A Poopy Post...

Ms. K: (standing on her tippy toes, looking into the mirror) Poop makes me taller.

Me: Really?

Ms. K: Yup.

Me: Yes, you are my big girl...

I guess I should start by explaining that we had a breakthrough last week. Ms. K, just like her big sister Ms. M, had a problem pooping in the potty. Ms. M would poop in her underwear in the beginning before she would even sit on the potty. Thank goodness it didn't get that far this time around... Nevertheless, it has taken a while for Ms. K to figure it out and be comfortable with it all. Last week, after sitting in the bathroom for about an hour and encouraging her to be a big girl and poop in the potty, she did it! I can only assume that is the reason she thinks poop makes her taller. Hey, whatever works...

Is Obama After Our Kids? - His Speech To Schoolchildren

OK, seriously people. Chill out. On Tuesday, as most of you already know, President Obama is set to give a speech to our school children about taking responsibility for their success in school. And now the GOP is making an ass of themselves. Again.

Now, I did not vote for Obama and disagree with A LOT of his policies. But, do I think he is going to be pushing his "socialist ideology" on our kids? Um, no. And if he is, then I will have the chance to read the transcript of the speech beforehand and opt out of the whole thing. (Actually, I don't think Texas schools will even be showing it) Anyhow, don't you think this is just a case of the current leader of our country sending words of encouragement to our children to study hard and stay in school? Most of Obama's predecessors did the same. And actually, while it was not during a speech in school, George W. Bush encouraged American children to send money to children in Afghanistan during a press conference shortly after 9/11...talk about pushing agendas? Since I did not have children in 2001 (and really could care less about politics at the time), I do not remember what the Dems had to say about that. I am sure they weren't very nice.

I do have to say that I am glad to see that the letter-writing assignment regarding how the children can help President Obama was taken out. That just seems....weird to me. They should be asking themselves how they can help others, not just our President. And I would like to see the other assignments that are to go along with the speech, just as I do all of my kid's assignments.

The bottom line is that this is another attempt by the current political parties at polarizing politics. Each side continues to try to claw their way to the top. And there are the unfortunate groups of diehards that fall for the rhetoric on both sides and fuel the media fire. They just nod their head in unison with whomever their leader is and spout off what they saw on FoxNews or whatever other channel they watch. What they are going to end up with is a very small number of followers on each side because everyone else is just annoyed, if we don't kill each other first. I am hoping for a new movement away from these two parties, Libertarian perhaps? :)

So, what do you think about Obama's speech to our kiddos? Don't be shy...you don't have to agree with me!

Bus Ride Fail

Over the past week, Daddy Land has been urging me to visit this funny website. Yesterday, I did and was not disappointed. FAILBlog runs the gamut in terms of funny content, but I like to stick to the G-rated stuff. There is also a parenting fail category that always makes me feel better about my own futile attempts at being the perfect mom. :) The video I found is appropriate for all of us that have children starting school this week. I even showed it to Ms. M as an example of what not to do on her bus ride home! Enjoy!

Mama's Night Out

So, last night I had the privilege of a night out with an old friend. However, times have changed since high school and college when we were busy giving our parents a run for their money. Both of us are now married moms with quite a bit different priorities than when we were young. Our night out was tame compared to some experiences we have shared, but very fun, nonetheless. Here is he gist...

You know you're a Mama when...

you get giddy when the waiter asks for your ID after you order a beer with dinner.

you go straight into Gymboree for post-dinner shopping.

you sit in the car at the far end of the parking lot while one of you pumps and the other calls to check on the kids.

you stare in aw at the pretty waitress at the bar that is wearing some sort of one-piece, spandex leotard. (didn't know grade school dance attire was in? guess I should have borrowed something from Ms. M's closet)

you don't recognize any of the music that is playing. OK...maybe I did, but she didn't. ;)

you sit and reminisce/cringe about the trouble you used to get into and how your own daughters will pay you back.

you wake up in the morning, ready to do it again ummmm, next year?

