After I dropped Goomba off at Daycare this morning, I was driving down I5 when traffic suddenly came to a stop. I could see in the distance that there was a mini van on the shoulder of the Interstate and what appeared to be a family standing off in the grass as far from the freeway traffic as possible. As I got closer, I realized that it was a mother and her 3 small children. I immediately felt anxious for the mother and thought about how helpless and vulnerable she must feel standing on the side of a major highway with her babies. Although a CHP Officer was already there, I couldn't help but pull over and offer assistance. I offered to give them a ride since I had a car seat ready to go in my backseat and although she declined and said that someone was on the way to pick them up, I couldn't help but continue to offer assistance. I offered up my stroller, diapers, wipes, bottles of water and even my daughter's half eaten snack cup full of cereal and dried bananas. She thanked me but refused them all and at that point I drove away. As I drove away, I thought about what I would do if I was in her situation. Would I load my daughter and I into the backseat of a strangers car to get off the side of the freeway? Would I stand there and wait for the approximately 45 minutes it might take for my husband to leave work and pick me up? Would I call a friend? Co-worker? Neighbor? Our parents are at least an hour away in either direction so that didn't seem like the most time effective call to make but what if no one else was available? How long was I willing to stand on the side of the freeway with my baby?
I realized that I didn't really have a plan. Just like I don't have a plan if some type of disaster occurs and we were stranded without resources. Just like I don't have a plan if someone breaks into our house in the middle of the night. Just like I don't have a plan if zombies hijack all of the roads between my house and daycare and I can't get to my daughter! I am a natural planner, I plan EVERYTHING! Why do I not have a plan for these kinds of things!?! Don't get me wrong, I will kick some zombie/burglar ass if it means they are putting Goomba in harms way but what about an actual plan? I understand that I am a planner and not a Psychic and I understand that shit happens and that you can't plan for every little thing just in case it happens but at what point do you at least have SOMETHING planned? I hear about these people that hoard food and water 'just in case' but is that reasonable to do? Do you have to monitor the expiration dates on that shit? That sounds like a lot of work...or a half ass plan.
On a lighter note, Goomba's vocabulary has EXPLODED over the last several weeks. She is starting to piece words together at her attempts of a 'conversation' and I love it! She is also starting to repeat words here and there and I'm pretty sure we'll be hearing some type of cuss word fall from her precious lips soon. Goomba has also turned into a tattle-tale. A few weeks ago, Brett was attempting to brush her teeth as she flailed around trying to get away and he accidentally poked her in the eye with the toothbrush. Now, before you call CPS, we aren't talking about an eyeball shish-kabob here, we are talking about a minor brush of the eye with the side of a soft bristled toothbrush that didn't do any damage at all. However, ever since this apparently life-altering, traumatic event, Goomba has not hesitated to tell everyone she meets that her Daddy stabbed her in the eye. Let me explain.
Person talking to Goomba: "I like your pretty hair bow Goomba. Is that a purple bow?"
Goomba: While poking herself in her right eye, "Daddy. Ohhhwww."
Person talking to Goomba: "What's that Goomba? What did Daddy do?"
Goomba: While poking herself in her right eye (again), "Daddy. Ohhhwww."
Me: "Brett accidentally poked her in the eye with her toothbrush"
Goomba: While nodding her head in agreement and continuing to poke herself in her eye "uh huh, uh huh, Daddy, ohhhwww."
Friday, April 26, 2013
Friday, February 15, 2013
Slap cheek, eh?
I picked Goomba up from daycare on Monday and I noticed that her face seemed a little rosy. I didn't really think much of it and put it off as a little sun/wind exposure from playing outside. On Tuesday, however, I walked into the Toddler room at school only to be greeted by an 18 month old Bozo the Clown. It probably didn't help that I had dressed her in a fuchsia shirt that day but nonetheless, my child had suddenly morphed into a little Pikachu. Large, red, round circles adorned her adorable little face as she happily ripped a small truck from a playmates hand. The first words out of my mouth were "Oh my god, what is wrong with her face?" I didn't really direct the question at anyone in particular since it was more like a gut reaction but one of the teachers immediately responded with "It's not just her!" Either she was trying to make me feel better or she was trying to stop me from going nutso in the middle of the Toddler class. Regardless, this new red-faced trend the toddlers were sporting didn't seem to impede on their socializing or stop them from continuing to slobber all over each other.
