I'm sorry you've been so unkindly spoken too - and your grocery store clerk - oh my! The best advice I can offer is to just keep on smiling - surely anyone so surly and rude needs a smile to brighten their spirits a bit - perhaps it will be contagious!
It sounds like your time is near. Best of luck to you on a safe delivery. Ignore the remarks, people probably don't mean to some across rude when commenting on the belly. ;)
I went to the grocery store yesterday and like a good little girl, I brought in my reusable grocery bags. I should have realized the checkout process was going to be difficult when I got into an empty line and the clerk took about 5 minutes to stop chatting with her coworkers and actually look at me.
Then I started hearing her mumble under her breath, "I ain't using those." Eventually, she got around to addressing me directly and said, "There's stuff on those bags. I ain't touching them." The stuff was mostly grass from their being set down in the front yard, but also a bit of dog hair. I said as much and she replied, "No, I ain't using them. That might be cat hair." "But I don't have a cat!" "I ain't touchin' them." These are bags that I bought at this store and which they encourage the use of.
"Okay, can you ring up the groceries? I'll bag them." It's my firm opinion that although she might have had a cat allergy the main concern was not with any pet dander, but with the fact that the reusable bags do not fit on the bag holder and are therefore somewhat harder to bag. She started ringing up my groceries and sticking them in plastic bags.
I again said I'd bag them. She dropped my nectarines on the floor and said, "You wanna go get yerself some new ones?" No offer to get them for me or call someone in the produce department to exchange them. Pregnant ladies love to waddle across to the other side of the store to replace their produce. I opted not to. Miss Thang the Checkout Lady continued to scan my groceries so fast that I couldn't keep up with the bagging, which irritated her.
Eventually I made it out of the store, silently fuming over the clerk, who is one of the few I've seen there who are not helpful or friendly. I suppose I could have complained to the manager, although complaining in person (as opposed to in complaining to the whole world via a blog post) is not generally in my nature. Looking back though, one can see the difference between those who go far in life and those who do not.
First, customers are actually the reason one is employed -- not coworkers and friends. I might be at your mercy when I stand in line, but just because I wait patiently does not mean ignoring the customer is a good idea.
Second, politeness wins friends; attitude does not. With a flick of her head and a snippy tone, declaring what she won't do, made me angry. Had a clerk said, "Oh, I'm sorry, but I'm really allergic to pets and those bags look like they have pet hair on them. Would you mind my not touching them?" who would have been upset? No one. I'd be glad to accommodate the problem and commiserate at the same time.
Third, if you make a mistake -- in this instance, dropping my fruit on the floor, take the time to rectify the error. Offering to let the customer fix the problem is not the same thing.
Fourth, when someone has already gone out of their way to accommodate you -- bagging groceries that are your job to bag, not complaining that you dropped her groceries on the floor and waiting patiently for you to finish conversations with your buddies -- try not to get impatient when that person moves a little more slowly than you do.
I suppose looking back, one can also see that I'm a bit of a pushover. I might have been treated better by this individual had I not been polite, however in general the principle holds. Politeness and kindness will help you along in the world. Attitude and a sense that the world owes you something will not. In my neighborhood, I suspect a lot of people would really like to have a grocery store job like that and I won't be surprised if they find someone else soon. As for me, I'll wait in a longer line to get a different clerk, take deep breaths and smile politely. As the saying goes, you catch more flies with honey than vinegar.
Yeah, I went to the library the other week and got a 'talking to' by the librarian who was trying to tell me to put my books in the slot outside in the foyer...all of a dozen steps away. I said I wanted them checked back in right then, because if I needed to check out more I'd be over my limit. So, I was truly saving them a step so they didn't have to haul my stack inside.
As I saw it, she wasn't busy, but was a tad horsey.
Good service is so appreciated and it's not a huge thing to be polite, is it? Or is it?
Like you, I tend to silently fume, unless the moon is in alignment with the stars, and I am in my special zen place and can actually say something firmly, politely and in a manner that gets the situation fixed.
Yeah - doesn't happen often.
There really is no excuse for someone in a customer service position act this way, particularly, as you pointed out, when there are many others who would love to have the job.
