The weather is nicer today than it has been in a while. I'm sitting out on the back porch drinking a cup of coffee, listening to the birds, and the dishwasher....
Yup the dishwasher. And in about 20 min I'll hear the dryer beep or the washer ding because laundry is ready to be changed.
I'm back to being a stay at home mom. Or a work from home mom. I do still work some, I signed up a few months ago to drive for UBER and LYFT, at the time because I needed the extra money to pay for before and after school care for the kids. And then as time went on and we realized how little of my paycheck I was keeping on a week to week basis, it became more and more necessary for me to figure out an alternative path, or make more money, and option number 2 is a dream, not a reality for my field.
And thus we arrive at the theme for today. Why is it that we spend so much time telling our kids to do what makes them happy, don't worry about the money, and then we make life itself SO EXPENSIVE. Yes I know I haven't always made the perfect decisions and I have some debt that to be honest if I didn't have, if we as a married couple didn't have, then I probably could have stayed right where I was. But life happens and when you're young you make bad choices sometimes. Which again brings me back to being young and trying to figure out what that means in relation to then becoming an adult. Working, a career, a family, housing, and otherwise enjoying your life as opposed to just going day to day. And why should you work, strive to work, in something that you should enjoy? And why are we still telling our kids that?
So all professions have a price point, if you will, right? Wrong. Period. That statement is just wrong. There is no more reasonable average for what any given profession makes anymore. If you find just the right company to work for you make way more than you will working for the company that does the right thing. Now a days more often than not those that are trying to work to do the right thing, the ones that are working at what they enjoy, are the ones making less money. And do you know why that is? Because when you are doing something you enjoy, you are willing to do it for less money. If you are working at your job, where the objective is to put forth the skills and knowledge tat you have worked really hard to acquire, you expect to get paid for your efforts.
I have a B.S. in Animal Science. I went to school with the thoughts and idea and loosely laid plan that I was going to go the Veterinary school. So I spent, no I borrowed, ~$25,000 to finish my undergraduate degree. Now a lot of your are going to sit there and say OMG only ~$25K that's nothing, what are you complaining about. But mind you that was tuition/fees/books, period. I lived in an apartment, about 35miles off campus, with a toddler. So now lets add in gas, wear and tear on my car, child care while I'm in class, and food; since meal plans are part of college expenses. Ok so to put the arguments to rest, fortunately I got grant money to cover 90% of the child care expenses, so to all of you who are sitting there saying well you're the one who chose to have a kids so early, yes I am, and other than the time taken away and not being able to study for more than 5min at a time unless I was on campus, the monetary cost of going to school with a child ends up negligible.
Now that we can focus on the school portion, I went to school, borrowed $25,000 at an average of 5.5%, about half of which accrued interest while I was in school, 3 years, and the other half was deferred until graduation, or I dropped below FT status. I graduated with $24,020 in federal loans and $7000 in private student loans. To date I have paid $42,060; and I still have $18,977 left. I graduate from a program that I needed to then go to another 4 year program that would have averaged $250,000 to finish, with the hopes of then being in the career that I enjoy, doing what I like every day, wanting to go to work. But I didn't make it that far. I instead had to take the knowledge and skills I not had and figure out how to apply them because I didn't get accepted into any of the Veterinary Schools I applied to within the US. I had one offer from a school in Canada, but if I took that it either meant leaving my fiance here in the US, or having him come with me but then him not being able to work and effectively having to borrow the money to live off of for four years. Now I'm left trying to figure out what sacrifices to I make to be able to do what I enjoy?
In some respects I still kick myself for not having taken that option, but in the same, if I had, I doubt very much that I would be in any different a position.
I was able to apply my skills and get a job making $14/hour. Do you know how that works out at the end of the week? $560 for a 40 hour work week. Then less 20% in taxes bring you to $448. Now take out child care for a pre-schooler and an infant; yes we had another kid in the process. $58. I had $58 dollars left over at the end of the week. Maybe enough to put gas in the car. But is was all to be able to follow the goal of doing what I enjoy. Wanting to get up and go to work every day so I wasn't miserable.
I did the right thing by most standards at the time, I went to college, I pursued a job that I enjoyed, something that I liked getting up to go to every day. I had <$100 a month to show for it.
Fortunately that was a short lived couple months because then my older child was able to start pre-K. Do me a favor and google how many school districts still have a pre-K program. I'll give you a hint, it's not a great number, and what's worse is how many school districts in areas where parents could really use the help, still have a pre-K program. In our district it was a lottery system and we made the lottery. So I get to keep an extra $190 a week, AWESOME! Oh but now I can only work between 9am and 3pm; so now I'm down to top potential of $420. But the hours I'm available are so awkward that now I'm only getting 3 shifts a week, because when you can't open, and you can't close, you're not a very valuable employee. So we're down to $252 gross, $201.6 after taxes. And I can't have the exact same 3 shifts a week so I can't reduce the number of days I have to take the infant to daycare, which is still $200 a week. I'm now making $1.60. Oh but I forgot getting to and from work, and now it's actually costing me money to work. But I'm doing what they said, I'm working at something at I enjoy...
So I'm back to my question. Why do we tell kids to go after something they enjoy? I went after what I enjoyed and it literally sucked the joy out of me. I had clients telling me I didn't care enough, I had patients trying to hurt me on a day in day out basis, I had a boss who saw little to no value in me because I wasn't available enough, and I had a partner at home who made me look at the numbers and realize that it was costing me money to be working. We couldn't do any of the other things that we wanted on weekends because we didn't have the money. We could barely keep up with the expenses. And since he made $2 an hour more than I did because he was able to spend an extra 2 years working for the company and move up to a supervisor position, while I was in school, supposed to be getting the degree that would make up for the lost time, I was the one who had to stop working all together and stay home all day. Stare at the same four walls day in and day out, and figure out how to support a family of 4 on $33,280 a year.
All the reasons I thought I went to school had vanished. I was lost in being a mother, lost in being a house wife, which I sucked at, by the way. Lost in always trying to figure out how to stretch each dollar, how to find the deals and the bargains, and make sure that the rent was paid, electricity on, phone bill paid, car payments made, and don't forget about the student loan payment.
I hate the fact that I went after what I enjoyed most days. There I said it. And I, personally will never tell my kids to find what they enjoy and and make a living from it.
