Mom's Need Wings

Mom's are magic (read how here) we all know that. But with our magic comes restraints, and personally I think all Mom's need wings.


Reason for wings 1: to fly to a hurt child.
Example: My children often play on the neighbors trampoline. The trick is Mommy can't see them over there as there is a line of trees in the way. One fine spring day I was sitting on the back porch and heard one of them screaming for me. Barefoot, I ran down the steps around the side of the house, around the trees, across the gravel driveway, and back up the neighbors yard. Of course, no one was hurt as I imagined, they just wanted to show Mommy their new flips. Mommy's feet hurt and Mommy wished she had wings for flying to her boys when they cry wolf and when they are truly hurt.


Reason for wings 2: to escape embarassment
Example: Kids say the darnest things. It must be freeing to feel no embarassment. Especially when you get out of your car and you look over and you see some people in the car next to you and one of them is not the prettiest you've ever seen. You can yell to your Mommy, "That lady has a ugly face!" Then your Mommy can look up out of reflex only to bury her head in shame as the windows are rolled all the way down on the car with said women in it. If Mommies had wings, they could just fly away, instead of running, dragging their child, into the grocery store. (disclaimer: I don't remember which twin said it, but I'll remember that woman's face for the rest of my life)


Now does anyone know where I can find some wings?

You can learn many things from children. How much patience you have, for instance. ~Franklin P. Jones

I Made a Decision

NO TURTLES: That is my final answer, thank you Regis. And thank you to all that helped me decide (you had no idea how much control my readers have over me did you?)

• Speaking from the Crib is right I need my sanity, and more pets = less sanity.
• Jingle gets that tanks in the house are kind of scary.
• Simply Mel has plenty of pets and doesn't think I need a zoo too!
• Carrie and Pippa taught me that turtles live forever, which could be a good thing, but then my boys would graduate, move away and I'd still have the darned turtles.

Plus my "Big Brother" and he only says that because he is literally taller than I am, reminded me of the deadly things the twins fed the fish (batteries, etc). So I've decided no turtles and if I keep my mouth shut maybe all my boys will just forget about it and move on to something else.

Helene and Aunt Becky - I love you guys but you've been out voted.

to get a turtle?? Update

I love all the advice I am getting on whether or not to get turtles for the boys. If you don't know what I'm talking about - read yesterday's post here. If you want to know what the big deal is about reptiles read here.

So anyway - I am still decisionless. I have read some interesting stuff about water turtles and the neat kits you can buy. All Turtles.com has all this cool information to help make a decision.
But really I don't know. From all the comments I've learned that turtles live a really long time - that could be good and bad. (the website didn't tell me that part)

• Do I really want another pet? Aren't two dogs enough?
• Do I want a large glass container of water and a 2 year old in the same house?
• Do I remember what happened the last time there was a large container of water and two 2 year olds in the house?

My loving hubby asked me the last question. I had forgotten all about it. I bet my brother hasn't forgotten. See a few years back, my brother went on a trip overseas and brought us this nice stand up fish tank and all his beautiful fish to care for while he was gone. I was more than willing to take this on. They were just fish, right? Did you know 2 year olds like to feed fish? They like to feed them cool stuff, like bologna, match box cars, and blocks. One day we came home from the grocery store to find the fish tank completely white. You couldn't see through the water to find the fish. Apparently fish like alfredo noodles too.
Now none of these fish died on our watch. Even though I was cleaning the tank almost weekly, but these fish must have loved their new diet and new home. (the fish did die soon after returning to my brother's care - probably shock of a fish food diet).

So I'm still trying to figure this one out. The pet part doesn't bother me, its the two year old and pet part that bothers me.

The best thing about animals is that they don't talk much. ~Thornton Wilder

Had a Turtle

Key word being had.

We were lucky enough to get rid of the twins for the weekend (ship them off to pepaw's). I went to pick them up and trade vehicles on Sunday (easier switch that way) and found that there was a turtle crawling around the floor of the suburban. How did it get there you ask? My father picked it up off the side of the road. Does it bite? Why yes. Did he care? Not really. Did I put it in box? Of course. Not like I am going to drive around town with a turtle biting my toes. HA!

Now, if you've been following along you know what happens to reptiles in my house (if not, read here). Do you really think we need another reptile? Because I don't. But for the sake of my father we put it in an aquarium for a day. Let me tell you he did not like it and spent all night trying to get out. Not a single piece of glass was left unscathed. So we let him go. Better for him, let me tell you.

