Monday, February 28, 2005

BAND-AIDs® Fix Everything

For my kids, BAND-AIDs® solve nearly any problem they might have. Last night was a perfect example.

A few days ago, Valerie contracted a pretty hefty boo-boo on her left knee while playing outside at school. The teachers reported that she took it like a real champ; few tears, no limping, no major drama. She usually saves the real drama for audiences like ole mom and dad and extended audiences like sucker grandparents. While this particular scrape warranted some TLC, I was proud to know that she could demonstrate fortitude. However, riding home in the car from school that day, Valerie could have won an oscar as the lead actress in a knee-scraping dramatic film. We arrived home to quickly carry out our accustomed boo-boo healing routine: mommy kisses boo-boos whether visible or not, mommy carefully cleans said boo-boo with antiseptic, mommy kisses said boo-boo again, mommy applies pain-relief ointment, mommy affixes appropriate adhesive bandage, and mommy kisses said boo-boo one final time. After that, my kids return to their busybody activities without a second thought.

For the last few days, Valerie and I accomplished the necessary boo-boo TLC routine in private, mostly to avoid doling out unnecessary BAND-AIDs® to lil' sis Dagny. Last night, Ken orchestrated the regular bath routine until I was urgently beckoned to perform boo-boo TLC management. In my rush to find the necessary supplies, I happened to grab enough BAND-AIDs® to allow for Dagny's participation in the boo-boo TLC routine, despite her being boo-boo-less. Through Ken's genius, we now keep all household BAND-AIDs® out of child reach to reduce the previously high BAND-AID® utilization rate which was impeding our ability to enhance the kids' college funds. In all honestly, our BAND-AID® frugality resulted when, a few months ago, Valerie exhibited her fascination with BAND-AIDs® by consuming two large boxes of adhesive bandages in less than 10 minutes.

Back to last evening's bedtime routine....

Valerie calmed down after receiving enough boo-boo TLC. Dagny showed pleasure in also becoming a BAND-AID® participant, after hesitantly pointing to her invisible boo-boo. We brushed our hair, brushed our teeth, read stories, drank water and exchanged goodnight hugs and kisses. Ken and I made our exit. Within moments of arriving downstairs, we turned on the monitor to hear intensive bawling from our youngest child. Normally, we try to ride out the whimpers and regular complaints with disregard. However, this cry needed immediate attention. At first, I attempted to assuage Dagny's piercing cries, but I wasn't good enough. So, daddy was called to the rescue. Apparently, he wasn't good enough either. Between screams and gulps for air, the child seemed to indicate a need for something in the bathroom.

Me: Do you want some water?
Dagny: NO.... WAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
Me: Do you want to go potty?
Dagny: NO.... WAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
Me: What do you want?
Dagny: OOOOOOUUUUUIIIIIIIEEEEEEEE!
Me: Do you have a boo-boo?
Dagny: OOOOOOUUUUUIIIIIEEEEEEEE (while staring at her pointed index finger)
Me: Do you need a BAND-AID®?
Dagny: (Gulped for air and shook her head yes)

After inspecting her invisible boo-boo, I decided to take the previously placed BAND-AID® and put it where requested.

Dagny: WAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
Me: OMG, WHAT is the matter? I am NOT giving you 2 BAND-AIDs® for fake boo-boos! One is plenty!
Dagny: WAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! (which continued for 15 minutes)

As a parent, my role is not only to love my children, but to guide them and prepare them for an independent life. I refuse to give into their wishes when it comes to important issues like their health and financial concerns. While a BAND-AID® is a minor financial concern, going through two boxes of BAND-AIDs® every 10 minutes adds up to be a costly activity. Granted, you have to pick your battles, and it seems petty that I picked this battle. In retrospect, perhaps I just should have given her the damn second BAND-AID®! It would have made the evening more pleasant. I mean, if you think about it, BAND-AIDs® solve the majority of problems a young child might have, emotional or physical. If we doled out more BAND-AIDs® to the general American public, many of us may be much less reliant on Prozac or other drugs of that ilk. In the meantime, I should invest in Johnson & Johnson stock. Adding the cost of the stock with my quarterly cash outlay to purchase BAND-AIDs®, maybe I will break even in 25 years.

Sunday, February 27, 2005

Panty Plight

It seems to me that children with older siblings may get jipped out of some attention from parents and relatives. But, the younger children are exposed to concepts and activities at an earlier age. To them, this exposure is an advantage while to the surrounding grown-ups, it often seems like a disadvantage because it adds to our workload.

Admittedly, I am remiss in my domestic organizational obligations. Lazily, a few months ago, I moved the panties falling into the "too-small for Valerie category" directly into Dagny's drawer without messing with the "in-storage" stage.

