Yesterday was Family Day (a new holiday here in Ontario, perfectly positioned in the middle of February), which means we got a 3-day weekend.
On Saturday, we took the kids skating. We decided to go to an outdoor rink because the weather was so beautiful. The rink was built on a baseball diamond and sloped ever-so-slightly downhill, which meant the kids could skate one way (down), but not the other (up). It was pretty funny to watch. Maggie did great. She had the little bob-skates that attach to her boots and she was moving around pretty well.
Sunday brought freezing rain, so Maggie and I went to the grocery store first thing in the morning (8:00 AM – good time to shop) and then we stayed put for the rest of the day. I hauled out their Ikea castle tent and they played in there for hours while I made some yummy brownies with peppermint frosting. We all played a game of Princess Monopoly and then Homer played some video games with Bart and Lisa (Simpsons Hit & Run, of course).
Monday’s weather cleared up and we went tobogganing. Because of Sunday’s rain, the hill was not a snowy as I would have liked, but it was really fast! I just loved hearing the giggles and screams as they flew down the hill. I’m hoping for a little more snow this week so we can go out again this weekend. We then took them to a playground, where they played on the abandoned climber to their hearts’ content.
When I contemplated having kids, this kind of weekend is exactly what I pictured. It was simple and pure and fun. Sometimes I am guilty of getting bogged down with things that have to be done, but I didn’t do that this weekend. And I'm really glad I didn’t.
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Friday, February 15, 2008
BUSTED!
My brother and sister-in-law announced on the weekend that they would be moving to London, England for three years for my brother’s job. He’s a big-wig at a major international firm and this new post will set him up to be a bigger-wig when he returns to Canada. Right now, they live about 15 minutes from me and we see them often. My nephew and niece (ages 6 and 3) and my kids get along famously.
Obviously this is a big upset in our family, especially for my parents, who are used to seeing their grandchildren at least once a week. They will return home often and have decided to hold onto their beautiful home here so that it’s available to them on visits home and when they return, which is small comfort to my folks.
I decided to set up a family blog, where we can post pictures, stories, videos, etc. so the miles between us don’t feel so daunting. Everyone is on board and intrigued by the idea, so hopefully it will take off.
Homer mentioned this morning as we drove to work that he noticed I had been working on the family blog and wondered how I even knew how to do that. I just told him that, “I know stuff”. He laughed and asked if I had any other blogs. I told him I did and he asked a bunch more questions. I didn’t tell him the name of the blog or anything about it, except that it was a “mom blog”. I ultimately told him that I didn’t want him reading it because I didn’t want him to tell me how lame it is. He agreed.
As he dropped me off, he said “Have a good day, Marge.” When I looked back at him, he had a goofiest grin on his face.
The bugger knew all along.
Obviously this is a big upset in our family, especially for my parents, who are used to seeing their grandchildren at least once a week. They will return home often and have decided to hold onto their beautiful home here so that it’s available to them on visits home and when they return, which is small comfort to my folks.
I decided to set up a family blog, where we can post pictures, stories, videos, etc. so the miles between us don’t feel so daunting. Everyone is on board and intrigued by the idea, so hopefully it will take off.
Homer mentioned this morning as we drove to work that he noticed I had been working on the family blog and wondered how I even knew how to do that. I just told him that, “I know stuff”. He laughed and asked if I had any other blogs. I told him I did and he asked a bunch more questions. I didn’t tell him the name of the blog or anything about it, except that it was a “mom blog”. I ultimately told him that I didn’t want him reading it because I didn’t want him to tell me how lame it is. He agreed.
As he dropped me off, he said “Have a good day, Marge.” When I looked back at him, he had a goofiest grin on his face.
The bugger knew all along.
Thursday, February 14, 2008
How do you do Valentine’s Day?
Even though I have never received a bouquet of roses (if you knew me, this would not be a sad statement at all), and only once received a heart-shaped box of chocolates, I do like Valentines Day and like to make it special.
For the kids, that means they wake up to heart-shaped pancakes topped with fresh, sliced strawberries. They are sent to school with heart-shaped cookies for their class parties and wearing their finest red clothes. Lisa will open her lunch bag and discover that her sandwich has been cut into a heart shape and that all her fruits and vegetables are red, as is her napkin. She’ll also have a Valentine from me. They all made Valentines for their classmates.