You are a far nicer person than I. Pregnancy has made me uber-cranky. When she dropped those nectarines on the floor, I would've gone straight to the manager, complaining loudly and holding up the line.
So for the sake of my fellow shoppers, I just hope I don't run into any cashiers like that in the next 6 months.
I do not know what grocery store "chain" this was, but if I owned the store I would want this 'clerk' reported. No one should be treated with so little respect. If you do not want to report the clerk in person please go on line and make a report. Most stores have a way that you can do that.
I am sorry this happened. Take care of yourself. Roxie
You should write a letter to the store manager and CC corporate (if it is a chain). Don't forget to mention you are very pregnant. You did an excellent job expressing your experience on your blog so I think you'd do a great job sending in a letter. I'm sorry you had to deal with such ignorance. Hopefully, your next trip to the store will be a more positive experience.
I'm the same way. I just get angry and avoid eye contact. My husband complains and sometimes gets freebies. Roxie is right, though- you are doing the store a favor by letting them know how you were treated.
Wow, that's horrendous customer service! I can't believe how bad they treated you. And especially being pregnant. You're a much better person than I, I'm sure if it were my wife & I, we would have made a fuss & complained. She's pregnant with twins. I think that's a good thing. Haha, I know it is! Best of luck!
Of all the miserable aches and pains of late pregnancy, I think the worst of all is the insomnia I always develop. The night before last, I slept from 10:30 to 1 and from 5:30 to 8:00. That was definitely not enough sleep. Last night I fell asleep at 8, but woke at 9:30 and didn't fall back to sleep until 1. At that point I actually slept until 6:30 or so.
I'm definitely feeling rather miserable, sorry for myself and cranky. It's not a good thing. I don't particularly like being around me at the moment and I'm just trying not to take it out on everyone else.
I got to thinking about you last night, and can totally relate to your mood and physical self right now. That end-of-the-pregnancy is so maddening. One thing I got such a rush out of when the 'day' arrived for each child's birth was looking at the little outfit the baby would wear after they were born. Guess up to that moment, I was always in denial that there really was a baby causing all the stir. Truly I'd look at the midwife, seeing her fingering the little nightgown wondering all the time why she was holding such a thing. Like, did I really expect a child to wear it? Not really!
Who wants to play guess the birthday and sex of the little one? I can't guarantee a prize of any sort, but I'd love to hear guesses -- especially if one that comes pretty soon happens to be correct.
Haven't read your blog in a while, didn't realize you're expecting again. Congratulations!
Incidentally, so am I. (Just realized #1 was still in the womb last time I saw you - this is #2.)
Take 4 fluid ounces of castor oil,mix with four fluid ounces of fresh orange juice (cold); gluggg quickly, then before you have time to gag, eat a banana (or something chocolate)
Best taken at bedtime; baby should be born the next day.
Minimal side effects if taken on an empty stomach!
The Difficulty in Finding Good Ice Cream These Days
I don't eat ice cream all that often, but I doubt it will come as a surprise to anyone that a woman who is 9 months pregnant in the summer might want to indulge in a little of the frozen creamy goodness of ice cream now and then. I have an ice cream maker and could make my own ice cream at home, but I've noticed that the price of the ingredients and the time involved in making a custard and all, often makes it worth it just to buy a box of ice cream at the store already made for me.
Or it would be worth it if ice cream weren't apparently difficult to buy these days. I wanted vanilla ice cream. We used to like Breyers the best, but their recipe seems to have changed in the last few years and although it's still good, it isn't as good as it used to be. I thought maybe I'd try something new. I looked at the Edy's selection. Those looked fine, until I noticed that every carton of vanilla was reduced fat and sugar-free. Then I looked at the Blue Bunny -- same thing. The store brand proclaimed "made with artificial flavoring and a bunch of other junk" on the front of the box (well, it might not have been phrased quite that way). The Blue Bonnet looked good, but twice as expensive as everything else. So I went back to Breyers. Reached into the freezer, pulled out the old vanilla stand-by and saw that it too was reduced fat and sugar. Sigh. Buried behind a few of those, I finally found the real stuff.