After consulting Dr. Google, Wikipedia, WebMD and BabyCenter, I came to the conclusion that Goomba had Slap Cheek Disease. What is Slap Cheek Disease you ask? Well let me tell you. It is a common childhood virus that passes without much concern and very mild symptoms, except for the Pikachu cheeks. Let me just say that it should be illegal for someone to categorize a mild virus as a "disease". A name like "Slap Cheek Disease" is just asking for mothers to turn into anxiety crazed lunatics. I confirmed my diagnosis with Goomba's pediatrician whom assured me she would be just fine and she would not have to live out the rest of her life as a Pokemon character. The Slap Cheek has now passed and we (our whole house) have now come down with a new bug. Boogers, sore throats and coughs, oh my.
Statistics say that children in a daycare setting can get on average 8-12 colds per year. I knew this little factoid when we enrolled Goomba in daycare. What I failed to realize is that those 8-12 colds would be concentrated mostly during the fall/winter months during Flu season and that the 8-12 estimate would be on the low side for our little over-achiever. So let's break that down. The Flu season can range from 4-5 months long. 12 colds divided between 5 months of the flu season means that our booger filled children will have just under 2.5 colds each month for 5 straight months. Think about that a littler further. If each cold lasts 7-10 days from onset to finish (some are longer) and they get 2.5 colds per month that means that you can count on them being sick 17-25 days out of each month for the entire flu season. 17-25 days of boogers, coughing, vomit, diarrhea, red faces, non-sleeping, cranky little children running through your house infecting the rest of the family for 5 straight months. Add on top of that the worst flu season that we have seen in years and I promise you that by the time spring hits you will be ready to pawn off your little cesspool to the nearest grandparent so that you and hubby can escape to some tropical paradise as far away as possible.
After consulting Dr. Google, Wikipedia, WebMD and BabyCenter, I came to the conclusion that Goomba had Slap Cheek Disease. What is Slap Cheek Disease you ask? Well let me tell you. It is a common childhood virus that passes without much concern and very mild symptoms, except for the Pikachu cheeks. Let me just say that it should be illegal for someone to categorize a mild virus as a "disease". A name like "Slap Cheek Disease" is just asking for mothers to turn into anxiety crazed lunatics. I confirmed my diagnosis with Goomba's pediatrician whom assured me she would be just fine and she would not have to live out the rest of her life as a Pokemon character. The Slap Cheek has now passed and we (our whole house) have now come down with a new bug. Boogers, sore throats and coughs, oh my.
Statistics say that children in a daycare setting can get on average 8-12 colds per year. I knew this little factoid when we enrolled Goomba in daycare. What I failed to realize is that those 8-12 colds would be concentrated mostly during the fall/winter months during Flu season and that the 8-12 estimate would be on the low side for our little over-achiever. So let's break that down. The Flu season can range from 4-5 months long. 12 colds divided between 5 months of the flu season means that our booger filled children will have just under 2.5 colds each month for 5 straight months. Think about that a littler further. If each cold lasts 7-10 days from onset to finish (some are longer) and they get 2.5 colds per month that means that you can count on them being sick 17-25 days out of each month for the entire flu season. 17-25 days of boogers, coughing, vomit, diarrhea, red faces, non-sleeping, cranky little children running through your house infecting the rest of the family for 5 straight months. Add on top of that the worst flu season that we have seen in years and I promise you that by the time spring hits you will be ready to pawn off your little cesspool to the nearest grandparent so that you and hubby can escape to some tropical paradise as far away as possible.
Sunday, February 10, 2013
Back on the saddle...
I find it ironic that the last post on this blog was a rant about my work-life balance (or lack of balance) and then I disappeared for over a year. I guess that proves my point.
Well I'm back. At least for now. No promises.
We have transitioned from our cute little cuddly baby into Toddlerhood. Goomba is walking, running, talking, yelling, throwing food, throwing toys, throwing herself on the ground and having complete Toddler sized meltdowns. We try to minimize these meltdowns as much as possible but I'm thoroughly convinced that I'm raising an alien from another planet. No amount of logic or reasoning calms a toddler. Sometimes you just have to hand over the entire box of Cheerios and walk away, knowing that the mess will be much easier to clean up than the hysterical meltdown of your lunatic child. I know this is not a long term solution but as I frantically search for the "right" solution, this method is keeping me somewhat sane. On the flipside, Goomba is sweet, cuddly, gives kisses and hugs often without being asked and she amazes me everyday. She is not speaking in sentences yet but the things she says and does crack me up. I know we will survive these toddler years and in the end they will seem like they flew by in a flash.
