The One Where Mommy Messes Up

My good friend Carol is always blogging about the Bad Parenting Chronicles.

And I usually laugh, because she's one of the best moms mums I know, and her bad parenting is hardly such.

I'd have to say I had my moment in the sun pouring rain this afternoon.

MH and I went to a lovely Gymboree birthday party.

By far, I think the 3rd birthday is the best - the kids get that it's all about them, they all follow directions, and you can see how much fun they have playing together. It's fabulous.

And then, of course, comes the party favor bag.

MH has been known to go to a non-birthday party and ask one of us where her party bag is.

She's been known to carry around an empty favor bag just because she loves it that much.

This party bag was a lovely pink, had a balloon attached to it, and her name written on it.

After the party, we helped our hosts bring their gifts to the car (in the POURING rain), and then headed to our own car.

MH could not wait to open her special bag and inspect its contents.

I must admit, the party loot was fantastic! We oohed and ahhed over the candy, Hello Kitty magnetic picture frame we could put on our fridge, the Super Star stamp, and by far the most exciting of all - the Tinkerbell socks.

What thought my friend put into making MH's favor bag so special. And clearly, she loves Target as much as I do!

MH was very into her gifts, and at the same time trying to find a way to ensure that her balloon wouldn't pop on the way home.

After all the excitement and chatter about how she couldn't wait to put on her socks at home and use her new stamp, I got in the car and put it in drive.

Not two seconds into the ride, I heard what might possibly be the most hysterical wailing I've ever heard in my life.

Not the I'm hurt really badly wail.

Not the Mommy, please don't leave me at school wail (who am I kidding, this NEVER happens!).

This was not a cry I've heard often from the Mad Hatter.

I instantly slammed on the brakes as MH got herself together enough to manage "You forgot to strap me in!!!".

Ummm, could I be a worse mom?

Seriously, could I?

I have never done this in my life. Three and a half years of having a child, and I've never been so irresponsible.

I think I was so caught up in her excitement of the goodies, trying to get her settled in with all of her raingear on, and getting myself in the car before I was completely soaked.

It took me what seemed like forever to calm her down.

I pleaded with her to stop crying.

I begged.

I apologized for making such a horrible mistake.

I praised her for being such a big girl and knowing how important it is to be strapped in.

I thanked her for being such a good girl and letting mommy know that she had messed up big time.

No matter what I said, those tears kept coming fast and furious.

I felt like a total failure as a mom.

Seriously, how could I have driven off, forgetting to have strapped her into her carseat?

And the way she was carrying on, you would have thought she had been seriously hurt.

She told me her tears were going to keep coming and coming over and over again.

I felt my heart break in two.

Finally, I told her again how sorry I was and asked her what I could do to make her better.

Her answer?

I'm going to keep on crying but if I can eat some candy I'll feel better.

Seriously, that easy?

Done!

Smarties to the rescue.

That and my trusty Ahh-Pod (read: iPod).

When I asked MH what she wanted to listen to on the way home, her immediate reply was David Cook (she also knows he's the best American Idol ever).

I happily obliged, and after that we listened to her ultimate fave by Dee-Onis Yewis (read: Leona Lewis). My girl can belt Bleeding Love like nothing you've ever heard (unless, of course, you heard said wailing above). We finished off with the Bah-Dee-Ahh Song (better known to us grown-ups as September), and all was well and good in her world by the time we arrived home.

I, however, am sure my world won't ever be quite the same.

I couldn't have been prouder of her for being so concerned about her safety, and so knowledgeable about something being so wrong, but I can't shake that bad mommy feeling.

I let her down, and she let me know about it. In spades.

And sadly, I know that as a mom, this is just the beginning of many times I will let her down, without in any way meaning to.

It's a pretty scary feeling knowing that as a mom, you hold that kind of fate in your hands.

I think I can say with complete confidence today's mistake will never be repeated.

But that feeling in my heart? Not so sure.

Maybe for now I just need a little more candy, Tinkerbell socks, and good music.

Man, they ask for a lot!

As moms we know our kids ask a lot of us.

Some of their request are easy to honor, some difficult but achievable, and some not so much.

Today's request from MH was one of the most humorous I've heard in a while.

Scene: I've just returned from physical therapy and she wants some "Mommy Snuggle Time". It is dark and chilly, and the rain is pouring down outside. It's the perfect day to be doing just what we're doing - we are snuggled up in my "nest", watching Imagination Movers (I have to say, I find the show a bit strange but she loves it, and is highly responsive to it - if it means I can lie down and relax, it's good with me). MH repeatedly and randomly professes her love for me and in return I do the same. We're having a lovely time.

