Parenting Question: Experts Only

[cloudy]

I have 4 girls and 1 boy. Talk about seriously outnumbered.

Well, whoever/whatever arranged the order for my kids did themselves proud, because I've always said that if I'd had one of my boys first, I sure as hell wouldn't have had any more. My daughter was easy, easy, easy.

The boys, on the other hand, seem to be experts at the game of "let's see just how far we can push mom until she starts to act like a maniac."

My middle one will be 16 in April, and has been on the campaign trail for the last year and a half for me to give him my Trans Am. Can you imagine?

 

[Belegon]

We have been lucky enough to have a few Friday nights to ourselves recently, picking up the kids from my in-law's on Sat. morning.

I love my children. But the recent "date nights" are high on the list of things that may have saved my marriage.

Sometimes you need time to reconnect with the things about each other that led to kids being conceived in the first place....

 

[Guest]

My daughter's been sick for three weeks and we don't know why: listless, intermitent fevers, no appetite, sleeping 14 hours a day. It's not mono: blood tests are normal. She just drags around the house, maybe eats one bowl of cereal a day.

You'd be amazed at how you long for all the screaming and obnoxiousness, the terrible music and blasting television.

--Zoot

It's awful when our kids get ill and we are helpless to do anything but to try to ease their symptoms.

I hope she improves soon, Doc.

 

[Guest]

My middle one will be 16 in April, and has been on the campaign trail for the last year and a half for me to give him my Trans Am.

Teenage boy with a hot car? Don't let it happen. You're too cute to call grandma.

 

[SensualCealy]

I love my kids, they're brilliant, and I love spending time with them. I can't wait for the Easter holidays to come.

I'm sure all of us parents think the same way, but our kids can still cause us to need a break here and there. I have one that turned 14 on Tuesday, and one that is 11 1/2. I truly love spending time with them on their own and with them together, but many times when they are together they pull me for attention. When I don't bend over backwards to give it, they make it for themselves by fighting.

Spring break is on it's last leg, today is the last week day of the break and I couldn't be happier! They have had their time with Me and we have done things together, but both kids want to be back with their friends at school.

I too could use a holiday for a couple days on my own somewhere warm where I can do what I want when I want without being the chauffeur, chef, maid and nurse. Well that would be okay if it was just for dress up! lmao

Who is buying tickets, book an extra one for me while you are at it!

Oh and I don't need my kids report cards to be proud of them- they make me proud every day!
C

 

[CrimsonMaiden]

I know what you mean about needing a break. Mine are so noisy! And it seems when the clock hits about 6pm, they kick it up a notch or two. I rarely get relaxing breaks from them. Sure, I get to go the store by myself, but that's about it.

I love them to pieces, but they drive me up the wall more often than not.

 

[Guest]

I love my kids, they're brilliant, and I love spending time with them. I can't wait for the Easter holidays to come.

I'm sure all of us parents think the same way, but our kids can still cause us to need a break here and there. I have one that turned 14 on Tuesday, and one that is 11 1/2. I truly love spending time with them on their own and with them together, but many times when they are together they pull me for attention. When I don't bend over backwards to give it, they make it for themselves by fighting.

Spring break is on it's last leg, today is the last week day of the break and I couldn't be happier! They have had their time with Me and we have done things together, but both kids want to be back with their friends at school.

I too could use a holiday for a couple days on my own somewhere warm where I can do what I want when I want without being the chauffeur, chef, maid and nurse. Well that would be okay if it was just for dress up! lmao

Who is buying tickets, book an extra one for me while you are at it!

Oh and I don't need my kids report cards to be proud of them- they make me proud every day!
C

Sorry if I rubbed a nerve there, I didn't mean to.

I had just received their reports (which they only get once a year here) and they were brilliant, and I was so happy right then.

I'm proud of my kids every day, too.

No need to be snide.

 

[NoJo]

I think the trick to good parenting is to know when it's time to stop being a parent and just be yourself with them for a bit. It's hard to do when they're little, but gets easier once they're about forty.

