When your 6 year old offers to pay for the mistake he made with his lunch account, is that when you know you are doing a good job or maybe sometimes take things a little far? It went down like this:
2 days ago:
Note comes home in the folder from school saying Jack's lunch account balance is running low. I also received an email from the online payment system informing me of the low balance. I think to myself, that's odd, he started out the school year with enough money for a month of lunches and he has been taking home lunch 2 times a week.
Yesterday, at the bus stop:
Eash: I think there must be a mistake with Aravind's lunch account, I got the notice home from school saying his account was low and I checked and he has been being charged for breakfast.
Me: Really, that's weird I got the notice too and I know I sent enough money for a month of lunches and Jack has been taking home lunch a few times a week.
Eash: Well Aravind did say he had breakfast a few times with Jack at school in the morning.
Me: Oh Really... (light bulbs and flashes going off in my head - OMG my son is the breakfast buying ring leader)
At this point we reach the part of the walk home where we separate & Jack went with Aravind to play at his house. I get home and log into the online payment system and OMG there are charges for 12 breakfasts on his account. Instantly I think there must be a mistake and almost pick up the phone to call the school, instead I hastily draft an email to his teacher to ask if she keeps records of who is taking lunch on what days and if she has a way of knowing if he really ate breakfast. Then I take a breath, re-read the email and discard it. That would have been one
crazy-mom-in-a-tail-spin sounding email if I would have sent it. Decide the best course of action is to ask Jack about it when I pick him up.
An hour later, walking through the park on the way home:
Me: Jack I have something to talk to you about and I want you to be honest with me.
Jack: (very sullen sounding) OK
Me: Jack, do you have something to tell me about your lunch account? And keep in mind I can log in and look at what you are buying.
Jack: I have been getting breakfast at school.
Me: (OMG! he was just honest with me - OMG!) Jack, you do know how your father and I feel about that right?
Jack: (even more sullen if possible - well this is Seattle, but it was a very sunny day) Big sigh, Yes.
Me: Why are you getting breakfast at school?
Jack: Because they have bagels with ham and melty cheese and they are really good Mom.
Me: Is this why you haven't been finishing your breakfast at home before the bus?
Jack: Yeah, and I'm just not hungry that early, but I get hungry when I get to school.
Me: What do you think we should do about this?
Jack: I think I should pay you back for the breakfasts.
Me: (Not sure what to say & a little confused as this whole conversation took place without any screaming or eye rolling & OMG! he just offered to pay for his lunch, my heart swells with joy and I just want to hug him, but keep up the bad cop act) Well for now you are just going to have to tell your dad about it when he gets home tonight.
Jack: (barely an audible whisper, head hanging down) OK
I guess I am a little concerned that he kept this from us for 12 days (OMG 12 days!) and was smart enough to just omit that from his daily conversations with us, I ask him what he eats for lunch everyday. Also he knew that we didn't want him eating breakfast at school and was doing it everyday for 12 days (OMG! 12 days!). Ahh! I know it's just breakfast, but it could also *just* be something else. The issue is that we have a very smart 6 year old on our hands that may possibly have learned something he shouldn't have learned for awhile. On the other hand, here is a 6 year old little boy that when confronted thought he should pay for the mistake with his own money. Are we too hard on him? I don't know, I do know it is a fine line between being just right and being too hard.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Sunday, September 13, 2009
man dude date
Yes I know it has been forever since my last post. I feel like summer completely blew by us, but it was a blast. Jack and I had lots of fun visiting our family and exploring ND together. Jack is getting settled into the new school year and is loving his new teacher.
Yesterday Jack and Randy had a mini man dude date day. I spent the afternoon and evening hanging out in Seattle with some old friends from high school. Randy really seized the opportunity to get some good time in with Jack and even planned a little surprise in the middle of all of their events for the day. Lunch at Wendy's, swimming at the apartment complex pool (Randy got a leg cramp in the deep end - Jack nearly smoked him in a race), cooking dinner - just for men stir fry, games at chuckee cheese (that was the surprise), a trip to DQ and an impromptu stop at the park to watch a soccer match. I asked Jack if they missed me yesterday and he said, "Mom, we were too busy to even think about you."
