Many times I don't think about me being in a interracial relationship. I don't see my husband as a different race from me. When I look at Caleb, I don't see him really being a bi-racial child. Until one day, Caleb brings it up. Remember he is only 3 so he doesn't realize or understand much about it.
Caleb: Mommy, you are white.
Me: Yes babe. I am white.
Caleb: I am brown.
Me: Yes you are.
Caleb: Daddy is brown too but you're not brown. You white.
Me: Yes babe. You are brown because you are part Mexican.
Caleb: I am not Mexican!!! I am brown.
LOL. What do you say? I just agree and let it go. My husband is half Mexican therefore Caleb is part Mexican too. Me, I am just a white girl from a little town in West Virginia. LOL. No excitement there.
Suck It Up Mom Moment: I am white. The end.
Tuesday, April 30, 2013
Friday, April 26, 2013
The Coin Purse
This past Christmas, Caleb picked out this little coin purse for me. It is blue and sparkly. He knows me very well. This coin purse reminds me of the one that my Grandmother used to have. I didn't think about it till over the weekend. While Jonathan and I were in Gatlinburg, we were at the Titanic museum. In their shop, they had replica vintage coin purses. Jonathan asked me if one of them was like my Grandma's. Unfortunately, they were not. I had forgotten all about my Grandma's coin purse till then. He said that mom had told him about the coin purse and he was thinking I might be able to find a replica there in the shop.
I wish I could find that coin purse. When she passed away, a lot of her stuff was thrown out or given away. No one asked if anyone wanted any of that stuff. I always wanted her coin purse (along with the jar of buttons). I remember playing with her coin purse. Not because it may contained money but because of the feel of it. I would play with the beading on it. I loved the feel of the beading and would mess with it all the time. When I was younger, I thought it was a fancy coin purse. But honestly, it was just a coin purse. LOL. Grandma would be laughing at me because as soon as she pulled her coin purse out to get money of it, for whatever reason, I would reach over and start playing with the beads. (I miss her laughter.)
Grandma was the grandma that had candy, mints, and gum in her purse. I remember the times that Dad would run Grandma, my sister, and I to the store. I would be in the backseat with Grandma and she would open her purse and get out a piece of candy, mint or gum for all of us. I would reach in just to touch the coin purse.
There were 3 things of hers that I wanted when she died...her coin purse (missing), jar of buttons (missing), and the rocking chair (which I did get). I am sure people don't understand why I want those 3 things. All I can say is I have some very wonderful memories of me and my Grandma with all 3 items. They brought smiles to mine and her face. I do hope that one day I can find a coin purse just like it the one she had.
Suck It Up Mom Moment: People suck when people die. They get mean and greedy. Unfortunately, funerals do bring the worse out in people and you can't do a darn thing about it.
I wish I could find that coin purse. When she passed away, a lot of her stuff was thrown out or given away. No one asked if anyone wanted any of that stuff. I always wanted her coin purse (along with the jar of buttons). I remember playing with her coin purse. Not because it may contained money but because of the feel of it. I would play with the beading on it. I loved the feel of the beading and would mess with it all the time. When I was younger, I thought it was a fancy coin purse. But honestly, it was just a coin purse. LOL. Grandma would be laughing at me because as soon as she pulled her coin purse out to get money of it, for whatever reason, I would reach over and start playing with the beads. (I miss her laughter.)
Grandma was the grandma that had candy, mints, and gum in her purse. I remember the times that Dad would run Grandma, my sister, and I to the store. I would be in the backseat with Grandma and she would open her purse and get out a piece of candy, mint or gum for all of us. I would reach in just to touch the coin purse.
There were 3 things of hers that I wanted when she died...her coin purse (missing), jar of buttons (missing), and the rocking chair (which I did get). I am sure people don't understand why I want those 3 things. All I can say is I have some very wonderful memories of me and my Grandma with all 3 items. They brought smiles to mine and her face. I do hope that one day I can find a coin purse just like it the one she had.
Suck It Up Mom Moment: People suck when people die. They get mean and greedy. Unfortunately, funerals do bring the worse out in people and you can't do a darn thing about it.