At this point Goomba is showing interest in the toilet. I realize that potty training at 18 months is not entirely out of the question but it is a little early for most kids. Since she is in fact interested in the toilet I decided that I would test it out and put her on the toi toi whenever she asks. Which is all the time. And usually at the most inconvenient times, like when you are trying to get out of the house for work in the morning and she has already sat on the pot 3 times in the hour that she's been awake and she is now fully dressed, shoes on, coat on, the whole nine, and she wants to sit on the toilet. Again. Do I tell my little eager beaver no? Of course not. So we strip down, grab her Elmo potty seat, climb on the toilet and sit. And sit. And sit some more. 10 seconds later she gives me her cutest "all-done" hands and climbs down and continues with the routine of closing the lid, flushing and getting redressed. At what point do you decide to forego the games and just commit to potty training?
In desperate need of some "How the hell do you raise a toddler" advice, I have downloaded any and all self-help books I can find on iBooks or Kindle. The problem is, with a toddler there is absolutely NO TIME to read the damn books!
** Baby G will now be referred to as Goomba. I find this appropriate for a few reasons. "Goomba" has been a nickname that my mom has used to refer to the children in our family for years, even before Baby G was born. Goomba is also the little mushroom creature with bushy eyebrows and fangs from Super Mario Bro. that wander aimlessly around and upon seeing Mario, attempt to crash into him. Very strong resemblance to Baby G here. Goomba is also known as an Italian friend of the Mafia. Again, very strong resemblance in the sneaky little stinker department.
Well I'm back. At least for now. No promises.
We have transitioned from our cute little cuddly baby into Toddlerhood. Goomba is walking, running, talking, yelling, throwing food, throwing toys, throwing herself on the ground and having complete Toddler sized meltdowns. We try to minimize these meltdowns as much as possible but I'm thoroughly convinced that I'm raising an alien from another planet. No amount of logic or reasoning calms a toddler. Sometimes you just have to hand over the entire box of Cheerios and walk away, knowing that the mess will be much easier to clean up than the hysterical meltdown of your lunatic child. I know this is not a long term solution but as I frantically search for the "right" solution, this method is keeping me somewhat sane. On the flipside, Goomba is sweet, cuddly, gives kisses and hugs often without being asked and she amazes me everyday. She is not speaking in sentences yet but the things she says and does crack me up. I know we will survive these toddler years and in the end they will seem like they flew by in a flash.
At this point Goomba is showing interest in the toilet. I realize that potty training at 18 months is not entirely out of the question but it is a little early for most kids. Since she is in fact interested in the toilet I decided that I would test it out and put her on the toi toi whenever she asks. Which is all the time. And usually at the most inconvenient times, like when you are trying to get out of the house for work in the morning and she has already sat on the pot 3 times in the hour that she's been awake and she is now fully dressed, shoes on, coat on, the whole nine, and she wants to sit on the toilet. Again. Do I tell my little eager beaver no? Of course not. So we strip down, grab her Elmo potty seat, climb on the toilet and sit. And sit. And sit some more. 10 seconds later she gives me her cutest "all-done" hands and climbs down and continues with the routine of closing the lid, flushing and getting redressed. At what point do you decide to forego the games and just commit to potty training?
In desperate need of some "How the hell do you raise a toddler" advice, I have downloaded any and all self-help books I can find on iBooks or Kindle. The problem is, with a toddler there is absolutely NO TIME to read the damn books!
** Baby G will now be referred to as Goomba. I find this appropriate for a few reasons. "Goomba" has been a nickname that my mom has used to refer to the children in our family for years, even before Baby G was born. Goomba is also the little mushroom creature with bushy eyebrows and fangs from Super Mario Bro. that wander aimlessly around and upon seeing Mario, attempt to crash into him. Very strong resemblance to Baby G here. Goomba is also known as an Italian friend of the Mafia. Again, very strong resemblance in the sneaky little stinker department.
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