For dinner tonight, there will be homemade soup with heart-shaped biscuits and a heart-shaped cake for dessert. Then the kids will each get a little gift: some conversation hearts and a chocolate cupid sucker for each of them and a Webkinz for Lisa, a red toboggan for Bart and a Dora talking book for Maggie. They will be thrilled.
As for me and Homer, we’re not much for exchanging traditional gifts. One year I got him a giant bowl filled with M&M’s. Another year, he gave me a heart monitor for running. Over the past couple of years, we’ve just exchanged lottery tickets. It sounds odd and lame, but it’s totally laid back and us. We’ve been together long enough and been through enough that I know he loves me and he knows I love him. I’m much more touched when he comes home from the grocery store with a bouquet of flowers or a potted plant he thought I would like than I would ever be if he showed up today with a dozen roses. That doesn’t mean he isn’t expecting to get lucky tonight. I assure you, he is.
For the kids, that means they wake up to heart-shaped pancakes topped with fresh, sliced strawberries. They are sent to school with heart-shaped cookies for their class parties and wearing their finest red clothes. Lisa will open her lunch bag and discover that her sandwich has been cut into a heart shape and that all her fruits and vegetables are red, as is her napkin. She’ll also have a Valentine from me. They all made Valentines for their classmates.
For dinner tonight, there will be homemade soup with heart-shaped biscuits and a heart-shaped cake for dessert. Then the kids will each get a little gift: some conversation hearts and a chocolate cupid sucker for each of them and a Webkinz for Lisa, a red toboggan for Bart and a Dora talking book for Maggie. They will be thrilled.
As for me and Homer, we’re not much for exchanging traditional gifts. One year I got him a giant bowl filled with M&M’s. Another year, he gave me a heart monitor for running. Over the past couple of years, we’ve just exchanged lottery tickets. It sounds odd and lame, but it’s totally laid back and us. We’ve been together long enough and been through enough that I know he loves me and he knows I love him. I’m much more touched when he comes home from the grocery store with a bouquet of flowers or a potted plant he thought I would like than I would ever be if he showed up today with a dozen roses. That doesn’t mean he isn’t expecting to get lucky tonight. I assure you, he is.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Grocery Store Etiquette
If you are 85 years old and you have driven yourself to the store, don’t shop on Saturday.
Right of way goes to the cart travelling the perimeter of the store. Pretend the end of the aisle has a stop sign and proceed only when the intersection is cleared. DO NOT recklessly proceed into the intersection without stopping, then look shocked that you had a near collision with another cart.
If you have chosen to do your shopping at 11:00 AM on Saturday, you do not have the right to sigh loudly at the long line-ups to check-out.
If the stock boy has carelessly left a giant skid of boxes on one side of the aisle, do not park your cart on the other side of the aisle while you select your pop-tarts, thereby blocking all traffic.
If you have more than 10 items, do not stand in line at the “10 items or less” check-out. If you find yourself with 11 items, either chuck the Oreos or stand in another line. Rules are rules.
If you must bring your six children to the grocery store, take extra care to ensure that those who will not fit in the cart are not blocking the aisle. Do not allow the older ones to play tag in the meat section.
Do not let a child that cannot see over the top of the cart to steer the cart. What's cute to you is annoying to your fellow shoppers.
If someone kindly moves their cart aside to allow you to pass by an obstruction, you must proceed PAST the obstruction to then allow the kind stranger to also pass by.
Select your items from the frozen section through the glass doors, only opening the door once a selection has been made. DO NOT stand there with the door open as this will cause the glass to fog up making it impossible for the next guy to follow this rule. It also makes the rest of us cold.
If the sign says “Limit 4”, don’t take 8 and ask the cashier to ring it in twice. You’ll need to go through the line twice or send someone else in, just like the rest of us.
If you have a hacking cough, stay out of the fresh produce section.
Right of way goes to the cart travelling the perimeter of the store. Pretend the end of the aisle has a stop sign and proceed only when the intersection is cleared. DO NOT recklessly proceed into the intersection without stopping, then look shocked that you had a near collision with another cart.
