Mom tag

So, I stole this tag from Tiffany's blog. She said I could, indirectly. I usually skip tags because they are all essentially the same re-emailed over and over but I liked this one, so here goes:


1. What time do my kids wake up? Lenna around 645, but she isn't allowed to leave her room until 7. Andy will sleep till 830 or so if I let him.

2. On a good night, what time do my kids go to sleep? Usually around 8, sometimes by 730 if they are sick or really tired. Sometimes we get distracted and it is closer to 9. They will fall asleep standing up after 930.

3. How long have I been a mom? almost 7 years

4. How old was I when I became a mom? 22

5. What's my favorite kid show? I like Super Y on PBS. Non-violent super heroes that teach pre-reading skills by hopping through books. What's not to love?

6. Least Favorite kid TV show? Elmo's World. I hate the "la-la-la" song. I was so happy when they outgrew that part of Sesame Street.

7. My Favorite Chore? Ick. I am tired and can't think of anything I like doing right now that involves housework. Does reading bedtime stories count? How about reading parenting books? I like doing that!

8. My Favorite Meal to cook? Umm, does dessert count? Because I like making dessert. How about breakfast. I like my waffle iron and making shapes with pancake batter and nothing beats cold cereal with milk in a pinch.

9. What's the meal cooked most often? Does PBJ count? Because that wins hands down. Otherwise, I am going with any kind of pasta with a jarred sauce.

10. What is the kids favorite meal? mac and cheese with chicken nuggets. I used to make this all the time until I read the packaging and saw how terrible it was for them, now I try to only serve it once in a while.

11. What is my favorite thing that Mike does with the kids? He plays with them, all of the physical loud games I don't. Today they spent 45 minutes playing football in the hallway. They line up one at each end and charge each other. The one with the ball has to plow through to the end and do a touchdown spike and crazy dance, then they all change places. Definitely something I would never do, but really important!

12. What are the 5 things that make me smile while being a mom?
The funny things they say. I told Andy his picture that he painted was pretty he said, "No Mom! I am a boy, so my picture is handsome!" Lenna wanted to sing me a song she had learned but said "Go somewhere I can't see you and pretend you can't hear so I don't get shy and forget the words!" When I see them loving each other, Lenna kissing his bumps, Andy hugging her when she is sad, that sort of thing. Watching them play with Mike. When I get kisses and hugs and little "I love you"s. Watching them learn new things and do things they are proud of.

13. Where do I want to take my kids someday? Everywhere! Mike and I talk about buying an RV when they are teens and spending summers traveling the US seeing all the sights. Also traveling to Europe to see all the great places.

14. When was the last time Mike and I went out without the kids?
Ummm. I think it was my last doctors appointment, two months ago. We got a sitter for the appointment and stopped at a drive through on the way home. We have another doctor date tomorrow night, but have arranged to actually go to a real restaurant this time.

15. One thing you said you'd never do as a mom? The list is too long. The most recent word-eating- "I will never let my kids play video games!" Andy came home from a play date super excited about a game he had played and found a VSmile at the lending library. Since I had just said "You can pick anything, but only one thing" and he had his arms wrapped around it, I relented. We have instituted a ticket system to limit his time, and so far it is working.

16. Favorite past time with my kids? I love going to the library and bookstore with Lenna. She is a fellow book worm and I am so glad. We used to spend hours there before Andy got to big to be locked in his stroller. Now we have to limit our browsing to his attention span. I like working with Andy in the kitchen. As long as I let him do just about everything and get really messy he lasts long enough to finish and have a good conversation without any vroom sounds.

17. Favorite quality that my mom has? She wants the best for her kids and will do anything she can to get it for them- college, track shoes, flowers on a wedding cake, a prom dress, a million books. She gave up a lot while we were growing up so we could have what we wanted and still does it for her grand kids.

18. Advice for new mom's? Yikes! Am I an old mom yet? I still put myself in the new mom category because I feel like I know nothing. But if it was one thing, I would say pick your battles. Superman pjs to preschool won't kill him, neither will the pink dress over the purple sweater with green tights. In fact, you can give in to the m&ms for potty training and the doughnuts for breakfast, too. They will survive!

19. What’s a scary or heartbreaking moment you've had? Scary- I lost Lenna in a Wal-Mart in Texas. She liked to hide in the clothes racks and I thought she was right beside me but couldn't find her for about five minutes. I finally panicked and got a cashier, who found her heading out the door to the car. She was 3. Andrew almost drowned last year at a pool party. He jumped in while I was getting lunch, and none of the adults sitting around the pool bothered to reaching and grab the sputtering, sinking two year old. I crossed the pool deck, took off shoes, and dropped lunch and jumped in to get him before anyone else moved. We took swimming lessons this year before he was allowed near the pool without Mike and I holding on to him.

20. When was the last time your kids said I love you? I am a very lucky mom. I get at one I love you at bed time, usually at any goodbye, and whenever they really want something they don't usually get. So the last time was earlier tonight while putting them to bed.

So that's me and my parenting philospohy in a snapshot. Flawed, but trying hard to succeed and enjoy the journey.