Finding what you enjoy makes you love what you do, and that in turn makes you make ridiculous sacrifices and bad decisions for your future. And if God forbid anything happen that isn't according to plan, then you're really screwed. Now this very tight knit plan that you have that keeps life just in balance is thrown to the wind. The guy who was working 60 hours a week to try to make it so we had more than $500 a week to live on; that's food/clothing/shelter/transportation all of the things you could possibly spend money on in a week, collapses, and now there in no income but still bills to be paid and kids to be fed.
I will tell my kids to find what they are good at. I will tell my kids to find out what skills they have that they can apply to a career that will allow them to support the life they want. The dollar is the almighty. It sucks to have to think of it that way, but I hope that if I can do anything I can help them to see that they can get that job straight out of High School, or they can go to college and glean more knowledge and skills. Be the mechanic, the mechanical engineer, the accountant, the human resources person. Take certificate classes that cost way less than a four year degree. Go to work right out of high school, work for two years and then get tuition assistance from your employer. Take night classes, or weekend classes, or on-line classes. Make them pick up the bill to help you to advance. But work at what you're good at. Leave what makes you happy for the time outside of work.
You like being able to travel, cool, travel with your friends and family, travel by yourself, but don't travel as a job. There are people out there who can write blogs, restaurant reviews, travel articles for the paper, but those jobs are like the people who manage to make it to major league sports, approximately 0.0015% of the 2012 US population by the way. Work is something we all have to do; alright yes there are a few out there again who have money from day one but they are the minority. We have to stop letting work suck the life out of us. Get in there, do what you're good at, and then let the life, let what you enjoy, let the fun, be the fun, be what you enjoy, be life.
I'm not the best writer, but I am pretty good with managing tasks, people, projects, and operations in general. I'm good at looking to someone and asking them if they have done XYZ, or if 123 is ready to go. I'm good at helping people to see how to use what they have available to them to make the best of the current situation, and then afterward reflecting on how we can improve the process moving forward. I'm really good at being open to new ideas and doing the research to figure out how something can be different, or better, or both. So I'm going to finally take some of my own advice, I'm going to take the certificate class, I'm going to expand my skills and my knowledge, I'm going to manage the projects and find the ways to make them more efficient.
On the weekends, and in the evening, I'm going to be able to take my kids to the baseball games, the ballet practices, go to the animal shelter to volunteer, buy a crap ton of food and beer and post up in my driveway and BS with the neighbors while the kids play four square. I'm going to do what I'm good at, and I'm going to enjoy what I like to do, but they won't be the same tasks, they won't be my job.
I'm going to tell my kids to do what they're good at, and enjoy what they like to do. And I'm going to hope that they never have to sit and contemplate it all. I hope you do the same.
Thursday, April 26, 2018
Thursday, February 8, 2018
Ready for round three
So a few months ago my husband and I sat down and started running some numbers. We needed to because we have goals and ambitions for our lives. Awesome you say, why yes we thought so too!
And then I hit the enter button...
We realized that we were spending almost my entire salary on physically getting to work and child care.
So obviously we starting brainstorming options for change. One of which involved, unfortunately me having to give up my job.
Now yes initially I had the same reaction, OMG how egotistical for him to keep his job and force you to give up yours, and once again the man is making more and blah blah blah... But fortunately numbers don't lie and the hard truth of the matter was he makes more money than I do and so I need to come up with some way to compensate.
So I'm in the process of leaving my employer, which I could probably write a book on all in it's own, and I have picked up driving with Uber, and I am in the process of finding some other sort of more gainful employment where I can make what I need to to be able to better support my family and our needs.
In the mean time I am going to share some funny things that happen and or things the kids say because, well part of my thoughts in alternative career is the fact that I actually really like to write, and supposedly I'm kind of good at it. Thank you Mrs. Rand 11th grade English.
Which brings us to the story of the day, technically yesterday....
So Feb 7 2018 in western PA was one of snow, sleet, rain, otherwise precarious driving conditions. What does this mean to a mom of two school age children? Why snow day of course! Or not...
What she means is that yes the kids had the day off from school but of course mom had to then figure out juggling two and at times three different jobs all in one fell swoop.
Start with me at about 6:15am where upon I check the school's website to see that in fact the kids do have a delay, and yes there is call for it, the "stuff" going on out side the window is kinda gross. Ok so group text to everyone at the clinic, or those that are supposed to be working this morning to say hey guys I'm going to be late because the kids have a delay. It's now 6:45 and I'm supposed to be at the clinic at 10. Fine and dandy. To which I get a response from my receptionist (6:59 when she is supposed to be there at 7:30 and I know it takes her 30min to get to work) that her road hasn't been plowed and so she can't get out. So stop me if I now sound like that boss that says hey yea there's 2' of snow but I still expect you to come in, but really there was maybe 3" and you don't let someone know when you are supposed to be leaving that you can't get out. At this point my kids district has closed....
Oh crap...
So we keep puttering, I have one tech who is on her way, 7:11, cool. Doc says she won't be in before 9, reasonable, don't need the Dr there any earlier than that provided the surgery scheduled for the day even shows. Tech #2 says she'll be there in 20min, it's now 7:15, cool, she'll be closer to a normal time, she also lives the closest to the building. 7:22 tech #1 has made it and confirmed that the surgery, in fact, will not be there due to travel conditions.
By this point I have confirmed with Doc that she is ok if I just bring the kids with me and then my husband will come get them when he leaves work early, after his morning meetings are done, told the receptionist not to worry about trying to get into the office, and told the third tech for the day she can stay home, and we are on our way to the office. I live about 45min away on a good day so I am now expecting an hour to 75min.
8:15 The receptionist didn't get it the first time and is saying she is going to try to leave in 20 min, I promptly tell her don't worry I'm 3/4 of the way to the office no need for her to come in. It was probably close to 8:45 if not 9 and my entourage has arrived.
Now to try to get some work done with kids around...
For the most part my kids know that if they have to come to the office with me then they need to stay in the actual office and not be running around the clinic and most importantly stay away from the patients. (Veterinary practice, strange kids, strange animals, doesn't usually mix well hence kids being in the office being a last resort.) The one thing I apparently didn't clarify enough was the "Do not touch things that are not yours." rule however.
About noon time I am expecting my husband to be able to come get the kids but he has had something come up and he can't leave yet. Ok fine, they are getting testy but we only have a few more hours, it is what it is, if you will.
The thought no sooner goes through my head that 'cool they're being pretty good, no one has been yelling in a while' and my son comes around the corner with a mouse trap, or pest trap, specifically the delightful glue sheet kind, on his head
.... sticky side down...
no I didn't get a picture, I'm sorry.
