Kathy said during breakfast time on April 22, 2008
There is one thing I really dislike about parenting. Tough love. I can take the sleepless nights (ask me that again one day), the crying, the scraped knees, the splinter removals, the tantrums… I can even take my fair share of poop under the fingernail. But this part, the part that requires me admitting I know what’s best for him even if it means my heart breaks into a tiny million pieces. Of course, this is nothing on the grand scale. As Joelle put it “Wait until he is 16 and screaming YOU RUINED MY LIIIIIFE!!!! because you took away his Wii privileges”. And she is totally right. There are worse things about parenting to come.
But at 10pm when your 2 year old is crying pitifully in his bed for his binkie and you can’t give it back because if you do, you’ll make things worse rather than better, you just feel like the worse Mom on the planet. That’s right, we’ve begun Project Binkie Removal™. I never intended for my kid to get hooked on a binkie. I never gave him once since I breastfed but one day he just took one and never looked back. He loved it since then and I thought he’d get bored of it just like he got bored of bottles. But he didn’t. It was never allowed outside his crib, so it’s not an issue impeding speech (he never stops talking....ever....) or blocking any social interaction. He had it for naps and bedtime. But he’s 2 years old an then some and I have had this sinking feeling it was just time to start the process seeing just how attached he’s become to it.
Night 1: Cried, in waves...especially when he couldn’t find it (because it wasn’t there)… then stayed up until 10 reciting colors, the alphabet, counting and singing songs. Was restless through the night but didn’t get up. Got up a little earlier than usual but was cheery and bouncing up and down in his usual mood. If that’s the worst of it, we’re in good shape.
Now if I can still get his usual 3 hour nap without a binkie I’m golden. I think my luck might run out on that one but we’ll see how it goes today. If I blog again later drunk you’ll know the outcome.
Kathy said during evening on April 1, 2008
Our good friend and author, Carly Milne, is putting on a fundraiser for RAINN, the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network. We promised we would help spread the word about this great cause, so here goes!
Carly’s book, Sexography, is both a tragic and comedic memoirs about her journey of sexual self-discovery. And now, it’s your turn to blog your own version of Sexography. Even if you’re not a “sex writer” per se, we want to encourage you to explore the comedy, fear, silliness, scariness, million-and-one emotions and million-and-one experiences that are mental, physical, emotional and spiritual, all of which make up the rich tapestry of sexuality. So if you want to write about how your dog watches you masturbate or how you can’t stand porn or about your first time or what you think of sex in the media and how it affects you personally, you should. What you write about is up to you, just as long as it falls under the “sexuality” header. Personal stories about survival are strongly encouraged.
For each Sexography blog entry you post, you’ll be soliciting donations for RAINN from the readers you entertain and engage with your commentary. But the best part? Not only will you be helping an incredible cause, but the bloggers who come in first, second and third place for most funds raised will nab fabulous prizes.
The contest runs from April 1 - April 30th. Learn more about how YOU can get involved here and about the fabulous prizes here. If you’d like to donate, but not participate, hit up this link and make sure to enter “GBBMC2008” (sans quotes) in the comment box. Hurry! Your sign-up to participate must be submitted by e-mail by 11:59pm PST March 30th APRIL 15th, 2008.
Kathy said during lunch time on March 27, 2008
I swear I’ve not died. My days have been filled with work and trying to come up with ways to keep a 2 year old occupied for more than 15 minute stretches without me going insane in the process. Can someone tell me why 2 year olds say the same thing 10 times in a row? Or more if you don’t say “YES THE WATER IS COLD”? I think I smoked crack this morning and decided to take Reilly to the library story time. Which usually is a semi-hectic outing for us but today, was Petting Zoo Day. Sounds like a brilliant idea until you get there and realize every mother and nanny on the earth thought the same lunatic thought this morning and now you’re in the middle of a kid infested crying back-bend marathon.
When I go to these type of events, which seem to increase in volume as my kid gets older and older, my Safe Mama brain goes into over drive. I look around the room and wonder if anyone has read the site. I look at the bottles people have and when I see one not on the “safe” list my insides melt and my head gets all throbby and I have to bite my lip. Today I saw almost every sippy cup in the room was a BPA Free one and my mind curiously envisioned all the mommies reading my site. Which is probably not the case but I do wonder. I was at an Easter Egg hunt last weekend and saw a mom using a Nuby Nibbler which is a little teething net thing you can fill with fruit, that happens to be on the safe list and my husband chimed in about SafeMama.com. She exclaimed ”I subscribe to that site! I just sent the link to some of my friends...” ,and my head just felt hot and I got all self conscious. But it was the first time a real face, a real mother, knew about it right in front of me and I was totally floored that somehow we ended up at the same party. And then I drank 2 mimosas and forgot all about it.
Also, as a side note, can we not talk about the fact that somehow, cosmically, my PMS seems to coincide perfectly with the one day a year there is a basket of chocolate and jellybeans in my house? Yes, let’s not go there.
Kathy said during cocktail hour on March 24, 2008
If you happen to be chosen to go on The Bachelor, let me give you a little tip that might help better your chances of landing the meathead you’re competing for:
DON’T. SING. Seriously. Even if (especially if) you are a pro Opera singer… just don’t. Trust me on this girlfriend.
Kathy said during cocktail hour on March 13, 2008
As if getting stranded, luggageless, in Houston wasn’t enough.... I have now contracted something resembling that of the PLAGUE. 100 degree fever non-stop since last night, sweats, chills, and stuffy nose all are having a big old party in my body.
Fabulous.
This marks my 4th illness since December. .... ... !@#$!$%$@#$ #@$##@^ %$%#$$ #@@#! @#!.... and &@%$!
