Sippycup

Product Review: Listerine

Listerine, yes, the mouthwash, has come up with a really cool new product, Agent Cool Blue Plaque Detecting Rinse.   

This rinse is designed to help your kids brush their teeth better.  It's works so well even Steve and I want to brush our teeth more often. 

What's so cool about it? It turns your teeth BLUE or PINK!  Blue, if you go with the Glacier Mint Flavor and pink if you are a fan of Bubble Blast. What kid can resist that?  Steve and I can't.

This product is designed for kids 6 and older to help identify areas they usually miss by tinting the plaque build up.  Emma (age 3) has been swishing it around quite well and constantly asking to brush her teeth. I'm telling you the darn thing works.

This is one fun, cool and practical product I wish they had invented long ago.

Problem of the Week: Playdates

Now that Emma is going back to preschool, I thought I'd make things easier on all of us (mainly me) by inviting some of her friends out for play dates.  In the hopes that when she goes back next week she'll at least be comfortable around a few kids. 

Well my friends, this play date stuff sucks! There's just no other way of describing it.  It's just like dating all over again!

Step One-The Call:  You leave the same super long message on a machine hoping for a quick call back.  The hours pass, and no call. You silently begin to feal rejection.  Maybe I came on too strong. You start to doubt yourself, are other moms out there cooler?  Maybe it just wasn't meant to be. Finally (it's really the next day, but it felt like forever), a call back.

Step Two-The Meeting: You discuss all the possibilities.  My place or yours?  We decide on neutral territory, a local park.  The big day arrives.  You pack snacks for all (want to be generous), fix everyones hair (want to look presentable),  and wipe everyones snots (one last look in the rear view for any bats in the cave).  You have your husband promise to call exactly 30 minutes into the date so that if things aren't going well you can fake an emergency and leave. He never calls, your stuck there for the rest of the eve.

Step Three-Get Acquainted:  Next thing you know, the kids all run off to climb the jungle gym leaving you and this "new" mom no choice but to talk.  This is no small task, especially if you land one from another planet.  You have nothing in common.  The awkward silence is broken when she asks if you like your current cleaning lady.  How the hell am I supposed to answer that? I AM THE CLEANING LADY!

Step Four-The Big Decision: The date is over.  Do you take it to the next level?  Invite them over or just call it quits and search for someone else? 

There's got to be an easier way.

Top Reasons We Love/Hate When Dad Takes the Kids Out

Love:

Bonding:  It only takes a few minutes of alone time with Dad to make your kids realize how cool he is.  Mom would never let them do half the stuff dad let's them do. "Sure, you can eat sand, it will put hair on your chest".

Alone Time For Mom:  Finally, some much needed alone time for you to curl up with a nice book or soak in a warm bath. Yeah, right, you wish, it's really time for you to scrub the toilets without having to worry that one of your rugrats will try to "help" you by sprinkling Ajax throughout the house.

The House Stays Clean:  You can clean up the Leggo's in the living room and they will stay clean. At least until they walk back in the door. 

Hate:

Sugar Rush:  Dad will spend the entire time pumping sugar into their little systems to keep them high as kites while they're with him.  And gracefully hand them over to you when they're ready to crash.

Mother Theresa Syndrome: Dad will spend the rest of the day feeling like Mother Theresa because he had to deal with them for an entire hour.  He'll insist that he's not wired for kids (like we are).

Whining:  You will hear nonstop whining the entire evening about how daddy caused frost bite (no sweaters), dehydration (no water), and a bladder infection (no potty stops/diapers packed).

I Meant To Do That

So, is it just me or is every child out there a smart ass?  (Maybe it's just mine).

Today, a usually hectic morning was complicated with a doctors visit for myself.  This meant getting everyone dressed and to my parents house by 9:30 a.m.  While shoveling a few spoonfuls of leftover spaghetti (it's not just for dinner anymore) into Sean's mouth I pleaded with Emma to please get herself dressed. 

Now keep in mind that the child has mastered the ability to dress herself for at least a year, minus the occasional help needed to put on her rainbow stockings.  The same stockings she insists on wearing even when temperatures reach three digits.

Every morning I wake up optimistic that today I won't have to repeat myself a million times. "Emma, please get dressed." Her only response will be "O.K. Mom"  She'll reappear in three minutes "I'm done. Oh, and by the way, I made my bed too."

