Monday, March 30, 2009

Oh Yeah, It's All Over The Place

First, some items of business:
Thank you everyone for the nice comments on the Avee posts, and for the birthday well wishes. I was a little surprised to discover she's more like her dad than me, because she kind of didn't care about making the whole day about herself. While I'm a little saddened to see this part of me missing in her, I'm sure in the long run it's a good thing for us. I got the sense that she was a little overwhelmed at her party. I mostly invited adults who may or may not have kids her age. Halfway through the party, she asked if she and her little bff could go upstairs and wreak havoc. I let her. That was probably the best gift of all. And they weren't totally crazy. Although, there is a princess ring down the vent now....

Nextly, thank you also for the great music suggestions. I have gotten through about a third of the suggestions and have already added some great stuff to my ipod. There were a lot of great mellow suggestions (Seven! She's a person, not the number of songs I liked) that I'll have to add to my non workout playlist. Yeehaw! So, thanks everyone.

Thirdly, I saw a new number on the scale this morning. And FINALLY it's going the right direction. I guess it's not "new" per say, but it is one I haven't seen in some time.

I don't look any different, but it sure felt great to see that number. I'm pretty sure it's going to get me happily through 2-3 full cheesecakes. Wait...what?

Lastly, I have my blog posts emailed to my mom for simplicity and because I'm considerate of the elderly like that. She emailed me about my "regret" of dropping her off at the ER and not staying with her. It was all about how everything worked out perfectly, not to feel bad, etc, etc.

So basically what I'm saying here is, I'm finally on speaking terms with my mom now. I'll probably wait until we are on even better terms before I tell her that I gave away that orange and purple sweater she got me....

And now, on to some more pressing matters:

At any given point in the day when J is home, there are at least 4-23 different tabs on the internet open to those scintillating blogs that talk about booooooooooring things like the financial crisis or which politician is sleeping with which head of a financial institution or what Dilbert thinks about the new office policy...

Today after he had left I went to go close down 17 tabs to make room for Bo to watch Mario Kart on Youtube. Something caught my eye just as I was about to close a page.

It was a normal sentence like this and then it read, (Parenthetically, blah blah blah). Really? Come ON. How long did that dude wait to be able to use the word parenthetically RIGHT AFTER A PARENTHESIS!?!?! I may or may not incorporate this level of ridiculousness into my writing/speaking. I'm also going to make fun of my husband for reading stuff like this. Period.

It's okay though, he makes fun of me for watching a reality show with characters who say things like, "I need to get some sugar in my system, I need some sugar, can someone get me a diet coke, I desperately need sugar."

I'm not proud, but it can't be helped. Stupidity makes the reality TV world go 'round.

And one last story:
As many of you know, Avee likes to um...dress herself. Her favorite item of clothing is anything sleeveless. For some reason, Sleeveless=Princess. Even when I show her pictures of princesses with long sleeve shirts. In the beginning it was a big battle. Then I decided I didn't care what she wore as long as she looked normal when I needed her to, and if she was warm. So we had some battles and some give and take on both our parts and we've worked out a great symbiotic relationship in regards to her clothing. Most of the time, I let her go out looking completely insane. Because it's endearing, it doesn't matter, and of course I'm just one of those amazing moms who can allow her children to express themselves. When I want.

So, one day she shows up to the Y looking particularly insane. She had wanted to wear a sleeveless but I told her she had to wear a little shrug with it, if she wanted to wear it out. Avee's ALWAYS three steps ahead of me so she quickly agreed. With every intention of taking it off as soon as I was out of sight.

Which she did.

So when I came to get her after my workout, it was a very cold day, she had on a summer dress that was mostly pinkish, bright red socks, and boots. She also had about 3 headbands in her hair.

When I walked in the room and saw that everything had sort of gone to pot when I left, I laughed out loud.

One of the girls there said, "Why is she dressed so crazy?" and I said, "Oh, I mostly let her do what she wants when it doesn't matter. It works to let her have her way sometimes, so that when I need my way---there's less of a fight."

This 27 year old mother of a 12 year old boy raises her eyebrows at me and says, "Well, I let my son have his way too much and now he's out of control, so I'd be careful if I were you."

Going to this Y has taught me a LOT of self-restraint because I seriously wanted to guffaw so loudly I would be in danger of losing a lung.

I'll let you know if Avee ends up in anger management classes from punching her 7th grade math teacher, because I let her dress how she wants when she's 4.

That's a really good reason to read this blog for the next 10 years.

20 comments:

Jennifer said...

As my mom once told me, "Pick your battles". Clothing is one battle that I don't think warrants that much of a struggle, either. She probably (most likely) won't end up in juvie for punching, but the fashion police may get her! ;)

BTW, I think she's adorable!

Mrs. O said...