Monday, April 22, 2013
Potty Training 101
All honesty, I am the last person to give potty training advice. Caleb is 3.5 years old and just now got the whole potty thing down pat. He has gone 5 days accident free. When he hits 7 days, I am going to stop the pull ups at night unless he tells me he wants his underwear sooner. We were talking about it earlier this evening.
Me: Hey Caleb. Maybe in a few days, you can start wearing your underwear to bed. What do you think?
Caleb: Yeah. I'll wear my underwear to bed.
Me: Meanwhile, you need to keep going potty like you have. No accidents
Caleb: I haven't had any accidents.
Me: I know and that is great. But if you keep it up, in 4 days, I will let you have your big surprise. *holding up 4 fingers*
Caleb: No. *pushes one of my fingers down* In 3 days, I get my surprise.
Me: Ok. In 3 days *holding 3 fingers up* you can get your surprise. I will agree with that.
Caleb: No. *pushes another finger down* In 2 days, I get my surprise.
Me: Caleb!! I went from 4 to 3 days. That is good enough.
Caleb: No, I like 2 days.
So how did I finally get Caleb potty trained? Toys. Expensive toys. LOL. Not a $10 toy. More like $13, then $17, and the big surprise toy is $50. And it wasn't just 3 toys. I think from last Wednesday to Friday he received 4 toys. Prior to then, he received 2 DVD's and 1 other toy. And now, he has 1 more toy left. I had tried all other measures to get him to go. From bribing with money, putting him on the potty every hour, stickers, reward chart, and all that did not work. Once we started the toy thing and sent him to school in underwear, he finally understood. I would understand too if it meant I would receive presents. LOL.
Anyway, he is finally doing it. Today I picked him up from preschool and he immediately told me he pooped on the potty. Which is great considering a week ago, he wouldn't even pee on the potty at preschool.
Now, I can finally breathe and know the hardest part is over with. He has now hit his biggest and final milestone from being a baby to a big boy. It is sad yet joyful. No more diapers but again no more diapers. Most parents will understand that statement.
More than anything, I am so proud of him. Because in all honesty, he really did this on his own. All I could do is let him know how proud I was with every little step he took to this milestone.
Suck It Up Mom Moment: My baby boy is now an official big boy. And that he is too smart for his own good.
Me: Hey Caleb. Maybe in a few days, you can start wearing your underwear to bed. What do you think?
Caleb: Yeah. I'll wear my underwear to bed.
Me: Meanwhile, you need to keep going potty like you have. No accidents
Caleb: I haven't had any accidents.
Me: I know and that is great. But if you keep it up, in 4 days, I will let you have your big surprise. *holding up 4 fingers*
Caleb: No. *pushes one of my fingers down* In 3 days, I get my surprise.
Me: Ok. In 3 days *holding 3 fingers up* you can get your surprise. I will agree with that.
Caleb: No. *pushes another finger down* In 2 days, I get my surprise.
Me: Caleb!! I went from 4 to 3 days. That is good enough.
Caleb: No, I like 2 days.
So how did I finally get Caleb potty trained? Toys. Expensive toys. LOL. Not a $10 toy. More like $13, then $17, and the big surprise toy is $50. And it wasn't just 3 toys. I think from last Wednesday to Friday he received 4 toys. Prior to then, he received 2 DVD's and 1 other toy. And now, he has 1 more toy left. I had tried all other measures to get him to go. From bribing with money, putting him on the potty every hour, stickers, reward chart, and all that did not work. Once we started the toy thing and sent him to school in underwear, he finally understood. I would understand too if it meant I would receive presents. LOL.
Anyway, he is finally doing it. Today I picked him up from preschool and he immediately told me he pooped on the potty. Which is great considering a week ago, he wouldn't even pee on the potty at preschool.
Now, I can finally breathe and know the hardest part is over with. He has now hit his biggest and final milestone from being a baby to a big boy. It is sad yet joyful. No more diapers but again no more diapers. Most parents will understand that statement.
More than anything, I am so proud of him. Because in all honesty, he really did this on his own. All I could do is let him know how proud I was with every little step he took to this milestone.
Suck It Up Mom Moment: My baby boy is now an official big boy. And that he is too smart for his own good.
Thursday, April 18, 2013
Who's Car Is It?
