Well first, SORRY for the sad, sad lack of posting...I'm here, I'm HERE! I know that apologies aren't really necessary, I am big enough to admit you're not thinking, "Dude. Crazymama didn't post today and now my WHOLE DAY IS RUINED."
However, you must know that I have the "I'm sorry" disease...if my husband wakes up and says, "I slept like crap last night", my response is, "I'm sorry!" I really need to stop doing that. Sorry.
I've just had this nagging lack of writing inspiration lately. I mean, I've covered it all. Poop? Check. Laundry? Check. Children fighting? Check. I'm tired and pregnant? Check, check.
The one thing that crossed my mind briefly yesterday was the topic of siblings. You see, my husband is an only child. I am also somewhat of an only, since my brother arrived when I was fourteen. So you can imagine how much we are learning about sibling interactions, having two kids and another on the way.
Hubby was a good kid. He got in some occasional trouble in high school, but was a great student and a fairly well behaved child.
I was a majorly perfectionist, Type A freak. I DID NOT GET IN TROUBLE. Okay, once in first grade for whispering to the girl next to me. But seriously, I did NOT like to disappoint people or be scolded. I did not bring home "B's" (okay, well, except for that pre-Calculus incident in 11th grade. And let's just say it was not even a "B").
That said, we are baffled by our children and their often horrendous behavior. Some examples:
Yesterday, we took them out to lunch, where they miraculously behaved like angels. Um, that is until the waitress commented about how pleasant and well behaved they were. Don't people KNOW better than that? Anyway, that is the moment that they got out of their booster seats, placed the booster seats on their heads, and began a booster-seat-head-butting-competition. And that is when we exited the restaurant very quickly.
Last night, my husband was getting on to Garrett for some reason or another, and Laura got all defensive of her brother, grabbed hold of her bubby's hand and presented the very best united front a two and four year old can muster. My husband wasn't sure whether to be amused, or slightly afraid of them.
I went downstairs a while back (okay, a week ago...GAH, do NOT judge me), having decided that it was a good day for disassembling the downstairs Christmas tree. But LO! What did I find? That Laura and Garrett had taken the entire thing down. Themselves. How? I do not know. They can't get their socks to the hamper, but they can take down a six foot Christmas tree with no assistance?
And of course there are the numerous double rolls of Charmin they have strung through the house together, and stuffed in the toilet. And the bowls of my decorating icing they have eaten, together, in under five minutes. And the popsicle fests while Mom is folding laundry. And the tube of toothpaste they squeezed down the sink.
So let me just say this. My husband and I would have NEVER tried any of that stuff. NEVER. And I can't figure out why. Is it because I am not parenting well? Is it because I don't pay enough attention? Or is it just because naughtiness is easier and more delicious when you have a partner in crime?
I think I'm afraid of my toddlers.
And maybe a little teensy bit jealous...I mean, when Ramona - from the Beverly Cleary books -squeezed out that whole tube of toothpaste just to see how it felt, didn't YOU want to do it too?
Yeah. But I bet you didn't.
Especially if you were an only child.
However, you must know that I have the "I'm sorry" disease...if my husband wakes up and says, "I slept like crap last night", my response is, "I'm sorry!" I really need to stop doing that. Sorry.
I've just had this nagging lack of writing inspiration lately. I mean, I've covered it all. Poop? Check. Laundry? Check. Children fighting? Check. I'm tired and pregnant? Check, check.
The one thing that crossed my mind briefly yesterday was the topic of siblings. You see, my husband is an only child. I am also somewhat of an only, since my brother arrived when I was fourteen. So you can imagine how much we are learning about sibling interactions, having two kids and another on the way.
Hubby was a good kid. He got in some occasional trouble in high school, but was a great student and a fairly well behaved child.
I was a majorly perfectionist, Type A freak. I DID NOT GET IN TROUBLE. Okay, once in first grade for whispering to the girl next to me. But seriously, I did NOT like to disappoint people or be scolded. I did not bring home "B's" (okay, well, except for that pre-Calculus incident in 11th grade. And let's just say it was not even a "B").
That said, we are baffled by our children and their often horrendous behavior. Some examples:
Yesterday, we took them out to lunch, where they miraculously behaved like angels. Um, that is until the waitress commented about how pleasant and well behaved they were. Don't people KNOW better than that? Anyway, that is the moment that they got out of their booster seats, placed the booster seats on their heads, and began a booster-seat-head-butting-competition. And that is when we exited the restaurant very quickly.
Last night, my husband was getting on to Garrett for some reason or another, and Laura got all defensive of her brother, grabbed hold of her bubby's hand and presented the very best united front a two and four year old can muster. My husband wasn't sure whether to be amused, or slightly afraid of them.