Searching for real, full fledged-made-with-cream,-sugar-and-vanilla, ice cream should not be this difficult. Making ice cream a special, occasional treat means that one can have the real foods, the real stuff, not some reduced fat, fake sugar stuff with artificial flavors and colors, but judging by the lack of ice cream made with even mostly real foods, apparently most people out there disagree.
I should take this opportunity to rail against a culture so perverse that it sacrifices real food for the sake of weight loss, instead of just eating less. But what good would that do? Instead, I think I'll drag out the ice cream maker, buy some whipping cream, and strike a blow for real food.
The Ben & Jerry's book I have has some extremely straightforward, and unbelievably delicious varieties that aren't that complicated. The sweet cream base that underlies many of the flavors is just heavy cream, eggs, sugar, and milk. And we have often thought of drinking it straight down without bothering to turn it into ice cream.
For the recent Shavuot holiday I made (separately) Chocolate, Strawberry, and mint oreo. We got one of these as a gift a while back, and it saves the trouble of keeping the bucket in the freezer.
I have the Ben and Jerry's book too, Dan. I had forgotten that some of their ice creams do not require a custard base.
The other day at Big Lots I saw a remanufactured Cuisinart commercial ice cream maker that didn't require the pre-freezing of the bowl for about $100, but I figured I could buy a whole lot of ice cream for that price.
There are definite advantages in living in the Dairy State. Custard stands all over the place would be one.
The last time I made ice cream, it was at a Girl Scout cookout - the crank forever, freeze/numb your butt, tastes like heaven kind.
I agree wholeheartedly with your comments on the ff/sf stuff - not only does the real deal taste better, a little of the real is better for you than a lot of the fake. The key, as always, is moderation.
I have tried making ice cream at home with my new Kitchen Aid ice cream maker attachment twice, but have ended up with mushy not-quite-ice-cream. Do you have any secrets to success to share?
I did try non-custard recipes because they seemed easier.
Last week I decided to treat myself to a small tub of ice cream. We were at Wawa (convenience store) after a concert and I was faced with choosing between Ben and Jerry's, Haagen Daz (sp?), and the store brand. Feeling that I could not stand to pay twice as much for the name brand, I went cheap. It was definitely a mistake. If you are going to have it, it's worth going for the best and all real ingredients.
Sarah, I don't know if we have Turkey Hill around here.
Jennifer, we have this Cuisinart ice cream maker. Giving the ice cream a bit of extra time and then freezing the ice cream in the freezer before eating, gives it a nice hard consistency. However, I haven't made my own homemade ice cream in two years, so I say all this from memory, not from recent practice.
Amen to that. You have to leave it going for a while (20 mins minimum), and at best you'll have slightly firmer than soft serve (Carvel is the local purveyor of that option here). Get it in a container and freeze it for a while longer, at least an hour, and you should have a firmer product.
In the meantime, you can still lick the dasher and the spatula you used to move from bowl to container. I don't recommend licking the bowl from the unit - the scene with the flagpole from Christmas Story comes to mind.
We've found the best source for plain old-fashioned vanilla ice cream is Costco. They sell it under their store brand Kirkland Select, and it's wonderful stuff. And, at least for now, they still sell real half-gallon cartons! Two half-gallons in a box for about $7.50.
Along the lines of "strik(ing) a blow for real food..." might I suggest an idea I heard on "Jon and Kate Plus 8"--ice cream supper. One night per summer, they eat a big bowl of ice cream, and nothing else, for supper. It's a novelty for the kids, and I got the impression Kate loves it too.
We really like the Wal-Mart Great Value brand. Mocha mudslide and mint chocolate chip (even though it's kinda green) are my favorites. We finally got a Lowe's Foods back in town, but we're a little bit hooked on the Wal-Mart ice cream and yogurt...
I haven't done a new recipe in a while, but this one turned out well and when added to a fruit smoothie makes for a really good and healthy breakfast.
Confetti Bread
1 pound zucchini, yellow squash and carrot, grated (use a food processor to make the work go quickly)
1 1/2 cups of sugar
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and cooled slightly
2 large eggs
1/4 cup plain or vanilla yogurt
zest of one lemon
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon allspice
1/2 teaspoon salt
Preheat oven to 375 degrees and spray a loaf pan with cooking spray.
