It's been a while since I've been able to blog...started a new job a few weeks ago and still getting in the groove of the new place.
But I'm sitting watching my son continuing his homework, which he has been working on for for the last 4 hours!
I'm not quite sure why it takes him so long...well I guess I do know, he can't sit for ten minutes without getting up to get a drink, snack, to pee, etc.
He seems to get a fair amount of homework and I haven't heard other parent's say their kids are having trouble - I see the kids out in the neighborhood playing..but Anth just can't get his done.
I've tried yelling, helping, bribing....everything, but it doesn't seem to help. Spoke to the teacher and she said to time him on the tasks, but it doesn't motivate him to move any quicker.
If anyone has any suggestions, I could use them.
I've resigned myself to the fact the he's just not a good homework doer. I guess it's not so bad cause all his grades are good, so he's learning something!!
Monday, November 2, 2009
Saturday, September 26, 2009
The CSN...(child schedule negotiations!)
In our household we don't have just two other parent's to work schedules around but three (don't ask, it's whole other post!). So we have two other mothers and one other father that we have to try and work with to plan our lives around.
As most can relate vacations are the toughest...there are 3 children with 4 sets of parents who all want a week vacation with their kid at some point in time. Not to mention navigating around the various activities that three boys participate in - hockey, baseball (2 different teams), music lessons (2 different instruments).
Negotiations for next year have begun already - who'll get the kids on what school vacation week, which week of the summer does everyone want, when is the winter hockey trip, grandparents want to take one child to Florida for a week...it's madness
I do have one weekend each year where I try to take my son on a weekend trip just the two of us. It gives us some nice one on one time and allows my husband some time with his boys. That is something that I always fit in!
With some major planning and an Outlook calendar loaded with events it amazingly gets managed with only a few arguements/deals with the Others.
As most can relate vacations are the toughest...there are 3 children with 4 sets of parents who all want a week vacation with their kid at some point in time. Not to mention navigating around the various activities that three boys participate in - hockey, baseball (2 different teams), music lessons (2 different instruments).
Negotiations for next year have begun already - who'll get the kids on what school vacation week, which week of the summer does everyone want, when is the winter hockey trip, grandparents want to take one child to Florida for a week...it's madness
I do have one weekend each year where I try to take my son on a weekend trip just the two of us. It gives us some nice one on one time and allows my husband some time with his boys. That is something that I always fit in!
With some major planning and an Outlook calendar loaded with events it amazingly gets managed with only a few arguements/deals with the Others.
Friday, September 11, 2009
The SEX talk....
So we have two boys, one 11 and one 12 and it's time for the talk. Or least to start answering the questions and comments they come home with!
The 11 year old tends to be more open on the subject of girls and such and likes to tell me the new words he's learned this week - titties, whore, boner etc. He asks for clarification of what these words mean.
This I think is good, that he is comfortable enough to come home and ask me these things and I can give the appropriate definitions - titties are not balls. It seems like the girls have more information than the boys - they have older sisters that love to share...
Our 12 year old needs to be drawn into conversations about girls and such, but he's the one in 7th grade now, going to school that goes up to 12th. All the girls have breasts etc.
We had the conversation tonight about that at dinner, my husband trying to tell the boys to compliment on the girls on their 'funbags'. He was joking of course, but I have horrible visions of a call from the principle on Monday, because my son told a girl she has great 'funbags'.....
Ah, the joys of the pre-teen years!
The 11 year old tends to be more open on the subject of girls and such and likes to tell me the new words he's learned this week - titties, whore, boner etc. He asks for clarification of what these words mean.
This I think is good, that he is comfortable enough to come home and ask me these things and I can give the appropriate definitions - titties are not balls. It seems like the girls have more information than the boys - they have older sisters that love to share...
Our 12 year old needs to be drawn into conversations about girls and such, but he's the one in 7th grade now, going to school that goes up to 12th. All the girls have breasts etc.
We had the conversation tonight about that at dinner, my husband trying to tell the boys to compliment on the girls on their 'funbags'. He was joking of course, but I have horrible visions of a call from the principle on Monday, because my son told a girl she has great 'funbags'.....
Ah, the joys of the pre-teen years!
Monday, September 7, 2009
Kid Free Weekends
Is it bad to say that I enjoy the fact that every other weekend is kid free? I love my son and stepsons, but I really look forward to going out with my husband and having either a date or getting together with our single friends.