One of the cool features of my Mustang is that I can change my dashboard color. If I remember correctly, I think there is 125 colors combinations. For a long time, I have had it blue. Only time the dashboard lights up is when my headlights are on.
When Caleb was younger, he used to fuss at me to turn on the blue lights. The other day, I decided I wanted a break from the blue and made them purple. This morning, we are getting ready to leave the house and Caleb noticed it.
Caleb: Mom, why are the lights purple?
Me: Because I wanted them purple.
Caleb: But I don't want them purple. I like the blue.
Me: I like the purple. I wanted them different.
Caleb: Mom, change it back to blue. Please.
Me: Caleb, I don't want too.
Caleb: Please, Please, Please, Please. I want blue. Please, Please, Please, Pleeeaassseee.
Guess who won? Yep. My dashboard is blue again. *sigh* Here I thought it was my car.
Suck It Up Mom Moment: My car is not my car after all. I will get it back one day though.
When Caleb was younger, he used to fuss at me to turn on the blue lights. The other day, I decided I wanted a break from the blue and made them purple. This morning, we are getting ready to leave the house and Caleb noticed it.
Caleb: Mom, why are the lights purple?
Me: Because I wanted them purple.
Caleb: But I don't want them purple. I like the blue.
Me: I like the purple. I wanted them different.
Caleb: Mom, change it back to blue. Please.
Me: Caleb, I don't want too.
Caleb: Please, Please, Please, Please. I want blue. Please, Please, Please, Pleeeaassseee.
Guess who won? Yep. My dashboard is blue again. *sigh* Here I thought it was my car.
Suck It Up Mom Moment: My car is not my car after all. I will get it back one day though.
Friday, April 12, 2013
I'm Lost
The worse thing that could have ever happened to me happened tonight. I lost Caleb in the grocery store. I swore that I would never be that parent that would lose their child. It started as me on one end of the aisle and him on the other end with Jonathan and we were playing hide-n-seek. Jonathan moved so Caleb came down the aisle to get me. Meanwhile I had already gone down the other aisle to meet up with them. I heard Jonathan yell for Caleb to come back and I thought he was coming. So I went to hide so I could jump out at him. (Yes, I was going to scare my child. LOL). Well he wasn't coming. When I came out of hiding, Jonathan states he thought Caleb was with me and didn't know I was standing behind him.
Immediately, I went to go get him. As I got to the end of the aisle, my heart dropped into my stomach. He was no where to be seen. I kept telling myself not to panic. It is a small store and he couldn't have gone far. Luckily, we were not in WalMart. Then, I started thinking about the other stuff that could happen. As my mind was racing, I noticed a lady staring one way and then I noticed another lady doing the same. When I got closer, I heard this little voice yell Mommy at the top of their lungs and there he was walking across the store yelling for me. I yelled back to him. As I reached him, he said, "Why did you leave me? You weren't suppose to go away." I told him he was right and praised him for yelling for me like he did and not crying.
We met up with Daddy who had no clue what had happen. Poor Dad. Anyway, everything ended well and he was fine. I thank God that my little boy had the smarts to start yelling and to remain calm. And thankful to God for watching out for him.
Suck It Up Mom moment: I am not perfect so move on.
Immediately, I went to go get him. As I got to the end of the aisle, my heart dropped into my stomach. He was no where to be seen. I kept telling myself not to panic. It is a small store and he couldn't have gone far. Luckily, we were not in WalMart. Then, I started thinking about the other stuff that could happen. As my mind was racing, I noticed a lady staring one way and then I noticed another lady doing the same. When I got closer, I heard this little voice yell Mommy at the top of their lungs and there he was walking across the store yelling for me. I yelled back to him. As I reached him, he said, "Why did you leave me? You weren't suppose to go away." I told him he was right and praised him for yelling for me like he did and not crying.
We met up with Daddy who had no clue what had happen. Poor Dad. Anyway, everything ended well and he was fine. I thank God that my little boy had the smarts to start yelling and to remain calm. And thankful to God for watching out for him.
Suck It Up Mom moment: I am not perfect so move on.
The Throwing Game
Caleb has a bad habit of throwing stuff when he is mad. I have to admit Jonathan and I are just as guilty for doing it. But we do not throw as bad as Caleb and we really have to get mad to throw something. And usually it is 1 thing and not 10 things.