Squeeze grated vegetables between layers of clean dish towels or paper towels to get out excess moisture. Whisk together sugar, butter, eggs, yogurt, lemon zest and lemon juice.
In another bowl, whisk together flours, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, allspice, and salt. Gently fold the vegetables and yogurt mixture into the flour until just combined.
Scrape the batter into the loaf pan and smooth the surface. Bake about 55 to 60 minutes. Cool and serve.
My children were very dubious that they would like any sweet substance that contains vegetables, but so far they have been pretty pleased with and surprised by the results.
Just wanted to let you know you're in my thoughts/prayers as you anticipate baby #5. Let's see...I had my fifth when I was 35, I think, so I guess we're not 'that' different. :)
Glad you'll have this baby in your arms before it gets too awfully hot. Great timing on your part!
I learned a lesson yesterday. I'm getting older. I'm very enormously pregnant (maybe I'll show you a picture, but maybe I won't). All those old joints are pretty wobbly at this point. Lesson learned? Maybe mowing the yard with your lovely new Scotts Reel Mower in the ninth month of pregnancy isn't such a good idea. I had no intention of mowing the whole yard and I felt totally fine while pushing the mower around the yard, but I definitely felt it later that night and I haven't recovered yet. I'm moving very, very slowly today.
I guess walking the baby out is not the way to go.
You are quite the trooper! Pregnant ladies shouldn't be mowing the lawn. I know us women can be mighty strong, but kick your heals up and get some rest. I shouldn't talk, I assembled my first child's crib and changing table when I 8 months pregnant. I made my husband feel a little guilty so he put together a baby dresser, which when I bought had no idea it was all in peices. Atleast I got out of that one.
I had lunch with Meredith this week and said I was going to mow that afternoon when I got home because I couldn't seem to get my hubby to do it. She said you had done it and regretted it. I didn't do it...more out of laziness than anything else but glad that I skipped it. Hope you are back to what passes as normal now!
When I only had one child and one arriving soon, it seemed like a brilliant idea to get a little something special for the older child from the new baby. We got my oldest a metal Tonka dump truck from his new sister and the toy was definitely a winner. We still have it. It still gets played with and it is still memorable to the oldest as the present from his sister.
When the next new baby came along, I didn't do nearly so well. I got my son some drawing stuff (now all long since used up) and my daughter a baby doll that didn't last for some reason that I can't now remember. When the littlest arrived, he brought a book and a puzzle for his brother and nice rag dolls for his sisters. Those are all still around and being played with and used.
This time I have multiple dilemmas. First, it feels like we already have ever toy known to man and I want to get rid of most of them. Second, I'm just at a loss for what the older two really need or would especially enjoy that isn't too pricey. I have found presents for the youngest two. Perhaps not things that will last forever, but still things I know they will enjoy -- a nice baby doll for the three year old, who loves dolls of all kinds, and a big bucket of sand toys for the 1 1/2 year old who still even in the hottest weather would spend all day, every day out in the sand pile under the tree.
For the older two though -- I need help. I know the oldest would love Legos, but we aren't exactly hurting for Legos. He'd love a good book, and although we certainly have plenty of those around too, I don't know what he would especially enjoy. He reads so much and so fast that I would want to find something lasting that he would enjoy again and again.
With the five year old, a lot of the toys marketed to girls her age involve make-up or inappropriately dressed dolls that I will not be getting for her. She's starting to read a lot, but again -- what would be a real keeper of a book that she would enjoy now and later? Or what toy would she love for a long time?
I got D'Aulaires Book of Greek Myths when I was about the oldest boys age. I loved that book, I still have that book and I can't wait to share it with Squink. Most others who had the book when they were young remember it vividly (in a good way) as well.
I think he's old enough to enjoy Sounder or Where the Red Fern Grows or Tuck Everlasting or the Westing Game. Also less serious, but fun, Judy Blume's Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing and Superfudge. Has he already read them?