But today is not that day.  While I'm prepping diapers and wipes she's way off in la la land.  I need to get out the door.  I get frustrated.  I lose my patience.  I wind up dressing her.  It feels like I'll be doing this even when she's in college.  It's not that she doesn't try, but with Emma everything is SO COMPLICATED!

"Just put these on"  I toss a pair of underwear, while changing Sean's diaper.  "Mom, it's Friday, I can't wear Spongebob underwear. Those are for special occasions.  Or is it someone's Birthday?  In that case it would be o.k.  Actually, I prefer to wear my Fruit of the Loom's but only if the one's with flowers are available, otherwise my Tinker Bell's will be fine."

For goodness sakes child! It's only underwear! I take a deep breathe and  tell myself that for Emma, choosing the appropriate underwear is a sensitive matter.  After all, the wrong pair could make or break her entire day.  I remind myself that she would spend her entire life walking around in her underwear if society didn't frown upon it (actually, underwear is a compromise, she would rather go stark naked).

Finally, we agree on the blessed Fruit of The Looms (with flowers) and throw some pants on.  "That's it, Emma.  You need to put your shirt on by yourself and be at the door in one minute or I'm leaving without you (I just might one of these days)". 

She did it. Yeah! A small victory for moms across the globe.

It was a bright orange shirt with three huge black bats on it and she was wearing it backwards.  I mustered up a rushed "Good job, Emma but your shirt is on backwards".  As  I walked toward the child that can never be wrong,  she answered:  "Oh, yeah, I meant to do that mom. That way when I walk away from you it will look like the bats are flying away."   How do you argue with that?

Happy Birthday To Sippycup Sarah

A friend is someone who knows the song in your heart and can sing it back to you when you have forgotten the words.

Author Unknown

Here's to another year.  Hope that there are many more to come. Cheers!! To a wonderful woman who is always willing to listen without judging or laughing (unless she's supposed to).

LOL

Happy Birthday Little Man

Today is Sean's 2nd birthday and even after a great pool party, I feel like crying.  It's just going by way too fast.   Especially because this might be my last chance to celebrate 2.  I wish I could put him on pause for just one more year.  I'd love to have his hands stay little.  I love the way they feel when he grabs my face to pull me in for a smooch.  And I love the way his little voice sounds when he pronounces thing funny like "Sawa and Bilbur" (Sarah and Wilbur).  It makes me so nostalgic to think that by next year those little things will be gone.

We also celebrated Steve's birthday today and his parents gave him a card that read: See how much you love your children, that's how much we love you.   Those words were so beautiful.

You're made of stone if they don't make you cry too.

It's nice to know that no matter how much our children change over the years, our love for them will stay the same.

Kid Quotes: You Mean Mom's a Girl?

This quote was submitted by a fellow Sippycupper, Mary from Louisiana.

Well here's one on my sisters behalf:  While trying on a cute dress at a clothing store,  she asked her 3-year-old son what he thought of it.  He replied (with wide open eyes): "WOW, MOMMA YOU'RE A GIRL?"

He was in shock for the rest of the day.

On behalf of the 'Sippycup Gals', thanks Mary and keep them coming.  Hey, It's nice to know it only takes our kids 3 years to figure out that moms are also women. Guess they're not used to seeing us in anything other than jeans and t-shirts.

Kid Quotes: Ballet and Humble Pie

After a lot of primping for a night out I was finally ready.  Not bad for a 34-year-old mother of two I told myself.  Finally, a good hair day and even my wrinkles are being kind. Looking for a little ego boost, I proceeded to ask one of my biggest fans what she thought of the end product.  "Emma", I asked, "how does mommy look for the ballet tonight"?  Her reply: "Wow mom cool, but where's your tutu"? 

Not exactly what I was expecting.  Nothing like a kid to keep you humble.

Don't it Make Me Blue

Last night was a much needed dinner and bowling session with Sarah.  Much needed to cure my blues. 

Why so blue?  Well, there's just no easy way of saying this, so I'll just blurt it out....SARAH IS MOVING! AUGH!!!!!  Yes, she's picking up and going to Siberia. 

Actually, she's moving to Valencia, but it might as well be Siberia.  It's a bittersweet thing, she bought a house. Yeah!  But it's not across the street (like she is now) it's far, far away! Boo hoo hoo.