And then she comes out with this (keep in mind we're in the nest, and snuggled quite closely):

MH: Mommy, can you make all that noise stop?
Me: Oh sweetie, that's just all the rain outside! I can't make the rain stop, silly!
MH: no, it's no the rain. The noise is making me cold.
Me: (confused) what kind of noise are you talking about?
MH: The one you're making.
Me: Huh?
MH: (I can't do this one justice) Whhhhsshssshhhhhhh. You're making that noise right in my ear and it's making my hair move.
Me: (still taking a minute to process): You mean my breathing?
MH: Yeah Mommy, can you stop that?

Hmmmm, I'll see if I can work on that.



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Side note: The nest is the pregnancy pillow I used while carrying MH. It made its reappearance earlier than I expected with all of this back nonsense, and MH gave it its name (which is pretty appropriate). Her favorite thing to do every morning is politely ask "can you make room for me?" and climb right in for a good snuggle. We both love it, but it's a really close fit.

An Introduction

It's not every day that I do this, but I wanted to introduce you all to a new friend of mine.

She lives in Stamford, CT and she and her husband are very close friends with some dear local friends of ours.

Our friends have had many special occasions over the last couple of years - we met at A's 30th birthday party. Then there was A & M's wedding. Then came adorable baby girl E a few months ago, M turned 30 and there was another party . . . well, you get the point.

Each time I've been at an event with Julie I've had a great time chatting with her and learning more about her. She has a great memory, and never forgets to ask how my back is feeling or how MH is. She's caring and fun, and we have a good amount in common (including the fact that both of our hubbies are accountants). I wish we lived closer to each other, because I'm pretty sure if she did, we'd hang out a lot.

Anyways, I had no idea Julie was reading my blog, but she was.

And she recently started one of her own.

And I have no idea why (Julie, I am quite humbled), but she credits me with being one of the reasons she decided to take the plunge into the blogosphere.

And regardless of her reasons, I will take them - her blog is fantastic!

You know those people who just get blogging from the minute they start?

That's Julie.

I find her blog especially refreshing because it's from a different perspective - she is not a mom yet (although I have a pretty strong hunch that the more she visits baby E, the sooner she may want one!).

She is also intelligent, witty, and a great writer, and I look forward to checking her out every day to hear about what's on her mind.

Go check Julie out at Trials and Tribulations (her blog name is perfect - she's a lawyer!) and leave her some comment love.

And of course, tell her I sent you.

I promise you won't be disappointed . . . do I ever disappoint?

On second thought, don't answer that.

Almost Wordless Wednesday - More RI Love

I am finally beginning to accept the fact that summer is over.
Yes, I'm aware that the temperatures have been dropping and there is a definite chill to the air first thing in the morning and later in the day.
However, I continue to hold out hope for a small taste of Indian summer.

Since my Top 5 Tuesday list was devoted to reasons I love Rhode Island, I thought I'd use Wordless Wednesday as a way to highlight one of my favorite reasons I live here - the absolute beauty of our summers!

One of my favorite views on the way to the beach: the Jamestown Bridge

A home I adore at one end of our beach (which without my fabulous new camera, I'd never be able to capture in such amazing detail!). Oh, to roll out of bed and onto the beach!

Cannot stand seagulls (I actually believe they are rats with wings) but somehow I find amazing beauty in this photo DH captured

The gorgeous view at the opposite end of the beach - this summer we enjoyed many family "treasure walks" down to these rocks, collecting quahog shells, stones, and anything else the Mad Hatter deemed worthy of trekking home with us (we even found a Starfish AKA sea star that we convinced her to put back into the ocean, as it was still alive)

Summer may be fading fast over, but our memories of this summer will surely be treasured for many months to come! They'll also get us through the feet of snow we're sure to endure in the long New England winter!

Top 5 Tuesday

It's Top 5 Tuesday again, and check it out - Dana finally got a tag for her weekly shindig!


This week's task is to choose your top 5 favorite or least favorite things about the place you currently live.


Since I just sent off my Favorite Things swap package yesterday (thanks again for the fabulous idea and job you did with this Wendi!), I'm going with favorites.


1) I am surrounded by my family. Mom and Dad live 15 minutes away, grandmother the same, other grandmother is here 4 months out of the year and comes home for holidays, aunt, cousins, all close by. The farthest one is my brother, and he's only an hour away. I am blessed and lucky to be so close to all of them (both geographically and emotionally!).


2) We actually do have four seasons here in New England! Although this year we didn't have so much of a spring and kind of leapt into summer. But I was reminded today after I dropped off MH at preschool and went for a lovely walk (go ME!) that the air has definitely changed and fall is here. Although I am mourning the end of beach weather, the fall foliage will be beautiful. Winter is another story, but I'm trying to keep this to my favorites.


