On the way to church today we drove over the Big Sioux River which is typically a SD looking river....dark brown and not one ounce of clarity that you'd see in a Colorado river. It is always brown, but this week Sioux Falls had a rain storm which dropped anywhere from 3 to 5 inches on the city, depending on where you live. In order to not have raw sewage go into people's homes, the city opted to dump the raw sewage into the river to release the pressure on the system. Thing 1 heard me talking to my sister about it as my sister was reminding me to stay away from parks by the river this week. So, the questions started.
"Mom, is that the lake they dumped the poop into?"
"It's a river, J and yes, that's it."
"Mom, was it pee and poop they put in there?"
(Chuckling) "Yes."
"Were they floaters or sinkers, mom?"
"Well, I would imagine they were both, J. Kind of gross to think about though so can we change the subject?"
"I will never swim with my mouth open again, " she said matter of factly.
"Honey, you won't be swimming in that river, but overall, that's probably a good plan anyway."
We got to church and sat with one of J's favorite friends. This Sunday was a special Sunday with our church celebrating communion and baptisms. Today was the first day I allowed J to take communion because she has asked Christ into her heart a few years ago and is slowly growing in Him so I thought maybe it was time. I pulled her close to me and talked her through the whole process, explaining what an amazing thing Christ did for us on the cross and explained how we really need to clean our hearts by praying for forgiveness while we are waiting for everyone else to take their communion. It was a moment I cherished, although it was bittersweet since I realized, my baby wasn't a baby anymore.
On the way home from church, out of the blue, J asked, "Mom, before Jesus died for our sins, was there a heaven and a hell?" I love when her mind thinks and I did my best to answer her question in a way she would understand. It was then I realized that the little kid who asked "Why?" constantly had grown up and the advanced questions are just starting. Lord, give me wisdom to answer them and knowledge to know when to send her to someone who can if I can't. Oh, and make all the poop sinkers, please.
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Saturday, July 30, 2011
"Poop on the floor, poop on the floor, looking like a fool with your poop on the floor."
Did the title give it away? If you're still reading, then you must enjoy stories that involve bodily fluids. Then, my friend, you've come to the correct blog. Let's start the story from the beginning.
Thing 2 is just three and needs to be potty trained. I've made three attempts and haven't been successful yet. So, once again, I put on my potty training armor, made sure I had a bottle of wine in the house and started the process. We stayed at home the entire day to accomplish this not-so-easy-nor-small feat. Success was ours for the day. Four times in the potty, one poop in the potty and one accident in the big girl panties.
Between the time Thing 2 went to sleep and woke up, her brain must have rallied and convinced her that potty training was a waste of time and there were no amount of M&M's that were worth it. She refused to go on the potty the next day. In fact, she cried a little when I would mention it. Yet, I wasn't going to allow this 33 pound creature get the best of me because let's face it, I have a masters degree for crying out loud. So, the big girl panties went on and by golly she was going to get trained.
Soon I hear a sound from the kitchen of the potty chair being moved. Pride swelled in me as I thought, "She's doing it! She's going on her potty!" Soon I hear the stillness broken by the small voice saying, "I pooped."
I ran to the kitchen where she was located to find her standing with her undies around her ankle and two different piles of poop around her. The potty chair was across the room, closed tightly.
"What are you doing? You are supposed to poop IN the potty not on the floor!" I yelled.
"I pooped," she calmly said.
"I see that. I smell that. I understand but why didn't you poop on the potty?" I asked, attempting to remain calm. (In the meantime Thing 1 came in disgusted and ran to get toilet paper for me start cleaning the mess. The dogs also made an appearance to which I had to quickly shoo them away before they decided dessert had been served.)
"No way. No potty for me," she answered.
I proceeded to clean and restore order making her stand beside for it all and carry the stinky parts away since they were hers. I then walked her back to the potty and said, "This is where you poop. Period. Not on the floor. Ever. No way." Then I swatted her lightly, but enough that she knew I meant business.
She turned, looked me straight in the eye and said, "That tickled."
Sigh. It was at that exact moment I realized potty training session was over. I caved. I admit defeat. The white flag with skid marks on it is flying high. You win Thing 2. I can lead a kid to the potty, but I can't make her pee/poop. Words to live by. And knowing her stubborn streak, she might just be THAT kid who goes to kindergarten in diapers.
Thing 2 is just three and needs to be potty trained. I've made three attempts and haven't been successful yet. So, once again, I put on my potty training armor, made sure I had a bottle of wine in the house and started the process. We stayed at home the entire day to accomplish this not-so-easy-nor-small feat. Success was ours for the day. Four times in the potty, one poop in the potty and one accident in the big girl panties.