Fortunately he was in need of a hair cut of sorts and so crisis averted and the glue trapped was removed, and there is now a small boy with a very funny haircut.
Eventually dad calls and comes to collect the children and we're all able to move on with the remainder of the day in as normal a fashion as possible but I have to admit, I got to the end of the day and was just thankful to get into the car alone,
where it was quiet,
and drive home.
To come to the sad realization that I have likely many more months and a projected 10 more years before said little boy stop doing things like putting glue on his head after having to help people figure out how to cooperatively operate to keep the world turning when there is 3" of snow, in western PA...
*face palm*
And then I hit the enter button...
We realized that we were spending almost my entire salary on physically getting to work and child care.
So obviously we starting brainstorming options for change. One of which involved, unfortunately me having to give up my job.
Now yes initially I had the same reaction, OMG how egotistical for him to keep his job and force you to give up yours, and once again the man is making more and blah blah blah... But fortunately numbers don't lie and the hard truth of the matter was he makes more money than I do and so I need to come up with some way to compensate.
So I'm in the process of leaving my employer, which I could probably write a book on all in it's own, and I have picked up driving with Uber, and I am in the process of finding some other sort of more gainful employment where I can make what I need to to be able to better support my family and our needs.
In the mean time I am going to share some funny things that happen and or things the kids say because, well part of my thoughts in alternative career is the fact that I actually really like to write, and supposedly I'm kind of good at it. Thank you Mrs. Rand 11th grade English.
Which brings us to the story of the day, technically yesterday....
So Feb 7 2018 in western PA was one of snow, sleet, rain, otherwise precarious driving conditions. What does this mean to a mom of two school age children? Why snow day of course! Or not...
What she means is that yes the kids had the day off from school but of course mom had to then figure out juggling two and at times three different jobs all in one fell swoop.
Start with me at about 6:15am where upon I check the school's website to see that in fact the kids do have a delay, and yes there is call for it, the "stuff" going on out side the window is kinda gross. Ok so group text to everyone at the clinic, or those that are supposed to be working this morning to say hey guys I'm going to be late because the kids have a delay. It's now 6:45 and I'm supposed to be at the clinic at 10. Fine and dandy. To which I get a response from my receptionist (6:59 when she is supposed to be there at 7:30 and I know it takes her 30min to get to work) that her road hasn't been plowed and so she can't get out. So stop me if I now sound like that boss that says hey yea there's 2' of snow but I still expect you to come in, but really there was maybe 3" and you don't let someone know when you are supposed to be leaving that you can't get out. At this point my kids district has closed....
Oh crap...
So we keep puttering, I have one tech who is on her way, 7:11, cool. Doc says she won't be in before 9, reasonable, don't need the Dr there any earlier than that provided the surgery scheduled for the day even shows. Tech #2 says she'll be there in 20min, it's now 7:15, cool, she'll be closer to a normal time, she also lives the closest to the building. 7:22 tech #1 has made it and confirmed that the surgery, in fact, will not be there due to travel conditions.
By this point I have confirmed with Doc that she is ok if I just bring the kids with me and then my husband will come get them when he leaves work early, after his morning meetings are done, told the receptionist not to worry about trying to get into the office, and told the third tech for the day she can stay home, and we are on our way to the office. I live about 45min away on a good day so I am now expecting an hour to 75min.
8:15 The receptionist didn't get it the first time and is saying she is going to try to leave in 20 min, I promptly tell her don't worry I'm 3/4 of the way to the office no need for her to come in. It was probably close to 8:45 if not 9 and my entourage has arrived.
Now to try to get some work done with kids around...
For the most part my kids know that if they have to come to the office with me then they need to stay in the actual office and not be running around the clinic and most importantly stay away from the patients. (Veterinary practice, strange kids, strange animals, doesn't usually mix well hence kids being in the office being a last resort.) The one thing I apparently didn't clarify enough was the "Do not touch things that are not yours." rule however.
About noon time I am expecting my husband to be able to come get the kids but he has had something come up and he can't leave yet. Ok fine, they are getting testy but we only have a few more hours, it is what it is, if you will.
The thought no sooner goes through my head that 'cool they're being pretty good, no one has been yelling in a while' and my son comes around the corner with a mouse trap, or pest trap, specifically the delightful glue sheet kind, on his head
.... sticky side down...
no I didn't get a picture, I'm sorry.
Fortunately he was in need of a hair cut of sorts and so crisis averted and the glue trapped was removed, and there is now a small boy with a very funny haircut.
Eventually dad calls and comes to collect the children and we're all able to move on with the remainder of the day in as normal a fashion as possible but I have to admit, I got to the end of the day and was just thankful to get into the car alone,
where it was quiet,
and drive home.
To come to the sad realization that I have likely many more months and a projected 10 more years before said little boy stop doing things like putting glue on his head after having to help people figure out how to cooperatively operate to keep the world turning when there is 3" of snow, in western PA...
*face palm*
Thursday, September 8, 2016
Your teacher is wrong, and other stupid shit I say
Well you would have thought I was trying to start WWIII at the table tonight.
Tori has homework, which includes reviewing her spelling and a few vocab words the class has been getting tripped up on.
Matt tackles most of the spelling until we get to "taking"
'No it's talking dad'
'No on your list that you wrote it says taking'
'No I know the word is supposed to be talking, how is it spelled?'
Me: 'Tori we can't tell you how it's spelled that defeats the purpose of the practice for your test tomorrow'
'But it's talking just how is it spelled and then I'll know what word it is'
The words are also typed in a list by the teacher as well as hand written in her day planner. Matt and I both confirm for her that all 3 lists agree the word is taking.
'But if you don't just...
"No Tori just spell the word taking, that's the word, spell taking.'
Finally she writes down taking on her paper.
Few more words and said list is done, the only oops being equipped which likely only had one p or a t instead of a d. No biggie.
I have an e-mail from the teacher that lays out 4 vocab words they are struggling with; ponder, conquer, resistance, anticipation.
She accurately details ponder, conquer takes a second because she tries to use conquer in her answer and it takes a minute to understand that you can't use the word in the definition.
'Resistance'
'Like when you are stopping from eating tacos even though you really want them.'
'No that's resisting, you are showing resistance but that's not actually a good definition or example of resistance because your are resisting eating the tacos.'
'No that's what my teacher said, that's what we wrote down. That's resistance.'