Any way, when Caleb gets upset/mad about something he throws whatever is around him and in his path. As I said another post, No Mom is Perfect, we had to start cracking down on this bad habit of his because one of these days he can end up hurting someone with the throwing.
Last night, Caleb wanted something and we told him no. So the throwing starts. Basically, he cries (sometimes for a little bit sometimes longer), sticks out his lower lip, makes "hmph" sounds, and throws things here and there. It isn't a constant throw. He throws one thing for attention, stops for awhile, throws something else, stops, etc. Jonathan immediately grabbed one thing and said, "Well that is gone. You are not getting that back." By the way, it is usually toys he throws. When Jonathan did that, I got an idea from articles I had read. I got up asked Jonathan for the toy and grabbed two more items Caleb threw and put them out of site and out of reach. Then, I grabbed a storage container we had sitting out and told Caleb, "Next item you throw will end up in here and you will not get it back tonight." He tested me of course. So I picked up those items and put them in the container. He realized I meant business and stopped. I went to sit down and he knocked over his Mickey Mouse chair because he was still mad. My lovely husband (that is true endearment...not being sarcastic) grabbed the chair and put it in the red container too (yes that container was big enough for that chair...LOL). He said, "Your chair is gone too." That hit home with Caleb. He started crying, stopped throwing, and realized we were not giving in.
Now that is what you call team parenting. LOL. Poor kid didn't know what to do but cry after all that. Later that night, he kicked a bag of grapes because I told him to stop doing something. He was testing me on that one. So I smacked his butt. Yes, we believe in smacking. Sometimes, you have to when all else fails. Lets put it this way, that smack didn't make him cry but he stopped and behaved instantly. Again, he knew I meant what I said.
Some may think we are being tough on Caleb. We really aren't because a lot of times he is very well behaved. Because Caleb is not the kid in the middle of the store screaming their head off. He is not the kid using swear words and talking back to everyone especially their parents. He is not the kid that always runs around in public and not listen to their parents. He is not the child who hits or bites the other kids. There are just a couple of habits we need to start breaking now before he gets older and they get worse like throwing things when he is upset.
In the end, being a good parent means having to discipline your child.
Suck It Up Mom moment: When you realize you are starting to use phrases that your mom used on you when you were little. LOL. Love you Mom.
Any way, when Caleb gets upset/mad about something he throws whatever is around him and in his path. As I said another post, No Mom is Perfect, we had to start cracking down on this bad habit of his because one of these days he can end up hurting someone with the throwing.
Last night, Caleb wanted something and we told him no. So the throwing starts. Basically, he cries (sometimes for a little bit sometimes longer), sticks out his lower lip, makes "hmph" sounds, and throws things here and there. It isn't a constant throw. He throws one thing for attention, stops for awhile, throws something else, stops, etc. Jonathan immediately grabbed one thing and said, "Well that is gone. You are not getting that back." By the way, it is usually toys he throws. When Jonathan did that, I got an idea from articles I had read. I got up asked Jonathan for the toy and grabbed two more items Caleb threw and put them out of site and out of reach. Then, I grabbed a storage container we had sitting out and told Caleb, "Next item you throw will end up in here and you will not get it back tonight." He tested me of course. So I picked up those items and put them in the container. He realized I meant business and stopped. I went to sit down and he knocked over his Mickey Mouse chair because he was still mad. My lovely husband (that is true endearment...not being sarcastic) grabbed the chair and put it in the red container too (yes that container was big enough for that chair...LOL). He said, "Your chair is gone too." That hit home with Caleb. He started crying, stopped throwing, and realized we were not giving in.
Now that is what you call team parenting. LOL. Poor kid didn't know what to do but cry after all that. Later that night, he kicked a bag of grapes because I told him to stop doing something. He was testing me on that one. So I smacked his butt. Yes, we believe in smacking. Sometimes, you have to when all else fails. Lets put it this way, that smack didn't make him cry but he stopped and behaved instantly. Again, he knew I meant what I said.
Some may think we are being tough on Caleb. We really aren't because a lot of times he is very well behaved. Because Caleb is not the kid in the middle of the store screaming their head off. He is not the kid using swear words and talking back to everyone especially their parents. He is not the kid that always runs around in public and not listen to their parents. He is not the child who hits or bites the other kids. There are just a couple of habits we need to start breaking now before he gets older and they get worse like throwing things when he is upset.