It's like being a young, newlywed couple every other weekend! It's a break from the stress of parenting - helping with homework, refereeing fights, cooking dinner!
My husband and I have been on the same kid schedule since we met, which is truly amazing. We didn't have to re-arrange our kid visits at all; it was meant to be.
This weekend was a perfect kid free weekend! No kids from Friday night until Monday night because of the long weekend.
We took a trip up to Maine, hung out at the bars, danced, had a fantastic dinner and just re-connected.
I guess it's both things I look forward to - a break from the kids and some good alone time with my hubby. This is one of the perks of being divorced/remarried.....
It's like being a young, newlywed couple every other weekend! It's a break from the stress of parenting - helping with homework, refereeing fights, cooking dinner!
My husband and I have been on the same kid schedule since we met, which is truly amazing. We didn't have to re-arrange our kid visits at all; it was meant to be.
This weekend was a perfect kid free weekend! No kids from Friday night until Monday night because of the long weekend.
We took a trip up to Maine, hung out at the bars, danced, had a fantastic dinner and just re-connected.
I guess it's both things I look forward to - a break from the kids and some good alone time with my hubby. This is one of the perks of being divorced/remarried.....
Thursday, August 27, 2009
3 Boys & a camper!
It's amazing how times gets away from you sometime....a week vacation, a week catching up at work from vacation, a week of cleaning the house after vacation and it's the end of August!
Vacation was fun, but...a camper at the beach, 3 days of sunshine and relaxtion...HAH!
Actually the boys were very good on the vacation, it was all the other little things that made this trip not so relaxing.
First night - it's hot, we turn on the A/C, but we're using my parent's camper, which we have never used before. The A/C starts making strange noises at 2am, so we shut it off. By 3am it's 85 degrees in the camper and I'm trying to quietly open windows and not wake 3 sleeping boys. Finally back to sleep and up at 7am with hungry little boys.
Second night - it's cooled off so no A/C issue....BUT we forget to bring in the trash. 3am we here the Cape Code Kitty (skunk) rustling through the trash. It is also very windy out so I'm worrying about the trash blowing througout the campground and fellow campers being annoyed. So I wake up my husband, get him up to help me. I'm whispering out the window "Shoo, Shoo" to the skunk who is completely ignoring me. My husband is doing his best not to crack up laughing and wake the boys. Back to sleep by 4am and up at 7am with hungry little boys.
Third night - we have it down and get a somewhat peaceful night sleep!
The days were busy beaching and biking and mini-golfing...fun stuff! Just no sleep....
Is a family vacation ever really relaxing???
I'm am now trying to figure out how just my husband and I can get away for a relaxing long weekend....
Vacation was fun, but...a camper at the beach, 3 days of sunshine and relaxtion...HAH!
Actually the boys were very good on the vacation, it was all the other little things that made this trip not so relaxing.
First night - it's hot, we turn on the A/C, but we're using my parent's camper, which we have never used before. The A/C starts making strange noises at 2am, so we shut it off. By 3am it's 85 degrees in the camper and I'm trying to quietly open windows and not wake 3 sleeping boys. Finally back to sleep and up at 7am with hungry little boys.
Second night - it's cooled off so no A/C issue....BUT we forget to bring in the trash. 3am we here the Cape Code Kitty (skunk) rustling through the trash. It is also very windy out so I'm worrying about the trash blowing througout the campground and fellow campers being annoyed. So I wake up my husband, get him up to help me. I'm whispering out the window "Shoo, Shoo" to the skunk who is completely ignoring me. My husband is doing his best not to crack up laughing and wake the boys. Back to sleep by 4am and up at 7am with hungry little boys.
Third night - we have it down and get a somewhat peaceful night sleep!
The days were busy beaching and biking and mini-golfing...fun stuff! Just no sleep....
Is a family vacation ever really relaxing???
I'm am now trying to figure out how just my husband and I can get away for a relaxing long weekend....
Thursday, August 6, 2009
The 'Mother' at work
In my job I manage a staff of 9 people, not too big, just enough to give you a headache!
I'm amazed at how often that I use my skills as a mother to manuever around the dynamics of a team. Having to soothe hurt feelings, making sure that everyone is playing nicely and just plain keeping order.
