Word of the Day

There comes a time when a mom just doesn't want to correct the incorrectly pronounced word of a child as its just too heart meltie cute. Cause you know, in the future, there will be a last....a last mispronounced word, a last lisp, a last w instead of l...so I'll treasure a few of these now.

Which brings me to Bup's Word of the Day!

"Shmarshmallows"!
Say that 10 times really fast.

And just to add to the "shmarshmallow" moment here's a pic of W with 3 large shmarshmallows in his mouth aka "I'm a Chubby Bunny!" and some "smarshmallow" building cause the building is what we do with the mallows in our house.

I'm a Chubby Bunny!

Mr. Monkey...proud builder.

Marshmallow creations....notice R?

Deep Rooted Sibling Angst & NET

While I was pregnant with Bup and W was just a baby himself...really, only 1yr....I imagined these two black haired little boys, with curly or wavy hair and beautiful blue or green eyes, maybe a dimpled chin, that would be friends...buddies...pals....brothers to the deepest level.

Fast forward 4.5 yrs and we have two light brown haired boys, more blonder in the summer....one with hazel green eyes and one with blue, blue eyes, both tall, both adorable and fun and sweet with one vying for the other's attention and the other dismissing his younger brother in anger and annoyance and frustration. 

"W never plays with me."

"R is so annoying. He's is too crazy, too weird. Why do I have to have a brother? I never wanted a brother. Give him to another family."

Not the words I ever envisioned from or for my sweet little boys who are to be brothers and friends, not brothers and enemies. There's enough of that in this family world.

This brotherly angst was running much deeper than just simple sibling rivalry. 

Nothing was working. Not encouragement, not talks, not setting up similar interests, toys, not reprimands, not hugs, not one on one time....NADDA!

We needed help. Big Help!

This is where the magic takes place.  After the desperation. 

Our chiropractor is a NET Practitioner.  

How do I explain NET? Neuro Emotional Technique. A practitioner tests your body against specific questions and your body responds yes or no, then those areas are adjusted (in this case chiropractically using an activator), specific pressure and pulse points are held, questions asked, affirmations made, and breakthroughs happen. 

It's amazing. It's unbelievable. It sounds like hocus-pocus, crack pot stuff.

It's magical.

It works.

What came out of the these sessions? A greater understanding that W's resentment of Bup all started when Bup was diagnosed which coincidentally is a few months before W's diagnosis. Bup's diagnosis time affected W in so many ways....having his mom taken away for weeks, days and hours at a time due to appointments, hospital stays, seizures, etc. At 3yrs, W's world still revolved around me and there was a lot of uncertainty happening in our home. Even though, B and I thought we were doing our best to keep things regular and normal for both boys, to keep W in the loop and not tossed aside. All of this affected W deeply. Deeply and strongly. Heartbreakingly.

The first treatment brought a breakdown in W. Tears, sad, soul breaking tears. Straddling me, head on my shoulder, crying such sad tears and begging to be done and leave. 

The next two treatments brought no tears. Brought out a happy, patient boy with a bodily response in a positive manner. And now....

After three treatments, W and R are happy, friendly, sharing a room, sticking up for each other,  and play together! This is a FIRST for us.  Even Bup notices the difference as he stated in the truck, "I just like my brother W. He plays with me."

Truly magic.

And I am ever so grateful. 

Can I explain it? Not very well. But NET works. It works and it's worth it. To see and listen to these little brothers play together and laugh together and no more words of hurt.....that is worth everything to me.

Weekend Random Pictorial

Dining Nook

There's been a lot of sawing, vacuuming, dapping, take-out dining and ignoring of the children over this weekend. But hey! Look how great the kitchen looks!

W & Benson the Labradoodle-oodle-poodle (as Bup calls the dog)

There was a little dog-walking too. W shone with the responsibility to walk Benson around the block. He was thrilled to do so....until I explained the poop-bag...well, he only walked him once!

W roller-blading.

Spectator Bup.

The boys deserved much more than an outing as they have been so happy and patient throughout this reno....and basically being neglected over the past four days.  

