peanut butter & jelly versus something more time consuming but less messy.
Destructo: "Mama, Because is not an answer."
Now, flashes of earlier today and preceding days chase each other through my mind. I see pictures of D.B. doing various things she shouldn't - to the dog, to her toys, to her brother. After each incident, I hear myself ask her why she thought that was a good idea. Her answer, of course, was "Because" followed by a never-ending pause as she hoped I would fill in the rest. Hence my response to her each time, "Because is not an answer."
At least someone was listening, I guess. Too bad, instead of taking it to heart, Destructo chose to turn it back upon the initiator.
I feel the burn.
Also, a few short minutes later, I told him to stop repeating himself.
Me: "Please stop repeating yourself, I hate when you do that. I hear you. Please give me a chance to answer."
Destructo: "Mama, don't say hate. We don't say hate. It's not nice."
Burned again. However, I take a little reassurance in the fact that at least this message WAS directed at Destructo himself, who is in the midst of using various inappropriate words during his terrible two's tantrums.
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