I think that mom missed the part where you said "when it's not important." It's not like she's dictating everything, just having some control in expressing her inner fashion diva.

M.Howerton said...

Congrats on the scale moving in the right direction - I totally noticed, just forgot to say something. :)
I will celebrate this for you buy eating a yummy brownie, Cheers!

BTW-Avee is adorable in her dresses- funky hobo like or not! That other mom had idea who she was saying that to, so thankfully you cut her some slack. This time.

Erica said...

Haaaaaa
I learned the word penultimate when I was about 11 and I thought it was the biggest word ever and I tried to use it, but I didn't have much luck :)
That purple cake is friggin' AWESOME!! :D

Sarah Tilley said...

avee definitely has the makings of a comic book villainess. "my mom let me dress myself when i was four-- now i'm going to take over the world!!!"

how do you keep from laughing up a lung?

Plain Jame said...

"GUFFAWWWW!" yes our little hooligans running around feeling wreckless and entitled because we let them dress the way they want... We might as well get literature for deviant youth programs now...

So happy your mother is speaking to you again, and is over your wreckless and entitled behavior of dropping her off at 9 months pregnant with a sleeping baby.
Didn't anyone ever tell you to never EVER wake a sleeping baby?
It's going against the laws of nature. I side with the mother. She is ever so sweet.

Charlotte said...

I let my 7 yo dress herself for school every day. She has a style similar to your daughter's, only has learned to put various long sleeved shirts under her outfits to make them warm. I get a kick out of seeing what she comes up with. There is nothing wrong with working punctuation words into your writing, dependant clausically speaking.

omar said...

If you're too strict, they rebel. If you're too loose, they feel entitled to get their way. In summary, parenting is about choosing which way you want to lose.

I find that when I write stuff, I have to fight the urge to use a lot of parenthetical asides. I'll write something, then specifically go back and re-read it to make sure I didn't use parentheses too often. Never once have I prefaced on of my parenthetical asides with the word "parenthetically." He crossed the line.

Jenny P. said...

Sam wears his robin halloween costume at least four days out of every week. When he isn't robin, he's wearing a swimsuit. I KNOW Jordan's teachers think I'm crazy when I come to pick him from school in February and Sam and Lucy are in the back of the van in a swimsuit and a winter coat.

I'm all about individual expression. And seriously. It totally cuts down on the laundry...

Becky said...

Well, we've learned that giving lots of choices is great. Then they will (hopefully) listen to you when it's your turn to chose.
But who knows, we are all just winging it the best we can!!!
(0:

Rebecca said...

that so funny cause reagan wore a sleeveless dress the other day and I made her put a srug on cause it was cold..she wanted it off as soon as we were inside.. and you are righ pick your battles.. we have been many a places in one particular cinderella dress.. and she has survived!!

S said...

Awe desperate housewifes!
Please do not pass sweater on to me. I am still struggling with what to do with the muti autumn colored speedo she gave me a few months/years ago.
Red just asked me to change her diaper does she not know I am blogging GOSH!

Rachelle said...

LOL! Ok, I'm hooked for another 10 years...not that I need a reason, love your blog life! What a cool mom to let her dress how she wants!!! As for the guy with the ridiculous words....giushhh...sometimes people use those words to make them feel good about themselves. I think that is so lame. It drives me to the point of defenestration! I actually have quite a hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliaphobia. I think using big words is nothing but floccinaucinihilipiliphication! Sheesh! ...LOL!

ucmama said...

That cake does rock, especially those pretzel butterfly flowers...

Watch out World, here comes Avee!

Klin said...

The key words were that she let her son do what he wanted way to often.

I let my kids dress themselves. You have got to teach them how to make choices and you don't do that by making their choices for them.

Go Nobo!!! You, my friend, are a good mom.

Heffalump said...

Well, if she let her 12 year old son wear sun dresses when he was little, I can see why she is having a problem now!

Heffalump said...

And now I also want cheesecake. Thank you.

Code Yellow Mom said...

That first pic of Avee is frameable. Seriously.

You could add it to your bedroom wall. :)

I decided I need to go out more - there's funny stuff out there. All I got is books, leaky pipes, and kids with anger management issues, all in the comfort of my own living room. But it's (boring) (in parentheses). I wish they had a Y here.

Congrats on the weight loss! You're my hero. And I'm glad everything's OK with you and your mom again. I was worried.

Sarah said...

The cake reminds me of a blog you did in the past, I believe it was a cookie cake... you'll have to link that for us... happy b-day avee. Honestly you could start her own clothing line, princess is so 2005 but hobo princess is so 2009..

aubreyannie said...

oh dear. i think letting your kids pick their clothes is the most minor thing ever.

i still wish you had guffawed. in her face. you'll never see her again.