Yesterday Jack and Randy had a mini man dude date day. I spent the afternoon and evening hanging out in Seattle with some old friends from high school. Randy really seized the opportunity to get some good time in with Jack and even planned a little surprise in the middle of all of their events for the day. Lunch at Wendy's, swimming at the apartment complex pool (Randy got a leg cramp in the deep end - Jack nearly smoked him in a race), cooking dinner - just for men stir fry, games at chuckee cheese (that was the surprise), a trip to DQ and an impromptu stop at the park to watch a soccer match. I asked Jack if they missed me yesterday and he said, "Mom, we were too busy to even think about you."
Thursday, July 9, 2009
it's happening
All too soon our little guy has gone from a fun little kid who needed us to this independent miniature man person. I don't know if other mothers of 6 year olds have experienced this before (sometimes I feel like the only one), but man, I have been doing a lot of smiling lately because the things that come out of his mouth just surprise the bejesus out of me.
Here is a snippet of a conversation with Randy yesterday:
Scene: Swimming lessons, Randy and I were engaged in a light conversation with another mother. Her son is in Jack's class and we were talking about the normal what school do you go to, what do you do business when she mentioned she was sending her son into the locker room to change on his own for the first time. As she seemed pretty worried, I told her Jack has been doing it all summer and has been fine. Granted the first time I was a little worried - but all has been well. Other mom seemed a little more relaxed about the fact that Jack would be in there too, but she was still pretty worried.
Randy (on the sly): Hey Jack will you help Ethan out in there and keep an eye on him, it's his first time, he needs to know where to go to change.
Jack: Sure Dad
5 minutes later Jack exits the bathroom sans Ethan and other mom looks SUPER worried.
Randy: Hey Jack where's Ethan?
Jack: Uhh, in there changing, I guess
Randy: You weren't with him
Jack: No Dad (accompanied with a huge look that conveyed um what the hell Dad - duh dudes don't talk in the locker room and it's every man for himself in there)
Other mom is practically doing paces thinking it is about time to call 911
Me: Hey Jack can you go in and tell Ethan his Mom is waiting for him?
Jack: I suppose (one eyebrow raised, still thinking what the hell is going on)
Other Mom: Hey little buddy I would really appreciate it (in her I'm talking to a little kid now voice)
Jack: OK
...this is nearly an everyday occurrence now. Jack is definitely growing up. I can't say that sometimes I wish he needed me for a few more things, but honestly him being so independent is probably a good thing.
Here is a snippet of a conversation with Randy yesterday:
Scene: Swimming lessons, Randy and I were engaged in a light conversation with another mother. Her son is in Jack's class and we were talking about the normal what school do you go to, what do you do business when she mentioned she was sending her son into the locker room to change on his own for the first time. As she seemed pretty worried, I told her Jack has been doing it all summer and has been fine. Granted the first time I was a little worried - but all has been well. Other mom seemed a little more relaxed about the fact that Jack would be in there too, but she was still pretty worried.
Randy (on the sly): Hey Jack will you help Ethan out in there and keep an eye on him, it's his first time, he needs to know where to go to change.
Jack: Sure Dad
5 minutes later Jack exits the bathroom sans Ethan and other mom looks SUPER worried.
Randy: Hey Jack where's Ethan?
Jack: Uhh, in there changing, I guess
Randy: You weren't with him
Jack: No Dad (accompanied with a huge look that conveyed um what the hell Dad - duh dudes don't talk in the locker room and it's every man for himself in there)
Other mom is practically doing paces thinking it is about time to call 911
Me: Hey Jack can you go in and tell Ethan his Mom is waiting for him?
Jack: I suppose (one eyebrow raised, still thinking what the hell is going on)
Other Mom: Hey little buddy I would really appreciate it (in her I'm talking to a little kid now voice)
Jack: OK
...this is nearly an everyday occurrence now. Jack is definitely growing up. I can't say that sometimes I wish he needed me for a few more things, but honestly him being so independent is probably a good thing.