I have to actually think for a second here about how to come up with two more appropriate examples to demonstrate the action of resisting vs. the description of resistance.
'Well resistance is like when I try to turn the wrench on the bolt but it won't move, there is resistance making it so I can't turn the wrench. Or when the chair won't slide nicely across the floor there is resistance making it so it won't slide smoothly. If I am showing resistance then I am actively resisting. Like right now your are resisting that you are wrong, or you not eating the tacos is resisting eating the tacos.'
'No Mrs. Martz told us that, so that's what we wrote down, your wrong'
'No your teacher is wrong, I will look it up to show you.' Look it up on webster.com, read the definition for her. 'See so resistance is a little different than resisting, so if that's what you wrote down, it's wrong.'
'Mrs Martz is a teacher, she isn't wrong' cue water works
'Well Tori I just proved it to you, she is wrong'
'She went to college, she's smarter.'
'I went to college too, I know what resistance is. I read you the definition.'
'I'll prove it to you that's what we wrote down and you're wrong, Mrs. Martz can't be wrong.'
stomping, crying screaming all the while
Now I'm mad because she won't stop arguing. 'Ok what ever go to bed.'
'Why doesn't William have to go to bed?'
"GO TO BED!'
crying, screaming something less than intelligible about how I'm wrong and she's not arguing she stomps up the stairs.
Like seriously when did I become the village idiot? I know she's a teacher, but I happen to be a well educated individual as well, and no I'm not f***ing wrong! But apparently telling her that her teacher was wrong was about the stupidest thing that could have ever come out of my face...
Who knew...
I've also been wrong for telling her that her having a dresser full of clothes means she has to be able to find something to wear, I don't care if it's what she wants to wear, she's 8 get dressed. Which ranks next to the fact that she is a kid so she needs to be in kid conversations but needs to leave adult conversations to adults. Add it to that screaming match from two weeks ago about how I can't do whatever I want just because I'm a parent. And sprinkle a little being the meanest mom because I won't always answer her questions, because oh yea, she's 8 and doesn't need to know everything.
So now I'll just sit here and vent to the digital world about my glaring inadequacy as a mom/parent/adult because once again I made a grievous mistake by telling her not only that she was wrong, but also ... her teacher was wrong.
So stupid!!
How many more years of verbal torture and mental gymnastics did I sign up for???
Tori has homework, which includes reviewing her spelling and a few vocab words the class has been getting tripped up on.
Matt tackles most of the spelling until we get to "taking"
'No it's talking dad'
'No on your list that you wrote it says taking'
'No I know the word is supposed to be talking, how is it spelled?'
Me: 'Tori we can't tell you how it's spelled that defeats the purpose of the practice for your test tomorrow'
'But it's talking just how is it spelled and then I'll know what word it is'
The words are also typed in a list by the teacher as well as hand written in her day planner. Matt and I both confirm for her that all 3 lists agree the word is taking.
'But if you don't just...
"No Tori just spell the word taking, that's the word, spell taking.'
Finally she writes down taking on her paper.
Few more words and said list is done, the only oops being equipped which likely only had one p or a t instead of a d. No biggie.
I have an e-mail from the teacher that lays out 4 vocab words they are struggling with; ponder, conquer, resistance, anticipation.
She accurately details ponder, conquer takes a second because she tries to use conquer in her answer and it takes a minute to understand that you can't use the word in the definition.
'Resistance'
'Like when you are stopping from eating tacos even though you really want them.'
'No that's resisting, you are showing resistance but that's not actually a good definition or example of resistance because your are resisting eating the tacos.'
'No that's what my teacher said, that's what we wrote down. That's resistance.'
I have to actually think for a second here about how to come up with two more appropriate examples to demonstrate the action of resisting vs. the description of resistance.
'Well resistance is like when I try to turn the wrench on the bolt but it won't move, there is resistance making it so I can't turn the wrench. Or when the chair won't slide nicely across the floor there is resistance making it so it won't slide smoothly. If I am showing resistance then I am actively resisting. Like right now your are resisting that you are wrong, or you not eating the tacos is resisting eating the tacos.'
'No Mrs. Martz told us that, so that's what we wrote down, your wrong'
'No your teacher is wrong, I will look it up to show you.' Look it up on webster.com, read the definition for her. 'See so resistance is a little different than resisting, so if that's what you wrote down, it's wrong.'
'Mrs Martz is a teacher, she isn't wrong' cue water works
'Well Tori I just proved it to you, she is wrong'
'She went to college, she's smarter.'
'I went to college too, I know what resistance is. I read you the definition.'
'I'll prove it to you that's what we wrote down and you're wrong, Mrs. Martz can't be wrong.'
stomping, crying screaming all the while
Now I'm mad because she won't stop arguing. 'Ok what ever go to bed.'
'Why doesn't William have to go to bed?'
"GO TO BED!'
crying, screaming something less than intelligible about how I'm wrong and she's not arguing she stomps up the stairs.
Like seriously when did I become the village idiot? I know she's a teacher, but I happen to be a well educated individual as well, and no I'm not f***ing wrong! But apparently telling her that her teacher was wrong was about the stupidest thing that could have ever come out of my face...
Who knew...
I've also been wrong for telling her that her having a dresser full of clothes means she has to be able to find something to wear, I don't care if it's what she wants to wear, she's 8 get dressed. Which ranks next to the fact that she is a kid so she needs to be in kid conversations but needs to leave adult conversations to adults. Add it to that screaming match from two weeks ago about how I can't do whatever I want just because I'm a parent. And sprinkle a little being the meanest mom because I won't always answer her questions, because oh yea, she's 8 and doesn't need to know everything.
So now I'll just sit here and vent to the digital world about my glaring inadequacy as a mom/parent/adult because once again I made a grievous mistake by telling her not only that she was wrong, but also ... her teacher was wrong.
So stupid!!
How many more years of verbal torture and mental gymnastics did I sign up for???
Saturday, August 13, 2016
I'm giving myself a new name
Holy crap the "Mommy can I... " or "Mommy... " seven hundred times before I finish my coffee is killing me.
I am officially re-naming myself Your Majesty, though I may to figure out how to incorporate Most amazing mother of ever in there too...
Ok not really though it would be funny to have them wandering around saying your majesty
What I really don't get though is that they are running around inside, ok fine out doors we go. We aren't out of the literal door but for 36 seconds and they are turning around and coming out "Mommy can I have a fruit roll up? Mommy can I have some juice? Mommy can I have some rice? Mommy can I... "
Like seriously we just made it out the door and now all the sudden you're starving and need to go back in to eat?