W was thrilled to go in-line skating. And I'm so PROUD of him! Not one tear over falls...and it hurts to fall on your bum with lego in your back pocket.

Bup was inclined to watch and play Angry Birds on the IPOD. One day I'll delete it....and only have educational games downloaded. One day.....

What did you do this weekend?

Bicycle Brakes & Tears

This afternoon is tear filled due to the bicycle brakes.
My tears.
W's brakes.

You're thinking....look ya big baby, why are you letting the kids ride their bikes in the winter?

Well, it's all about the ADHD....AGAIN!
 (Have I ever told you that I LOATHE adhd....due to some parts of it? I do. Grrr!)

ADHD is akin to having a Ferrari (brain) with bicycle brakes (impulse control).

So, yesterday W had the BEST day at school according to his teacher although he informed me it was awful because he got into trouble for playing with a shopping cart during lunch recess.

Gah!
What was a cart doing in the playground? And what little boy wouldn't play with it? And why did he have to sit on the bench for playing with it? Did you hurt anyone? No. Did you call people names? No. Then, why, why, why.
So, this mother sends a note to the teacher asking who she could talk to about it.....
only to find out that he LEFT the school grounds to get said cart.
Gahhh!!!
TODAY.
Upon pick up W again tells me it was the worst day ever because he was SENT TO THE OFFICE. For play slapping two friends in the face with his glove. "I wasn't trying to hurt them. I was trying to be funny and he did it to me the other day and he is a tattletale and all the teachers are wrong and this is the worst day ever."

Bicycle Brakes....with the lines cut!!!

Frick.

So....who's in tears?
Me.

What do I do to help this kid?
I'm ready to homeschool.
I'm ready to keep him home next week.
I'm ready to forgo my retreat and vow of silence (more on that later) and take him to my mom's for a week.
I'm ready to throw in the towel.
Where is the support?
Shouldn't the aide be working with him on social stuff? Social Stories?
Does he know the playground rules of not leaving? Is it discussed? Posted? What?

Yes... I know this is typical adhd stuff and we will come up against it again and again and again over his/our lifetime.

But what do I DO about it? How do I help him? His self esteem is already suffering. This morning he was saying he "I am stupid cause I always get in trouble." Heartbreaking....

So...until I figure that out....I'll just cry a little...or a lot....phone my husband and get him out of bed despite the fact that he is working night shifts and is on number 12 in a row....and then vent here.

Gahh!

Storybook Sunday...and a Pancake!

Today I had the pleasure of taking the boys to Storybook Theatre to see the Munsch Ado About Nothing production.
Who was more excited.....the momma or the kiddos? Toss up!
I loved that they were attending their first live theatre production! **( Maybe 'cause I enjoy live theatre...and miss it. Pre-children life I went often. Now not so much)**
Watching their faces light up and smile as they caught the play on words, or slap stick comedy....it was purely joyful for me. One of those fascinating mothering moments that one wishes would freeze in time.

Circus Boys!

Tiger W.

Bear Bup.

 ***************************************************************************

Sunday dinner. Growing up this was supposed to be something more than the average week night dinner. Roast beef probably. Maybe a late afternoon dinner.

 But here, in RWB world, we quite like to serve breakfast for dinner on Sunday's. Easy. Welcomed by all.
(My sister serves popcorn and a movie for dinner on Sunday nights. It's family night at their house and they ALWAYS have popcorn and a movie!)
Tonight, our island was graced with an Dutch Baby. Apple-oven pancake and bacon. Oh yeah....heart-attack in a frying pan. Mmmm,mmmm!
The pancake was delish and I wish there were left overs for breakfast. No leftovers? That's a good sign! So, I shall share this recipe with you.

Dutch Baby

Oven (apple) Pancake
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Place a cast iron frying pan or oven safe pan in the oven to heat.

Mix pancake batter. I used a GF pancake mix and added a TBSP of apple cider vinegar...the key to fluffy pancakes.