Monday, June 29, 2009
1st anniversary
Well we made it. Tomorrow is our year anniversary. I can't believe this year has gone by so fast. Now that summer has come, I am remembering a few things that first touched my heart here. The farmer's markets, the parks, all the green. The ease of the "hot" weather here. If it is hot, you are still guaranteed to be able to open the windows and cool off the house by 7pm. Seattle, sometimes we fight and disagree and I know I have said and thought some mean things. But for now, this is where my family is and we have made a lovely little life here.
This weekend was our last weekend as a little family before the crazy of the summer kicks in. Next weekend we head to Portland for the 4th to see Randy's family (&hopefully a few old friends). My parents come the following weekend for a few weeks and then we will have a few weekends to ourselves before Jack and I head to ND for about 3 weeks. We spent the weekend looking for a new apartment and discovered the grass isn't always greener somewhere else. Did a little swimming in the complex pool. I got my first odd sunburn of the season and Randy discovered cell phones don't do well in the water, doh! Jack showed off everything he is learning at swimming lessons and we were quite impressed. Every time we have a weekend like this weekend I think to myself, 40,000 (student loans *ahh*) is a small price to pay for this kind of joy.
Jack playing a little game of frisbee in the park last weekend. Randy wouldn't let me spend $80 on RayBan Wayfarer Jr's for him - so the $2 gap kids ones will have to do.
I made some little peach mango turnovers to have for desert last night.
Jack went a little crazy for them :)
This weekend was our last weekend as a little family before the crazy of the summer kicks in. Next weekend we head to Portland for the 4th to see Randy's family (&hopefully a few old friends). My parents come the following weekend for a few weeks and then we will have a few weekends to ourselves before Jack and I head to ND for about 3 weeks. We spent the weekend looking for a new apartment and discovered the grass isn't always greener somewhere else. Did a little swimming in the complex pool. I got my first odd sunburn of the season and Randy discovered cell phones don't do well in the water, doh! Jack showed off everything he is learning at swimming lessons and we were quite impressed. Every time we have a weekend like this weekend I think to myself, 40,000 (student loans *ahh*) is a small price to pay for this kind of joy.
Jack playing a little game of frisbee in the park last weekend. Randy wouldn't let me spend $80 on RayBan Wayfarer Jr's for him - so the $2 gap kids ones will have to do.
I made some little peach mango turnovers to have for desert last night.
Jack went a little crazy for them :)
Friday, June 5, 2009
Fish Taco Face
This is what happens when you try to feed your 6 yr old fish tacos.
For the first 2 years of his life Jack only ate ham or turkey deli meat - anything else he just wouldn't eat. I tried in vain to get him to eat hamburger, chicken, turkey anything. Then one day it dawned on me, pink is his favorite color, salmon is pink, tell him it is pink meat. Needless to say I spent most of the night at dinner sitting there with my mouth open staring at him putting piece after piece of salmon in his mouth and loving it. "Mama, can I hab sob more pink meat peas?"
For the first 2 years of his life Jack only ate ham or turkey deli meat - anything else he just wouldn't eat. I tried in vain to get him to eat hamburger, chicken, turkey anything. Then one day it dawned on me, pink is his favorite color, salmon is pink, tell him it is pink meat. Needless to say I spent most of the night at dinner sitting there with my mouth open staring at him putting piece after piece of salmon in his mouth and loving it. "Mama, can I hab sob more pink meat peas?"
Thursday, May 21, 2009
always and nevers: update
Sarah is making me do a list of always-es and nevers for me, she loved Jack's but wants mine, so because I always listen to my sister, here are mine:
Always:
1. MAC studio fix - I swear by it, it covers you skin great, has an amaizing range of shades to cover the range of skin tones out there. And hey - if it is good enough to cover a drag queen's 5 o'clock shadow, it's gotta be good enough to cover my little imperfections. Anytime I have ever swayed or strayed I have ended up regretting it.
