Ha ha ha ha!!! The kids and I are snuggled in the bed watching American Idol. This is the only reality show, and nearly the only television, that we watch. Its so much fun to watch in this stage when its SO bad.
Entertainment... sometimes like watching a train wreck too!
---
Rose is not feeling well. She's been feeling stuffy headed for almost a week now. On Friday of last week, she woke up with a sore throat and begged to stay home from school. I thought she may have been running a fever so I called into her school to inform them of her first sick day.
Ten minutes later, she was playing with Grace and jumping on the trampoline. I was ticked but I'd already called in for her. Turns out she wasn't running fever after all. Thankfully, I could still drop her off at Grace's preschool so I could go to work. I also warned her about crying wolf.
So this morning, when she woke up crying about how bad she felt, I sympathized but I sent her to school anyway.
(She's not contagious but I get the feeling I'll be working from home tomorrow. My job is a blessing.)
---
Can you imagine three girls trying to get ready in the morning? It's a rare morning that we get out the door without
someone breaking down or losing it about
something! The funny thing is, we each seem to take turns being the calm one, the one who holds it all together while the other two melt down.
Yes, even I've been known to melt down too.
Grace has this thing with shoes. She hates wearing socks. She doesn't like the "dots" (her term for the ends of the toe seams on her socks) and freaks out every time she has to put them on.
Rose is usually on top of things but there is the occasional morning, like today, that she just can't deal. I was dreading it when Grace woke up. I knew they'd be losing it and I couldn't handle it today.
But my sweet 4 year old, my
baby girl, held it together while I tried to get us out the door.
"Mommy, I've brushed my teeth and hair. I grabbed a muffin and I'll just eat it at school."
Aw.
---
Tonight, Grace has continued to be my "big girl". She likes being 4.
"Mommy, we have to take care of Rose. She doesn't feel good. Can I put a warm washrag on her face to make her head stop hurting?"
"Can I help you with the laundry?"
"I've got it Mommy! I will help you carry everything in the house."
I love how my little ones step up to help me. I assume most single parents experience this. I think our kids have to mature a little faster than those in a two parent home.
I think we, as single parents, possibly expose our children to more at an earlier age as well.
The Exception had a post up about some of the possibly adult themed musicals her daughter has seen already, at the age of 9. My kids' favorite movie at the moment is
Grease. I watched it at their age and I never caught on to the sexual references.
I too am quite positive that the leadership qualities of both of my children have probably been acquired due to the responsibilities I've already given them. I'm raising them to be independent children because I have to. I also emphasize life lessons like the fact that sometimes, things don't always go the way we'd like them to. I've even introduced a little psychology with them - explaining that when another child is acting mean towards them, it is probably due to a sadness that they are trying to hide. It helps the both of them to have compassion for those that seemingly attempt to hurt them.
Perhaps we expose our children to other types of situations due to the differences in ours vs. a two parent home. Either way, I think our children are accepting the challenge and becoming well rounded individuals (like, um, the
next president?).
---
Its getting late and Rose is crying in her bed. I may be in for a long night with fever and tears. I'll try not to beat myself up too much for her lesson today.
It's tough sometimes to be the heavy but I'm also the big softie who will stroke her face, wipe her tears and remind her that everything is going to be ok. Bless their hearts, they do the same for me sometimes too.
Entertainment... sometimes like watching a train wreck too!
---
Rose is not feeling well. She's been feeling stuffy headed for almost a week now. On Friday of last week, she woke up with a sore throat and begged to stay home from school. I thought she may have been running a fever so I called into her school to inform them of her first sick day.
Ten minutes later, she was playing with Grace and jumping on the trampoline.
I was ticked but I'd already called in for her. Turns out she wasn't running fever after all. Thankfully, I could still drop her off at Grace's preschool so I could go to work. I also warned her about crying wolf.
So this morning, when she woke up crying about how bad she felt, I sympathized but I sent her to school anyway.
(She's not contagious but I get the feeling I'll be working from home tomorrow. My job is a blessing.)
---
Can you imagine three girls trying to get ready in the morning?
It's a rare morning that we get out the door without someone breaking down or losing it about something! The funny thing is, we each seem to take turns being the calm one, the one who holds it all together while the other two melt down.
Yes, even I've been known to melt down too.
Grace has this thing with shoes. She hates wearing socks. She doesn't like the "dots" (her term for the ends of the toe seams on her socks) and freaks out every time she has to put them on.
Rose is usually on top of things but there is the occasional morning, like today, that she just can't deal. I was dreading it when Grace woke up. I knew they'd be losing it and I couldn't handle it today.
But my sweet 4 year old, my baby girl, held it together while I tried to get us out the door.
"Mommy, I've brushed my teeth and hair. I grabbed a muffin and I'll just eat it at school."
Aw.
---
Tonight, Grace has continued to be my "big girl". She likes being 4.
"Mommy, we have to take care of Rose. She doesn't feel good. Can I put a warm washrag on her face to make her head stop hurting?"
"Can I help you with the laundry?"
"I've got it Mommy! I will help you carry everything in the house."
I love how my little ones step up to help me. I assume most single parents experience this. I think our kids have to mature a little faster than those in a two parent home.
I think we, as single parents, possibly expose our children to more at an earlier age as well. The Exception had a post up about some of the possibly adult themed musicals her daughter has seen already, at the age of 9. My kids' favorite movie at the moment is Grease. I watched it at their age and I never caught on to the sexual references.
I too am quite positive that the leadership qualities of both of my children have probably been acquired due to the responsibilities I've already given them. I'm raising them to be independent children because I have to. I also emphasize life lessons like the fact that sometimes, things don't always go the way we'd like them to. I've even introduced a little psychology with them - explaining that when another child is acting mean towards them, it is probably due to a sadness that they are trying to hide. It helps the both of them to have compassion for those that seemingly attempt to hurt them.
Perhaps we expose our children to other types of situations due to the differences in ours vs. a two parent home. Either way, I think our children are accepting the challenge and becoming well rounded individuals (like, um, the next president?).
---
Its getting late and Rose is crying in her bed. I may be in for a long night with fever and tears. I'll try not to beat myself up too much for her lesson today.
It's tough sometimes to be the heavy but I'm also the big softie who will stroke her face, wipe her tears and remind her that everything is going to be ok.
Bless their hearts, they do the same for me sometimes too.