In the end, being a good parent means having to discipline your child.
Suck It Up Mom moment: When you realize you are starting to use phrases that your mom used on you when you were little. LOL. Love you Mom.
Monday, April 8, 2013
No Mom Is Perfect
One of the downfalls of being a parent is having to discipline your child. You hate having to tell them no 10 million times and correcting them when they do wrong. It is not a point of trying to be a cool parent or a laid back parent but you discipline to help mold and guide your child to be the best they can be regardless if they grow up to work at McDonald's or be a millionaire. You want them to be respectful, loving, strong willed, independent, and most of all happy.
As a parent, you are also growing with the child and learning. This morning, as I was in the shower and Caleb walks in crying like he does every morning because I am not in bed with him, I started thinking about where I have gone wrong with Caleb. I admit I have done wrong. I should have been more stern with him about sleeping in his own bed. I should have been more stern with him on potty training. I should have been more stern about him picking up his toys. Now, I realize I have to start making some adjustments to get these things corrected. Because I wasn't stricter and more firm with him doing the above earlier, I now have to crack down even harder.
I admit I am not a perfect mom. I try to do what is best for my family. I thought letting Caleb sleep in our bed would mean more sleep for all of us. It does to some point but I have also created a child who will not sleep by himself at all now. I thought letting him potty train when he was ready would be easier for all of us and he wouldn't fight it as much. Not true, now I have a child who won't go because..his words...."I don't want to." I thought letting him play with toys and having them all over the place was no big deal. It wasn't hurting anything. Now, I have a child who doesn't want to pick up his toys because he doesn't care if they are all over the place but I do because the toys are getting bigger and more pieces to them and I keep finding them everywhere.
Now, I have to do my Suck It Up Mom and realize I need to start enforcing the rules on Caleb to help him grow up well (and be potty trained before he is 4 years old...Ugh). And realize being a disciplining parent, still makes you the cool parent.
As a parent, you are also growing with the child and learning. This morning, as I was in the shower and Caleb walks in crying like he does every morning because I am not in bed with him, I started thinking about where I have gone wrong with Caleb. I admit I have done wrong. I should have been more stern with him about sleeping in his own bed. I should have been more stern with him on potty training. I should have been more stern about him picking up his toys. Now, I realize I have to start making some adjustments to get these things corrected. Because I wasn't stricter and more firm with him doing the above earlier, I now have to crack down even harder.
I admit I am not a perfect mom. I try to do what is best for my family. I thought letting Caleb sleep in our bed would mean more sleep for all of us. It does to some point but I have also created a child who will not sleep by himself at all now. I thought letting him potty train when he was ready would be easier for all of us and he wouldn't fight it as much. Not true, now I have a child who won't go because..his words...."I don't want to." I thought letting him play with toys and having them all over the place was no big deal. It wasn't hurting anything. Now, I have a child who doesn't want to pick up his toys because he doesn't care if they are all over the place but I do because the toys are getting bigger and more pieces to them and I keep finding them everywhere.
Now, I have to do my Suck It Up Mom and realize I need to start enforcing the rules on Caleb to help him grow up well (and be potty trained before he is 4 years old...Ugh). And realize being a disciplining parent, still makes you the cool parent.
Friday, April 5, 2013
While You Were Sleeping
Caleb has taken so many nasty antibiotics for sinus infections that it is crazy. Due to those being bad, he protest any type of medicine now because he thinks they are all nasty tasting.
The other day, his allergist put him on a rescue inhaler for his asthma. Well of course, Caleb doesn't want to take it because he said it is nasty which it isn't. I think the force of it scared him and that is why he doesn't want to do it again.
So I called the allergist and told him it wasn't working. They called in a facial mask (spacer and mask) for his inhaler. (BTW, that is the coolest contraption/invention ever.) I tried to get him to take it that way and it still didn't work. After fighting with him over it, I finally said fine don't do it and for him not to worry about it.