Actually, I don't think he's read any of those. The only Judy Blume he's read came from his Aunt Mimi. :) I'm not sure he would like a book with an ending like Where the Red Fern Grows. I suspect that would really bug him.
Can you ever have too many Legos? I happen to think he'd love an Indy set.
Along the D'Aulaire theme, I'm ordering the Jim Weiss storytelling CD of Greek Myths for this summer. I think there's a fairy tales CD for P. Perhaps hours of listening would last longer than a book.
Also on the D'Aulaire (which we love) theme, you might consider Kate McMullan's Myth-O-Mania series - reworkings of eight or nine Greek myths from Hades' point of view. The eldest Llama-ette found them quite enjoyable and read the whole seres three or four times.
If he hasn't read The Westing Game, I stick with that as my #1 recommendation. Next up (and I know you liked this one): From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler. No sad endings. Both deserve more than one read.
I take it y'all have K'nex already?? That is my 7 1/2 and 5 1/2 yr olds' favorite building toy bar none.
Book idea for your oldest: any in the series by David Macauley on construction: Jon was given City but there is also Cathedral, Pyramid and a few others? they are great books. we have the hardback which is only about $12 on Amazon, but you can get paperback as well for less.
For your daughter, maybe paper dolls - with modest clothing of course!?! My 9 yr old daughter has a set of American Girl ones she loves, and received about 4 yrs ago now.
Or, the Jesus Storybook Bible, which my 5 1/2 yr old ADORES, but which my older two will also listen to happily at Bible Time, or a book like the Tale of the Three Trees. Also a winner with our whole family.
You may already have these, but a few of the larger volumes which are really child friendly but keepers in the sense that my olders love them still. these are great lit with amazing illustrations:
the full Winnie the Pooh volume
the full Babar Stories Volume
Large volume of The Wind in the Willows with illustrations by Kenneth Grahame.
Sorry this is so long, but maybe it will help!! Happy Shopping!!
I am a new visitor to your blog! I do hope your newest baby comes quickly and you both flourish!
We are a book family - avid readers all. My children are just loving the "Bloodhounds Inc." book series by Bill Myers - they are funny, imaginative, and for once, the Dad in the story is treated with great respect and effectively shares his faith with his children in a real and practical way - which of course, they remember at all the right times. My husband is reading them out loud to the kids (though they could easily read them - he is having fun reading to them) and the laughter in our front room can be heard near and far. We got a few of them through amazon and some at our local Christian bookstore. There are 12 total, so it is nice to get something you can add to later.
Hope this helps!
The favorite man in my life puts up with a lot, including my completely forgetting Father's Day, until after the priest mentioned it in Mass. Whispered orders to the three bigger kids produced cards for their father, but it isn't quite like planning ahead to actually prepare something to say, "We love you and appreciate all you do."
Still we do appreciate him, and although he might not have gotten any special presents on Father's Day, he does get the rock star treatment when he comes home from work, with children rushing from all parts of the house yelling his name and giving him hugs. His children love him well.
As do I. I also appreciate those times when he, as the father, lays down the law. Laws in our house are very, very similar to these -- right down to not putting your foot on the bread. The work of a dad is never over without many lamentations and adjudications.
If only the wee one would choose to cooperate, I'd be happy to make my darling husband a father for the fifth time around any time.
Unfortunately I don't get a consistent "hero's greeting" when I come home from work, but I thank God for the faces I do see when I open the door. The 4 y.o. girl is getting better at the happy-to-see-you look, so the bribes seem to be working.
Being able to bless the Father's Day breakfast and holding those little hands while praying over the children (and wife!) is more than enough gift, and I'm sure Justin felt the same way.
Your Father's Day tribute is beautiful. I feel the same way about my husband.
We didn't forget Father's Day, but my husband forgot to open his cards and gifts the kids made for him until tonight. They were on top of the china cabinet and when things are out of sight they are out of mind. We both knew they were up there- we just forgot. My kids didn't know any different so they were thrilled to watch him open the stuff no matter what day it was.
My hubby gets the rock star treatment when he comes home from work too.
