I never would have imagined this

A few months back I dropped my 5 year old son and 3 year old son off at a friends house while I went to see the doctor.
After I returned I asked the usual, “How were they?”
My friend told me they were great and then asked me if they always got so involved in imaginary play.
I asked her exactly what she meant and she told the following story:

Count Dooku and Obi-Wan Kenobi were playing in a little kids tent that this family owns. Obi-Wan (3), used some imaginary keys to unlock some imaginary windows and doors on the tent. Then he went inside.
Count Dooku (5) then reached in at Obi-Wan and “grabbed” the imaginary keys from him, and proceeded to lock all the imaginary windows and doors.
Obi-Wan began freaking out. He was yelling for the keys and sobbing in a matter of seconds because he couldn’t get out.
My friend told Count Dooku he ought to give the keys back to Obi-Wan. Count Dooku cooperated and Obi-Wan unlocked the many windows and doors and then let himself out, after which he finally calmed down.

I listened in awe, not sure if I should laugh or be concerned. Never had I ever seen my boys put on a display of that magnitude. Sure, they use their imaginations in play but they had only ever offered me an imaginary bite to eat every now and then.

Now I deal with fights over imaginary objects on a regular basis.
For weeks now it’s been the Piston Cup, from Disney Pixar Cars.
They’ll have a foot race, one will win, and then hold out his hand diplaying this grand Piston Cup.
Then the other will steal it. And they go back and forth stealing an imaginary Piston Cup from each other and crying.

I’ve tried reason – “It’s just fake, imagine your own Piston cup!”
I’ve tried pleading with the more mature child – “Count Dooku, you are 5 years old, you understand this Piston Cup thing is fake, but your brother doesn’t. Now stop stealing it from him!!”
I’ve tried joining the tangle – “The Piston cup is mine!!! There, now stop fighting over it!”

What in the world do you do when your children are quarreling over something intangible? Have you dealt with this from your kids? How did you solve it, or have you yet?

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Forget Gray Hair….

….I’m going to have no hair by the time I get done raising my kids.
I remember being newly married and so excited to start my family. I wanted a baby right away. Thirteen months later I got my wish. As I held my sweet little son in my arms I fell instantly in love.
I couldn’t wait to change his diaper, watch him crawl, see him walk, hear him talk and grow in so many other ways.
WHOA! Wait a minute!! Grow?!?
He’s going to grow up. The realization hit me like a brick.
I knew I had signed on for a baby, but I forgot about the toddler part, the middle school part, the teenage part, and the part where, no matter how old he got I would always be his mom.
Not that it would have changed my decision had I thought about it beforehand, but it seemed a lot to take in at that moment.
While the thought of his growing up can be overwhelming, it’s also very relieving.
He won’t be 5 forever, I tell myself often.
I’ll be tearing my hair out over different things in a little while. At least that will be a change of pace eh?
I love being a mom, but it is possibly the most taxing thing I’ve ever done.
Pregnancy itself has aged my body a good 10 years or so. And then there’s hearing “Mom” a million times a day said in so many different ways.
“Mooooom!” screaming in terror
“Moo-oooom” Tattle telling on a sibling
“Mom?” asking a questiton
“Mom!!!” usually said this way after I’ve channeled out the previous four Moms
Then of course there’s the fighting over toys, cleaning the crayon off the walls and the fruit snacks ground into the carpet.

Why do I do this again?

Oh yes.
It’s because of the wet kisses I get when I fix a toy, little arms around my neck before they get tucked into bed, their unabashed excitement about getting an ice cream cone, melted ice cream all over their chins and cheeks, the giggling I hear when they watch a kids movie, their tears and big eyes that say I’m sorry when they’ve done something they shouldn’t have.
For me, becoming a parent taught me unconditional love.
When each of my children was born, I knew that no matter what they did in their lives, I would always love them fiercely.
That doesn’t mean I won’t be bald by the time my kids grow up, but it will have been a small price to pay for the love I’ve gotten to feel, and the things they’ve taught me.

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My Five Questions

Shannon, over at Rocks in my Dryer has a Meme on her blog today titled Five Questions. I thought it would be fun to answer these five random questions she’s put up.

1. If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?
No bake peanut butter oatmeal cookies.
I’ve been craving peanut butter and oatmeal ever since I started nursing (and I love these cookies anyway) so definitely the above.