Thanks Ms. J for a fabulous "night on the town!"

Is It Just Me?

So...I am cruising down the freeway in my husband's Ford Focus (nice, right?) after my crossfit class, getting ready to run into the outlet mall to pick up a shirt I saw on sale. Kids are home with a great new babysitter and I feel free for the moment. I have the radio turned up, having a good morning and I hear it. It is the same song I have been hearing for the past few weeks on every radio station around. I cannot pinpoint why, exactly, it makes me cringe. But it does and it shouldn't, considering I have two kiddos. Maybe it is just an annoying song or maybe it is the simple fact that I couldn't do it. I have absolutely nothing against what this song is advocating for. I think it is a beautiful, wonderful, healthy thing if you can do it. Not a big fan of having it shoved in my face all the time, but that deserves a whole different post. And according to this song, my baby girls and I are screwed. Have you heard this song, too? Let me know your opinion. Is it just me that doesn't care for this song?

http://www.breastmilkcounts.com/campaign/Lullaby_CD/A.Perry_HealthyBaby.mp3

A New Day

Sorry, friends, that I have been MIA. Been a little busy, to say the least. Not only with being a single mom, but also with play dates and dinners. Last week was truly a blessing. Yes, I was running around like my hair was on fire. And yes, I forgot to strap Ms. K into her car seat once (I only drove down our street until I heard the "Uh oh, mommy!" Never said I was perfect.) But we had so much to do, that we did not have a spare minute to obsess about missing Daddy Land. I want to thank all the friends that took time out of their days and nights to hang out with our little orphaned family. It warms our hearts to know just how many people have our back right now. BIG HUG!!!!!

In the midst of the first week Daddy Land was gone (when I wrote this sad little blog) I managed to snap a few pics of my darling girls. Right before I took these, I was having a "moment" of feeling extremely sorry for myself. These two little girls made me smile, just when I thought I would never stop crying. See for yourself.

This is Ms. K with her semi-mullet showing off her lovely new dentures given to her by a friend I won't mention. Thanks friend. Not the most flattering photo of my baby girl.

Here is Ms. M, always the lady, reading a potty book with sunglasses. Notice the blinds are shut behind her.

As I said, last week went well. This week we are off to a solid start. Ms. M has YMCA camp all week from 7:30AM-6PM. I KNOW! LONG DAY! I am missing her a bit, but also enjoying the quiet and alone time with my sweet Ms. K. That's all for now!

Stuck

Did I say I was ready? Damn, today feels like a slap in the face. Since Daddy Land left on Sunday, I have been relatively fine. The tears have been kept to a minimum and not in front of the girls. Until today. Even the fish guy at the grocery store sent tears to my eyes when he sparked a conversation with the girls and the first words out of their mouths were about their daddy being gone and the package we are about to send to him in the desert. He said to thank Daddy Land for his service and told the girls to be good for mommy. I could not get away soon enough...the tears were coming.

Right now I feel like giving Bob Marley the finger. I guess what may have triggered this negativity was finding out that Daddy Land is going to "the desert" tomorrow instead of Saturday. I thought I had one more day in which we could share (almost, he is in Virginia) the same timezone and reach each other on our cell phones at any time of day. After tomorrow, it is the real deal. I guess Skype will become my best friend.

All day I have felt as though I have been stuck in the mud. I don't have the motivation to make the bed, to tell the girls no, or to go anywhere. It is one of those days where I feel like the kids are ganging up on me. They are constantly on calling me, arguing with me, or fighting with each other. In reality, they are just bored. But, I am at a loss as to what to do with them. There is only so much time I can spend at the pool, and that is about the only place we can go in this 100+ degree weather. I am already tired of doing this alone...can that be possible? I have a long way to go.

The bottom line is, I miss my best friend. My partner. Maybe tomorrow will be better. I am hoping that I look back on this post knowing it does get better.