Although a few weeks ago, my doctor informed me that I'd counted a whole extra week than I had gained, I think I am almost at 37 weeks now. I'm not getting to any of the typical nesting stuff (oh, I suppose I could clean the house, but I'm talking about the fun stuff like pulling out the baby clothes and decorating a nursery that I won't really use much). I don't know where the baby clothes are and the upstairs isn't finished enough to set up a nursery. A while back I made up list of things I need to do, so let's check in and see what's been done, it will make my non-nesting self feel better.
Figure out a short list of names for boys and girls (this was easier when I hadn't already used all my favorites) My mom sent a list of her suggestions, which helps me get started, but I still haven't done much list-making on my own.
Decide whether I'll let my husband keep St. John on the list this time around.He can keep it on the list. I could put Hezekiah on the list, but it doesn't mean I'll use it.
Figure out who is going to be watching the children when I go to the hospital to have the baby.I've lined up a few neighbors to come over if we have to rush to the hospital and a lady from church volunteered to spend the night.
If it won't be someone coming to our house (it will probably be my SIL about an hour from here), I must pack suitcases for the kids so they can have clothes and brush their teeth.The lady from church will be coming to us, so I don't need to pack for the kidlets.
Pack a suitcase for the hospital. Not done. Since I don't seem to go early, I think I'm just dawdling because I can.
Buy snacks for my husband to eat in the hospital so he won't be cranky.I got him some trail mix and some sunflower seeds.
Turn in grades for the kids and close out our homeschooling year. Grades are due on Monday. I've had the papers sitting around for a week. I have no excuse not to have done this one.
Measure backseat of the minivan and figure out if we can fit three carseats back there.Done! There aren't a lot of choices for skinny carseats out there, but we found one brand that works.
If we can't -- panic, cry and worry about the fact bigger automobiles, like money, don't grow on trees.We found ones that work, though some tears ensued at the thought of spending that much money on new carseats when we already have nice ones. My parents bought two of them for us though. Thanks Mom and Dad!
Cook and bake more stuff for the freezer, so that we'll have something to eat after this child arrives.Getting there. I've trying to make one freezable thing each week. Right now I have a meatloaf, a pot pie, Chinese dumplings, vegetable soup and a couple of frozen pizzas that were on sale. I plan to put the kids to work making pesto this weekend.
Wish I had more recipes that froze well. I need to try the Mulligatawny soup recommended by Dr. Weevil.
Encourage my husband (and my father while he is here visiting) to finish up some necessary projects upstairs so that the big kids will not all be sleeping in the family room and the 19 month old can move out of my closet before the new little one arrives. Partly done. My father had to go home eventually, but before he left, he and Justin built the railing around the upper landing and stairs. Justin started working on attic access doors in the kneewalls and plans to continue that this weekend, I think.
Try to find my infant carseat. It was hiding in plain sight.
Figure out whether the infant carseat has outlived its shelf-life, since it is coming up on six years old.It will have to do.
Do about a million other things that haven't even crossed my mind yet. Other things that need doing still haven't crossed my mind (or what's left of it.)
I suppose a few things do cross the mind -- I probably should find at least enough baby clothes so that the kidlet can come home from the hospital in something other than a diaper and I should probably get out the port-a-crib with the bassinet attachment. But the latter can definitely wait until the wee bairn arrives, if necessary. What else does one do to get ready for a baby? I've forgotten.
You've done a good job on the list. It's been three years since I had to prepare for a baby so my brain is a bit deflated in the advice area. I was going to say pack your suitcase, which you have on the list. If you don't get around to it someone can always bring you your things once you are at the hospital. Good luck!
Crap - you mean I should actually prepare? I must be the least nesting, laziest pregnant woman on earth. I probably ought to at least make sure this child will have a car seat so they let her come home with us. And packing a bag is probably a good idea...or at least making a list of what should go in the bag. I have made arrangements for my mother to come and watch my daughter so there is one thing I could check off if I had a list. And with 1 load of laundry I could check off the issue of clothing the baby to leave the hospital. And I am so impressed that you are freezing meals while caring for all of your current kiddos. I suppose I could get my hubby to plug in the chest freezer and get cooking a little. Some soup, a lasagna, meatloaf, hmmm...nope sounds like nesting. We'll order in. LOL
What skinny carseats did you find? We would dearly love to fit three carseats in the backseat of our Honda Accord, though I fear that might be beyond wishful thinking. (No, not pregnant as yet. But our track record at preventing such things is ... lacking, so I'm thinking ahead.)