3) I live 30-45 minutes from the beach! I spend all summer trying to get there as much as possible! THIS is one of my favorite views on the way there (it's the Jamestown bridge, kind of resembles the Golden Gate, huh?). I never realized how much I took the beach for granted since I grew up going there all summer long, but I have since realized that there are people who have never been on a beach!!! Come visit me!


4) Dunkin' Donuts. They are literally everywhere you turn around here. And in the last year or so, I've become a bit of a coffee addict. Of course I love my Starbucks, but when it comes to affordable and yummy selections, you can't beat DD!


5) Rhode Island may be the SMALLEST state in the country, but it is rich in history and culture. I love perusing the shops on Thayer Street, right in the heart of Brown University's campus. I love that we can take a trip to Newport and play tourist for the day - the mansions are truly amazing (not to mention all the awesome little shops!). I love that Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) is here and we can go peruse their local museum. I love that you can cross the entire state in about 45 minutes! And I also love that in an hour, I can be in Boston and have the total city experience, where there is also tons of history and culture.


All in all, RI is a pretty great place to live!


Now, it's your turn! I want to hear your fave (or least fave) things about where you live. Heck, I don't even know where some of you live!


So go link up at Supernanny, Where are You?, or leave me a post right here in my comments section!


xoxo,

Literally

Lately DH and I have noticed just how literally MH takes everything we say. Most of the time we find it humorous, others we end up having to give a long sordid explanation for something we wish we'd never said (when do they learn the term figure of speech?) just because of the long tedious process associated with what we really meant.

Anyways, this AM I was awaked by MH to her latest greeting (I have to say, I do prefer it to the screaming of MO-MMY! over and over until I can unglue at least one eye and figure out that it's not still the middle of the night).

MH:(wearing her Flounder hat and carrying her light-up butterfly from yesterday): Mommy . . . wake up! It's morning, time to open your eyes!

Lucky for her she's adorable and her little sweet voice is the best thing to hear first thing when I wake up (I just wish that happened at say, 10AM. OK, I'd even take 9 - I'm not that greedy).

(For those of you with older kids, do they ever get that "waking up" thing like we do? As in, I am most definitely not one of those peeps who opens their eyes, pops out of bed, and shouts "Hello, Day! Let's get going!" C'mon - I know the rest of you are {insert eye roll here}. I need a little time to greet the world.).

Me: Did you have a good night sleep? Look at you with all your stuff!
MH: Yeah, I had so much fun yesterday. (Then she gets all serious) But next time I'm going to hold the bag and share my cotton candy with Daddy.
Me: We did share our cotton candy with Daddy (she doesn't need to know that Mommy is a glutton and ate the majority of the bag, she's still young).
MH: Oh. Well maybe if they come back and we can go again, I can hold the bag.
Me: OK, well that's really sweet. But I don't know if they'll be back for a while . . .
MH: Of course they'll be back!
Me: Really MH, they travel all over the country so all the little boys and girls can see their special show. It'll probably be a while.
MH: Mommy, they're going to come back. At the end, Mickey and Minnie said "See you real soon!"

It was still early.
It took me a minute.
They did say that.
They say that at the end of EVERY Mickey Mouse Club episode.

Yep, we're definitely in that literal phase.

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Sweetheart just walked in to watch her so I can go to PT. MH just proudly showed off all her garb (she's already spoken to Sweetheart about 6 times since yesterday - even made Daddy call her cell phone so she could tell her more about her day.). The first words out of her mouth after her initial excitement were "Sweetheart! Can we go to your house for a little while? Cassie (my parents' dog) would love to see my cool stuff! And as I type, she has requested a visit to Poppy's office as well - we must show off our fabulous swag.

MH, I say it every day, but I adore you. You are the light of my life. And adoration is such an understatement. You are the true light of my life.

Priceless

Tickets to Disney On Ice Worlds of Fantasy: $81.25
Parking: Free (we found a great spot on the streeet - $10 extra for souvenirs!)
Food: $21
Souvenirs: $20 (included Mommy getting to share delish cotton candy with MH, who was more excited about getting the adorable Flounder hat that came on top of the bag)
Mommy forgetting the small camera and having to take pics with her cell phone: Disappointing.

MH having a blast at her first Disney on Ice show: Priceless.


Side note: I adore the way my child thinks. You might remember this post, where we attended a birthday party at an ice skating rink. We decided on Friday at the last minute to buy tickets for this show, and have been talking about it ever since. On the way to the show, MH innocently asked us who would be helping her when we got there. It took us a minute, but we quickly realized that she thought she'd be skating with the Disney characters!

A great time was had by all (and if the show is coming to a location near you, GO - it was really cute! Plus, there is nothing better than watching your child's favorite characters come to life through her eyes).