It's been a tiring week if you can't tell by my tone :)....I've been mothering all week at work, but my son is actually off with his Dad on vacation this week, so I've haven't been mothering at home. Could I be making up for it with work, cause I miss my boy? Maybe!
All I know is that I am glad this work week is almost over....vacation next week with all my boys!
I'm amazed at how often that I use my skills as a mother to manuever around the dynamics of a team. Having to soothe hurt feelings, making sure that everyone is playing nicely and just plain keeping order.
It's been a tiring week if you can't tell by my tone :)....I've been mothering all week at work, but my son is actually off with his Dad on vacation this week, so I've haven't been mothering at home. Could I be making up for it with work, cause I miss my boy? Maybe!
All I know is that I am glad this work week is almost over....vacation next week with all my boys!
Monday, August 3, 2009
The Never Ending Bedtime
My son, who is now 11 has gotten into the habit of taking about a 1/2 hour to get ready for bed at night.
Since it's summer, bedtime has been pushed back a bit, so I start him off to get ready by 9pm, cause I want to have some relxing time with the TV and hubby before falling asleep on the couch :).
So his routine starts with standing in front of the mirror combing his hair into various 'styles' for about ten minutes, until I shout from the couch 'are you brushing?'
Then he brushes, rinses, puts in his retainer - another 5 minutes.
He then heads to his bedroom, which looks like a tornado has hit it; by this time it's about 9:20 and only 40 minutes til my bedtime!
I then have to do the 'tuck in' - he says to me 'sit, sit, sit' (this is the same routine every night now)....I try to be patient, but hubby has already started True Blood without me!
So I sit and we do best and worst - this is where we share our best and worst things of the day - a ritual started at age 5 and has continued. I share one best thing and one worst thing - He's shares about 10!!
Finally I kiss him good night and head out to the couch...I sit for ten minutes, finally relaxing and then hear...'MOM!' 'The cat is attacking me'. The cat gets tossed and the boy closes the door - 9:50pm....so much for TV time!
Since it's summer, bedtime has been pushed back a bit, so I start him off to get ready by 9pm, cause I want to have some relxing time with the TV and hubby before falling asleep on the couch :).
So his routine starts with standing in front of the mirror combing his hair into various 'styles' for about ten minutes, until I shout from the couch 'are you brushing?'
Then he brushes, rinses, puts in his retainer - another 5 minutes.
He then heads to his bedroom, which looks like a tornado has hit it; by this time it's about 9:20 and only 40 minutes til my bedtime!
I then have to do the 'tuck in' - he says to me 'sit, sit, sit' (this is the same routine every night now)....I try to be patient, but hubby has already started True Blood without me!
So I sit and we do best and worst - this is where we share our best and worst things of the day - a ritual started at age 5 and has continued. I share one best thing and one worst thing - He's shares about 10!!
Finally I kiss him good night and head out to the couch...I sit for ten minutes, finally relaxing and then hear...'MOM!' 'The cat is attacking me'. The cat gets tossed and the boy closes the door - 9:50pm....so much for TV time!
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Clothes Shopping for the mom that goes out to Bars
So where to shop for clothes that will work for going out with the single friends? Being divorced/remarried you have the option to go out with single friends on occassion without having to find a babysitter. This is a nice perk of my situation, but I can never find anything to wear!
I can't seem to find a store that is somewhere in between 'teenager clothes that are all two sizes too small' and 'soccer mom high-waist jeans'?
Being almost 40 but not wanting to necessarily look 40 where do you shop?? You want to look good out in the Bars with your single friends....not out of place.
Suggestions??
I can't seem to find a store that is somewhere in between 'teenager clothes that are all two sizes too small' and 'soccer mom high-waist jeans'?
Being almost 40 but not wanting to necessarily look 40 where do you shop?? You want to look good out in the Bars with your single friends....not out of place.
Suggestions??
Thursday, July 23, 2009
The only working Mom in the neighborhood
At least it feels that way....does anyone else feel like all the other stay at home mom's look down on you? Are you jealous that they have time to go to the gym and keep in shape, shop and truck their kids around to a million activities. Do they make you feel like throwing up??? I sure do!
My first post
So, I've started this blog to be able to rant about things and have others join in! I'm a working Mom with 1 son and 2 stepsons. Got remarried two years ago and have discovered that my life can be very comical, as I'm sure that most in my situation have found as well. So I thought I'd share some of this stuff and find fellow commisserators!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