I'm not a particularly musical person. I like music, I enjoy singing although I doubt I carry a tune all that well, and I think I like good music, but I'm still not particularly musical. My husband is much more so. He can sort of sight read music and can definitely carry a tune. He used to lead singing at church and is now trying to start a schola.
The other day when I picked the kids up from Totus Tuus, my five year old piped up with. "Mom, today we sang this song that Mary supposedly sang, but I don't think she would have sung it to this tune!" She hummed a very campy, modern tune. "I didn't like it. I think they should use better music." The eight year old chimed in, "Neither did I. I'm not sure it was really appropriate. "
My children definitely seem to take after their father, much more musically attuned than I. But it is also the case that children are adults in training with their own opinions and tastes. To choose particular music and tunes to appeal to the youth, gives the youth little credit.
I totally agree. I always liked it best when we were given grown up music as kids. (I did church choir, bell choir, orchestra at school and community, play semi-pro now.) Grown up music, especially Bach, was part of my earliest understanding of church. That's why I never got the whole folk-songs-with-guitars thing a lot of the Catholic churches in our area did in the eighties. Fortunately there are places with better music! It's not the most important thing, but it makes me happy - I think it communicates to me in a way I understand better.
The fact that they recognize it says you've already introduced them to a bunch of the better stuff. They'll appreciate it down the road too.
Yesterday was a rough day. It started off well enough and there were good points along the way, but it was still trying. The plumbing inspector came and we passed our final plumbing inspection. I took the little two for ice cream at a local place near our house, while the older two were off at their church program.
It went downhill after that. I wanted a nap and didn't get one. I went to the doctor for a check-up and was first greeted by the news that thanks to our fairly crummy insurance coverage I have a much, much larger payment to make to the doctor before I can deliver the baby, then I hit a higher number on the scales than I have ever seen before. The baby seems to be fine though.
After my doctor's visit, I stopped by the grocery store only to discover whilst checking out that I couldn't find my wallet. It wasn't in the car. It wasn't at home. I spent a bit of time making phone calls and it was finally discovered under the table at the ice cream parlor. Thank goodness no one had stolen anything from it.
I was so worn out after everything, that I fell asleep as soon as the kids were in bed, but sleep doesn't come comfortably at this point and I didn't wake too rested either.
Today has been a long day of its own, but fortunately without yesterday's drama, fortunately tomorrow is another day.
I'm so sorry to read about your rough day. That's was the one think I hated about pregnancy, I would become so forgetful.
And if you want to talk about high numbers on the scale... let's just say I was very happy that I did not surpass my husband's weight. But if I had gone all the way to 40 weeks with the twins I would have blown right past him.
Today my oldest two are off for their first day of an all week children program at church. They are thrilled to be going off to classes and hanging out with all the other kids. I'm feeling what it's like to have to get everyone going early in the morning and making lunches every day.
My biggest complaint though is how hard it seems in some ways to have only the two little kids at home. Almost every day, I get stopped somewhere when we're out, by people commenting on the size of my family. Some of them count the kids out loud and exclaim over the size of my belly. Some think it is great. Some tell me they couldn't possibly imagine that many kids or couldn't handle them all. One, the other day, said, "You have, like, a whole herd of kids, doncha?"
I always try to answer the comments simply and politely. Being snippy doesn't tend to win friends or influence people. But now as I spend the day chasing an 19 month old and distracting a three year old all by myself, I've noticed, not that it's so much easier with just two, but that it's actually so much harder.
I hadn't really noticed how much my older two help out. They unbuckle carseats, open doors, think of games to play and even read stories to their younger siblings. Certainly, they also pick fights, boss everyone around and their games often involve large amounts of mess, but I am feeling their absence more than I noticed their presence.
