I've heard stranger things, but this one is up there

I had a friend tell me a story about another mom telling her daughter to go put lip gloss on before she left the house. And when the child who is nine years old asks why the mother's answer is "because your lips should always look glossy."

You could analyze this until the cows came home, but I'm going to go off on some tangents first. This got me thinking about my childhood.

My mom dreamed about dressing her only daughter in the frilly dresses with two perfect braids tied with pretty bows, but instead she got the daughter that wanted to wear her hair loose and play soccer with the boys (dresses didn't always work out). Now my mom never critiqued me on anything I wore or told me she didn't like what I was wearing, but I knew at certain times she didn't care for my style and would prefer something more girly. Not that she didn't teach me the basics about fashion or other girl things,  but I had a mind of my own and chose to implement what I thought was best for me. I have a point so bear with me.

If you can push the time travel button and hop back to when you were in 4th or 5th grade (about 1985) when the Punky Brewster era was in full blast, I had a pair of red stir up pants, yellow shimmery button down long dress shirt, and two layered socks to match. At the time I thought that outfit was the coolest thing, but looking back on it I probably looked like the ketchup and mustard on a hotdog. No one ever said anything about that outfit (I understand kids are crueler today), not my friends, not my brothers, not my mom.  Maybe people talked behind my back, but I was in a blissfully happy world and never new if they did or didn't. Even an old friend from Kindergarten still remembers our first day on the bus together and what I was wearing. I actually didn't remember what I was wearing, but she reminded me I had on a pair of red corduroy overalls (to this day I still wear a lot of red, I love it). Even back then red corduroy overalls weren't cool, but she became my friend anyway. My point here is people will like you for who you are and not what you wear.

As long as it is weather appropriate and age appropriate, I never tell my girls what to wear. Even when a plaid skirt is worn with a poka dotted shirt and striped tights. Now my mom has changed her views because she constantly is trying to get my kids to match their clothes, but they've learned that when we go to see grandma they put on matching clothes (at home they revert back to what they want to wear). No matter what I tell my three girls (with three completely different personalities and fashion styles) they are going to still choose their own style (the apples don't fall far from the tree). Whether your child hates to wear lip gloss or likes to wear soft pants instead of jeans, why not let them?


As for the mother insisting on the lip gloss, I don't know if she is looking to bring back the Donna Reid era, but are we any different than she is?

Whether you're a parent pushing your child hard in a sport or a parent telling your child they have to wear a certain name brand of clothing, aren't we all looking for the same thing? For our children to fit in, but are we going to far? Yes. I believe parents today are the problem (I've witness some parents do some pretty extreme things to make sure their kid was part of the crowd). If our child isn't perfect in the public's eye, we try to make them conform to be like everyone else or to be normal. What the hell is normal anyway?

I am definitely far from the perfect mother, but I will measure my parenting success on if my children find their inner happiness and become confident in who they are and not what someone tells them they should be. I have a lot of confidence to share (Nik and Mike, I know you're smiling on that one) so I hope to lead by example. Only time will tell.

Handyman Syndrome

As most of you know, my husband is pretty handy when it comes to fixing things. So installing a new garbage disposal shouldn't be too hard. Right? Really how hard can it be? 

First things first, my husband proceeds to take out the old one while I hold the flashlight. Really not as easy as the Youtube video showed (according to him it never is), but after strings of creative cursing and my flawless moral support (still holding the flashlight), he managed to pry the sucker loose.

Now off to the store to buy a new one.

After perusing Menards and running into another family we knew (this happens a lot in our city), we found one that would be a good replacement (Ah, my area of expertise, using the credit card).

Instillation went a little smoother minus the electrical hook up (note: hook up electrical before installing the disposal unless you're a contortionist with small hands), but my husband managed it with his big hands (give yourself an extra 15 minutes).  Now with my expert flashlight holding and handing tools to him, I think I've become well versed (not an expert, but knowledgeable) in the garbage disposal instillation business. It appears pretty straight forward.   

Hot tip for the week. When installing a new garbage disposal, make sure you read all the directions. Apparently when you don't knock the plug out of the dishwasher inlet hole and then you run your dishwasher, the water doesn't have anywhere to go. You may find water exploding out the discharge valve, but just wait it will soon hit the floor and start spreading everywhere. 