Being a parent, you sometimes have to come up with creative ideas on how to make things work. Basically, you have to out think your child. When Caleb first falls asleep, he goes into a pretty deep sleep. Funny thing is I have to wait for his body to tremble/shake and I know then he is completely out. He is weird I know. Anyway, once he gets into that state, I can move him or do anything to him. With this awesome mask, all he has to do is breathe normal and the powder will go in his system. So the night that I got the mask, I waited till he hit that sleep phase, placed the mask on his face and gave him the inhaler. LOL. He never flinched. He has to take two puffs so I waited a minute and did the second one. It worked like a charm. He has to take it 2x a day at least. Therefore in the morning, I do it again before he wakes up. LOL. I felt like a rock star coming up with this method and making it happen.
I can't wait till the day Caleb is older and I can tell him what I did to him while he was sleeping. He probably won't be happy about it but I think it is hilarious.
Suck It Up Mom Moment: Your child will always try to out smart you so suck it up and move on and try to out smart them.
The other day, his allergist put him on a rescue inhaler for his asthma. Well of course, Caleb doesn't want to take it because he said it is nasty which it isn't. I think the force of it scared him and that is why he doesn't want to do it again.
So I called the allergist and told him it wasn't working. They called in a facial mask (spacer and mask) for his inhaler. (BTW, that is the coolest contraption/invention ever.) I tried to get him to take it that way and it still didn't work. After fighting with him over it, I finally said fine don't do it and for him not to worry about it.
Being a parent, you sometimes have to come up with creative ideas on how to make things work. Basically, you have to out think your child. When Caleb first falls asleep, he goes into a pretty deep sleep. Funny thing is I have to wait for his body to tremble/shake and I know then he is completely out. He is weird I know. Anyway, once he gets into that state, I can move him or do anything to him. With this awesome mask, all he has to do is breathe normal and the powder will go in his system. So the night that I got the mask, I waited till he hit that sleep phase, placed the mask on his face and gave him the inhaler. LOL. He never flinched. He has to take two puffs so I waited a minute and did the second one. It worked like a charm. He has to take it 2x a day at least. Therefore in the morning, I do it again before he wakes up. LOL. I felt like a rock star coming up with this method and making it happen.
I can't wait till the day Caleb is older and I can tell him what I did to him while he was sleeping. He probably won't be happy about it but I think it is hilarious.
Suck It Up Mom Moment: Your child will always try to out smart you so suck it up and move on and try to out smart them.
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
I Am Not An Octopus
Talk about a title to grab attention. LOL.
One of the downfalls for me is I am a working Mom. I hate the fact that I am not with my son 24/7. Although, I know the best thing for him and I both is that I work. If I didn't work, I think we would drive each other crazy. Actually, I know for a fact we would.
This is going to be a truthful blog. There are times I feel like I am over my head between trying to remember things for work, home, and for Caleb. I am thankful that I have only one child because I couldn't keep up with more.
At work, I work for 3 companies. I have to balance my work between those three. Currently as I am writing this, I am working on two companies. One company, I am paying bills and waiting for two emails to be able to finish that. The other company, I am doing invoices and trying to get those emailed to customers who wants them. Meanwhile, I remember I told the President that I would have the salary chart sent off to Hong Kong by the end of the day. Now, I have to be sure to finish that.
While, all that is going on, I am remembering I need to stop at the pharmacy on the way home to pick up a spacer for Caleb's inhaler and Benadryl because he is all out. Then I realized, I was suppose to pick up something else and can't remember. Because while I was remembering this morning what I needed, I was fighting with Caleb on taking his inhaler (hence the spacer) and couldn't make notes of what all I needed. So now I am trying to remember that because I will be leaving in 1.5 hours to go home. Plus, telling myself I need to write a check to his daycare. Luckily, I remembered to call his doctor this morning about the spacer.
As for home, I have to get some laundry done. Yesterday, I had to put comfy pants on Caleb because he was all out of jeans. I could have sworn I washed his jeans and there were no clean ones. My hubby jumped in last night and threw a load of Caleb's clothes into the washer for me while I was trying to give Caleb his bath.
Anyway, (I am forgetting some things on my list), I wish I was an octopus. That way I would have 8 arms and I could work on 3 companies, make phone calls, and right my to do list so I would stop forgetting things.
Suck It Up Mom Moment: I am not an octopus. I need to just do what I can and things will get done when they get done.
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