2. What’s the most nerve-racking “close call” you’ve ever had?
An anti-depressant combined with thyroid medication could have sent me into a coma. I found out later that in very rare instances the two can interact toxically.
Instead of the coma I was stricken with instant panic disorder and was too sick to eat for a few days

3. Name five features your ultimate dream house would have
A. A very large backyard with pool and garden
B. Vaulted Ceilings
C. A Play room and Game room
D. Jetted Tub in the Master Bath
E. A HUGE kitchen with tons of counter space, an island, Frigidaire 40″ Freestanding Dual Fuel Range with 5 Sealed Gas Burners & EvenCook3 Element Stainless Stell Convection System, trash compactor and triple sink basin

4. Who has been the most influential non-relative in your life?
My best friend Michelle. We met at age 14 and have been through a lot together. She has been instrumental in shaping who I am and I consider her to have saved my life when I went through some dark times

5. What one non-physical feature would you most like to change about yourself?
I would love for something I struggle with, OCD to simply disappear. It has played a part in making me a better person I think but I would be happy if I woke up one day and it was simply gone.

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Fantastic Friday!

If you are a stay at home mom, you may have noticed that recognition of what day it is, is often shaky at best or may have disappeared entirely.
Days have names no longer, just meanings. The same meaning – entertaining the kids, over and over and over and over again.
But today, oh today, I actually know it is Friday. How, you ask?
My husband had mentioned earlier in the week that the latest Disney Pixar film, Ratatouille opened today.
He also mentioned perhaps ditching some work so we could see it as a family.
Then he remembered that taking a 2 month old to the theatre is not a good idea.
One of us would have to stay with the baby.
Can you hear the wheels turning in my head already?
“That’s okay honey. You go with the boys and I’ll stay with the baby.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes I’m sure. I’ll watch it when it comes out on DVD.”

So off they went. And I rejoiced.
Now I have a glorious two hours with just the baby.
My brain tells me the dishes need unloading, the laundry needs folding and the bathrooms need disinfecting.
I also hear Lego Star Wars II calling.
Hmmmm…..
Sometimes, it’s okay to put off the housework and do something completely unbeneficial for myself or others.
I think I will.

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Focusing on the Positive

You know the story.
It’s 5:30p.m. You’re trying to fix dinner for the crowd.
The baby starts screaming. With babe in one arm and spoon in the other you attempt to stir the sauce in the pot on the stove top.
“What’s for dinner?” Little Davy asks
“Spaghetti,” you answer keeping it short
“I don’t like spaghetti!” Davy says stomping his foot
“I’m sorry but this is dinner, you’ll eat what’s served.” you say calmly
Davy walks off with a pout.
The baby, though not screaming is still crying intermittently in your arm.
Suddenly a wail is heard from the back room. It’s followed by running feet. Davy is chasing Andy with a lightsaber. Andy is now screaming and crying, “NOOO, noo!!!!”
He has run to you for cover and is hanging on your legs, Davy in hot pursuit.
“Stop it!” you start shouting trying to push Andy away with a spaghetti covered spoon. “I’m going to fall!”
The baby and Andy are still crying.
You grab the light saber from Davy’s hand and throw it into the living room. Now Davy is crying
“Everyone to the bedroom!” you boom
It’s now 5:40, your husband should have been home 10 minutes ago. You’re fuming that he isn’t there to help control the kids. Ater all you know he’s hungry after a long day and you are making the effort to have a meal ready, the least he can do is be there on time right?
You hear the sound of keys in the lock, a moment later the kids come running out happily yelling, “Daddy!!”
As your husband walks in the house you:

A. Angrily ask him where in the world he’s been. He goes on the defensive and a clash of words ensues
B. Mutter a small hi and give him the silent treatment the rest of the night
C. Say, “I’m so glad you’re home” and ask him to help with the kids so you can finishing preparing dinner.

Sadly I’ve been guilty of A and B too many times. Since when did my children acting up become my husbands fault? Usually at dinnertime, when he’s late.
He doesn’t show up late as much as he used too, but I ought to have practiced gratitude that he was there to help remedy the situation more than frustration that he hadn’t been there sooner.
I’m so grateful I have a husband who works hard to support our family, (even when it makes him late for dinner) and who takes time to play with his kids.
I find I am a much happier person when I try to accentuate the positive in every situation. I don’t always remember to do so but I’m trying.

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Quick Guide to Summer’s Nook

What you’ll find on this blog:

In the side bar to the right under Pages I have set the following links:

All about Summer is a quick blurb about me
Recipes will be updated at random our favorite family recipes
The Book Nook is a listing of my favorite books.
The Book Nook Jr. is a listing of my children’s favorite books with links to descriptions if possible

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Introducing….

…the newest blog on wordpress.com, Summer’s Nook.
That’s right, my own little retreat amid my often hectic world of parenting.
What is it all about?
Children, marriage, household helps, taking time to relax, etc.
My hope for this site is to share what I know, that perhaps someone else may benefit thereby. Perhaps someone will find encouragement in simply knowing someone else out there is in a similar situation in life. Perhaps I can teach someone something new.
I also hope to learn from the comments of those who traffic this site as well.

“God has not called us to see through each other, but to see each other through.” ~Author Unknown

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