Guess Who Was Grumpy?

Our Snowy Afternoon

Dear God: Thank you for 4wd, Amen.

It was the first snowy day here in the Adirondacks, and the plows weren't so quick on the uptake. I passed many (3) cars in ditches on my way home this evening and witnessed many (5) cars (1) van fishtail dangerously going up the mountain. Thankfully I had a vehicle with 4 wheel drive so I was OK, but there is no way my car would have made it.
I spent the afternoon with the kids, my parents and my darling cousin-come-second-sister at the holiday celebration at the local amusement park.






There weren't too many rides operating, but here are my mom and Baby and me (not shown) on the balloon ride. The gentleman operating this ride was about 89 years old and as slow as an 89 year old. But that is OK, we had patience. (A virtue I have to work very hard at keeping in check.)

Amid the snowflakes you can see my kids awaiting the tree lighting...

And than we promptly left. BRRR! We were cold, wet and cold.

PS,

God, thank you for inventing heat. Amen.

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True Life

After dropping off the kids this morning, I had to put some gas in the car. I was in the middle slot and as I was pumping, an older and pretty beat up SUV pulled up to the pump in front of me. The guy gets out, he's probably around 28 years old and a bit scruffy. Because he is right in front of me, of course I'm looking at him. He pulls on a latex glove and walks over to the garbage can near his truck and pokes around. I look away but than see him walking towards me. He pokes around the garbage near me and catches my eye and says that wow, gas is going up again. I smile and agree and finish up. As I buckle in I notice he had pulled out plastic water bottles, a soda can and some wrappers which I can only assume had food remnants in them. I know this in nothing unusual for most people to see, but where I live it is very unusual. In fact, in the eight and a half years I've lived here, and the many months I've spent visiting as a kid, I never remember seeing anything like this. There are always people walking along the road picking up cans, but I've never seen anyone pull food from a garbage can here. We have food pantrys and soup kitchens- even my own church gives a free lunch to the community every Saturday- but people still get hungry in between. It has really affected me today, to see a 'big city' problem right in front of my eyes in my rural, tiny neighborhood. A lot of people are down on their luck nowadays and it's hard to bounce back. Eric and I are having an especially hard time right now ourselves. Looking back, there were decisions we made that weren't wise: starting our own company and investing a lot into his art. But, how can you not try? We didn't want to look back when we were seventy and wonder what would have happened if we didn't try. There are also the times when tires had to be bought unexpectedly for the truck to pass inspection, the time Middle was sick and needed several hundred dollars worth of prescriptions that our insurance didn't cover. We had to get a lawn mower because our old one died last year. (a cheap lawn mower is still a couple hundred dollars) The kids outgrew their sneakers three months after buying new ones for school, our furnace and hot water tank needed to be replaced last year- the list goes on and on. Life is full of costly surprises, especially when you own a home. Absolutely when you have kids! Add to that Eric hasn't had a raise in six and a half years. Well, two kids later that money has stretched so far it has snapped. Thank goodness for generous family who will help out in a pinch, but it takes a lot to go to them and ask for help. We usually don't.
What if we didn't have such people in our lives? Maybe that man doesn't. I'm sure he doesn't enjoy standing in such a public place picking out food to eat from the garbage can in a town where everyone knows your name and likes to spread gossip about you. Have you noticed that gossip is never good- always dirty and whispered. I would love to hear some positive gossip, or is that an oxymoron? Anyway, what I'm saying is I can relate to that man more closely now than ever. If I had anything to spare I would have walked into that gas station and put twenty dollars in his tank and climbed in my car and drove off. Whenever we do get ourselves out from this hole I will do more things like that. Would you?

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Day 3

No accidents, no crying. Less requests to go, which must mean she knows when the feeling is real. I'm one happy mommy. The true test is when we go somewhere- what will she do when faced with a public restroom and I'm holding her over the pot?

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Best Kids Christmas Show

I still love watching it. The songs are not Christmas songs, there is no Santa, Snowmen or animation. Just puppets (Jim Henson) and a crystal clear message of what this season is about. The favorite song of our family is this: ( I couldn't find a video of it, but reading the lyrics is fun too.)