2. Big bag - as a mom and a wife I am always carrying around other people's stuff. I need a bag that is cute and can also survive whatever they want me to carry in it. I am pretty picky about them too. I used to have a thing for designer bags - and believe me I still covet them - but for now I just need something that is gonna stand the test of time, make it through a few seasons and get me hordes of complements. These are the 2 I will be rocking through the summer along with the cute beach bag I got for the pool this summer:
and I have been searching for a good grey bag, i just think it will go with so much and work with browns and blacks.
3. Shoes - I wish I could narrow it down to one favorite - but all of my shoes are my favorites. I am sure parents of more then one child can relate - you can't possibly love one more then the other - well each pair is special to me and I picked them for very specific reasons. Yes, on more then one occasion I have been referred to as Imelda... Here are the ones I wear the most right now:
4. Navy & White stripes - I am sure my hubs is getting tired of seeing me in different variations of this. But I don't care, I love it, it makes me feel French, with my little striped shirt and ballet flats... or sandals... or red stacked heel pumps. It's just so versatile. Seriously if you haven't tried it, do it, you will love it.
5. Pedicures - OK ladies, if you bare your tootsies, AT ALL, ever, have them painted. It's my number 1 pet peeve. It grosses me out to see unpainted toes in public. And clear doesn't count, make it a color, have some fun. I just found the perfect shade of bright pink that I will be wearing through the summer - last year it was bright coral, this year bright pink.
Nevers
1. Skinny ankle length jeans or skinny jeans at all. Once again - I'm a little chubby and pear shaped. I really don't think these look good on anyone - even the super slim girls that wear them. They remind me of 5th grade and my acid washed girl jeans with the yoke waist and zippers with bows on the top. I was in Lane Bryant last week and seriously there they were on an end cap. Clothing designers of the world, us bigger girls just should not have certain choices. Some of us are going to buy them.
2. Sweatpants - in public. I will admit I went through a depressing period this fall when the rain came - but I have re-committed myself to not wearing sweats in public. This includes and is not limited to: fancy sweatpants (yes you with the words on your but) yoga pants as well as sweats you paid way too much for and now have to wear in public to get your monies worth. Remember a time when our mothers made us dress up to go somewhere so people would think the best of you and reminded you that first impressions count? I think we need to get back to that.
3. Long necklaces - not because I don't like them, I do love them and my sister is a jewelry designer, but I have a large chest - they just look funny on me and inevitably if I wear one, at some point it is gonna end up looped around one of the sisters and that is just not pretty.
4. White pants - OK I can see why people would want to wear them, they look so crisp and if you are rail thin, they probably will work, anyone over a certain size just looks bigger. But you have to find the perfect pair. And lets face it - about 90% of the people wearing white pants are not wearing the right pair and you can always see their unmentionables underneath. Dear white pant wearing ladies, we can see your thong and the print on your light colored underwear.
5. Maxi dresses - Again this is a mostly for me. I am 5'3"-ish. Most of the maxi dresses out there are longer then I am tall. I tried one on the other day and it was funny, I looked like a little kid in her mom's dress.
So there you go Sarah, there are my always-es and nevers - for me.
Always:
1. MAC studio fix - I swear by it, it covers you skin great, has an amaizing range of shades to cover the range of skin tones out there. And hey - if it is good enough to cover a drag queen's 5 o'clock shadow, it's gotta be good enough to cover my little imperfections. Anytime I have ever swayed or strayed I have ended up regretting it.
2. Big bag - as a mom and a wife I am always carrying around other people's stuff. I need a bag that is cute and can also survive whatever they want me to carry in it. I am pretty picky about them too. I used to have a thing for designer bags - and believe me I still covet them - but for now I just need something that is gonna stand the test of time, make it through a few seasons and get me hordes of complements. These are the 2 I will be rocking through the summer along with the cute beach bag I got for the pool this summer:
and I have been searching for a good grey bag, i just think it will go with so much and work with browns and blacks.