So after 72 trips in and out of the house to get snacks I now find Tori standing at the microwave burning rice... she didn't read any directions and thus there was no water added...
Burning bowl of grain vacated to the front porch, new bowl with water added is cooking.
William literally just finished eating a yogurt after his half of a fruit roll up and is now looking for more in the fridge, in the cabinet, trying to take what his sister has. Holy empty leg bat man, you did eat breakfast so where pray tel are you storing these various snacks?
Don't get me wrong, if your hungry please eat but could we possibly use some level of control and focus to eat and then be done with ravaging my kitchen and or asking me to provide you with new sustenance every 30 seconds? Also can we maybe try to eat real food instead of the variety of prepackaged ready to eat things that need to be purchased to make sure there is a transportable lunch for camp during the week?
Oh and did I mention that I hate having the kitchen be the hang out spot. William in particular is really bad at this. He goes in the get one snack and then just stands there eating while he decides on the next food item to enjoy. Again this wouldn't be an issue except for the incessant "Mommy...?" coming from said kitchen as well as the fact that he has the attention span of a gnat and so while he walked in with intention to get an apple out of the fridge, now I hear the dirty bowl in the sink getting filled with water, of course that also means my counters are getting impromptu cleaned because he has successfully sprayed water all over. Or the utility drawer is opened, and yes I know I'm the worst ever because there are sharp things within reach of children, but guess what, he's been told 10000000000000000000000 times not to go in that drawer and there is 100% never any purpose for him to be in that drawer. So back to that lack of attention, now the cabinet door is open.
OMG William what are you doing??? "I wanted a snack" Yes I know this but that was 7 minutes ago, get your snack and go sit at the table.
So now Your Majesty id going to sit on the cough and maybe finish her cold coffee and if she's really lucky get through one whole page in her book with out intentionally being interrupted, and or having to interject because they can't go 5 minutes with out needing to be separated/told to stop arguing, reminded that we are in fact inside now so inside volume is appropriate, or that grabbing things from each other isn't ok, we use manners and ask nicely for things.
Mommy has officially checked out, you can now address me as Your Majesty and her reign will be supreme and you will follow directions or you will suffer the wrath!!!
I am officially re-naming myself Your Majesty, though I may to figure out how to incorporate Most amazing mother of ever in there too...
Ok not really though it would be funny to have them wandering around saying your majesty
What I really don't get though is that they are running around inside, ok fine out doors we go. We aren't out of the literal door but for 36 seconds and they are turning around and coming out "Mommy can I have a fruit roll up? Mommy can I have some juice? Mommy can I have some rice? Mommy can I... "
Like seriously we just made it out the door and now all the sudden you're starving and need to go back in to eat?
So after 72 trips in and out of the house to get snacks I now find Tori standing at the microwave burning rice... she didn't read any directions and thus there was no water added...
Burning bowl of grain vacated to the front porch, new bowl with water added is cooking.
William literally just finished eating a yogurt after his half of a fruit roll up and is now looking for more in the fridge, in the cabinet, trying to take what his sister has. Holy empty leg bat man, you did eat breakfast so where pray tel are you storing these various snacks?
Don't get me wrong, if your hungry please eat but could we possibly use some level of control and focus to eat and then be done with ravaging my kitchen and or asking me to provide you with new sustenance every 30 seconds? Also can we maybe try to eat real food instead of the variety of prepackaged ready to eat things that need to be purchased to make sure there is a transportable lunch for camp during the week?
Oh and did I mention that I hate having the kitchen be the hang out spot. William in particular is really bad at this. He goes in the get one snack and then just stands there eating while he decides on the next food item to enjoy. Again this wouldn't be an issue except for the incessant "Mommy...?" coming from said kitchen as well as the fact that he has the attention span of a gnat and so while he walked in with intention to get an apple out of the fridge, now I hear the dirty bowl in the sink getting filled with water, of course that also means my counters are getting impromptu cleaned because he has successfully sprayed water all over. Or the utility drawer is opened, and yes I know I'm the worst ever because there are sharp things within reach of children, but guess what, he's been told 10000000000000000000000 times not to go in that drawer and there is 100% never any purpose for him to be in that drawer. So back to that lack of attention, now the cabinet door is open.
OMG William what are you doing??? "I wanted a snack" Yes I know this but that was 7 minutes ago, get your snack and go sit at the table.
So now Your Majesty id going to sit on the cough and maybe finish her cold coffee and if she's really lucky get through one whole page in her book with out intentionally being interrupted, and or having to interject because they can't go 5 minutes with out needing to be separated/told to stop arguing, reminded that we are in fact inside now so inside volume is appropriate, or that grabbing things from each other isn't ok, we use manners and ask nicely for things.
Mommy has officially checked out, you can now address me as Your Majesty and her reign will be supreme and you will follow directions or you will suffer the wrath!!!
Wednesday, August 10, 2016
Thank you justice
So not really sure who per se I should really be thanking but first I feel as though I owe myself some kudos.
Secondly I would like to thank Cranberry Magisterial Judge Kovach for helping me to fight the right fight today.
Ok quick re-cap for those that may not know...
In May I had to go to Costco for work, basic monthly supplies.
When I got there, there was a vehicle parked near the door of the store with the window down ~9" with a little white/tan dog hanging his very cute little head out of the window.
Now anyone who knows me knows that my capacity to walk by such things is nominal. But I restrained my self, asked the two young men working how long the vehicle had been parked there, neither was sure but both commented that they had tried to give the dog water.
I make a mental note of said situation; trips to Costco aren't usually brief but hey I'll give you the benefit of the doubt for right now.
I do my shopping, I come out, dog, still in truck, still now owning humans. Couple people stop as I stop with my cart next to the dog commenting that the police had been called and or that they would take the dog. Various comments along the lines of people like that don't deserve to have dogs, etc. Typical melodramatic non-sense.
I take my cart to my truck, empty my belongings, and am then sitting in my front seet feeling very verklempt about the whole thing.
I work in veterinary medicine, I can't just walk by and do nothing... I look at the mirror, 75 degrees, and it is very sunny.
I pull my truck up next to the dog vehicle, make sure he still seems ok; he's hot but he's managing. Go into the store to try to get an announcement made, Costco has no PA system.
