Because it seems to me that this blog post will likely remain in existence for longer than blue ink written on our fence post, I wanted to capture Nia’s “was here” message.
She wanted to mark the spot where her baby brother crushed the baseball into our fence. I wanted to mark the spot when she made our hearts happy.
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You love them. Kiss their boo-boos. Cut their food. Cart them around to all the fun stuff they want to do. Oh yeah, birth them. And then what do they do? Throw you under the bus with the simple raise of a hand or nod of a head.
Nia is the biggest tattler of the mommy/daddy fails. (Although one, I will argue, was a total fabrication!) Here’s just a sample of what I mean:
Of course, I’m not saying I would prefer if Nia fibbed or anything like that. It would just be nice to have some cushion to bear the brunt of the bus.
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Is it possible to say you had a good time at the doctor’s office? A doctor visit with a finger prick, urine test and shots? Also, a doctor visit involving two children under the age 8? Who would really feel like, “Whee! I’m taking my kids to be stabbed with a needle! Party!” Um, no. That’s why I can’t believe how awesome it is to take the kids their doctor now.
I used to dread it. When we first moved here, our doctor visits were agony. (All three of those < links in the previous sentence will share the past doctor drama with you.) I’m not saying I now look forward to a shot in the arm visit, but the kids’ new doctor’s office makes it worlds (WORLDS) better.
This doctor’s office never makes you feel like you are bothering them or that you were forgotten about while waiting. They send encouraging messages to parents like, “You are doing a great job with your children.” They talk to the kids and to parents, not at us. They genuinely seem to care about our children – what they do for fun, how they are doing in school what’s their favorite activity. They draw smiley faces and hearts on the hospital gown/shorts the kids wear during checkups. They know beneficial tricks to help make things like shots and strep tests less uncomfortable or scary for kids. (Not like when I had to forcibly hold toddler Nate down on the table at the last doctor.)
What’s even more cool about their doctor now is the Treasure Tower. The kids were given coins that would grant them the goody of their choice. (Our nurse gave the kids two each because Nate broke her heart with his pre-shot puppy dog tears. He and Nia both handled the shots like tough guys though. Not even a sniffle when the needle went in!) Along with the treasure of their choice, they got stickers and I also added a Chick-Fil-A milkshake to their after-shot spoiling. I’m pretty sure the kids won’t mind when we have to go back for the next check-up. Party at the pediatrician. Whee!
Coins for Treasure Tower
Shots in Arms, Milkshakes in Bellies
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Nia’s brain continues to amaze us. So much so that Andrew and I will often tell her she has a genius brain. I even told her once (after seeing her great work on math and comprehension tests) that it’s like she has a bunch of tiny geniuses who specialize in different subjects living in her head. I even thought about turning that idea into a children’s book: A little girl with all of these stereotypical character geniuses living in her skull. But then one day, one of them gets sick and can’t help deliver her the correct answer when the question is racing through her head. The others have to pick up the slack and adventure and education ensues.
We can almost see that process happening in her mind when we ask her a question. I have three examples of this that just happened this morning:
Andrew joked that you could almost hear the computer beeping in her brain as it pinged around for the memory/information and produced it for her. (He said, “Like Watson from Jeopardy.) I laughed and tried to join in with his cleverness, “Yeah! You can see her syntax firing!” He gave me a hesitant smile and sweetly corrected, “Synapse, sweetie. Um, you aren’t allowed to teach our kids biology or anatomy either now. Didn’t you have anatomy in high school?!”
Great. Add that to the list of science and geography as things I’m banned from teaching. I’m pretty sure Nia and her little geniuses will be teaching me anyway. I’m kind of counting on that.
(By the way, I had to google the word synapse to make sure I was spelling it correctly. I found this handy-dandy webpage called Neuroscience for Kids. Can’t say I understood it though.)
That’s where it happened. It’s where I confessed to Nia what goes on after I kiss her goodnight and shut the door to her room.
It all started because I remembered we needed chocolate syrup and Nia policed me, “That’s not on the list, Mommy.” I defended myself – saying that I knew it wasn’t but we needed to make an exception because I knew we were almost out. To that, Nia wondered, “Who’s been using it?”
Ummm…
I fessed up that it’s my nightly treat. That once she and Nate are tucked in, I chocolate milk it up. She thought I was joking and it must have made an impression on her because hours later, as I was saying night-night, she warned me, “I’m gonna sneak out of my room and catch you making chocolate milk!”
She didn’t but she may still surprise me one of these nights. I’ll be sure to have a second glass on hand to share.
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The commercials are cute. The logo/brand character is cute. Even they are cute. Cuties certainly live up their name in those ways. They are little seedless mandarins that promise to be easy to peel so little fingers can grab one and go, all by themselves. All that is super great but what I think is even more great is that all that cuteness and kid-friendliness is working.
Nia actually requested them when we were at the store. Sure, she still requested cookies and chips but she really wanted Cuties. She told me how excited she was to take them in her school lunch. It seems other kids/families will be enjoying them too – the store had to restock the display while I was there because people wiped them out.
I took some pictures while the kids dug in to their Cuties for the first time because I wanted to see if they live up to their easy to peel and super sweet claims. The first picture just offers you a quick cash register/amount fact to give you an idea of cost. (I got mine at Publix so sizes and prices may vary from store to store. Also, they came with a coupon and I went to the website to sign up for more dealios, since it appears these are going to be a school lunch/snack staple in our house.)
In Bean’s second book review, she talks about:
Seriously, it could be the next big reality show in some circles. I would be allowed on Mommy Craft Challenge though strictly for comedic relief. The other moms would have the opportunity to snub me, giggle at my creations, feel sympathy for me, try to teach me and then just shrug their shoulders writing me off knowing it’s just not my cup of tea. And I’m ok with all of that. I’m ok with not knowing what the heck “seed beads” are.
I actually get a kick out of people thinking my art/crafts are something the kids did. I take it as a compliment. I do point out that the kids’ creations turn out way better than mine so it’s not right for me to let someone think they drew that zany, smiley face, mismeasured person or poorly glued those pom-poms on that foam frame.
What matters most is that we have fun doing these projects and the kids love them. When they ask, “Can we make art/crafts?”, they don’t think, mommy can’t do this. They actually encourage me. During craft time today, Nia would tell me, “It doesn’t have to be perfect, Mommy.” Or, “It’s our first one so it’s going to look messier than the others.” She’s so sweet, smart and crafty.
Here’s a look at some of our creations:
Supplies for 4+ Projects
Desktop Bulletin Board
Glue for Trim
Making it Fancy
More Fanciness
Finished Framed Desk Bulletin Board
Tassel Dolls
Doing Tassel Doll
Tassel Doll BFFs
Future Project
Future Project
This blog post is a slap in the face for myself. Well, maybe more of a glass of cold water in my face. Less painful but still serves the purpose – I need to reset my priorities.
Far too often, I lose sight of what really matters. I start worrying about superficial things. Things out of my control. I obsess about something someone said. Whether something bad is going to happen. I spend too much time and energy focusing on inanimate objects. My car needs washed. The shower needs scrubbed. The to-do list grows. I forgot to pay a bill. Those pieces of paper with post-its that I get at work…
Water. Face.
I’m not saying that I shouldn’t care about those things – I just need to take my care level down a notch or 20. I need to remember what matters most. As a toddler Nia would say, “My peoples.” Family. Friends. I think of them and the rest is tamed with a more relaxed mind and heart.
Towel for my face, please. That’s better.
Are You Zhazha? 
Say what?