If you have chosen to do your shopping at 11:00 AM on Saturday, you do not have the right to sigh loudly at the long line-ups to check-out.
If the stock boy has carelessly left a giant skid of boxes on one side of the aisle, do not park your cart on the other side of the aisle while you select your pop-tarts, thereby blocking all traffic.
If you have more than 10 items, do not stand in line at the “10 items or less” check-out. If you find yourself with 11 items, either chuck the Oreos or stand in another line. Rules are rules.
If you must bring your six children to the grocery store, take extra care to ensure that those who will not fit in the cart are not blocking the aisle. Do not allow the older ones to play tag in the meat section.
Do not let a child that cannot see over the top of the cart to steer the cart. What's cute to you is annoying to your fellow shoppers.
If someone kindly moves their cart aside to allow you to pass by an obstruction, you must proceed PAST the obstruction to then allow the kind stranger to also pass by.
Select your items from the frozen section through the glass doors, only opening the door once a selection has been made. DO NOT stand there with the door open as this will cause the glass to fog up making it impossible for the next guy to follow this rule. It also makes the rest of us cold.
If the sign says “Limit 4”, don’t take 8 and ask the cashier to ring it in twice. You’ll need to go through the line twice or send someone else in, just like the rest of us.
If you have a hacking cough, stay out of the fresh produce section.
Monday, February 11, 2008
Can't win.
All the stars seemed to be finally aligned this weekend to have my childcare issues finally resolved. To tell the story, I need to go back to Friday.
On Friday, we picked Bart and Lisa up at childcare provider1 (CP1)’s house. CP1 showed us their brand new, adorable Dalmatian puppy they had just adopted. He was so cute and floppy and I just wanted to take him home. Then, I looked at my son, who was clearly terrified of this rambunctious little creature, as I was told he spent most of the afternoon huddled into the corner of the couch. Now, Bart does have issues with dogs. Big issues. He’s scared to death of them.
Anyway, irrational fears aside, during the day he also developed a rash over two-thirds of his body and face. It could have been the weather (it’s been freezing here). But, maybe it was the dog. Or stress. Oh god. Could it be stress? It wasn’t itchy, just very red. Thinking out loud, I said to CP1, "oh no, do you think he could be allergic to the puppy?" (Side note: I took him to the doctor on Saturday and she doesn’t think it’s an allergic reaction (because of the not itchy thing); she didn’t know what it was.)
Okay, so fast forward to Sunday morning when I received a phone call from (and I hope I’m not giving too much away here) childcare provider2 (CP2), who lives about 6 doors down from CP1. CP2 had, out of the blue, come to CP1’s house to get some advice on starting her own service for home care for school age kids. CP1 mentioned our situation, with Bart being afraid of/allergic to the new puppy, and said that I might be looking for a new arrangement. The kicker? I know CP2! Her daughter and Lisa are friends at school. I had a long conversation with her about how I would need her to be reliable and consistent and she was all "Of course! I know what it’s like to be left scrambling at the last minute. Unreliable childcare is the reason I had to quit my job and why I am now starting this home daycare."
I called CP1, told her that I will be going to CP2 and her response was, "that’s so great; I’m so glad that will work for you and Bart. If CP2 is ever sick, call me and I’ll be your back-up!" The new arrangements start today!
So, in conclusion, my childcare issues seem to be resolved, I didn’t burn any bridges, I now have primary childcare and a back-up, and I didn’t have to do any of the legwork to make it happen. Yay me.
Oh, yeah… and Lisa is home sick today. I'm doing the morning nursemaid shift; Homer will take the afternoon shift. Terrific.
On Friday, we picked Bart and Lisa up at childcare provider1 (CP1)’s house. CP1 showed us their brand new, adorable Dalmatian puppy they had just adopted. He was so cute and floppy and I just wanted to take him home. Then, I looked at my son, who was clearly terrified of this rambunctious little creature, as I was told he spent most of the afternoon huddled into the corner of the couch. Now, Bart does have issues with dogs. Big issues. He’s scared to death of them.