Since I homeschool, my children are always with me. I generally love having them around, but I don't really notice, because that's just how things are. This little break from the two "big" kids, makes me appreciate them all the more. I'll be glad to go pick them up this afternoon and sorry to drop them off in the morning tomorrow. Not just because they'll help me manage to two wild ones, though that part is awfully nice, but because suddenly my life is quiet in a way -- I don't hear about what they are reading, thinking, or building out of Legos.
My little ones are growing up to be interesting people and they are a blessing to me. A blessing I didn't know how much I'd miss even for a few short hours every day.
Great post. Older children are a blessing and help ease the job of dealing with the little ones. Maybe you can use your post as a handout for the very curious who stop to ask how you manage with so many kids. Ok, so I'm kidding. But it could save you time in explaining things. ;)
*Sigh* my oldest is going to be 4 in September, so I guess we need to get serious about researching our schooling options, particularly if we want to homeschool. I really don't know that it would work with me working three days a week and trading off with Paul, so I'm hoping our situation gets clarified within the next month or two...
I'm having a mixed bag of results with two more added to my "brood". The oldest can be the very loving and helpful big brother we encourage him to be, and then there are other times where his competitiveness and oppositional behavior make it very difficult for everybody else.
I'm sure your older two will snub the older ones occasionally. My two boys will gang up and snub the little girl, and sometimes she takes it a little too personally. It amazes me on the capacity of the human heart to love more as your family grows.
For those folks who feel the need to "subtly" criticize your large brood, just tell them you've had an extra helping of blessings from God. They'll shake their head, dismiss you as a "fundie" and move on. Keep an eye out for articles/comments about the need to limit family size with the coming (or is it here now?!) energy crisis, as the argument of requiring less people for our scarce resources starts getting more airtime.
A while ago, my friend Meredith was talking about good breakfasts for those mornings when it is too hot to cook anything. Sometimes it does just feel way too hot to contemplate eating hot food. Of course, there is always cereal with cold milk, but that gets boring really quickly.
So just in case you are wondering, cheesecake tart with berries on top makes an excellent cool breakfast. Berries, cheese, eggs -- it's almost as good as Bill Cosby's chocolate cake.
Totally off topic for this post...but I was searching on your site for a pig-shaped compost bin that I *thought* I remembered you mentioning a LONG time ago. Am I right about that? Do you know where I could find that post (the search feature wasn't working)? If I'm insane, please ignore me. ;-)
Hi! I thoroughly enjoyed meeting you as well last Thursday and YES, I'd love to talk homeschooling with you. :) We're looking at a fall '09 for an official start of kindergarten, but of course, we've been playing with it for the last six months and are having a ball. :)
How will you manage? Barely - same as the rest of us. You'll cry, you'll pray, you'll try, you'll laugh with actual hysteria.
And when they grow up to be decent, kind, honorable human beings (as your other children appear to be), you get to sit back and congratulate yourself for not killing them before they made it all the way.
And then you pay them back for sticking your car keys into an outlet (I actually did this as a kid & shorted out a toaster) by interfering with their child raising.
I only have two kids and often wonder how it will be to have three, but you are four going on five. Right?
Taking trips in the car must be wild. I admire you. You can do it.
Baby slings are always great and one less short person to watch. They can just hang out on you while the others are walking or in a stroller. Cute picture by the way.
Melissa, I couldn't live without my sling(s). They definitely are helpful for keeping my hands on other little ones. Still, it is going to be crazy for a while around here.
Isn't that what the older siblings are for? Can oldest boy be talked/bribed into keeping a handle on his younger brother when you are out? Oldest seems to be quite responsible. The girls can stick together under your supervision, with the newest in the sling.
"Okay, it is always crazy, but somehow one adapts to crazy and comes to accept it as the new normal." Heh. How true.
Did you know Kroger gives you four cents off your purchase for every reusable bag you bring with you? I saved a whopping 24 cents off my last grocery bill!
That is a lovely photo! They are so blessed growing up together with a pair of awesome parents. They look like they are great friends already! We (my 2 brothers, my sister and I) were far enough apart in age that we didn't really get to be friends until we got older.
Jordana Adams, Chief Pontificator