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Monday, July 27, 2009

The Potty Diaries- the final chapter (I promise)


It's a finish line I wasn't sure I would cross...ever... but we have had several successful weeks with out an accident and every poo landing in the potty (not the bathtub, my leg, or the undies). Success. I think we're there.

Which leads me to the search for the perfect preschool. Wow. Preschool sort of snuck up on me, but Cole is surrounded by adults all day and I know he's missing hanging out with some little people. I know little to nothing about child hood development so it's time. Verbally Cole is a rock star.. fine motor skills are great.. gross motor skills not so much. Social skills? Cole is great with adults.. a little unsure about how to play with kids his own age. It's time for a little something for sir Cole.

I've been fairly responsible for saving for Cole's college. I put a little bit into a 529 account every month... I was unaware I should have started saving for preschool while he was still in the womb as well.

When did it get so complicated? Montessori, NAEYC certification, full day, 1/2 day... curriculum.. AHH.. The ones I like, and are affordable have a waiting list. The ones I can't stand I can afford. What's with this Montessori theory of "they need to be here every day for it to be effective?" Good grief. Who knew?

I just want a little school with a couple mornings a week, close to the office, and close to the Amazing Wahlstedts. I found one that's within the budget. We're on the list. We'll see. I might just need to track down the families in front of us and negotiate. Otherwise, it might just be mother's day out a couple of mornings a week. He won't start kindergarten until he's about to turn 6 because of the September birthday- so I guess I should quit stressing. That's three years of preschool to pay for! But I've used it as material for the potty training and now I'll be a Mommy let down. Oh well... life will go on. Sometimes it's just about doing all you can, but when I hear "Mommy I go to school in the fall?" I feel like a loser with a capital L.
I've consumed my Lean Cuisine. Time for me to prepare for my 2pm conference call. Holla!

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

The Bumper Sticker

Twice in the same week I've found myself behind the same car with a crazy bumper sticker. The sticker, in case you were wondering, said:

"I'll keep my money, my guns and my freedom...you can keep the change"

Good grief. Really? I wanted so badly to roll down my window and say "Instead of your guns, money, and freedom can we talk about your carbon footprint in your Excursion?" I refrained.

Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Breaking Up is Hard to Do

I hate to say it. I'm loyal to a fault...but I may have to break up with my favorite baristas at Starbucks. Given the state of the economy and my reduced balance sheet I try to take my java from home on the trek to work- but there are mornings like today that I'm basically a pack mule with a sippy cup, a laptop bag, my handbag, my gym bag, and Cole's "pack pack" which is now weighing close to 20lbs full of choo choos and his gear for the day. Sometimes my travel cup of Coffee gets left all by its lonesome on the counter in all of the chaos.

I drop Cole off and realize I don't have any more coffee and I only managed to choke down a cup at home and let's face it the office coffee usually sucks. I pull into my favorite Starbucks and in front of me is the person who is obviously NOT trying to get to work. She has four stacks of money in front of her with an appropriate color coded "post it" with an order attached to each. She orders a latte pays from one of the stacks of money... counts the change and places it back on the counter. She then proceeds to ask the barista for a small paper sack for each of her color coordinated "post its" and to place the change into. I stand in line for way too long behind this nut bag.

It's after 8 on a Tuesday morning... get outta the way with your bags of change and post its and counting of the change and so on... there's a line forming behind her. People like me who just want their plain jane coffee (on ice) and to be on their way.

So I get it. The barista can't control the customers and I'm not asking them too. What is making me want to break up is that there's four barista's shooting the *hit over to the side looking at this lady like she's a couple of clowns short of a circus and I understand because I'm having the same thought- but people pick your jaw up off the floor and one of you start manning a register so the rest of us can get our coffee, leave you a tip, and be on our way to work.

Mornings like this are becoming the rule and not the exception. Last week the barista was at the same party as the dude two people in front of me and they were just chatting it up over how much fun it was and who all was there. Meanwhile the line is 8 deep of people trying to get to work..looking a little lost without their cup of joe.

Believe me, I think Starbucks is a classy organization. I'm happy to give them my $2+ dollars for my iced coffee in the summertime when I forget my travel cup, but I'm starting to realize I could drive home and get it for the amount of time I spend waiting on my favorite baristas as of late. Heck I might just start Duke's of Hazarding it over the counter and make my own beverage. I could be a barista?

But I'm loyal..so I'll give them a few more trys before I break up and find a new Starbucks. I was a little antzy this morning, but I did manage to refrain from taking out the lady in front of me. Maybe I should consider giving up the caffeine all together? It might be causing anger issues?

Holla!

Thursday, July 2, 2009

Take this pull up and shove it

I would like to take every pull up in my house out in the back yard and light them on fire..I'd throw "Once Upon a Potty" in there too- just for effect.

I know I know I said I was done posting about potty training, but this is going to be such amazing blackmail material for me when Cole is much older and much cooler .
We were doing so well with potty training. Rarely any accidents. There were still some issues with the whole poo thing and I was constantly reassured that this is completely normal for little boys. I've had a few more floaters in the bath tub. Then about two weeks ago Sir Cole just decided "I'm no longer being rewarded for this potty training business- I'm over it.." We're back to accidents and being too lazy or too busy to go to the bathroom.


Meanwhile, I've visited countless preschools and assured them that MY son is potty trained. What a load of crap.


Last night is a busy evening. Grocery store, gym, laundry, making of banana pudding & dinner for Cole... and I know that he needs to take care of some business. Into the bathroom we go. I know what needs to happen. He knows what needs to happen... and then the crying commenced. The kind where the veins pop out of his toddler neck. "Cole you can do this" I assure him... Cole is a smart little toddler. When he realizes the temper tantrum isn't getting him anywhere- he turns on the charm...sniffing..wiping back tears he says "Mommy I want to hold you" and I am a sucker for my little boy.. I pull him off the potty and into my lap. I have taken to sitting on the bathroom floor during this potty cheer leading craziness. "Cole you're a big boy and I know you can do this.. I know you're tummy hurts..let's just finish and then we can watch Thomas and you can have a nok (snack)" He snivels for effect and says " ok mommy" I get him back on the potty and notice a little bit of poo on my leg where he had been sitting.

When will the madness end?