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Monday, September 15, 2014

A Deal in the Works Whining

Here's my deal: I will make lunches for every single one of Sweet AND Mini's classmates, IF their parents will work out a rotation and come over here and get Sweet and Mini ready for school. Worst. Part. Of. The. Day.

I feel like Nellie Olsen's mother, when she does that exasperated shiver (OK, I looked for a video on YouTube, but I can't remember her mother's name, and I've run out of patience--see above whine for reason why).

What are your whines, pixies? Want to make some kind of a trade? I'm in a mood to make you a good deal!

62 comments:

esperanza said...

Harriett? Is her name Harriett?

kathy a. said...

I am a strong advocate of trading kids off -- other people's kids always listened to me, and I'm told mine were angels for other parents. But that probably won't work for the daily morning grind. Won't get any points for these suggestions, but a combination of bribery and building in a cushion of time (this might involve flat-out lying) mostly got us there.

esperanza said...

This morning's menu of options included: taking the toys away that they were playing with instead of getting ready, lying as to the amount of time we had, yelling, and all of the above. All of the above left us all feeling unhappy.

kathy a. said...

OK, so you don't have the "get out of bed right now, dammit" problem....

One of the tasks in pre-K and K is getting kids in tune with time and schedules, so is it possible to carry over themes from their classrooms?

esperanza said...

no I have the "get your damn clothes on right now dammit" problem.

kathy a. said...

Can you do a dressing before toys rule? Or whatever incentive to get that done sooner than later.

Ugh. Have to report monthly progress on the albatross to the big poobahs -- and the good news is that there is some, despite obstacles. But there is a kind of intermediary who is supposed to help with this and all albatross-related items before I go to poobah-ville, and she is brand new to this albatross, and she says she's in training for the next couple days, and then she'll want to consult with a superior, and -- aarrrgh.

Therefore, we are having chinese take-out tonight, while I have a little netflix therapy.

Liz said...

Have a race?

esperanza said...

Hope albatrosses start to get off the ground smoothly.

Liz, races are verboten in our household, because one party (Mini) always beats the other (poor, motor control challenged Sweet). Losing all the time does not fun make.

I have several tricks that have worked over the years (hey! Can you get your socks off before I finish singing the ABCs?, etc), but they are old and tired now.

Tired of the whole thing, even tired of whining about it. Thanks for listening.

Liz said...

(((Esperanza)))

Liz said...

Looks like I used to have this same issue: http://mysterymommy.blogspot.com/2010/05/you-must-be-dressed-to-play-ds.html

kathy a. said...

Well then. This is where the parental creativity rubber meets the road, no? I cannot say enough good things about school uniforms, and/or laying out clothes the night before.

Competitions with my kids generally worked OK when they had to work together -- like on a cooperative cleanup within a certain timeframe. NOT when it involved any comparison between them. On an individual basis when they got older, doing better at something than they could before -- no comparison to the sib.

Liz said...

Also, what if they could BOTH race YOU? Can they work cooperatively to get ready before mommy? Is ONE mommy faster than TWO kidlets?

esperanza said...

We've done the team up against Mommy race. Yes, I am fastest, even with having to put on a bra, even the tricky, tricky sports bra. :) We haven't done that in a while, maybe I'll resurrect it.

kathy a, choosing the clothes isn't the trouble (yet), it's just getting moving.

esperanza said...

Today they lost screen time for the way they acted this morning and after school put together. We'll see if that makes a difference tomorrow.

Sue said...

(((esperanza)))

Good luck with the albatross kathy!

AW: The congregation voted yesterday to begin construction on a main-floor accessible washroom off the sanctuary.

W: I feel more deflated than excited. When I was hired 13 years ago, I was told that making the sanctuary accessible was a top priority. The project is being paid for (mostly) with federal grant money. We have to come up with roughly $6000, which won't be a problem.

This could have, and should have, happened a long time ago. It was always put aside in favour of some mythical strategic plan - "Why renovate when we might not even be here in 10 years?"

Anyway, I'm just feeling whiny. It's a good thing to see happening. So many of our folks can't easily use the stairs to the basement where the washrooms are. It's all good.

kathy a. said...