Peel and core two apples. Mix in dish with 2 -3 tsp cinnamon and 1/3 cup agave (or brown sugar or sweetener of choice).

Pour apple mixture onto bottom of hot frying pan and pour pancake batter on top.

Bake in oven for 17-20min.

Serve with sour cream, or maple syrup (that was us!) or nothing....it's THAT good!

...and then I watched Oprah.

The last month in regards to my infrequent blogging, has been an example of feeling poorly...conflicted....completely exhausted...and unsure as to whether people really want to continue reading about my thoughts and experiences on life and motherhood. I've been negligent in the blogging area while avoiding posting yet missing the lifeline it provides at the same time.

What's going on? Nothing unusual. Basically the norm. However, sometimes my norm becomes a smidge negative in my head and then the "Really? Do people want to read this drivel?" takes over. So, hence the quiet on my blogging front.

"....and then I watched Oprah." Today. Which is a miraculous feat in itself as it's on during dinner prep. I realize some people really dislike her, but I don't!

This re-run episode reminded me that I am normal (ack! cough! cough! define normal) and that I blog for me, for a multitude of reasons and miss it.

Today's show was about motherhood. The REALITY of motherhood. The need for honesty and for mother's to support one another. The support system of our mother's days are long gone. Families are global = little or no physical support. There is PRESSURE to do it all. Work out of the home. Work from the home. Stay at home. Single mothers. Gay mothers. Nuclear mothers. Love every bit of it. Cook. Clean. Create. Smile. Laugh. Be happy. Raise the smartest, cutest, most well-behaved typical children. Have the perfect marriage. Never swear, not even in our heads. All of it.

The Pathological-Liar Mother's Club. Have you heard of it? It exists. These are the mothers that look perfect as do their clean faced, smartly dressed, well behaved children. Don't you know one or two of these wonder-moms? Don't you feel judged? Inadequate? I do. I have. But then it came to me. The epiphany. It's the club! The P-LM Club. Not to be mistaken with the PMS group. Totally different. Anyway, these women were fooling me wholeheartedly and fooling themselves. In all honesty, we are all a little like the mom's that were on Oprah today. The feeding their kids pizza for breakfast, bringing home fast-food, listening to their kids cry and not intercepting, only showering twice a week moms. Watching this episode brought me back to reality. It's okay to be where I'm at. Have my feelings. Own them. And that's what I'm going to do. Own them. Support my mom friends. Not judge or care if I am judged. And if all that doesn't work, I'll just remind myself that every mom poops too. That'll do it. Forget, picturing them naked (you know...public speaking advice)...we all poop.

And that's part of why I haven't been blogging so often. Judgement. Of myself. And concern that readers will judge. But you know what, that's okay. If you're here, be prepared for the honesty. The open-ness of it. The ugliness of it. The humor of honesty. I hope that you find a shred of hope and gratitude in that you are not the only one with wild antics in your mothering life. I hope that you read my experiences and laugh and gasp out loud in shock and gratitude that THAT didn't happen to you or your kids and never will!:)

If you are one of those readers that is certain I exaggerate in regards to motherhood, here's some reading material for you:

I Was a Really Good Mom before I had Kids by Trisha Ashworth & Amy Nobile....one of my favorites! These authors were on Oprah today. I read this book eons ago and can so relate!

The Secret Life of a Slummy Mummy by Fiona Neil. Hilarious fiction. After my own heart...remember coconut rum or rum in place of vanilla?

Toddlers Gone Wild! by Rebecca Eckler. Canadian author, journalist, mother. She annoyed me years ago when I saw her on a local breakfast television broadcast advocating "the pro-cesarean & I- won't- breastfeed"for convenience phase...and I still don't agree with that (there I am judging). Her book is okay. Some funny points. Some of it doesn't relate to me....she's too fit, too chic, too big city compared to me...but funny too...and I just can't get past my bad attitude and judgement. There you have it. I judge too.

Anyway, grab a good book and some quiet time. You know...quiet time... in the sacred, door locked bathroom or while your husband is sleeping and graciously letting you read with the light on.