 

[Guest]

I think the trick to good parenting is to know when it's time to stop being a parent and just be yourself with them for a bit. It's hard to do when they're little, but gets easier once they're about forty.

Exactly right.

40!? Hahaha! I didn't think you were old enough.

 

[cloudy]

Teenage boy with a hot car? Don't let it happen. You're too cute to call grandma.

I wasn't even thinking about that! Actually, my daughter's 24, so except for the fact that getting married and having her own family isn't a priority for her, I could already be a grandmother (jeez, that's horrible to contemplate, but that's what you get when you have kids when you're barely grown yourself).

I was more worried about him killing himself in a car that can get away from you real quick. Hadn't even thought of the other angle.

I adore all of my children, but I think sometimes they need a break from us just as badly as we need a break from them.

Crim - I don't even get to go to the damn store by myself. When I start to leave, and the youngest begs to go, if I don't let him, his dad thinks I'm "up to something," and that's why I want to go by myself.

 

[SensualCealy]

Tatelou,

I was erked by the way I read your post. I have a perfect family, my kids are perfect, we have a perfect little life...

NO one is perfect, we all want days to ourselves or a break from having someone being dependent on us. After reading your post it came out as the rest of us parents are either not doing our job or suck at it, because yours is so perfect.

Sorry if I was being snide, but thats how it hit me!
Wish I got my kids reports next week have no idea when the board will approve of them being handed out with the strike going on.

my appologies,
C

 

[cloudy]

Cealy,

It's none of my business to wade in here, but I only saw parental pride in Lou's post, and that's all.....and that's as it should be. We're all proud of our children when they do their best, I'm sure.

I'm sure it's just a misunderstanding, that's all.

 

[Belegon]

Hadn't even thought of the other angle.

I guarantee you that he has...

 

[Guest]

Tatelou,

I was erked by the way I read your post. I have a perfect family, my kids are perfect, we have a perfect little life...

NO one is perfect, we all want days to ourselves or a break from having someone being dependent on us. After reading your post it came out as the rest of us parents are either not doing our job or suck at it, because yours is so perfect.

Sorry if I was being snide, but thats how it hit me!
Wish I got my kids reports next week have no idea when the board will approve of them being handed out with the strike going on.

my appologies,
C

I'm sorry it read that way, I didn't mean it to come across that way at all. I know I should temper my tendancy to go on about stuff somewhat, but right at that moment I was on a massive high about my kids. Next time I'll stay on the phone to my Mum.

I'll feel I have to explain that reports here (I'm not sure how they are in Canada) are not a list of grades. Primary school children don't get graded, at all. Their teachers write a brief summary of not only how they are doing in each subject, but also how they conduct themselves and talk about the personal and social side of their schooling.

Also, on the flip side to your comment about what I said irking you, it irks me to see and hear parents complaining about their children. I hear it a lot from parents I know. They hate them being home from school on holidays and so on and whinge about them being under their feet and having to amuse them. Um, why did they have children in the first place? I am a big believer in not complaining about my kids. Yes, I have had days where I feel as if I need a break, but they are very few and far between.

Kids grow up too quick and I plan to continue to carry on enjoying them while I still can. Maybe that's because I'm just a big kid myself.

Again, I am sorry if my post came across as me saying "I'm perfect, you're not". I was merely trying to demonstrate that not all parents feel the need to complain about having their kids around.

Oh, and for the record, my life is damn near perfect. I am a very lucky woman.

 

[Guest]

Cealy,

It's none of my business to wade in here, but I only saw parental pride in Lou's post, and that's all.....and that's as it should be. We're all proud of our children when they do their best, I'm sure.

I'm sure it's just a misunderstanding, that's all.

Thanks, Cloudy, that is exactly what it was, in that initial post at any rate.

I was also trying to be a bit funny. I guess it backfired. Talk about having your fireworks pissed on.

 

[Guest]

I guarantee you that he has...

About every six seconds, at that age.

 

[CrimsonMaiden]

Some of us end up with more than we can handle due to circumstances beyond our control that may happen after the kids are already around. I ended up with more kids that I had planned on having because nature decided to give me two at once, and I also didn't realize that I would end up acting mostly as a single parent even though I'm married.