Despite Dagny's accessibility to panties, I am of the opinion that Dagny, being a 22-month old busy-body, is not quite ready for potty training, so I've avoided broaching the tiresome milestone altogether. While I may have placed that nasty germ-magnet of a little potty in a convenient location for her to access when she's good and ready, she still tends to pee all over the carpets whenever provided with an opportunity to be diaper-free between diaper changes and bath routines sans mentioning a need for the potty. Nevertheless, she enjoys following her big sister into the bathroom to participate in the potty experience, despite her diaper and clothes remaining connected to her body.

Over the last couple of days, Valerie, being the big sister, has encouraged Dagny to wear panties. Being a responsible parent, I have insisted said panties be worn OVER a diaper. What started out to be good fun has turned into a wild obsession. Early one morning a couple of days ago, Dagny started the day wearing one pair of panties over her diaper. At breakfast, I discovered Dagny toting a few pairs of panties in her walkabout purse. Within an hour, I responded to shrill shrieks of frustration to find her battling with more panties to put them over her pants outfit. With my help, we decided to set a new toddler trend....

After naps, I overheard Valerie encouraging a new activity, "Dagny, let's go get ALL the panties in our room and wear them!" Two giggling darlings ran away as I continued with my domestic duties, enjoying the quiet. After awhile, I, again, heard shrieks of frustration, to discover Dagny lying down and Valerie hunched over her in an attempt to get something like 8 pairs of panties on her sister's little body. Again, with my help, it appears Baby Hughey just may have joined our family.....

So far, this is a fun activity, which helps to push off the inevitable need to potty train my youngest. I'm doubtful, but hopeful that this can continue for another six to nine months....

Thursday, February 24, 2005

Battle With a Car Seat

Going ANYWHERE today was a hassle. I'm not kidding.... It all started with getting dressed this morning.

I have this thing, where I require my 2 daughters to pick out their daily outfits the night before. This mitigates any major fight during the weekday morning preparations, or so I thought. Last night, I cleared the "outfit" with Dagny's assured approval. Maybe she suffers from short-term memory loss, but she adamantly refused to wear last nights' approved clothing this morning. Instead, we spent a good 15 minutes negotiating a new shirt, new pants & socks. Then, we negotiated brushing her hair and her teeth. Fortunately, her hair is still thin and wispy, so missing the hairbrushing exercise was not a huge deal. I must have short-term memory loss too. Valerie has never been an "easy" child, but I sure as hell don't remember THIS much trouble.

Next step, we made it through vitamins, poptarts, toast, juice & milk without too much of a fuss. Then, it was time to find shoes and coats, attempt to put them on and settle ourselves in the car to arrive at preschool in a timely fashion. Mind you, if we don't arrive at school prior to 8:55 am, the kids are forced to sit in the preschool director's office. Now, the preschool director is a plump woman, who means very well. However, the abrupt tone of her voice tends to scare my children, let alone myself. So, the lesson is: DON'T BE LATE TO SCHOOL! Otherwise, I am forced to sit with my sniffling kids in the plump woman's office listening to her shrill voice describing her latest and greatest weight-loss program. I digress...

We were in the process of getting into the car this morning. Dagny decided to climb into the SUV on her own. As I saw her cute 22 month-old legs and bum rise upto the floor of the back seat, I smiled & thought, "Wow, my baby is growing up and becoming independent. Woo hoo... that life of my own, is just around the corner." Mama ate those words as quickly as they flew though my head. Once Dagny successfully made it to the floor of the car's backseat, I picked her up to buckle her into that damn car seat. No, she did NOT want me to do this. She was intent on proving that this was NOT going to happen. She wanted to do it on her own, apparently. And, boy is that kid strong! As she arched and stretched and yanked and screamed, it was really a struggle to get her in that seat and to successfully buckle the straps. Fortunately, I correctly anticipated the biting and hitting attempts. A few days ago, I wasn't so lucky. I literally got nailed down the front of my face and have a scab to prove it. This time, I survived the battle, unscathed.

Across the seat, Valerie patiently waited for me to finish with Dagny to buckle her into her booster seat. Valerie announced, "Dagny, if you don't sit in your car seat like a good girl, the cops will come and take you away!" I nearly fell down laughing, mostly out of embarrassment. I guess I have to be careful with the delivery of my statements - Valerie has turned into my little parrot. I wonder what other goofy statements of mine she's recited. Fortunately, we made it to school without anyone getting hurt, no one was late and there were no weight-loss tips learned.

All of this occurred before 9am. The rest of the day was not much better. As we returned from school, attended gymnastics and returned home for the final trip, we endured Dagny's carseat battle at each leg of the journey.