Now I'm really ready to install a garbage disposal by myself:)

Lunch Boredom

This entry will be a boring one, but I had to share anyway. I am extremely bored with sandwiches for lunch these days so I've been eating soup instead.

Well today I was out of soup so I had to improvise. I grabbed an avocado (make sure it is nice and ripe), cut it up and mushed it on two pieces of bread (I used whole grain double fiber bread). Usually I'm a butter kind of gal, but the avocado was awesome. Just enough of a flavor change not to bore me. Plus it filled me up and I was able to get one of the super foods into my body for the day.

If you aren't familiar with the super food category, I will list a few:

Blueberries
Walnuts
Avocados
Salmon (not farm raised)
Spinach
Broccoli

The famous To-Do-List

Wednesday
Everyone has one and no one wants to do them. The big To-Do-Lists. I have to write one out every week so I can maximize my efficiency. As a kid, I remember how cool it would be to be an adult. I would be able to drive, have my own place,  hang out with my friends and enjoy life (basically not have to listen to my parents, right?). On the other hand, I was a pretty realistic kid, my parents did prepare me well for working hard in the real world (pulling brush, wheel barreling wood chips, splitting wood with a sledgehammer and a wedge--not an easy task if you've ever split wood, digging up sod, moving rocks--Child Labor Laws? Anyone? Anyone?), but I did like to dream a lot. In my futuristic dream world, it didn't include To-Do-Lists.

I try to plan out my week so I only have to run errands on one day (you know less gas, less wasted time). Can you tell I like to be efficient? Anyway I set out to do my list on a cold raining Wednesday morning.  I head to the bank then off to Kohl's (I can't let that 30% off coupon go to waste). Did I mention I am driving my husband's truck? I have to take it in for an emission test. Of course the tank is almost empty so I head for the gas station. Next I go to Target to pay a bill. Last on the list is the emissions place., which is in Milwaukee so it's a little further than I go on most of my days out (about 20 minutes from where we live). The distance isn't my problem it's the fear of my husband's truck breaking down on the freeway (the truck has seen it's better days, but it still chugs along). Which makes me think the truck might not even pass the test, but what the heck I like living on the edge or maybe that's defying authority.

So I make it to the emissions place no problem except (I know you were waiting for that but...) the place is closed. Out of all the other days of the week, the one day that they are closed is Wednesday. What the hell? Is this the governments new way of saving money to close on a Wednesday? What about giving the employees two consecutive days off? Like try Sunday and Monday not Sunday and Wednesday.  Yes, I know I should've checked online, but I was pretty sure Wednesday would be a safe day. Lesson learned except my whole week is blown now I will have to go back tomorrow. The whole saving on gas and time went up in smoke.

Thursday
Good news. The truck passed. We are good for another two years. Yay!

Middle Child Worries

Child #2 says, "Mom, all the movies are either about love or have a happy ending."

I say, "What a great observation. You are right."

Now her observation is a little bias considering I don't let her watch too many bad movies that don't have happy endings. And my answer is the mama bear trying to keep the big bad world of reality at the front door. But I know sooner or later the front door is going to unlock and open. Well, I would say it has already been unlocked, but not quite open yet. I try to give them as much reality as I can without scaring them.

At six, Child #2 appears to be very intuitive and observant. Hell, I don't even know if I would've made that observation at six (I was the middle child and understand everything Child #2 goes through even though I'm the water and she's the oil). I am completely floored by her comment.

Of course, my mind goes into overdrive. What does this mean? Is she beyond her years already? What career choice would be good for? Will she find a job that will use her skills to the best of her ability? She probably would be great as a scientist. (Don't judge me on this because you know you all do it when your kid does something amazing. You go down that line "Oh he'll be a great doctor or what a savvy lawyer she'll make).

On the flip side, this could be bad for the teenage years. Then a sudden flash of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde comes to mind. The scary mad scientist creating something bad for the world. She already knows how to maneuver and manipulate her sisters into to doing what she wants them to do. Child #2 has a strategic mind where she usually is already two steps ahead of what you are thinking. If scientist doesn't pan out, maybe we can focus her energy on cards. Her dad can start grooming her to play poker for a back up plan. Hey don't laugh. Everyone needs a back up plan.