I went downstairs a while back (okay, a week ago...GAH, do NOT judge me), having decided that it was a good day for disassembling the downstairs Christmas tree. But LO! What did I find? That Laura and Garrett had taken the entire thing down. Themselves. How? I do not know. They can't get their socks to the hamper, but they can take down a six foot Christmas tree with no assistance?
And of course there are the numerous double rolls of Charmin they have strung through the house together, and stuffed in the toilet. And the bowls of my decorating icing they have eaten, together, in under five minutes. And the popsicle fests while Mom is folding laundry. And the tube of toothpaste they squeezed down the sink.
So let me just say this. My husband and I would have NEVER tried any of that stuff. NEVER. And I can't figure out why. Is it because I am not parenting well? Is it because I don't pay enough attention? Or is it just because naughtiness is easier and more delicious when you have a partner in crime?
I think I'm afraid of my toddlers.
And maybe a little teensy bit jealous...I mean, when Ramona - from the Beverly Cleary books -squeezed out that whole tube of toothpaste just to see how it felt, didn't YOU want to do it too?
Yeah. But I bet you didn't.
Especially if you were an only child.
12 Comments:
You WOULD have done those things IF you had a sibling! Trust me, it's the way siblings are. I don't know why but that's just the way it is. I am the oldest of 8. YES 8, and no, we are neither Moron OR Catholic. My youngest sibling was blamed for everything well before he could walk. My sister Sarah and I used to actually sit around and think of things to blame on sibling #3, Amanda. No, I'm not proud (except for the lightening bug and snake incident, that was BRILLIANCE). We do love each other and get along fine minus an issue or two. It's just how the world works. You and your hubby don't get it because you didn't EXPERIENCE it. It has nothing to do with your parenting. The only advise I have for you is to NOT back down! They can smell fear and even at 2 and 4 they can work together to start a small coup. Hang in there....oh, you might not want to teach them too much about snakes either.
I have one sister and one brother. Sister born when I was 4 and brother when I was 14. Sister and I got into SOME "trouble" together, but not much.
I don't think it's bad parenting. I'd say you're fantastic parents. I think they are being typical 2 and 4 year olds and the "trouble" is what it is BECAUSE they have each other to find "trouble" with.
That said, I am officially scared on having Child #2. :)
Oh, Jennifer, you're not MORMON. :) That got a chuckle out of me.
Yes, it is SIBLINGS!! My brother and I got into plenty of trouble, the two of us, and my two children (also 2 and 4) get into plenty of trouble of their own too.
I am the oldest of six (yeah Catholic). We didn't dare pull any of that crap because that would have been the end of us!
Sis is 16 and E is almost four, so they are kind of only children. E still manages to get into all sorts of trouble on her own. I'm not sure having a sibling would be better or worse. I just figure I'm not as scary as my parents were. I'm working on it.
I totally forgot about that book where Ramona squeezed out a whole tube of toothpaste, lol. I had two older sisters and a younger brother so let's just say we were acomplices (sp?) in crime. I could not even imagine how my stepkids would act if they did not have each other because they have so much fun together and they always have someone else to blame to save their own butts, lol. I think you're a great mom by the way, hang in there.
I was the oldest of four, and I was exactly like you. Shit myself before I'd get in trouble at school. My siblings were a smidge more mischevious. I was the mouthy one.
Hey did you watch the Ramona series when they made them for tv when we were kids? I think they were on PBS. We taped them. And watched them until the tape breathed its last. Oh how I loved Ramona.
If the only child thing holds true then what am I raising? Mine has done enough science experiments in the bathtub that the house may qualify as a petri dish!
Did I shame you into blogging today? I am surprised you had the energy for it, but it sure is a nice way to end my evening!
Keep Writing!
Carey
I have the "I'm Sorry" Disease too!
It is always easier to get into trouble when you have someone with you. You're braver that way. You also have someone there saying "come on, we won't get into trouble".
It has nothing to do with parenting, nothing at all. You're a great mother. They are just being kids and eventually, ok, hopefully, it will get better.
Are you part Canadian? We say sorry to absolutely everything, it really annoys my husband when I apologize to the person who walked into me.
Anyway, it's totally a sibling thing. My 2 oldest are so well behaved when the other is not around, but absolute terrors when together. 7 litres of milk spilled on my carpet so they could make a slip and slide, a flooded bathroom, it's never ending.
Hence the phrase "partner in crime." Enough said. You and your husband are doing fine.
I have two little partners in crime myself....funny how that works!
I say "I'm sorry" a lot too....it has to be a disease!
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