Now I stand there next to the dog trying to keep an eye on timing. According to the AVMA on a sunny day 75 ambient temp equates to about 110 after 30 min and I know it's at least been that long.
Still no police. I call the animal hospital listed on the pet's rabies tag, number not in service. Well now we're pushing 40 min and likely 115 degrees. So the window is down far enough I am able to get the dog without hurting him or the vehicle, set him in my truck with the A/C running and a bowl of water on the floor. After a few more minutes we try to find said owner in the store but I can't really go about the store walking a dog.
So we go back out and I finally decide I need to get back to work. If I leave the dog's leash on the mirror someone may take him, and I don't want the person to come out and not have their dog anymore, so I go back inside, leave a note with customer service as to the clinic I work for and my number so the individual can retrieve said pet; I leave an identical note on the driver seat of the vehicle.
Off to the clinic we go, he's finally cooled off a bit and no longer panting like mad. I feel a little better.
Back to work. Call the county and get a phone number via the licence on the collar, no answer, leave a message. Pup then relaxes in a kennel until the police call, guy is at the local station looking for his dog. Ok no big deal, I'm happy to bring him back, just didn't want him to end up dying from being to hot.
Guy is pissed when I get there, cursing at me about how I should have minded my own f***ing business and the dog had water he was fine. I try to calmly explain I was just worried and animal health care is what I do, just trying to look out, sorry if I caused any offense. Glowering looks, more cursing and then he wanders out grumbling about how I am going to get what's coming.
The officer then proceeds to explain while morally and ethically he understands, that legally what I did what wrong. I should have waited for the police. I apologize and explain I was just trying to look out for the welfare of the dog.
He reads some legislation about taking people's property, essentially accusing me of theft, and says he's not sure what is going to come of all this. He has my name and info, he'll be in touch if I'm going to be arrested.
WAIT WHAAT!!! says the voice in my head, but I smile and nod and go about the rest of my day.
Few weeks go by and, nothing. Ok fine they determined what I did while maybe not the best route wasn't whole wrong.
WRONG
I get a citation in the mail saying I'm being charged with disorderly conduct for causing the person unwarranted grief because his pet was removed from his vehicle.
Well I immediately fill that out not guilty and send it back along with what I believe was a very well written letter to the magistrate regarding the incident and supporting my position in the situation, week or so later my summons for court arrives...
Well needless to say today was court day. Ironically the officer who sent me the citation had to be sent off for additional training and was unavailable. So they ask if I want a continuance or if I would like to talk to the judge.
I'll talk thanks, I want this over with.
I have all my supporting documents previously mailed as well as legislation I found that was passed in September of 2015 regarding leaving animals in vehicles unattended and what citizens can do, and an article published in September of 2015 from the Animal League Defense Fund that more clearly dives into what a "hot car" is and who and what constitutes removing an animal from a harmful environment.
Fortunately the Judge was willing to see myself and one other individual. Calls my name, looks at the papers... Disorderly conduct is something officers use commonly as a catch all when they aren't really sure what if any charges can be brought forward. That in mind I am considering this case dismissed on basis of improperly filed paperwork... was the jist of the conversation.
I appropriately thank him for his time and back to work I go. Feeling not only relieved that the whole thing is over, but also satisfied that where I though no good deed would go unpunished; sure the non-sense to get to the end could be considered punishment, in the end I was able to show someone that I had done what was right by that creature and I didn't deserve to be penalized for that.
So back to the beginning, thank you Judge for serving justice today, even more so giving me a few more shreds of hope for humanity.
Oh and to my comment about my compilation of information, the judge did say that he read everything I sent, so I feel better about having taken the time.
After all the worst he could do was say no right?
Secondly I would like to thank Cranberry Magisterial Judge Kovach for helping me to fight the right fight today.
Ok quick re-cap for those that may not know...
In May I had to go to Costco for work, basic monthly supplies.
When I got there, there was a vehicle parked near the door of the store with the window down ~9" with a little white/tan dog hanging his very cute little head out of the window.
Now anyone who knows me knows that my capacity to walk by such things is nominal. But I restrained my self, asked the two young men working how long the vehicle had been parked there, neither was sure but both commented that they had tried to give the dog water.
I make a mental note of said situation; trips to Costco aren't usually brief but hey I'll give you the benefit of the doubt for right now.
I do my shopping, I come out, dog, still in truck, still now owning humans. Couple people stop as I stop with my cart next to the dog commenting that the police had been called and or that they would take the dog. Various comments along the lines of people like that don't deserve to have dogs, etc. Typical melodramatic non-sense.
I take my cart to my truck, empty my belongings, and am then sitting in my front seet feeling very verklempt about the whole thing.
I work in veterinary medicine, I can't just walk by and do nothing... I look at the mirror, 75 degrees, and it is very sunny.
I pull my truck up next to the dog vehicle, make sure he still seems ok; he's hot but he's managing. Go into the store to try to get an announcement made, Costco has no PA system.
Now I stand there next to the dog trying to keep an eye on timing. According to the AVMA on a sunny day 75 ambient temp equates to about 110 after 30 min and I know it's at least been that long.
Still no police. I call the animal hospital listed on the pet's rabies tag, number not in service. Well now we're pushing 40 min and likely 115 degrees. So the window is down far enough I am able to get the dog without hurting him or the vehicle, set him in my truck with the A/C running and a bowl of water on the floor. After a few more minutes we try to find said owner in the store but I can't really go about the store walking a dog.
So we go back out and I finally decide I need to get back to work. If I leave the dog's leash on the mirror someone may take him, and I don't want the person to come out and not have their dog anymore, so I go back inside, leave a note with customer service as to the clinic I work for and my number so the individual can retrieve said pet; I leave an identical note on the driver seat of the vehicle.
Off to the clinic we go, he's finally cooled off a bit and no longer panting like mad. I feel a little better.
Back to work. Call the county and get a phone number via the licence on the collar, no answer, leave a message. Pup then relaxes in a kennel until the police call, guy is at the local station looking for his dog. Ok no big deal, I'm happy to bring him back, just didn't want him to end up dying from being to hot.
Guy is pissed when I get there, cursing at me about how I should have minded my own f***ing business and the dog had water he was fine. I try to calmly explain I was just worried and animal health care is what I do, just trying to look out, sorry if I caused any offense. Glowering looks, more cursing and then he wanders out grumbling about how I am going to get what's coming.
The officer then proceeds to explain while morally and ethically he understands, that legally what I did what wrong. I should have waited for the police. I apologize and explain I was just trying to look out for the welfare of the dog.
