Sunday, November 4, 2007

In Which I Ramble

I have to confess, I was ready to quit this crazy train. Most of the weekend I was pretty sure my next post was going to be "Siyanora Senoritas".

Because I'm trilingual.

It isn't you, it's me.

I hoped we could still be friends.

I just feel like there are so many things in my life that I need to be focusing on and improving on and implementing into my daily routine, and I can't seem to get it all done. And it seems that reducing my blogging time would help. But that's just crazy talk, isn't it?

I don't spend nearly the same amount of time blogging or reading blogs that I used to. There simply aren't enough hours in the day, and no other reason.

I realize I depend on this outlet to approach life in a more positive way. I can laugh about things my kids do, because it's all potential blog fodder. I can look at the world a little differently, because every experience is a potential post. I like the lens that blogging has given me. So, I'm not stopping. But I think it will be more sparse, just until I get this whole juggling act of day to day life down a little more.

Plus I'm trying to potty train Avee. Need I say more? I bought M&Ms, I've made a chart, I pulled out the stickers, I've got the super-duper-big-girl-potty-dance routine down, I can cheer over a toilet bowl like you have never seen a person cheer, plastic pants-check, incessant talk about going potty in the toilet-check...

Only thing missing is Avee. She's not on board. She can't be bothered. And cleaning up a puddle of pee off the bathroom floor is kind of fun for her. She told me yesterday she was "broken" when I told her to try to go to the bathroom. Terribly sorry ma, but I'm broken, there will be no toilet usage today, please pass me a diaper...

That's really all I had to say. "I wuz gonna quit, but now I ain't, and I'm tired of buying diapers." Fascinating, I know.

Bo started playing basketball on Saturday. He's not quite 4 and a half. He hasn't ever really showed a whole lot of interest in athletic-type things, so I was curious how it would go.

Without a doubt the single most entertaining hour of my week. Month. Possibly year. He's the adorable boy in the too-big jersey doing pirouettes on the court. He managed a decent dribble (left-handed, interestingly enough) but the one time he had the ball to take down the court, he tucked it and ran. His defense stance was to put his hands on his head like horns. When the ball changed teams and everyone ran to the other basket, he thought it was a race and ran accordingly. He ran over and gave me a hug twice in the middle of his game. I'm certain that at least half of the game he was pretending he was Mario in his head, hopping, zipping, leaping, dodging, all a good three feet away from the game he was supposed to be playing.

I loved every second of it. He loved it too. Afterwards we went to the store to buy him some new tennis shoes. It was fun to spend time with just him, he often gets talked over by Avee, and I had forgotten how talkative and random he can be.

On our way to the store he brought up the topic of moms and dads having children. He was curious about who has children and when they have children. I explained that his dad and I used to be kids, but we grew up and became adults and got married and then we had him and Avee and Danyo. He seemed satisfied with my explanation about the origins of children.

An hour and a half later, driving home, this conversation took place.

Me: I think Dad's going to really like your new shoes, they are pretty cool.
Bo: Yeah, I think Dad's going to kiss them when he sees them because they are probably just like what he used to have in high school.
Me: Oh my goodness you are funny.
Bo: (sounding somewhat concerned and troubled) I just don't know who's going to be my kids when I grow up!

I guess he wasn't done with that conversation. Socially he seems to be going through a lot and trying to figure a lot of things out. He's dealing with kids at school who don't want to be his friend or he doesn't want to be friends with and probably has a bit of anxiety about rejection---the first time he's really faced it or felt it.

So, the poor kid is sitting in the back of my minivan, in his booster seat, having anxiety about who will agree to be his children when he grows up and gets married.

I didn't tell him finding a cute redhead to marry him would be the hard part. The cute redhaired children come waaaaaaaaaaay easier.

19 comments:

Acacia said...

With you on the potty training thing. Aren't girls supposed to train faster than boys?? UGGGHHH!!

I have a cute little red-haired girl...should we set them up in say, 21 years from now??

Methodical Wormer said...

I'm glad you aren't quiting. I feel the same way about blogging right now. Bo is adorable and good luck with Avee!!

S said...

Hey that TTL is trying to steal my newphew!!!!! I think it is so sad peeps in general have to deal with rejection let alone a loving child. I can actually picture that boy playing basketball....it makes me gleefully smile:)
Do not give up bloggin you are a natural just get a routine, LOL! I know the feelin bloggin is time consumin I mean lurkin.

AND go to be methodical wormer!

Code Yellow Mom said...

oh, girl...I have a draft in my create posts window that is something like, "Y'all come back now, hear?" all about quitting the blog...but I can't click post on it because I can't totally give it up...so I ignore it and my bloggy friends (I miss them all!) and try to get through my daily routine buried in laundry, dishes, spit-up, feeling like pure frumphood and whoknowswhatall and not making headway on any of it...I'm just saying, I hear ya.

But I am not potty training anyone at the moment (HALLELUJAH!!!) and the one kid whose pants I have to change can't tell me he just wants to keep diapers. yet. that's a good thing.