Enjoy your book...your quiet time.

Live in the moment of your mothering. Every wacky, frustrating, loving, tear jerking, heart-string, child hugging moment of it.

...and then I watched Oprah.

The last month in regards to my infrequent blogging, has been an example of feeling poorly...conflicted....completely exhausted...and unsure as to whether people really want to continue reading about my thoughts and experiences on life and motherhood. I've been negligent in the blogging area while avoiding posting yet missing the lifeline it provides at the same time.

What's going on? Nothing unusual. Basically the norm. However, sometimes my norm becomes a smidge negative in my head and then the "Really? Do people want to read this drivel?" takes over. So, hence the quiet on my blogging front.

"....and then I watched Oprah." Today. Which is a miraculous feat in itself as it's on during dinner prep. I realize some people really dislike her, but I don't!

This re-run episode reminded me that I am normal (ack! cough! cough! define normal) and that I blog for me, for a multitude of reasons and miss it.

Today's show was about motherhood. The REALITY of motherhood. The need for honesty and for mother's to support one another. The support system of our mother's days are long gone. Families are global = little or no physical support. There is PRESSURE to do it all. Work out of the home. Work from the home. Stay at home. Single mothers. Gay mothers. Nuclear mothers. Love every bit of it. Cook. Clean. Create. Smile. Laugh. Be happy. Raise the smartest, cutest, most well-behaved typical children. Have the perfect marriage. Never swear, not even in our heads. All of it.

The Pathological-Liar Mother's Club. Have you heard of it? It exists. These are the mothers that look perfect as do their clean faced, smartly dressed, well behaved children. Don't you know one or two of these wonder-moms? Don't you feel judged? Inadequate? I do. I have. But then it came to me. The epiphany. It's the club! The P-LM Club. Not to be mistaken with the PMS group. Totally different. Anyway, these women were fooling me wholeheartedly and fooling themselves. In all honesty, we are all a little like the mom's that were on Oprah today. The feeding their kids pizza for breakfast, bringing home fast-food, listening to their kids cry and not intercepting, only showering twice a week moms. Watching this episode brought me back to reality. It's okay to be where I'm at. Have my feelings. Own them. And that's what I'm going to do. Own them. Support my mom friends. Not judge or care if I am judged. And if all that doesn't work, I'll just remind myself that every mom poops too. That'll do it. Forget, picturing them naked (you know...public speaking advice)...we all poop.

And that's part of why I haven't been blogging so often. Judgement. Of myself. And concern that readers will judge. But you know what, that's okay. If you're here, be prepared for the honesty. The open-ness of it. The ugliness of it. The humor of honesty. I hope that you find a shred of hope and gratitude in that you are not the only one with wild antics in your mothering life. I hope that you read my experiences and laugh and gasp out loud in shock and gratitude that THAT didn't happen to you or your kids and never will!:)

If you are one of those readers that is certain I exaggerate in regards to motherhood, here's some reading material for you:

I Was a Really Good Mom before I had Kids by Trisha Ashworth & Amy Nobile....one of my favorites! These authors were on Oprah today. I read this book eons ago and can so relate!

The Secret Life of a Slummy Mummy by Fiona Neil. Hilarious fiction. After my own heart...remember coconut rum or rum in place of vanilla?

Toddlers Gone Wild! by Rebecca Eckler. Canadian author, journalist, mother. She annoyed me years ago when I saw her on a local breakfast television broadcast advocating "the pro-cesarean & I- won't- breastfeed"for convenience phase...and I still don't agree with that (there I am judging). Her book is okay. Some funny points. Some of it doesn't relate to me....she's too fit, too chic, too big city compared to me...but funny too...and I just can't get past my bad attitude and judgement. There you have it. I judge too.

Anyway, grab a good book and some quiet time. You know...quiet time... in the sacred, door locked bathroom or while your husband is sleeping and graciously letting you read with the light on.

Enjoy your book...your quiet time.

Live in the moment of your mothering. Every wacky, frustrating, loving, tear jerking, heart-string, child hugging moment of it.