He reads some legislation about taking people's property, essentially accusing me of theft, and says he's not sure what is going to come of all this. He has my name and info, he'll be in touch if I'm going to be arrested.
WAIT WHAAT!!! says the voice in my head, but I smile and nod and go about the rest of my day.
Few weeks go by and, nothing. Ok fine they determined what I did while maybe not the best route wasn't whole wrong.
WRONG
I get a citation in the mail saying I'm being charged with disorderly conduct for causing the person unwarranted grief because his pet was removed from his vehicle.
Well I immediately fill that out not guilty and send it back along with what I believe was a very well written letter to the magistrate regarding the incident and supporting my position in the situation, week or so later my summons for court arrives...
Well needless to say today was court day. Ironically the officer who sent me the citation had to be sent off for additional training and was unavailable. So they ask if I want a continuance or if I would like to talk to the judge.
I'll talk thanks, I want this over with.
I have all my supporting documents previously mailed as well as legislation I found that was passed in September of 2015 regarding leaving animals in vehicles unattended and what citizens can do, and an article published in September of 2015 from the Animal League Defense Fund that more clearly dives into what a "hot car" is and who and what constitutes removing an animal from a harmful environment.
Fortunately the Judge was willing to see myself and one other individual. Calls my name, looks at the papers... Disorderly conduct is something officers use commonly as a catch all when they aren't really sure what if any charges can be brought forward. That in mind I am considering this case dismissed on basis of improperly filed paperwork... was the jist of the conversation.
I appropriately thank him for his time and back to work I go. Feeling not only relieved that the whole thing is over, but also satisfied that where I though no good deed would go unpunished; sure the non-sense to get to the end could be considered punishment, in the end I was able to show someone that I had done what was right by that creature and I didn't deserve to be penalized for that.
So back to the beginning, thank you Judge for serving justice today, even more so giving me a few more shreds of hope for humanity.
Oh and to my comment about my compilation of information, the judge did say that he read everything I sent, so I feel better about having taken the time.
After all the worst he could do was say no right?
Tuesday, August 9, 2016
Sometimes thumbprint is so on!
I've tried really hard over the past couple months to get better about taking care of myself, going to the gym included.
My only major issue is I am really bad at coming up with a good playlist of songs to keep me motivated. I also am not a fan of listening to the same thin over and over again.
This morning I have to give credit where it is due though, Pandora and my thumbprint station were FANTASTIC!!
I know I know if you actually hit like and thumbs up or what ever then eventually it builds a descent profile of songs to pull from. But the thumbprint idea seems to be more based on the collaboration between lists, which thus far today has worked out amazing.
"For those who haven’t yet added their station, here’s an overview of what you will experience. (If you haven’t, click here to get yours now.) This is not just your thumbs up on shuffle. While you rediscover all of your favorites (songs you thumbed up 10 minutes to 10 years ago) we will continue to add in new songs that we think you will love. Simply tune in and listen up – our musicologists have made sure you will be guided seamlessly through all of the genres you have thumbed up, no matter how varied they are."
Is what Pandora's blog has to say about the idea.
I guess this is just a quick comment to the fact that for me it has all worked out and I got to start my walk leading to 1 mile run with I Want Crazy by Hunter Hayes, pumped up mid run by Hey Girl by Billy Currington, little cool down with I Hold on and Dierks Bently, And it just kep keeing me moving, it was great. Even got a full 2K row in and the last 250m was with Feeling Good by Michael Buble. Finished out the morning with some leg pressing and Jar of Hearts with Christina Perri and streched with The Aviators composed by Helen Jane Long.
I know kind of all over the map but it really worked out nicely.
So just my two cents for the morning, give your thumbprint station a try, see if it motivates you as much as mine did this morning.
Other wise enjoy your work out, enjoy your day, I'm off to do other adulty things for the day.
My only major issue is I am really bad at coming up with a good playlist of songs to keep me motivated. I also am not a fan of listening to the same thin over and over again.
This morning I have to give credit where it is due though, Pandora and my thumbprint station were FANTASTIC!!
I know I know if you actually hit like and thumbs up or what ever then eventually it builds a descent profile of songs to pull from. But the thumbprint idea seems to be more based on the collaboration between lists, which thus far today has worked out amazing.
"For those who haven’t yet added their station, here’s an overview of what you will experience. (If you haven’t, click here to get yours now.) This is not just your thumbs up on shuffle. While you rediscover all of your favorites (songs you thumbed up 10 minutes to 10 years ago) we will continue to add in new songs that we think you will love. Simply tune in and listen up – our musicologists have made sure you will be guided seamlessly through all of the genres you have thumbed up, no matter how varied they are."
Is what Pandora's blog has to say about the idea.
I guess this is just a quick comment to the fact that for me it has all worked out and I got to start my walk leading to 1 mile run with I Want Crazy by Hunter Hayes, pumped up mid run by Hey Girl by Billy Currington, little cool down with I Hold on and Dierks Bently, And it just kep keeing me moving, it was great. Even got a full 2K row in and the last 250m was with Feeling Good by Michael Buble. Finished out the morning with some leg pressing and Jar of Hearts with Christina Perri and streched with The Aviators composed by Helen Jane Long.
I know kind of all over the map but it really worked out nicely.
So just my two cents for the morning, give your thumbprint station a try, see if it motivates you as much as mine did this morning.
Other wise enjoy your work out, enjoy your day, I'm off to do other adulty things for the day.
Friday, August 5, 2016
Lack of feeling
I have a problem... my capacity for empathy sucks the big one, when it comes to my kids, but I don't see it as an issue...
Of course immediately that sounds really terrible and like I don't care about their feelings, or understand them as kids. All of which is un-true. However I really suck at believing them when they claim to be sick, mainly because I'm good at recognizing when there is true illness vs a passing thing or them making something up to get attention. More so I think it's not that I truly don't believe them, but I don't know how to make them feel better without also feeling like I am catering to excessive over sensitivity that our society has allowed in recent years.
For example, my kids fall on the playground;
"you're fine just brush it off and keep going"
-in this circumstance usually no big deal
- every once in a while there is a parent that notices and does the forsaken "Oh my goodness are you OK sweetie??" followed by crocodile tears and blabbering etc.
- I have no tolerance for that non-sense. I remember when I was 6 my parents got me a two wheel bike and I was doing ok until I fell and didn't scrape my knee or bump my elbow, I fell flat on my back and got the wind knocked out of me. I then chose not to try to ride said bike for a while but otherwise it was deemed I wasn't dead or dying and I could move on.
