Packing

Everytime my family goes away for an overnight visit I begin thinking about what I need to pack up to two weeks ahead of time. Now this doesn't mean that I'm super organized, it just means I'm super paranoid! As a matter of fact I often don't even begin to pack until the last minute. I hate packing for all five us. Hate may not even be a strong enough word. I put it off as long as possible because to me it is like doing a 5000 piece puzzle. I'm so overwhelmed by the idea of packing that I have to force myself to actually start doing it. I can't be certain where this fear of packing came from. Once Jake and I took Maddy to the Mall of America and she puked all over herself in her carseat in the parking lot. So while I drove around for 10 minutes trying to find a parking spot Jake dry-heaved out the window and we both tried to figure out how we would handle the mess. Well, we had a good plan until we actually got parked and figured out that I hadn't packed a diaper bag. We had one change of clothes for her in the back of the car, one plastic walmart bag and ONE baby wipe. Well we managed to get her clean, I don't know how but we did it. So I'm not sure why anything would scare me about a trip that I'm trying to prepare for. I think it has to be the fear of what may happen. We have had anything and everything happen and no matter how hard I try I just can't be prepared for everything, and when I'm over prepared I get crap for how much stuff is in the car! My mind just spins at the thought, what should I take, diapers, wipes, pack and plays, medications, bandaids,soaps,shampoos,diaper cream, rash cream, hair detangler, hair ties, brushes, combs, tooth brushes, tooth paste, underpants, clothes, dress and/or casual, shoes, coats, swimwear swim diapers, towels, blankets, special stuff animals, nuks, sippy cups, bibs, snacks, and this is just the top of the list! I worry about whether or not we can get the things we need if I forget them. How far away is Walmart? I hate every minute of it! That being said, I've now started my list so I guess I ought to get packing for a trip to grandma's this weekend!

Bye-bye diapers

My 18 month old recently started showing an interest in using the potty. Now most mom's would say yippee to this kind of news, but I really have mixed feelings about it. As my last baby I'm a little sad to see the diapers go. With my older two I was happy to see them go, but I have been changing diapers for almost 7 years straight I can't imagine a day without it! I can't picture a world where I don't have to buy diapers and clip coupons and compare brands, fits, what leaks, what doesn't. I mean this is practically a science and has been at least a part time job for me! Not to mention my near obsession with what goes into the diaper, when, how much, how often, consistency of said item, color and the list goes on. I think I believe if I monitor this constantly I can control it and once it starts going into the potty I'm out of the loop. So Miss Maggie keeps telling me when she has to poop and I'm thinking about stalling her, what kind of wacko am I? But she is a baby, there is no need for this potty business. I mean, I will gladly continue collecting her stool for another year at least. Not to mention the thought of putting underwear on that little butt is just wrong! There is no way her pants would even stay up without a diaper. And so begins one of what I'm sure will be many things I'll see disappear over the next few years. Things that were staples in my daily routine for so long gone for good. I guess I'll have to find a way to deal with all of this change, but perhaps I can just start making everyone here chart their bathroom habits so I feel as though I'm in the loop? That wouldn't be asking too much of my family would it? Or maybe I'll just start putting diapers on the dog? Actually, diapers are probably not gone for ever, I'm sure I'll eventually have to change Jakes!

Little White Lies

I have found that parenthood is full of little white lies. Lies we tell our kids, lies we tell ourselves and lies our kids tell us. I would say the biggest thing I lie to my kids about is anything involved with food and eating! I lie all the time, every day, here is my public confession. I tell my kids almost daily that something on their plate was grown in their grandma's garden to entice them to eat. Yesterday she grew hot dogs. Interestingly enough they almost always believe me. I told my second child today that her creamed corn was candy corn, she gave it a try. I also always tell them they'll get no snack before bed if they don't eat their supper, and I'm always lying about that, I always let them have a snack anyway. I'm pretty sure they've got this one figured out, but I can't stand the thought of them going to bed with a hungry stomach. This is a two way street of course and they lie to me all the time about what they have eaten or why they can't eat something. I find green beans in the bathroom garbage, and food stuffed under booster seats all the time. My youngest is blatantly honest about her refusal to eat something, she commands the dogs to sit and throws her plate on the floor. Yesterday my oldest came home and told me that she was unable to eat her oranges for lunch because it is fall and the days are getting shorter and so her lunch hour was shorter and she just didn't have time to eat them. I would have to get her some points for that one. Although it does make me wonder yet again, how dumb she thinks I am. We also have fibs
around here about bathroom use. They say they did go when I know they didn't, or they went already and then tell me they didn't so they can get out of bed to go again. Or the baby tells me she pooped like every 10 minutes all day. The joke is going to be on her one of these days though because I'm not going to even check and then she'll have to sit in it. And I of course lie to myself all day long, telling myself they are all normal and I'm completely in control of the situation here, but deep down I know I'm not in control at all and if I had half a mind left I'd hire someone to take control around here! And, I'm also fairly certain they aren't all normal, I'm just hoping someday they move out.........................