 

[Weird Harold]

Who else needs a vacation from their child or children? QUOTE]

That's why God invented sleepovers, slumber parties and grandparents.

I think any parent who doesn't need an occasional vacation from their kids isn't spending enough time around them -- even perfect parents with perfect kids (and grandkids) like me and Lou.

My "Ideal Vacation from the Kids" was/is a camping or hunting trip.

A night or two communing with Nature away from the city lights where you can actually see the stars and breathe the air without carving it into bite-sized pieces first does wonders for my bility to deal with civilization again.

My kids are grown and gone and I only have to deal with the Granddaughters when I want to -- often to give the daughter and son-in-law a night out without them -- but I sometimes still feel the need to get away from everyday life and the fewer people there are, the better the vacation.

 

[OhMissScarlett]

My daughter's been sick for three weeks and we don't know why: listless, intermitent fevers, no appetite, sleeping 14 hours a day. It's not mono: blood tests are normal. She just drags around the house, maybe eats one bowl of cereal a day.

You'd be amazed at how you long for all the screaming and obnoxiousness, the terrible music and blasting television.

--Zoot

Hope she gets better soon, Doc. That's so true, it does break your heart when kids are sick and not acting themselves. Over the winter, my son was so sick he wasn't even playing, just laying on the sofa all day long. We all knew he was on the mend when he started playing with his cars again and standing on his head.

 

[OhMissScarlett]

Thanks, Cloudy, that is exactly what it was, in that initial post at any rate.

I was also trying to be a bit funny. I guess it backfired. Talk about having your fireworks pissed on.

Really, I thought you were just giving me shit, lol. Mostly, I don't need so many breaks. I'm not one of those mothers you'll ever hear saying they want to go back to work to get away from their child. When L is in school this fall, I'll probably be beside myself missing him, but I can't help but be a little excited about the prospect of writing more than a paragraph without being interrupted.

 

[Guest]

Really, I thought you were just giving me shit, lol. Mostly, I don't need so many breaks. I'm not one of those mothers you'll ever hear saying they want to go back to work to get away from their child. When L is in school this fall, I'll probably be beside myself missing him, but I can't help but be a little excited about the prospect of writing more than a paragraph without being interrupted.

I know, sweetie. I really wasn't meaning to give anyone actual shit, just "funny" shit. It was meant to be a humorous post, with a touch of exaggerated overt bragging. Not meant to be taken seriously, at all. Yes, they did make me very proud day, as they always do, but I never meant to imply anything negative about anyone else. Perhaps my humour isn't always obvious.

If that's what you meant by me just giving you shit, cool!

I completely understand where you're coming from, believe me. We all need time to ourselves, and I do get quite a lot during the day (probably too much sometimes), and I can't wait for the school day to finish and for them to be home. I was beside myself with missing my two when they each went to school, but you soon realise that they actually enjoy school and that makes it easier.

 

[OhMissScarlett]

I know, sweetie. I really wasn't meaning to give anyone actual shit, just "funny" shit. It was meant to be a humorous post, with a touch of exaggerated overt bragging. Not meant to be taken seriously, at all. Yes, they did make me very proud day, as they always do, but I never meant to imply anything negative about anyone else. Perhaps my humour isn't always obvious.

If that's what you meant by me just giving you shit, cool!

I completely understand where you're coming from, believe me. We all need time to ourselves, and I do get quite a lot during the day (probably too much sometimes), and I can't wait for the school day to finish and for them to be home. I was beside myself with missing my two when they each went to school, but you soon realise that they actually enjoy school and that makes it easier.

I meant giving me shit to be funny. Uh, taking the piss? Hehe. The whole time I was reading your first post, I'm thinking "Oh yeah, that gorgeous bitch would just have perfect beautiful children!"

 

[Guest]

I meant giving me shit to be funny. Uh, taking the piss? Hehe. The whole time I was reading your first post, I'm thinking "Oh yeah, that gorgeous bitch would just have perfect beautiful children!"

Quite!

(That's exactly it, so glad you "got" me. )