Mother of the Year

So I should win the Mother of the Year Award, right??? Not so much. I had one of those moments that I hope will not land my child on the couch of some shrink some day...

Jonas came home from school last week and I checked his backpack like I usually do. Inside there were papers, crafts, and a toy. A toy that did not belong to him. It was some kind of action figure. I calmly asked Jonas where it came from. He replied. "Hmmm, I am not sure who put that in my backpack. But it fell out and Mrs. Jeni (his teacher) told me to put it in my backpack." I then said "How did it get in your backpack in the first place?" He said, " Maybe someone put it there." Now, I have never thought that Jonas would ever take anything that wasn't his. Also, he usually fesses up pretty quickly when he has done something wrong. But, something just didn't seem to add up. So, I started to interrogate him. (just a little side note -- I was majorly PMSing that day.) Anyway, I kept asking him over and over what happened. He began to cry and said it was his friend's toy. For some reason, I just knew that he had taken it from his friend and put it in his backpack, even though he had never done anything like that before! It finally ended with a time-out and a long lecture on telling the truth.

On the next school day, Jonas and I went in and he was supposed to give the toy to his friend and apologize. His friend was not there yet, so I gave Mrs. Jeni the toy. She said, "I remember this toy. When we were putting up our backpacks, it was laying on Jonas' bag and I told him to put it in his backpack."

OOPS!!! I hugged Jonas and told him that everything was fine and we would talk after school. Meanwhile, I shrunk back to the car and felt like dirt for the rest of the day. Don't get me wrong, I was thrilled Jonas wasn't a klepto and he was just doing what his teacher had asked. (Even though, I did point out to him that he should have told Mrs. Jeni it was his friend's toy.) I was just feeling terrible that I had falsely accused and not considered him innocent until proven guilty.

So, there it is. My bad mommy moment. Hopefully he will not be permanently scarred. But I am pretty sure he will never take anything that doesn't belong to him.





Life Lessons Lectures


Lying. Check.


Stealing. Check.


Mommy doesn't always get it right. Check

I'll Love You Forever

I was first introduced to the book "Love You Forever" in one of my children's literature classes at TTU. I remember thinking it was a sweet book. When I was teaching elementary school, I always read it to my children. They thought it was hilarious. That mother crawling across the floor was hysterical. The deeper meaning of the book went over their heads, of course.

I have also read this book to Jonas since he was a baby. Tonight as I was putting Jonas to bed, he picked it as his nighttime story. I noticed as I was reading the book, he was really getting into it. When we were finished he said, "Mommy, do you want me to be a little boy forever?" I hesitated slightly and said "Well, yes in some ways. Mommy will miss these special times, but I want you to grow up and have a happy and healthy life." Jonas then said, "When I move out, will you come visit me every day." I happily responded "Oh, yes!!!" (As I said a silent prayer for a good daughter-in-law who just adores her mother-in-law.) It was a really special moment and then Jonas said, "Good, I will need to have someone help pick up my toys!!!"


"I'll love you forever
I'll like you for always
As long as I'm living
My baby you'll be."
-"Love You Forever" by Robert Munsch

Crying, Really??

So I found myself watching an episode of The Young and the Restless and crying. One of the characters had died (not even one I really liked all that much), but I am sitting there crying at the memorial. What has happened to me???? Yes, I have watched the Y&R since I was little. I can tell you about all of the character's sordid family trees and how many times they have died and came back to life. But it is not just soap operas I find myself crying at. It can be a commercial, a news story, a TV drama, a book, a song, etc.

I can only come to one conclusion. Mommyhood has made me sappy.

I was never one of those girls who cried all the time about things. (Not to say that I didn't have swollen eyes for about 2 days after watching Stepmom or Steel Magnolias.) I just didn't cry all that much, especially about everyday things. However, something shifted in my hormones (or my heart) when I had my children. I find myself tearing up even when I talk about my boys. Even if I am telling a funny story about them. Or something cute they did. It can be downright embarrassing!

So call me hormonal, sappy, emotional, or unbalanced. :) I like the softer side. I think it helps keep me connected to what is really important (and that includes waterproof mascara). And just think, in no time at all, holiday commercials will start airing...



BTW, have you seen that AT&T commercial where the little girl is looking for her lost dog?? The young man takes a picture of the lost poster and sends it to everyone he knows. Eventually the dog is found and reunited with the little girl. Gets me everytime!!