Thirteen years? For a strategic priority?? Olympic gold for that victory, Sue. xoxo

kathy a. said...

oooh, oooh -- Esperanza. Could it possibly be an inducement to promise the girls a look at ONE special thing on the internet if they are ready in time? Maybe an email with a photo; maybe one thing from a cute overkill site; or whatevs. Trying to look for a way to put the positive on what I know is a long slog.

esperanza said...

This morning much better. Thanks for listening.

Liz said...

YAY!!!

Sue said...

Yay esperanza!!!

esperanza said...

Sue, the phrase "about damn time" comes to mind. Does this mean your sweetie will be able to come?

Sue said...

Agreed esperanza. I think it's the "about damn time" aspect of it all that has me feeling less than celebratory. Yes, it means sweetie can come to church. He hasn't been in the building since 2005.

The question now is, does he even want to attend a church that hasn't exactly made him feel welcome? He's a free agent - if he's not inclined to attend, I'm not going to force the issue. Except perhaps on Christmas Eve. :)

esperanza said...

I can see why he might be reluctant...

kathy a. said...

Sue, what finally brought them around? Or was it more a matter of the people tossing up obstacles finally backing off?

It's amazing to me that this ridiculous saga persisted for so long. Refusing to act even when the pastor's husband has to stop coming to church is nothing short of an insult (although I'm sure nobody would cop to an *intentional* insult); but he is far from the only person affected. You have mentioned elders who have trouble with the stairs; I can well imagine that's a problem for families with young kids, too, or anybody with shortness of breath, or a broken leg, etc. etc. It's particularly ridiculous when the cost to the congregation is VERY low. Cluesticks.

Sue said...

The same old concerns were raised at the meeting on Sunday, but they were shot down for the first time by the Power People in the congregation. I've had personal conversations over the years with all of the PP, trying to impress on them just what you said - it's not just about my partner, it's all the other people that stopped coming b/c of the damn stairs.

Multiple cluesticks needed...

esperanza said...

W: Load #7 of laundry today. Now I remember why I don't usually do Mr. E's (he's done it himself lo these many years). Feeling bad because I unloaded on him unfairly yesterday = lots of clean laundry.

kathy a. said...

Good for you, holding a boundary lo these many years. But also good to do a kind deed, thinking of something else you could have done better. xoxo

Passing teh chocolate, because following up on a professional something led me to another person, and then to yet another person who gave me GOLD to use in an albatross-related problem. GOLD! Faith in humanity, affirmed.

Sue said...

Yay for albatross Gold!!!

W: My hair is frizzy today. This is unfortunate.

kathy a. said...

SIL: It was really fortunate we were able to avoid hospitalization! and she's calmer with the med change. But "calmer" means -- she said she called the police to report her ex stole her cats (she didn't call; he didn't steal); not only does she need an apartment right now, but also her phone and her car; she's resurrected the (false) story about her mom stealing her car and running her over. Etc. It's the brain damage talking. Would not wish this disease on anyone. Heck of a place where you're grateful that at least she's no longer trying to beat up old ladies on the dementia unit....

Kitteh update: Oh, Minnie's so brave! And funny! She decided to go more public yesterday, and has been hanging out in the open -- mostly in the living room, dining room, kitchen. And she's being very playful.

AW: we might get some rain!

kathy a. said...

Oh, sending the Stylin' Fairy to Sue. ;)

Sue said...

(((kathy))) I'm glad SIL's meds are helping, but you're right, it's a heck of a place to be in.

Yay Minnie!!! Brave girl.

Fingers crossed for the rain.

W: Hubby's eye glasses did a full destruction off a cliff (well, out of his hand) last night. Seriously broken. So we found his pre-bifocal glasses, which were also broken, but not as badly. Between him not being able to see and me having far too many thumbs to get those teeny tiny screws into the arm hinge, we were quite a sight.

AW: He has an appointment Tuesday with the eye doc - he needs a new prescription anyway and had been putting it off. New! Glasses!

esperanza said...

Ack! Glasses disasters are the stuff of my nightmares. Seriously, almost all of my nightmares involve not being able to see something. Hope a new Rx does the trick.

((kathy a)) I hope SiL continues to be calm and non-hospitalized.

W: hubby did something...er...not dumb, but insensitive (made him feel good to do it, disregarded others' feelings) regarding the Chunky Unpleasantness. Commence beating-himself-up behavior. Sigh. I thought this was almost done.

kathy a. said...

