And apparently, it was full of neon. At least, according to today’s style, it was. I remember corduroy and plastic hair clips. I did have some teal and yellow high tops and Transformer velcro shoes. We had a trampoline and they hadn’t invented the covers for the springs yet (or at least, we didn’t have any) and a visiting kid did land face first into the springs and a rusty hook did cut her face and she had to get three stitches. Because it was the eighties.
When I lived in Atlanta and worked at the comic shop I watched a Waffle House get demolished and a new Waffle House built from the ground up in the same spot. I went in on the first day it was open and everyone got a bag of coffee beans and a waffle house mug. I use it for my kids because it’s thick as hell and probably unbreakable.
In parenthood, the only way you get those few precious alone time moments for self care is when you steal them from sleep.
Just finding anything that they will eat on a regular basis. Dinner is always a shot in the dark. Just because they ate it last week, doesn’t mean they will today.
When Liz asks for something during dinner I realized she can get up and get it herself and it’s AMAZING. Little things change everything.
They’re now 3 and 6 and I just spent 3.5 hours trying to get the 3 year old to sleep. Still easier than babies.
Morning drop off is a toss of the dice. I have NO idea if she’s going to shrug and be fine or if I’m going to gently lay down a screaming child, put a hand on her torso so she can’t get up, and make a run for the door.
I have found that letting them know I’m getting overwhelmed helps everyone step back before big explosions. It’s super important for kids to see that their parents get overwhelmed too.
And in the morning, maple syrup with a side of oatmeal.