To make matters worse, she's taking the whole family with her (I guess that's what most normal families do when they buy a new house).

This news has rocked my world.  I'm not prepared for this.  It's a cruel, cruel world out there and good friends are so hard to find (drinking buddies even harder).  Sarah was both.   

I can't begin to think about not having Sarah to detox with after a long day.  Already I feel like I'm drowning. 

Who is always willing to listen to me gripe about the kids or Steve or my mother (don't worry she'll never reads this)?  Sarah.  Who gets excited when I find a new insect in the backyard?  Sarah.  Who would tease her kids as much as I tease mine?  Sarah.  Who likes Diet Coke as much as I do? Sarah. Who would think of lame excuses so that I can go out for a drink?  Sarah.   

And now she's leaving!!!! Does anyone out there know what this means?  I'll be left by myself.  Yes, I'll still have the kids with me but what about my ADULT INTERACTION!!!!  I can only "talk"  to them about some things.  Emma doesn't want to hear about how my mother drives me crazy.  Sean doesn't care if Steve never helps with the dishes.   And I don't think that either wants to hear about mommy and daddy's sex life (there's not enough therapy for that).

It's gotten so bad that I can't even enjoy other women (down, Steve, I mean as friends).  Like today, I met a perfectly nice women at the park.  And all I could think about was what would Sarah think if she saw me talking to her?  Would she feel betrayed? Maybe it's too soon.  Perhaps I shouldn't be looking for a rebound mom so soon.  I'll just give myself time to heal from this separation.  Try and find myself... Nah, I'll just have to save up for  gas money to visit her as much as I want. 

I'll probably need to go out at least a few more times before she leaves to ease the pain....so if anyone wants to join me for happy hour you know where to find me.  Sarah? 

Run Like a Mother

I never thought I would ever enjoy any kind of exercise, much less running.  But after a brutally long day (actually summer) I find that there's nothing like a nice long run. 

I started running thanks to Steve who signed me up for a half marathon (13.1 miles) as a Christmas present.  What ever happened to giving someone underwear?  Needless to say, I wasn't too thrilled.

I tried running pre-kids and hated it. My knees hurt, the treadmill made me feel like a hamster going nowhere, and the shows on the T.V. at the gym were snoring boring.  Nothing to love at all.

Now, post-kids, I can honestly say I LOVE RUNNING!  No, there's no magical hormone released during pregnancy that will make you enjoy exercise. And yes, my knees still hurt.  Oh and, thanks to the extra baby weight, my thighs rub together so much you could light a fire between them. But it's a good pain. Really.

Maybe running is awesome because it is my chance to get away and listen to my iPod without interruption.  The treadmill is now my friend.  I enjoy the fact that it stays still (not like my two-year old).  The repetitive movement is now like a soothing lullaby singing step, step, step.

I can zone out the world and catch up at the same time.  To catch up I just look up at CNN on the T.V..  Too heavy.  I zone out.  Just look at the the fat girl running on the treadmill in front of me.  Oh wait. That's me in the mirror.  Damn, I wore the wrong sports bra and the air is on really cold in here (no wonder I kept getting all those second takes).  Who cares, I'm alone (at least in my head).

This past February, I completed my first half marathon.  YES, ME 13.1 MILES. Me, the same person that will drive in circles looking for the parking space closest to the door.  Me the person who never walked 13.1 miles much less ran them. And I did it all by my little self. It was such a cool sense of accomplishment.

I think there is something to be said about doing things for yourself. As parents I'm sure that a lot (if not all) of us tend to put our children first.  And, to a degree, it's not necessarily a bad thing.  But if you can find one thing to do for yourself; do it.  Go ahead, do it and don't  you dare feel guilty. 

Remember, that as parents we constanly cheer our children on.  "Yeah, you peed in the potty". "Yeah, you blew your own nose".  "Yeah, you put your shoes on by yourself".   Let's not forget to cheer for ourselves.  I know that for a long time I did.

I'll never be able to explain how cool it was to hear Emma brag about how "her mom runs marathons".  In her eyes I broke a new world record (I finished at the end of my age group). And when she was holding the medal I got (everyone got) you'd swear she was holding an Olympic Gold. I know that in her little world she's proud of me too.  You just can't beat that.