Glasses -- them breaking is also one of my nightmares, and I'm pretty sure I need a new pair anyway.

Esperanza, so sorry about the continuing ripples of badness. You know this, he knows this -- but when a mistake is maybe made, all one can really do is move forward. xoxo

esperanza said...

I know. Moving forward is what he was trying to do, quicker than some people were ready. So now he has to dwell on this mistake. Draining every bit of energy from me right now. Sigh.

AW: Sweet can read all of her 16 sight words.

kathy a. said...

Go, Sweet! I have some artisan choc covered grahams -- anybody want some?

esperanza said...

W...and then she had a total meltdown because beans leaked out of her taco.

That's the kind of day we're having around here. So, yes please, chocolate of any sort will do nicely.

kathy a. said...

Beans are *supposed* to leak out of a taco! (But this might actually be why we have burrito night instead of soft taco night.) This too will pass.

kathy a. said...

* Our burrito night features soft taco sized tortillas. Because burrito sized are ridiculous.

esperanza said...

The line between burrito and taco is pretty blurry around here. Her preference is beans (refried, except I just cook and then mash them), grated cheddar, corn tortilla folded over once. Only slightly warmer than room temp.

KLee said...

Late-breaking whine -- what was supposed to be a simple checkup at the doctor's office today turned into a marathon session including SIX plood pressure checks and four prescriptions.

We are monitoring what was a seriously elevated blood pressure, and changing meds in hopes that will bring it down. On the upside, the doctor was very personable, and made me feel like a person, not just another chart to get through, which sometimes happens because my doctors office is where the large teaching hospital in the area uses their residents for regular patient care.

Also a plus, they told me to go home and rest instead of making me go back to work after 2+ hours of being squeezed to death by the blood pressure machine which hates me and NEVER gives an accurate reading.

Sending love and hugs to all pixies, but especially to our sistren who are dealing with mental deterioration and unbloggables.

Queen of West Procrastination said...

(((KLee))) I've been there, and I'm glad that you're at home and resting instead of still being squeezed by the machines.

I'll catch up on all the rest of the whining in the morning, but I'm home alone and had to share a combination of antiwhine and gross whine:

So, Mr. Q is out of town for the next two nights, at the big high school retreat. E and I are somewhat handling it better this year than last (she cried a lot, and watched double her normally allowed dose of TV, and I've been in pain all day with cramps, but this is better than last year).

So. By bedtime we were getting a handle on things. She identified a few letters. After her bath, she asked to use the potty, and then peed! I felt like I'm doing so well at this parenting thing. Then, when she was done, she took off running, not wearing a stitch. I caught her, and got her into her pjs and into bed.

When I was putting her in her crib, she shoved her hand into my face, and I caught the strong smell of pee. I forgot to wash her hands after potty time, and she must have peed on her hand. And, since she was basically asleep (and I'm so scared to mess with that), I put her into her crib anyway.

So: the parenting win was immediately followed by gross failure.

esperanza said...

KLee, sorry for the doctor's office trauma. As if sitting there with that thing squeezing your arm is going to reduce your blood pressure.

QWP, don't sweat it.

AW: a delightful thunderstorm with beneficial rain
W: right at going-to-school time

Sue said...

(((KLee))) Home is much better than the doc's office with squeezing machines. Ugh.

(((QWP))) You're doing fine. Hope the cramps are better today.

Mmmmm....tacos.

kathy a. said...

KLee, ugh about the MD visit. Hope they can get it under control without much more trauma!

QWP, I'd just count that as a potty training victory! But should there be a future sleepytime need, a washcloth or a baby wipe will clean a little something or another up without rousing the drowsing.

Liz said...

(((KLee))). Do they have a BP cuff that fits you? Or are they using the wrong size? Because it shocked the crap out of me to find out that those things come in sizes.

QWP, I believe mightily in the warm damp washcloth for tidying up oopses after sleep has arrived. Also, trimming fingernails is easier when the victim...er I mean child...is asleep.

Liz said...

Muffin Man had a slightly scary episode on Tuesday, for which we are having doctors appointments out the wazoo today. More on that later maybe.