I mean seriously how am I supposed to teach my kids that you will fall and you will get hurt if every time they get a "boo boo" it turns into the freaking opera of wailing and coddling.
Example number two;
We have determined that my daughter has my stomach, not a good thing for her. So if she eats too much, get overheated and less than adequately hydrated, vomit happens. I'm ok with it, I get it. Something are better out than in.
-5th grade I had eaten two huge pieces of school lunch pizza, as well as getting one of those super awesome chocolate milk bags where it was really two bags stuck together because they didn't get split properly in production. I ate and drank it all; it was also hot.
-vomit in the water fountain in the hallway;
kudos to myself by the way for not making a mess all over the floor, and then I was fine.
Of course the nurse wanted to send me home and I was trying my damnedest to convince them I was fine, eventually I won and was able to finish out the day.
Now it's go home and don't come back for 24 hours.
Yesterday little miss was a shining example of this issue.
She hadn't had enough water while she was at camp for the day and so indigestion was making her nauseous. She came home and had something to eat, hoping if we could get a little something and some water in her we could keep things moving in the right direction.
-it backfired, literally
But for the remainder of the night she seemed ok, other than the occasional complain that she was still uncomfortable.
This morning everything seemed fine, she even said she felt better, ate breakfast and was excited to go on the field trip to the state park. So off we all go to our respective daytime places.
I work about 30 miles from home, am making the last of three turns before getting to the office and the phone rings... it's camp, she tossed it about 5 minutes ago and camp policy is she has to go home.
Ok fine I've tried explaining to people before that she has an 'interesting' stomach but to no avail.
Downside, I am about an hour from being able to get to her and her dad is stuck at work still as well.
Yay, grandma to the rescue!!
Downside, I feel like I should go get her, that there might actually be something going on, make arrangements to be able to get out of work to go get her, I get there and then I have crying child because I picked her up from being able to hang out with grandma...
Now normally my theory of ok it's no big deal she'll be fine would have paid off. I would have left her with grandma and been able to finish my day at work, realistically everything would have worked out.
But I keep getting reminded that my lack of understanding when the kids are sick is such a short coming that I feel obligated to go get her and check on her, make sure there isn't some sort of actual bug going on for her, there isn't a bigger issue.
Epic fail...
So now I am left pondering is my lack of feeling really a problem? Was is just appropriate this time? How do I help others to understand when it's ok to panic and when??? I know my kids and I know they aren't really sick.
Ugh ok, I guess that this was more of a rant to try to make myself feel better about not being the first one to jump when a kid says so. I don't think it worked, I mostly just feel like I'm glad that she is getting some likely much need rest on the couch next to me while I try to meddle through the chaos that is my mom brain at the moment...
Of course immediately that sounds really terrible and like I don't care about their feelings, or understand them as kids. All of which is un-true. However I really suck at believing them when they claim to be sick, mainly because I'm good at recognizing when there is true illness vs a passing thing or them making something up to get attention. More so I think it's not that I truly don't believe them, but I don't know how to make them feel better without also feeling like I am catering to excessive over sensitivity that our society has allowed in recent years.
For example, my kids fall on the playground;
"you're fine just brush it off and keep going"
-in this circumstance usually no big deal
- every once in a while there is a parent that notices and does the forsaken "Oh my goodness are you OK sweetie??" followed by crocodile tears and blabbering etc.
- I have no tolerance for that non-sense. I remember when I was 6 my parents got me a two wheel bike and I was doing ok until I fell and didn't scrape my knee or bump my elbow, I fell flat on my back and got the wind knocked out of me. I then chose not to try to ride said bike for a while but otherwise it was deemed I wasn't dead or dying and I could move on.
I mean seriously how am I supposed to teach my kids that you will fall and you will get hurt if every time they get a "boo boo" it turns into the freaking opera of wailing and coddling.
Example number two;
We have determined that my daughter has my stomach, not a good thing for her. So if she eats too much, get overheated and less than adequately hydrated, vomit happens. I'm ok with it, I get it. Something are better out than in.
-5th grade I had eaten two huge pieces of school lunch pizza, as well as getting one of those super awesome chocolate milk bags where it was really two bags stuck together because they didn't get split properly in production. I ate and drank it all; it was also hot.
-vomit in the water fountain in the hallway;
kudos to myself by the way for not making a mess all over the floor, and then I was fine.
Of course the nurse wanted to send me home and I was trying my damnedest to convince them I was fine, eventually I won and was able to finish out the day.
Now it's go home and don't come back for 24 hours.
Yesterday little miss was a shining example of this issue.
She hadn't had enough water while she was at camp for the day and so indigestion was making her nauseous. She came home and had something to eat, hoping if we could get a little something and some water in her we could keep things moving in the right direction.
-it backfired, literally
But for the remainder of the night she seemed ok, other than the occasional complain that she was still uncomfortable.
This morning everything seemed fine, she even said she felt better, ate breakfast and was excited to go on the field trip to the state park. So off we all go to our respective daytime places.
I work about 30 miles from home, am making the last of three turns before getting to the office and the phone rings... it's camp, she tossed it about 5 minutes ago and camp policy is she has to go home.
Ok fine I've tried explaining to people before that she has an 'interesting' stomach but to no avail.
Downside, I am about an hour from being able to get to her and her dad is stuck at work still as well.
Yay, grandma to the rescue!!
Downside, I feel like I should go get her, that there might actually be something going on, make arrangements to be able to get out of work to go get her, I get there and then I have crying child because I picked her up from being able to hang out with grandma...
Now normally my theory of ok it's no big deal she'll be fine would have paid off. I would have left her with grandma and been able to finish my day at work, realistically everything would have worked out.
But I keep getting reminded that my lack of understanding when the kids are sick is such a short coming that I feel obligated to go get her and check on her, make sure there isn't some sort of actual bug going on for her, there isn't a bigger issue.
Epic fail...
So now I am left pondering is my lack of feeling really a problem? Was is just appropriate this time? How do I help others to understand when it's ok to panic and when??? I know my kids and I know they aren't really sick.
Ugh ok, I guess that this was more of a rant to try to make myself feel better about not being the first one to jump when a kid says so. I don't think it worked, I mostly just feel like I'm glad that she is getting some likely much need rest on the couch next to me while I try to meddle through the chaos that is my mom brain at the moment...
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