3. Shoes - I wish I could narrow it down to one favorite - but all of my shoes are my favorites. I am sure parents of more then one child can relate - you can't possibly love one more then the other - well each pair is special to me and I picked them for very specific reasons. Yes, on more then one occasion I have been referred to as Imelda... Here are the ones I wear the most right now:
4. Navy & White stripes - I am sure my hubs is getting tired of seeing me in different variations of this. But I don't care, I love it, it makes me feel French, with my little striped shirt and ballet flats... or sandals... or red stacked heel pumps. It's just so versatile. Seriously if you haven't tried it, do it, you will love it.
5. Pedicures - OK ladies, if you bare your tootsies, AT ALL, ever, have them painted. It's my number 1 pet peeve. It grosses me out to see unpainted toes in public. And clear doesn't count, make it a color, have some fun. I just found the perfect shade of bright pink that I will be wearing through the summer - last year it was bright coral, this year bright pink.
Nevers
1. Skinny ankle length jeans or skinny jeans at all. Once again - I'm a little chubby and pear shaped. I really don't think these look good on anyone - even the super slim girls that wear them. They remind me of 5th grade and my acid washed girl jeans with the yoke waist and zippers with bows on the top. I was in Lane Bryant last week and seriously there they were on an end cap. Clothing designers of the world, us bigger girls just should not have certain choices. Some of us are going to buy them.
2. Sweatpants - in public. I will admit I went through a depressing period this fall when the rain came - but I have re-committed myself to not wearing sweats in public. This includes and is not limited to: fancy sweatpants (yes you with the words on your but) yoga pants as well as sweats you paid way too much for and now have to wear in public to get your monies worth. Remember a time when our mothers made us dress up to go somewhere so people would think the best of you and reminded you that first impressions count? I think we need to get back to that.
3. Long necklaces - not because I don't like them, I do love them and my sister is a jewelry designer, but I have a large chest - they just look funny on me and inevitably if I wear one, at some point it is gonna end up looped around one of the sisters and that is just not pretty.
4. White pants - OK I can see why people would want to wear them, they look so crisp and if you are rail thin, they probably will work, anyone over a certain size just looks bigger. But you have to find the perfect pair. And lets face it - about 90% of the people wearing white pants are not wearing the right pair and you can always see their unmentionables underneath. Dear white pant wearing ladies, we can see your thong and the print on your light colored underwear.
5. Maxi dresses - Again this is a mostly for me. I am 5'3"-ish. Most of the maxi dresses out there are longer then I am tall. I tried one on the other day and it was funny, I looked like a little kid in her mom's dress.
So there you go Sarah, there are my always-es and nevers - for me.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
always & never
My sister tagged me.
The rules: make a list of five "always-es" and five "nevers." These must be fashion-related, I have to tag three people, and I can post any pictures I would like to post.
Since I am a mom and I blog about Jack and I, I figured I would put a spin on it and make it boy related. I find it difficult and depressing to shop for Jack because the choices are so limited. Sometimes I find myself longingly staring at the girls section just lusting after all the square footage devoted to their clothes. Granted a lot of it is crap and if I had a little girl she wouldn't be allowed to wear most of it.
Always
1. plaid - Jack wears a lot of plaid, most recently we have been stocking up on cool madras plaid knee length shorts for summer.
2. converse - Jack just got his first pair of high top chucks, he has been rocking the low tops for years. Right now he has a pair of graphic ones that are really neat.
3. jeans - always bootcut or skinny straight legged.
4. hair - we don't gel it or part it or comb it to a particular side, we wash it, muss it up and he is on the way. when i see kids with perfectly combed/gelled hair i secretly want to muss it up.
5. teeth - we brush them at least 2 times a day here.
Nevers
1. Character clothing - Since Jack was a baby I can count on one hand the amount of items that have cartoon characters on them, go ahead ask me if he ever wore them. He has one vintage super friends tee that he can wear on the weekends and jammies, I don't mind the character stuff on jammies. I distinctly remember a shopping experience where he asked for something festooned in sponge bob or the like. It went something like this:
Jack - Mom doesn't this t-shirt look cool? Can we get it?