Isn't it fun to spend one on one with one of the kids? I had that on Saturday with Cal. It's a great thing. (One more thing to try to fit in.:))

Anyway, just wanted to let you know that I read you when I don't get to anyone else, and also that you started me on this crack so you can't go and check into real life (aka rehab) on me.

And I'm going to be laughing all day about "the kids come WAAAAAAY easier."

Physcokity said...

"I think Dad's going to kiss them when he sees them..."

hahahahahaha

I have to admit though he makes a good point. How did agree to be our kids? Sometimes I worry for these poor individuals.

Mamarazzi said...

sounds like you have your hands full on the whole potty training thing...i will cheer for you and for Avee...God speed my friend!

you cannot quit blogging, i just found you and i would be sad...i have you on my link list and everything!!!

i will just continue to check in 100 times a day to see if there is anything new and you blog whenever you feel the urge OR fond the time...its all good! it's not like any of us are going anywhere.

Deena said...

I always wonder why kids aren't more excited to be potty trained. Really, who likes the feeling of going in your pants? Not that I'm experienced with it, but you know.

When my sister (physcokity) played basketball when she was little. She would just hand the ball to the other team. When asked why she did that, "because he wanted the ball."

Stick around. I would miss you. And how can I have a midwestern blog conference with no other midwestern bloggers?

Sketchy said...

Ah Bo, my kids would like the whole mysteries of life to be a lot less mysterious too. They don't like when we tell them that they probably haven't met the person they will marry yet.

Oh and Sorry Avee is broken. That pretty much stinks. A lot.

Glad your not quitting. Just do the fun stuff.

Tori :) said...

I loved your description of Bo playing basketball!!

I'm sorry Avee isn't on board. It's been the opposite for me when it comes to potty training. I wasn't ready, but the darn kids was. Ugh.

a said...

You know...things could be worse!!! lol.

Heather said...

Man, I can't believe I've been so out of it to miss your blog. It's funny how time flies. I didn't even know you had three kids, and that Avee is getting potty trained.. sheesh! Anyway, nice to see you're still around the blogosphere.

Jenny P. said...

Echo to the glad your not quiting comments. I'd miss you. I totally understand the balance thing though. It's not fun trying to do it all. I've thought about it and decided that if I quit blogging, I will be quiting one of the only things that makes all the other things I do a little bit easier. I do set myself time limits though...

hmmm, and about potty training... man, my little girl was broken forever. I know people have said girls are easier... I totally disagree. My boys were potty trained so much faster than Lucy. Guess that isn't very encouraging for you, is it? Hope Avee does good. My sister in law finally trained her little boy (who was almost four) by telling him that the store stopped making diapers his size, so he had to wear underwear. He said, "Oh, alright." Wish I had thought of that. Good luck to you!

Oh, and the basketball story made me smile.

megachick said...

oh, the potty training. good luck.

um, if a cute red-haired boy marries a cute red-haired girl and they have babies...won't the universe explode with red-haired cuteness?

i think bug could be a strawberry-blondie. i'm so geeked.

Super Happy Girl said...

I can cheer over a toilet bowl like you have never seen a person cheer. I'd pay good money to see that.

Thorny Trre lady; Girls are easy and faster to train than boys. But this is an Avee she's talking about.

PS: I have an "adios farewell" draft, already to go :D Just in case.

PS2: No, you can't quit the blog.

Anonymous said...

hello it's sarah, jofo's sister well I love your blog and I check it everyday i'm glad your not quiting if you need me to come over and babysit so you can blog, no problem.. wait your 3 hours away .... roadtrip!!

Rebecca said...

I already faced one blow when the myspace community was introduced to me than suddenly taken away.. well only the good parts.. so what I am saying is .. the blogger world would not go on without your stories to brighten my day.. many many wasted.. I mean wisley chosen hours are spent at the computer peeking into others lives.. makes mine feel a bit more normal!?

As for bo.. the kid thing is a tough one.. the likes and dislikes, all coming out and you just want to slap some kids and hug others. They figure it out.. its not easy, but you have a good boy.

Now Avee and the toilet.. I would pay to see that dance too.. but good luck with that.. unless its her idea.. tell her Reagan uses the potty.. if she still remembers us?!

Kiss that baby for me.. miss ya!

Coordination Queen said...

I am SOOO glad that you aren't quitting... who would send me the most wonderful pumpkin chocolate chip muffins I have ever had?!?!

Avee's broken comment had me laughing, my little girl when she couldn't go started crying and told me she was broken. I find it so sad that little kids have to worry about rejection, but I think I have more anxiety about my kids rejection than they do. sheesh.

Thanks for the muffins! You're the BEST!

Kathryn Thompson said...

Magoo has no interest in potty training either. I plan on trying again the summer before he starts elementary school.

Suzanne said...

I'm so glad you decided to keep blogging! :D I'm like you and scaling back a bit though. There just has to be the right balance in life and I too don't read blogs as much as I used to.

Bo is just so sweet and cute! The things he says reminds me a lot of my D! :)