Worst Parent Award

Unfortunately it is now official, we are the worst parents in the world and we have just been awarded the trophy for it!

In April, at Easter (yes all that long time ago) Ben had 2 teeth fall out, this made number 3 & 4.
However he was not sure about giving them away and so they have sat on his bedside table in the little pot Grandma gave him.
They have happily sat there for the last 6 months and not a word has been said.

However last night Steve came and asked if I had any coins and then told me that Ben had decided to surrender his teeth.

(Yes I know you can see exactly where this is now leading!)

At 7 O'Clock this morning we were officially awarded the award of worst parent in the universe award.
This was awarded as Ben came into our room with tears running down his face proclaiming "the tooth fairy didn't come!"

Yes folks, that is just about it.....we forgot!

We didn't have to make up any excuses as Ben is very good at justifying things for himself and proceeded to say that the reason she didn't arrive was:

1. He was too late in putting his teeth out
2. He is a jiggler when he sleeps and therefore she couldn't get to them
3. His head is too heavy and she was unable to lift the pillow to get to his teeth

We just looked at each other, went 'Oh woops' and told him that yes the tooth fairy would probably try again tonight and lets maybe put the teeth somewhere where she can get to them!

Just Perfect! The Joys of Parenting

This time last week I was ranting and raging about having time off work due to a sick child. He by the way is now fine and we really don't think he was ever that contagious, but we will not argue that point now!
So yesterday life finally got back to normal.
Everyone went to school and I got to go back to work.

However that only lasted until 5pm last night.
Ben jumped down of the stage at after school care last night (like he has everyday practically for the last 2 years) and then complained his foot hurt. Apparently he walked across the hall and then mentioned it hurt.
He could walk on it and move his toes and said it didn't hurt too much when touched. We decided that a pulled muscle was probably the best and left it at that. He had shoes on at the time so we felt his foot was supported so expected nothing sinister at all.
This morning his foot was swollen and sore, so Steve took a couple of hours off and took him for an x-ray at 9am.
I on the other hand called in the cavalry (aka Grandma)
They diagnosed a sprain and sent us home telling us to keep him home for the rest of the week. So Grandma came and did a snatch and grab and whisked him home to her house till Saturday.

Don't you just love Grandma's?

Unfortunately I wish it was all just that simple.
Turns out someone else reviewed his x-ray later in the day and they called us at 5pm to say he needed to be seen again due to actually having a broken foot.
Slight problem, he is now 1hr drive away.
So Grandma took him to local clinic and they called our clinic who advised of the diagnosis.

Now we have a back slab, non weight bearing with crutches for 3 days, then a visit to fracture clinic and then 6 weeks in a cast.
So soccer season, which he is loving has just disappeared along with Judo.
Not sure if he realises this but then seeing as he is not at home at present, still at Grandma's, then we will discuss this with him when he returns!

So here we are, 10pm and I still am not exactly sure what is happening. I never saw the doctor, we haven't really spoken to anyone proper about the phone call because no one has spoken to us yet! Grandma knows more than we do due to being told directly at her clinic what the Hamilton clinic told them, but even then because she is not in town, then they don't know who, when or where.

My day off tomorrow is obviously going to be spent getting to grips with everything and when we have to be places and what for.

The joys of Parenting.

Survival Tips for Working Mums

Found this in a magazine and quite liked some of them. Have even started to implement some of them in my day to day running of the house when I am working.

1. Get yourself ready first. The 'thrown together look' looks better on the kids than you.
2. Stick a weekly menu on the refridgerator. It saves stress and last minute shopping.
3. Cook in bulk over the weekend so you can freeze a few quick weeknight meals.
4. Organise some reciprocal babysitting with a friend to allow some couple time for you and your partner.
5. Train your kids to do small tasks that'll save you time, such as tidying up or getting clothes ready.
6. Get to know the other mums at school or daycare. helping someone out can become a returnable favour.
7. Pack everyone's bags the night before, including your own, so they're ready to go in the morning.
8. Have a contingency plan in case the kids are sick on a workday.
9. If it's within your means, perhaps consider outsourcing the cleaning or ironing or, if not, your older kids can help with some tasks.
10. Start each day with a big hug. No matter what else happens as the day goes on, at least it begins well.

Joys of Parenting

I can honestly say that I was the one to instigate having children in this relationship.
Steve has been married before and children was not something that was going to happen in that relationship, so when I met him, children were not really on the agenda.
It took me several years before he agreed to children and I think I can honestly say, that even with the bad days, he still wouldn't change any of it.
To prove my point, yesterday I woke just after 6am to hear Steve and the boys in the boys room singing 'Miss Polly had a Dolly'
Seems Steve had taken Ben back in the middle of the night and ended up sleeping with Ben, because his bed was cold and he wanted daddy to warm it up for him.
When Alex woke up he joined them and Ben then put the light on, got out some books and started reading with daddy, one of the books was 'Miss Polly'

Last night Steve was telling me all about it and we were laughing so much, about how Ben was the leader and instigated the reading session and also about the fact that I wondered if Steve ever thought in his life he would be singing Nursery Rhymes at 6am!

Guess that is parenting for you.

Parenting

Parenting sure does have its serious side, but every now and again it's good to remember that, as parents, we're all only human.
So take a moment from your busy day to remind yourself how good it feels to have a chuckle, at your kids' expense.

1. You spend the first two years of their life teaching them to walk and talk. Then you spend the next 16 telling them to sit down and shut up.
2. Grandchildren are God's reward for not killing your own children.
3. Mothers of teens now know why some animals eat their young.
4. Children seldom misquote you. In fact, they usually repeat word for word what you shouldn't have said.
5. The main purpose of holding children's parties is to remind yourself that there are children more awful than your own.
6. We childproofed our homes, but they are still getting in.
7. Most of all, be nice to your kids. They will choose your nursing home one day.

Parenting Books

Why is it you find a book on parenting skills in the library after you kids have done things!?
I found a very simple book that explains so much, and now I totally understand my down moment and now also understand some of what my son does and why, even though he is still only 2, what will life be like when he is 14?