Me - No.
Jack - But Mom Tommy and Kenny have it
Me - No Jack, you know I don't buy that stuff.
Jack - Mom, why don't you buy it?
Me - Jack, because I love you.
Also I just feel that it is generally not very well made and way over priced - if I am going to advertise something, I better be getting paid to do it.
2. heelys (those shoes with the wheels in the heel), character shoes & hiking/teva sandals. I read once where those heely shoes were causing a spike in emergency room visits and kids were developing Achilles heel problems. Also no velcro, he is 6 and has been able to tie shoes since he was 4.
3. no pleats, no carpenter pants, nothing baggy, nothing tapered. Jack is awesome, he wears mostly bootcut jeans and has one pair of skinny grey colored jeans that are pretty cool.
4. no sports jerseys or athletic stuff, which means no sweatsuits as casual wear - unless he is sick and is lounging around.
5. no message shirts, your kid shouldn't be walking around with some smart mouthed phrase on their shirt. enough said.
That's it, my always-es and nevers for Jack. I am going to tag my dear friend erika who does some really cool paintings and my friend kim who has the coolest little backyard garden in all of the world and that's it because I don't have any other friends who blog.
The rules: make a list of five "always-es" and five "nevers." These must be fashion-related, I have to tag three people, and I can post any pictures I would like to post.
Since I am a mom and I blog about Jack and I, I figured I would put a spin on it and make it boy related. I find it difficult and depressing to shop for Jack because the choices are so limited. Sometimes I find myself longingly staring at the girls section just lusting after all the square footage devoted to their clothes. Granted a lot of it is crap and if I had a little girl she wouldn't be allowed to wear most of it.
Always
1. plaid - Jack wears a lot of plaid, most recently we have been stocking up on cool madras plaid knee length shorts for summer.
2. converse - Jack just got his first pair of high top chucks, he has been rocking the low tops for years. Right now he has a pair of graphic ones that are really neat.
3. jeans - always bootcut or skinny straight legged.
4. hair - we don't gel it or part it or comb it to a particular side, we wash it, muss it up and he is on the way. when i see kids with perfectly combed/gelled hair i secretly want to muss it up.
5. teeth - we brush them at least 2 times a day here.
Nevers
1. Character clothing - Since Jack was a baby I can count on one hand the amount of items that have cartoon characters on them, go ahead ask me if he ever wore them. He has one vintage super friends tee that he can wear on the weekends and jammies, I don't mind the character stuff on jammies. I distinctly remember a shopping experience where he asked for something festooned in sponge bob or the like. It went something like this:
Jack - Mom doesn't this t-shirt look cool? Can we get it?
Me - No.
Jack - But Mom Tommy and Kenny have it
Me - No Jack, you know I don't buy that stuff.
Jack - Mom, why don't you buy it?
Me - Jack, because I love you.
Also I just feel that it is generally not very well made and way over priced - if I am going to advertise something, I better be getting paid to do it.
2. heelys (those shoes with the wheels in the heel), character shoes & hiking/teva sandals. I read once where those heely shoes were causing a spike in emergency room visits and kids were developing Achilles heel problems. Also no velcro, he is 6 and has been able to tie shoes since he was 4.
3. no pleats, no carpenter pants, nothing baggy, nothing tapered. Jack is awesome, he wears mostly bootcut jeans and has one pair of skinny grey colored jeans that are pretty cool.
4. no sports jerseys or athletic stuff, which means no sweatsuits as casual wear - unless he is sick and is lounging around.
5. no message shirts, your kid shouldn't be walking around with some smart mouthed phrase on their shirt. enough said.
That's it, my always-es and nevers for Jack. I am going to tag my dear friend erika who does some really cool paintings and my friend kim who has the coolest little backyard garden in all of the world and that's it because I don't have any other friends who blog.
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