Anyway, irrational fears aside, during the day he also developed a rash over two-thirds of his body and face. It could have been the weather (it’s been freezing here). But, maybe it was the dog. Or stress. Oh god. Could it be stress? It wasn’t itchy, just very red. Thinking out loud, I said to CP1, "oh no, do you think he could be allergic to the puppy?" (Side note: I took him to the doctor on Saturday and she doesn’t think it’s an allergic reaction (because of the not itchy thing); she didn’t know what it was.)
Okay, so fast forward to Sunday morning when I received a phone call from (and I hope I’m not giving too much away here) childcare provider2 (CP2), who lives about 6 doors down from CP1. CP2 had, out of the blue, come to CP1’s house to get some advice on starting her own service for home care for school age kids. CP1 mentioned our situation, with Bart being afraid of/allergic to the new puppy, and said that I might be looking for a new arrangement. The kicker? I know CP2! Her daughter and Lisa are friends at school. I had a long conversation with her about how I would need her to be reliable and consistent and she was all "Of course! I know what it’s like to be left scrambling at the last minute. Unreliable childcare is the reason I had to quit my job and why I am now starting this home daycare."
I called CP1, told her that I will be going to CP2 and her response was, "that’s so great; I’m so glad that will work for you and Bart. If CP2 is ever sick, call me and I’ll be your back-up!" The new arrangements start today!
So, in conclusion, my childcare issues seem to be resolved, I didn’t burn any bridges, I now have primary childcare and a back-up, and I didn’t have to do any of the legwork to make it happen. Yay me.
Oh, yeah… and Lisa is home sick today. I'm doing the morning nursemaid shift; Homer will take the afternoon shift. Terrific.
Thursday, February 7, 2008
Shiny happy people.
Dude has not responded to my letter (sent in an email, actually). Not even a “thank you for your concern” brush-off. I’m a little steamed about that, but I’m giving him the benefit of the doubt. Maybe he’s away. Maybe he gets hundreds of emails a day. Maybe he’s setting up a subcommittee on School Scheduling and waiting until it’s more developed to give me a response. Maybe.
I do that. I give people the benefit of the doubt, making up imaginary excuses for them so that whatever they have done is not an intentional insult directed at me, but just the result of a perfectly logical string of events. Homer is not at all like this. If someone pisses him off, he immediately assumes the worst.
Case in point: The after school care we have for Bart and Lisa has been extremely unreliable. Since we started with the caregiver in December, they have not been able to go there one full week. Every week there has been one day that there has been a problem: the caregiver has been sick; one of her kids has been sick (requiring a doctor’s visit); one of her kids has a dentist appointment in the afternoon. She told me just last week that the family will be taking a vacation (7 school days) at the end of February – sorry. Make no mistake, my stomach is in knots over the whole thing. I obviously need to find someone who takes the job more seriously, but I find myself arguing with Homer that “she can’t help getting sick” and “maybe her kids are so sick they need the doctor” and “why shouldn’t she be able to take her kid to the dentist in the day; maybe the dentist doesn’t have evening hours” and on and on. Homer is a raving lunatic, wanting to blast her over the phone and fire her on the spot (and then do WHAT, exactly, with the kids, smart guy?)
The proper response to the situation is obviously somewhere in between “shiny happy people” and “stark raving lunatic”, and eventually we do get there. My approach calms Homer down enough that he refrains from following his immediate instinct to tear a strip off the offender; his approach makes me look at the situation more critically and allow some kind of action so that I’m not serving as the world’s punching bag. Sometimes it takes awhile to get to that middle ground, but we always do.
I do that. I give people the benefit of the doubt, making up imaginary excuses for them so that whatever they have done is not an intentional insult directed at me, but just the result of a perfectly logical string of events. Homer is not at all like this. If someone pisses him off, he immediately assumes the worst.