Ain't No Hole In The Washtub

Head full of good thoughts

Belly full of grub

Money in your pocket

When there ain't no hole in the washtub

Your nails won't break and your toes won't stub

You never get a fever

When there ain't no hole in the washtub

If you look to the good side

Fallin' down's a free ride

Slippin' and a-slidin' in the mud

If your back is hurtin'

I can say for certain

I'll be there to treat you to a soothin' back rub

When there ain't no hole in the washtub

Lunch with the uppercrust

Dinner at the club

High on the hog

When there ain't no hole in the washtub

Watermelon gardens, berries on a shrub

Cookies in the kitchen

When there ain't no hole in the washtub

I'll be there to treat you to a soothin' back rub!

When there ain't no hole in the washtub

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Day 2

Things are progressing nicely. No three hour crying fits and only two accidents today. She is wearing me out though, she 'need a-go potty mommmmmy' eight times an hour. I never refuse because I know she is learning what the sensation to go feels like and how the false alarms are too.
Day 3 tomada.

Drip-Drop

So, in my *almost* nine years of parenting I have to say up to this point, potty training is the most trying stage for me. I don't enjoy the midnight screaming sessions that babies have, the strong headed age from one to two, the scary crawling stage where everything gets popped into their mouth or the other thousands of steps it takes to get your baby to the somewhat responsible kid stage. But for me the potty training is most nerve racking. I live a pretty good distance from civilization, so there are no quick trips to the store. It is a hike. I remember I stuffed a bath towel in the carseat before putting Miss in it for a ride. (Just In Case) I remember stopping at my grandmothers house for Middle to use her bathroom because she didn't need to go at WalMart before we left and I was sure her bladder was going to burst. One May Miss peed outside on the way to somewhere one time, and all that summer it was her most favorite game -the I Need to Pee Right Now!- game that started me checking to make sure I had tissues and wipes in the car at all times. And even though she went right before we left the house ten minutes before, I always pulled over and let her try. (Just In Case) After listening to and reading about potty training nightmares, I have to say my first two daughters were a breeze. Miss started going at 22 months and Middle started at 27 months and took no time at all to master the skill. But, Baby is another story. Last year towards the end of the summer she went a few times but I never pushed her because 'they' say not to. Grandma got sick, died and I never gave it much thought until this summer. She wanted nothing to do with it. I stopped asking her. I tried again when the kids started school. Nope. She wasn't having it. So now she is three and the doctor suggested I try again and even gave me hints (Just In Case) I wasn't aware of the potty treat jar and sticker chart rewards.
This brings us to today. THE DAY of reckoning. I wrote notes to the teachers that the kids must take the bus all week. I let the girls know I would be home potty training and didn't want to leave the house. (Just In Case) They were excited! Baby- not so much. After three hours of crying/screaming because I dared to put her in underwear and told her she needed to use the potty today, I was ready to drive away. To anywhere. I was wishing I could have a drink. I wanted to just put a diaper on her and forget it. She peed on the floor. She had lunch and was so tired from the emotional screamfest, she was put to bed for a nap. In a diaper. (Just In Case) She woke up, I slid some princess underwear back on her bottom and again told her the deal. She didn't cry this time. She peed through Belle, Sleeping Beauty and Cinderella. Than she called to me as I was washing the soiled princess panties -and blanket- downstairs. "Mommy, I need pee pee" I ran up and tossed her on the seat. And the sweetest music I heard in years played: the sound of tinkle hitting the bowl. I praised her, danced and sang! She was given a lollipop and a TV show. She was a rockstar. She ended up peeing in the pot a few more times today but the biggest victory for us is that she is telling us she needs to go. That is a huge hurdle for potty training kids. That feeling is indescribable and unteachable. They need to learn that themselves and she is well on her way. I'm hoping for no screaming tomorrow morning. I expect accidents, but hope for no screaming. This is a part of parenting I do not enjoy, probably because having to go is an unpredictable need and I'm a planner. I'm already dreading when we will have to go out in the world and I will have to trust her to give us enough time to find a restroom. Until she is well trained and vocal about needing to go, I will have extra clothes in my trunk, towels in her car seat, tissues and wipes in the car and lollipops in my purse. (Just In Case)

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