This evening, I considered discussing this frustrating event with my mother. However, how could she relate? The only car seat my brother, sister and I used was my mother's hand, swinging out to protect us each time she slammed on the breaks. Heck, we used to just hang out the car windows, probably even on the highway. So, as a law-abiding citizen, I struggle with my kids to sit properly in their car seats for their protection. Yes, I worry about their safety. But on days like today, I can't help but think that the closest thing to danger these kids will encounter is ME if they don't get in their damn car seats!

Maybe tomorrow we will have the time and I will have the patience to allow her to get herself into her carseat. Then again, it would be easier if we just stayed home!

Tuesday, February 22, 2005

It's All About Teamwork

Tonight the girls were taking a bath like any other night. They played around in the tub while I straightened up their bedroom and put away the clean laundry. As always, we were running behind schedule. By the time I was ready to wash their hair and bodies, they were ready to help....

Valerie: "Mommy, I want the shampoo. I'll wash Dagny's hair and she can wash mine." Said with a sweet voice & a dimpled grin that could kill. Yes, she was using her noggin!

And that's what happened. With shampoo and suds enveloping their palms and arms crisscrossed, they scrubbed each other's scalps.

Valerie: "Look mommy, we're doing teamwork."
Me: "Yes honey, it's all about teamwork."

So, we went to bed a little late tonight & they will be tired for school in the morning. I guess life IS about teamwork. It was nice to see them get along so nicely.

As my parents always taught me, you should learn something new every day. The kids learned about teamwork & I learned to follow the kids' lead.

Monday, February 21, 2005

Communicating with a 2 yr old

Dags, turning 2 in 2 months, has joined the ranks of those among the infamous "terrible two" stage. This morning, I awoke to Dagny whining, and VV nicely asking if she should "go get mommy". I laid in bed, hoping it would pass. However, it grew into an intolerable crescendo forcing me to rise from the warmth of my comfortable bed. I think Dagny spent the better part of the day frustrated over not having enough words to describe her wants and needs and the frustration she feels by not having enough independence. Clearly, the child would love to express more clearly her wants and needs. Likewise, she would like to be a "big girl" and dress herself. Receiving help just infuriates her all the more. It's an internal battle that takes time as she must master various motor and verbal skills, causing the rest of us to painfully observe.

On the bright side, she recently learned how to say "yes". Not just a nod, but a full-blown "yes". It might be nearly inaudible when rushed, but it's there and it's clear.

Me: Do you want help?
Dags: No!
Me: Do you want socks?
Dags: No!
Me: Do you want a cookie?
Dags: .... yes!....

Huge success for an almost 2 yr old! It's the little moments of progress that remind me of the fun we have, despite the daily growing pains of growing up. It reminds me too, of the growing pains of my own childhood. I love reliving these moments through my children. Would I want to repeat it myself? Heck no... I'm happy with where I've been, where I am and look forward to the future.

Sunday, February 20, 2005

Return to the Routine

We survived the trip to the San Diego Zoo San Diego Zoo and Sea World. Everyone got along & there were no major meltdowns to note. The return ride in the car was getting a little long yesterday when VV claimed her tummy hurt and that she needed medicine immediately upon arriving home, but before eating her beloved Mac & Cheese for lunch.

VV just kills me sometimes. Her big thing this trip was to continually ask where her cousins, Z and R, were and what they were doing at nearly any moment they were not within sight. However, as soon as Z and R were within her midst, she would clam up. It was very cute!

Yesterday the kids were pretty tired. Fortunately, they went to bed early last night. We experienced some good sleep deprivation during the trip. This was the first time they slept together in the same bed - a pull-out couch in the front room of the so-called "suite" of the hotel. They seemed to enjoy sleeping together, until VV hid underneath the covers and Dags freaked out! It was cute overall. I think they've returned to their normal routine. But today's activities seem to be focused on naked running around the house. VV's new thing is to be in charge of changing Dags' diaper nearly every hour... Oh, the joy of being a big sister.

On Thursday we adventured to the San Diego Zoo. It certainly did not live up to the hype I've heard over the last 5 to 10 years. In all fairness, it was under construction & the weather was pretty miserable - cold and rainy.

The big hit was going to Sea World on Friday. Of course, we saw the dolphin show and Shamu. It was wonderful. From the penguins to the sharks to the dolphins, the adults were as amazed as the kids! It was pretty wild to feed the dolphins. Even Dags enjoyed that part!

Tonight, K and I get some much needed adult time - finally going to see a movie The Aviator, hoping it will live up to the hype!

Until tomorrow.....