Meanwhile, I'm having my usual autumnal allergy attack where my lungs try to escape out my mouth during coughing fits. #Ouch.

esperanza said...

((Liz)) ((MM))

kathy a. said...

((( Liz ))) omg, hope all is OK with MM. And you -- are you doing the anti-allergy stuff, using your inhaler before it gets bad? [I'm assuming inhaler.] xoxox

KLee, yeah, they do come in sizes. It helped me get things under better control to have a BP machine at home -- which I used obsessively for a while, keeping results in a little notebook along with notes about what might have affected pressure. For what it is worth, even on my BP meds I almost always get re-tested at the MD office, because my BP goes up in an official white-coat setting. xoxo

kathy a. said...

AW: Not one, but 2 artistic events in early October! A college friend took up welding a few years ago, and is about to have the first solo art show of her sculptures! And another college friend is featured in a documentary about art he made while looking into a large feline species in a distant place, viewing followed by an art show and reception! A very happy coincidence, and I'll get to see some longtime friends.

Queen of West Procrastination said...

Oh, that sounds really nice, kathy!

(((Liz)))

W: E woke up at 5 this morning. I'm exhausted. I tried to nap when she did, but there a steady stream of phone calls (and I couldn't shut off the phone because my parents are coming over soon) and other nonsense. I'm basically delirious this point.

kathy a. said...

Here, have a quality choc graham. Or some twix? I am pretty sure that cures exhaustion delirium, at least in the short term. ;)

Sue said...

(((Liz))) (((MM)))

I hope you got some rest QWP.

Sounds awesome kathy!!

kathy a. said...

Esperanza, Nellie Oleson's mom was called Harriet! I never saw the series, but can well imagine the character shivering in exasperation. Don't imagine you're alone there.

Daughter's work is going well, I think -- but every other day, she is exasperated about all these loose untended ends that the guy who retired left behind. Or to be more precise, that she is the one who gets the calls about them, and she doesn't have any good answers, because a lot of sorting out needs to happen. I feel her pain, but honestly, I can't solve this -- and learning to be polite to frustrated customers seems to be part of her job now, so all I can recommend is being polite, and working on solving the stuff that isn't in order.

KLee said...

Some days, do you wish that your coworkers had just stayed the hell home?! I got called into my principal's office today because a supposedly grown-ass woman went to tattle on me. Never mind the fact that she doesn't even do HER OWN damn job, she had to go put on her tattle pants and try to get me in trouble. Really? Have you been around five and six year olds so long that you're now ACTING like them?

Grow! The! Hell! Up!

kathy a. said...

"Tattle pants" is definitely prize-worthy. ;)

Queen of West Procrastination said...

Oh my goodness, KLee, I'm rounding up the posse.

AW: Mr. Q is home! Right now, I am not giving my toddler a bath (because he is).

W: you guys, please make me step away from the internet. I'm entangled in a Train Wreck Book of Faces thread about child discipline, in light of current events in sports. Things seemed to have come to a civil understanding when an older dad piped up and recommended something that's illegal in our country, and then everyone involved in child protection had to remind everyone that it's illegal, and I thought that was the awkward/horrifying end of things, but I just saw that a friend just made a comment that up agree with, but is stated in such a way that it's going to be personally insulting to a lot other people. Must stop watching train wreck!

esperanza said...

KLee, that's ridiculous.

QWP, step away! Step away!

kathy a. said...

Run, Q, run!

Queen of West Procrastination said...

AW: it's Saturday morning, I have a cup of tea, and I'm utterly, blissfully, alone. The only living creature in the entire house (upstairs neighbours and their dog are away, and Mr. Q and Li'l E are shopping). Perfect. I hope you all are finding rest on this weekend, somehow.

kathy a. said...

QWP, yay for the quiet time!

Old skool: the little arm behind the handle for the toilet flusher, that connects to a chain that connects to the flap in the tank? It broke.

esperanza said...

kathy a, that toilet oopsie should be easy to fix. Just remember that the handle is threaded backward from everything else in the world (so it's left to tighten and right to loosen, otherwise every time you flush, it would fall off).

Awards in a bit...

kathy a. said...

This is apparently a ManOfTheHouse job, which I could totally do, but then we'd hear unfavorable reviews. That is an excellent tip!