Between the time Thing 2 went to sleep and woke up, her brain must have rallied and convinced her that potty training was a waste of time and there were no amount of M&M's that were worth it. She refused to go on the potty the next day. In fact, she cried a little when I would mention it. Yet, I wasn't going to allow this 33 pound creature get the best of me because let's face it, I have a masters degree for crying out loud. So, the big girl panties went on and by golly she was going to get trained.
Soon I hear a sound from the kitchen of the potty chair being moved. Pride swelled in me as I thought, "She's doing it! She's going on her potty!" Soon I hear the stillness broken by the small voice saying, "I pooped."
I ran to the kitchen where she was located to find her standing with her undies around her ankle and two different piles of poop around her. The potty chair was across the room, closed tightly.
"What are you doing? You are supposed to poop IN the potty not on the floor!" I yelled.
"I pooped," she calmly said.
"I see that. I smell that. I understand but why didn't you poop on the potty?" I asked, attempting to remain calm. (In the meantime Thing 1 came in disgusted and ran to get toilet paper for me start cleaning the mess. The dogs also made an appearance to which I had to quickly shoo them away before they decided dessert had been served.)
"No way. No potty for me," she answered.
I proceeded to clean and restore order making her stand beside for it all and carry the stinky parts away since they were hers. I then walked her back to the potty and said, "This is where you poop. Period. Not on the floor. Ever. No way." Then I swatted her lightly, but enough that she knew I meant business.
She turned, looked me straight in the eye and said, "That tickled."
Sigh. It was at that exact moment I realized potty training session was over. I caved. I admit defeat. The white flag with skid marks on it is flying high. You win Thing 2. I can lead a kid to the potty, but I can't make her pee/poop. Words to live by. And knowing her stubborn streak, she might just be THAT kid who goes to kindergarten in diapers.
Sisters......the bond.
Today I watched my girls fight before we got in the car and then when we were in the car and while they were at their designated play area. We got back in the car and I was blessed with the rattling tattling of both of them.
"She was mean to my friends!" yelled Thing 1.
"No, I wasn't," said Thing 2.
I figured I was in for a long day, which isn't unheard of in my current summer days. So, I sighed, pulled into the library parking lot, yanked the three year old out of her car seat and in to the library we went. There must be some sort of magic that occurs at a library because suddenly the love turned back on and Thing 1 was walking Thing 2 hand in hand. We get books and get in the car and boom, it hits me as I listen to Thing 1 reading to her little sister in this loving tone and then hearing her little sister repeat each word and giggle. They are officially sisters. Fighting one minute, hugging the next and knowing that at the end of the day, we'll still play Calico Critters and Barbies together.
I know that without my sister, my world would be quite empty. We talk practically daily. She and I grew up quite a bit apart in age, (she's way old) but we share an incredible bond. Very little happens in my world she doesn't know and the same goes for her world. Is it a rarity? Maybe.
I hope my girls will always love each other beyond words. I know the reality that lies ahead of me. Three women in one house with three sets of hormones going at once will get ugly at times. I know that. Yet, I don't give up the glimmer of hope that I call sisterhood for my girls. I believe it can happen. I pray it will.
"She was mean to my friends!" yelled Thing 1.
"No, I wasn't," said Thing 2.
I figured I was in for a long day, which isn't unheard of in my current summer days. So, I sighed, pulled into the library parking lot, yanked the three year old out of her car seat and in to the library we went. There must be some sort of magic that occurs at a library because suddenly the love turned back on and Thing 1 was walking Thing 2 hand in hand. We get books and get in the car and boom, it hits me as I listen to Thing 1 reading to her little sister in this loving tone and then hearing her little sister repeat each word and giggle. They are officially sisters. Fighting one minute, hugging the next and knowing that at the end of the day, we'll still play Calico Critters and Barbies together.
I know that without my sister, my world would be quite empty. We talk practically daily. She and I grew up quite a bit apart in age, (she's way old) but we share an incredible bond. Very little happens in my world she doesn't know and the same goes for her world. Is it a rarity? Maybe.
Friday, July 29, 2011
The flight of the fleeting, fickle, freelancing writer....
Practicing alliteration after 10 PM at night. How pathetic can I be? Yep, pretty. Either way, I've decided, yet again (thus the fleeting, fickle, flight words) to start a blog that can be a place for me to maybe keep track of life. I'm not beyond dreaming so don't give me a reality check quite yet.
My scout's honor:
My scout's honor:
- I will randomly write. No set time nor date since my life is scheduled enough.
- My life as a single mom/teacher/survivor/God's child will be the topics.
- God will be in here sometimes and for that, I don't apologize.
- I'm sanguine. Up, down, in-between so some posts may make you laugh while others make you weary of my whining.
Join me if you dare.....(insert evil laughter and scary music which I wish I could remember what that sounds like but for the last nine years I've pretty much only watched rated G or PG movies so I forget....)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)