I had to smile as I read Traci’s or soggy pete’s day in the life with children. Couples without patience and a good sense of humor- really should think twice..huh? Emma has the flu….but with a dose of medicine is just well enough to cause trouble and be cranky. She refuses to eat anything but candy- which is in ample supply in the boys’ bedroom after Halloween. Kalena has taken to a high pitched scream as a general mode of communication- happy, sad or curious. She’s just tall enough and strong enough to pull over chairs and stools- and all that gets stacked on top. The big white plastic gate is up taking up a good portion of the living room after she reached for the pretty fire, leaving her with a nice blister on her thumb….(and just for the record- mom was not home at the time). The boys are both having their dental/orthodontist night mares. Nicholas had four teeth pulled and insists on the use of gas- adding an extra 50 dollars not covered by insurance with each visit. Gabe has those lovely big front teeth- is this a Shull or a Sharp gene? He still has not reached the age where they’ve wanted to start the ortho work…Gabe has his own set of daily struggles with me though. He got a new kitten from the shelter- the first one he picked out (even after four hours of looking/trying to convince him maybe this wasn’t the most affectionate cat)…Boris-the one hundred dollar kitten- (now named Hunter) came home and promptly began to sneeze the next morning (like 80% of the shelter cats we looked at). To top that event off- a student just had their cat give birth to a litter of FREE kittens- that were quite cute, friendly and not sick. My play by play is not sequential- just high lights. But I have to say I’m so thankful for each of my children…I think they are some of the cutest and brightest kids around. When Emma isn’t telling me “she doesn’t like me” …she’s wanting to read stories, play make-believe and be my cleaning helper. Nicholas’s reading teacher just visited my classroom and told me he is the nicest kid (her daughter Courtney- he talks about quite a bit…hmmm) and he’s the one who likes to just hang out with me, in the hot tub, up stairs on the couch…and reminds me that “he’s the one I’ve loved the longest”. Kalena…well she’s a baby- and I’ve got that strange genetic program that dad thinks I should be frustrated by…but instead relish- that makes me like to just spend time holding and smelling her- that is when she will sit still. Gabriel…the one that takes some true creativity in parenting---he and I have been working on our science and math challenges together. I don’t have to ask about his homework- he’s proud of being in this special math group and I have to say the latest assignment on a magic square- had me stumped. He lives his life with emotion- so I see the love the brightest in his eyes- and of course the defiance. I announced the other day that the “family” would attend the Homecoming football game- no choices in the evenings events- he responded- what happened to my freedom. I’m especially thankful for such a supportive husband- who has made dinner each night this week- and seems to know the right way to respond to Gabriel. Well I should be grading papers. So I’ll get back to the grind.
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5 comments:
Thanks for commiserating, and yes, it's all worth it. Which just goes to show that people go temporarily insane while raising children and actually have more than one.
when I Ada gets too close to the food, I put her in the utility room?
Grudd,
I like your approach best. I think I will try this with our children the next time they are causing trouble.
Greyson is a dork.
I'm a strong father. See, you have to establish dominance. Look them in the eyes and say No! very firmly. Sometimes you have to pick them up by the jowls and give them a firm shake. That's what the monks of new skeete do, and it works.
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