Now my loving, dear hubby (as he reads this too) wants to get them those little water turtles, but he too is scared of what may happen to them (again if you don't know read here). On the other hand, we could just make sure they feed them, just like they have to feed the dogs.
What do you think - turtles or no turtles?

Lots of people talk to animals.... Not very many listen, though.... That's the problem. ~Benjamin Hoff, The Tao of Pooh

Schools IN FOR WINTER

Okay - I was going for the change to School's Out for Summer only it didn't work so well. But we all know Mom's (and Dad's too) love when school starts back in the fall. At our house there has been a countdown on the calendar. The boys think it is how many days are left of summer, we know it is how many days until school starts!

Nathaniel woke up right on time - as he came out of his room he said "I smell waffles!" Tyler on the other hand had snuck into our bed after having a bad dream, I had to go wake him up. His first words "It's really early." He then tried to make a detour to his own bed, but luckily Mommy helped him in the direction of the kitchen. After having bacon and waffles (nathaniel's favorite) and pancakes (tyler's favorite) - they got ready for school and at 7:11 the bus took them away.

I then stood in my front yard and danced a little jig. Schools IN for winter!!!

If there were no schools to take the children away from home part of the time, the insane asylums would be filled with mothers. ~Edgar W. Howe

Magic Mommy

I've pretty much convinced my kids that I am magic. When I was a child I wondered how my Mom could know what we were doing even if we were in the other room. As a Mom, I know how. She could hear. Somehow children think they are a lot quieter than they are, and then of course if all is actually quiet we really know something is wrong. This is the secret of Mom's, our ears, but we don't share our secret. Instead, I convince them that I am magic.

• "How'd you know I hit Nathaniel?" "Magic" (I heard him scream, you hit me)
• "How'd you know I was out of the bed?" "Magic" (I heard you)
• "How'd you know we weren't brushing our teeth?" "Magic" (you can't brush your teeth and talk at the same time)
• "How'd you know I was standing here." "Magic" (even while sleeping I can hear a child walk into my room)

When your mother asks, 'Do you want a piece of advice?' it is a mere formality. It doesn't matter if you answer yes or no. You're going to get it anyway. ~ Erma Bombeck

Paranoid Stigma

Ok so apparently after reading all the comments from my post yesterday - I am paranoid, or at least I shouldn't care.
So after taking the advice of some wonderful ladies here, I went to back to school night and enjoyed it without caring what anyone thought. I didn't allow the other Mom's or teachers to make me feel bad about myself without doing anything. And I had some real tests, there is a particular Mom that gives me the vibe - maybe because of some of the comments she has made - but either way I would have prefered not to run into her. But I did and it was OK - I didn't care - and we all explained pleasantries.
And I even listened to a Mom of steel who announced to the teacher in front of a few other parents that her son was slow. I would never had said such a thing out loud. For the child's sake as other children can be so critical - but she did. Would you have?

I get by with a little help from my friends. ~ John Lennon

Stigma of a Young Mom

Why is it that even though we are all Moms we look down upon one another with the most critical eye?

Back to School night is tonight (WHOOHOO back to school) for the twins. They get to go see who their teachers are and how close their classes are. They are entering the 2nd grade and I will be entering the contest to see how old I can look. Somehow there is a group of those who gave birth at 30 or older who seem to look down upon those of us who gave birth in our 20's. Not that anyone would ever ask, but I was told I that by 30 I wouldn't be able to have kids so I started early (and had enough problems). But so what? That doesn't make me less of a Mom.

Maybe it is the fact that although I AM 30, I look 19. I have been blessed with one of those fabulously round faces that still breaks out with acne on a daily basis. This morning I got up and put on my most conservative cool mom clothes and actually put on makeup. Then I asked my loving hubby if I managed to look at least 23, because lets face it, 28 would be pushing my luck.

Maybe I'll go into school tonight and no one will wonder what grade I was in when I had the twins, and maybe I won't care what they think. Maybe I shouldn't try so hard to fit in with the Mom crowd, but as a shy person it is so hard not to be concerned. Maybe one of their teachers will not be old enough to be my mom. Maybe I do look at least 25 today.

Maybe I'm just paranoid.

Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don't mind, it doesn't matter. ~Mark Twain

Summer Cleaning

I don't spring clean. It's a nice thought - but spring is baseball season in my house and we really don't have time for anything else. I don't fall clean either. But I do clean prior to the start of a new school year - very similar to spring cleaning I guess. I start at one end of the house and work to the other throwing out, reorganizing, and cleaning everything. The goal is to not have to search for the pencil sharpener after school starts as it will have it's own little space, along with everything else.

I started last Sunday - as it will take me a few weeks to complete. 5 hours I spent on our pantry, laundry room and kitchen. 2 bags of trash later (because instead of throwing away the blender that made it's last milkshake before cracking - it was cleaned and put away) I called it quits for the day. The twins became fascinated after I had washed the outside of the fridge - amazing how new something looks without 1000 fingerprints. T1 actually helped clean the inside of the fridge and the outside of the dishwasher until he got bored. T2 would just walk by with stellar comments like "Is that what it looked like when we bought it?" "Wow Mommy, its just so...so clean!"

I was actually pretty proud of myself and all my hard work. I took the rest of the day off (other than the folding of the laundry) and played in the pool with the boys. The next morning, while fixing breakfast, T2 looked inside the fridge and said "Well it's not perfect, you missed a spot. And another spot right there."

Cleaning your house while your kids are still growing is like shoveling the walk before it stops snowing. ~Phyllis Diller, Phyllis Diller's Housekeeping Hints, 1966

Before & After Twins

There are lots of before and afters -

• before college/after college
• before real world job/after real world job
• before marriage/after marriage
• before kids/after kids
• before twins/ after twins

Of all the lessons that we learn in before and after periods, one would think we wouldn't judge those around us too harshly. HA! We all go people watch and we all judge, even if just to ourselves. I used to judge - then I had twins.

BEFORE I had twins I wanted all matching baby furniture - the stoller and carseat and highchair all looked great as a coordinated set.
AFTER I had twins, I was happy to have the high chair that was left by a neighbor for the trash man.

BEFORE I had twins I thought kids in matching clothes was cute.
AFTER I had twins I wanted to be able to tell them apart - besides hand me downs don't come in matching sets.

BEFORE I had twins I imagined making a nice breakfast each morning from scratch for my family.
AFTER I had twins I was happy to get the cherrios into the bowl.

BEFORE I had twins I dispised people who let their children throw tantrums in public.
AFTER I had twins I realized the only way to stop tantrums in public is to just not take them in public.

BEFORE I had twins I knew I would take the time to make sure I looked well put together before venturing out in public.
AFTER I had twins I realized I was lucky if my clothes matched and didn't smell of puke.

Listen to the mustn'ts, child. Listen to the don'ts. Listen to the shouldn'ts, the impossibles, the won'ts. Listen to the never haves, then listen close to me... Anything can happen, child. Anything can be. ~Shel Silverstein

alligator in our toilet

My biggest fear is sitting going to the bathroom and sitting down on the toilet only to have something bite me on the butt. I always look first - just to make sure nothing is in there. I know it is a crazy fear, but one time I sat down and something did get me, it turned out to be a cricket that didn't like having the lights turned out, but all the same.


A few months ago the boys toilet started backing up. Oddly it wasn't all the time, just sometimes. I had the feeling something was in there. So one Saturday afternoon when the boys were at Pepaw's and Dear Hubby and I took the toilet apart. We took the tank off, and put the whole toilet in the tub. Then we ran a hose through the window and started flushing it out.

For starters, poop came out and of course since it was just the two of us, the poop jokes started. I told Dear Hubby he this was a "poopy job" and he replied that it was all because I am "full of poop." Of course then the "poop hit the fan" and the walls. We kept filling the toilet and plunging and trying to get pressure to remove all stop ups. We spent 30 minutes watching toilet paper and poop fly, but nothing else. Then we turned the toilet upside down and tried from a different direction, all the sudden I saw a little green head and squealed.

"It's an alligator"

No really, a toy alligator was in our toilet and causing all of our problems. Now how many people can say that?

"Never insult an alligator until after you have crossed the river." ~Cordell Hull

on your tombstone?

Epitaphs are interesting last pieces of sentiment. When in a cemetery I enjoy reading what is written on different tombstones. My Granny has one of those prepay plans where her whole funeral is already paid for. As my Grandfather passed 10 years ago, their tombstone is already set, but it includes her name, date of birth and epitaph. On one hand it is kind of morbid, everything but the date of her death being there. On the other, no one has to think about what to write when she dies.