Case in point: The after school care we have for Bart and Lisa has been extremely unreliable. Since we started with the caregiver in December, they have not been able to go there one full week. Every week there has been one day that there has been a problem: the caregiver has been sick; one of her kids has been sick (requiring a doctor’s visit); one of her kids has a dentist appointment in the afternoon. She told me just last week that the family will be taking a vacation (7 school days) at the end of February – sorry. Make no mistake, my stomach is in knots over the whole thing. I obviously need to find someone who takes the job more seriously, but I find myself arguing with Homer that “she can’t help getting sick” and “maybe her kids are so sick they need the doctor” and “why shouldn’t she be able to take her kid to the dentist in the day; maybe the dentist doesn’t have evening hours” and on and on. Homer is a raving lunatic, wanting to blast her over the phone and fire her on the spot (and then do WHAT, exactly, with the kids, smart guy?)
The proper response to the situation is obviously somewhere in between “shiny happy people” and “stark raving lunatic”, and eventually we do get there. My approach calms Homer down enough that he refrains from following his immediate instinct to tear a strip off the offender; his approach makes me look at the situation more critically and allow some kind of action so that I’m not serving as the world’s punching bag. Sometimes it takes awhile to get to that middle ground, but we always do.
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Another snow day and other (less desireable) time off.
So, I got my snow day on Friday and it was awesome. Guess what? They're calling for ANOTHER storm tomorrow. So now we're contemplating a mid-week snow day. Woo hoo!
I'm feeling a little nervous right now because I wrote a letter to my school board trustee complaining about the school schedule. To be fair, I complained a little (stated my concern), then provided what I thought was a reasonable solution. The solution was actually pretty detailed, which now seems a bit presumptuous and cocky. So, I'm nervous. Nervous that: a) he'll respond with a brush off; b) he won't respond at all; c) he'll respond with an empty promise; d) he'll suggest that I take my concern to a higher level. GAH!
The issue I wrote him about was the fact that school children have 22 days off during the academic year that are not statutory holidays. This includes PA Days (9 - 6 full days, 6 half days); Christmas holidays (7 non-stat days), March Break (5 days) and Easter Monday (1 day). Doesn't this seem excessive? I told him that having to schedule time off work for all of these days, as well as snow days, child sick days, daytime concerts, parent-teacher interviews and observation days is pretty taxing on working parents.
What I really wanted to suggest was that teachers do Professional Development on their own time (like in the summer, over March Break, etc.), but I knew that wouldn't fly. What I did suggest was that PA days be tacked on to the end of the year and Christmas period so that parents could at least schedule blocks of childcare instead of trying to make arrangements for a day here and a half-day there.
I know this is boring stuff for anyone who doesn't have school-age kids, but it is such a stressful thing for me, many of my colleagues at work and other working friends. I hear time and again how "school is not a babysitting service". Of course it isn't, but it is a legal requirement that my children attend between September and June. As such, doesn't it make sense that the schedule would at least consider the impact their decisions have on the parents?
I'm feeling a little nervous right now because I wrote a letter to my school board trustee complaining about the school schedule. To be fair, I complained a little (stated my concern), then provided what I thought was a reasonable solution. The solution was actually pretty detailed, which now seems a bit presumptuous and cocky. So, I'm nervous. Nervous that: a) he'll respond with a brush off; b) he won't respond at all; c) he'll respond with an empty promise; d) he'll suggest that I take my concern to a higher level. GAH!
The issue I wrote him about was the fact that school children have 22 days off during the academic year that are not statutory holidays. This includes PA Days (9 - 6 full days, 6 half days); Christmas holidays (7 non-stat days), March Break (5 days) and Easter Monday (1 day). Doesn't this seem excessive? I told him that having to schedule time off work for all of these days, as well as snow days, child sick days, daytime concerts, parent-teacher interviews and observation days is pretty taxing on working parents.
What I really wanted to suggest was that teachers do Professional Development on their own time (like in the summer, over March Break, etc.), but I knew that wouldn't fly. What I did suggest was that PA days be tacked on to the end of the year and Christmas period so that parents could at least schedule blocks of childcare instead of trying to make arrangements for a day here and a half-day there.
I know this is boring stuff for anyone who doesn't have school-age kids, but it is such a stressful thing for me, many of my colleagues at work and other working friends. I hear time and again how "school is not a babysitting service". Of course it isn't, but it is a legal requirement that my children attend between September and June. As such, doesn't it make sense that the schedule would at least consider the impact their decisions have on the parents?
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