I don't want a tombstone, I'm going to be cremated when I die. But if I did have a tombstone, I've got a few epitaphs already picked out. (If you want to read some famous ones - wikipedia has a great list, or leave a comment telling me one of your own)

• my turn is over


• loving wife, mother, & housekeeper


• I said no


• don't worry, I will haunt you all


• Night, Night


• spending eternity in time out

"That's All Folks!" epitaph of Mel Blanc

Question of the Week - Favorite Recipe

What is your favorite recipe to make with/for your family?



The question of the week sponsored by Multiples and More - when I read it I laughed at myself. My first thought was not of my favorite dish to make for my family (which happens to be spinach & ham quiche because I can get the kids to eat spinach) instead it was of the twins FAVORITE meal. Poor Man Surprise.
The recipe actually came from my hubby, the one and only he knew how to make before we were married. While it is not the most nutritious meal in the world, it can be made in 5 minutes or less, for about $0.20 per person, and the twins request it at least once a week (I have a once a week limit). Without further ado - POOR MAN SURPRISE

• 2 packages of chicken flavored ramen noodles - cooked and drained
• 2 slices of cheese
• 3 hot dogs or bologna cut into bite size pieces (yes raw)
• 2 large heaping spoonfuls of butter

Stir all ingredients together until well mixed and serve. Two packages feeds 7 year olds twins and a 2 year old, but no one else. Hubby has to make his own since he adds texas pete.

not sure about this

I love the bond between my children. The twins have their own special bond, and then they love their little brother too. T2 loves Little Man as much as T1 does, but T1 has a special knack for younger children. He knows how to play with them, and lately he has learned he can teach them too.

It started innocently enough (doesn't it always?). T1 taught Bradley to give hugs when asked. Which is pretty neat, I always asked for kisses, but never hugs, I guess because I was already hugging them. We are all big huggers in our house, and T1 taught Little Man to do the same. But the day T1 figured out he taught Little Man something, well that must have been when the light switch went on.

I came home the other day to a nice loving home, I walked into the kitchen to set down my purse and had a 2 year old point his finger at me and say "Don't you dare!"

What? I am now being bossed by a 2 year old, as if coworkers and a hubby and 7 year olds are not enough. I was a little shocked, until T1 explained it to me. "Mommy, I taught him that!"

I'm not so sure about this.

When the student is ready, the master appears. ~Buddhist Proverb

I Could go to Jail for...

Lately, there have been some controversial Mom's being arrested for things like making their children walk home after fighting. While I generally believe in our justice system, and generally believe that people are only arrested when they've actually done something wrong, every once in a while I see something occur in my house and I think to myself,

I Could go to Jail for...

• forgetting to record that I bought $200.00 worth of groceries with 3 boys hyped up on free bakery cookies (writing bad checks)
• Bradley playing in the dryer (child endangerment - although I did immediately -after a quick photo -put a stop to it - all in a span of taking the clothes out and getting ready to put a new load in)
• watching Tyler trip over a toy and break his leg - at 1 1/2 years old. (child neglect)
• all the screaming that may or may not occur in our house (emotional abuse)
• our escape artist getting outside even though we have nifty childproof handles and locks (child neglect, endangerment)
• the mess that never ends (unsuitable living conditions)
• the dead animals (surely fall under unsuitable living conditions)

No matter how calmly you try to referee, parenting will eventually produce bizarre behavior, and I’m not talking about the kids. Their behavior is always normal. ~ Bill Cosby

Question of the Week

What is the biggest lesson that you have learned in your multiples' first year of life?




Just one lesson - I'm not even sure that is possible. Patience was a huge lesson, I thought I didn't have any before having the twins. Sleep was also a big lesson, such as how much you can survive without before collapsing. But really the biggest lesson was probably instinct.

There is no manual on being a parent or having kids. While you are pregnant, especially with more than one your first time out, fears overcome you. How will I know what they need? How to care for them? Will I be able to tell them apart? How will I feed them both at the same time?
But once they are here in your arms, instinct just kicks in. Yes there are moments when you have no clue what to do, but a lot more times that you think, you will know what needs to be done. The best part of having children is that you grow with them. When they are born, you only have to worry about their VERY basic needs. You don't have to teach them anything the first few weeks, allow them to teach you. And then as they grow, you will grow and the rest is... well not in the bag, but not what I feared at all.