I suppose this is how it goes.
Yesterday, the Girl child was in a pissy mood, fighting with her brother (unprovoked, even!)
This morning, she is up half an hour early, dressed already when I wake up.
The boy's teacher sent "make up work" home with him last night. Of course, we ask the Boy, "Are you done with your homework?" his answer is "YES! Can I go play at the park?!?!"
Well, clearly he doesn't consider the "make up work", "homework" Because the teacher didn't hand it to him and say "Brady, this is HOMEWORK"
Well, I got an email outlining his make-up assignment and asked him about it. He had completed one of the 7 assignments.
Keep in mind, Fall break starts in 2 days. Meaning quarter grades are due today.
SO- she gave him a GIFT by letting him make up the assignments at all.
WELL- the girl child realized that there was tension and the boy had to do the make up work this morning.
So what did she do?
She made eggs for breakfast.
She made lunch for the Boy.
She took out the trash for the Boy.
She took the trash can to the CURB for the boy.
All of this without being asked to do any of it.
Mommy was saying goodbye and said "So, being so helpful, huh? What do you want? There's got to be an agenda here."
The Girl child's reply: "Just to survive another day."
Ha ha ha ha ha ha! Classic
Also-
"Boy child, where is your lunchbag?"
"Oh, one is in my classroom because I forgot it last week, and one is... well I PUT it on the table my the TV, but it's not there. SOMEONE must have moved it. I don't know- but I put it right there! JEEEEZZZ!"
As you can probably surmise, the table next to the TV is NOT where lunchbags go. They go in the kitchen. By all the LUNCH stuff.
Crazy me.
Everyone go out and have children now, OK? OK! :-@
Thursday, September 27, 2012
Sunday, September 23, 2012
This part sucks
So we arrive to pick the children up from Grandma and Grandpa's.
The children played secret agent all day, and my dad taught them how a criminal syndicate is organized, how to "turn" a person in the organization, and what blackmail is, and how to use it to force people to give you information.
That is frikin hilarious.
So as we arrive and start talking, the children decide they are going to play hide and seek with us, though we are having conversations.
They were found immediately.
Then, in the car on the way home, the boy was all excited, we told him to calm down, and as we pulled into the driveway, he was flailing his arms and poked his sister in the eye.
So I told him that is what happens when we tell him for 15 minutes, to calm down and he doesn't listen. Then the next day the same thing happens. And the next day and the next. Same action, same result.
Then it was shower time. He didn't want to. He started yelling. He locked the bathroom door. Wife had to tell him to unlock the door, and tell him to get in the shower.
5 minutes later, the water is still not on.
She goes in to check, and the boy is crying. Why? she asks... "I have to be honest mommy, I didn't wear the white socks and I didn't use the lotion on my feet. And my feet are still peeling." Hug hug, reinforce reinforce, love, get in shower.
The typical getting in bed crap happens, and at "tuck in time", he says to Wife that we love his sister more. Because she gets good grades and doesn't get in trouble at school.
So- my question is not whether I love one or the other more- I love them both equally.
However, my interaction with him is more difficult. That's true. I have to reinforce with him, the ways to behave toward other people. It's FAR more difficult. I want him to be a good adult, a fulfilled kid who can play and have fun with other kids.
I also NEED him to listen to the lessons I try teaching him. Which is the biggest problem.
He simply "forgets" or ignores from one day to the next. I can tell him... "Boy Child, brush your teeth with a toothbrush. Using a Q-tip doesn't accomplish the task, because it doesn't hold the toothpaste well, and also doesn't get in between the crevices in your teeth. A Toothbrush is specifically designed to clean your teeth properly. So can you use the toothbrush from now on, and we can use the q-tip to clean between your toes instead."
"Sure dad. WhatEVER. "
"Ok, cool. thanks"
Next day- Q-tip toothbrush. Seriously.
It's not that big a deal. It's not difficult, it's not that I'm asking for much- it's just constant ignoring and reinforcing the same thing over and over, and being ignored.
It's MADDENING.
Now- remember, WRAP THAT SHIT!
The children played secret agent all day, and my dad taught them how a criminal syndicate is organized, how to "turn" a person in the organization, and what blackmail is, and how to use it to force people to give you information.
That is frikin hilarious.
So as we arrive and start talking, the children decide they are going to play hide and seek with us, though we are having conversations.
They were found immediately.
Then, in the car on the way home, the boy was all excited, we told him to calm down, and as we pulled into the driveway, he was flailing his arms and poked his sister in the eye.
So I told him that is what happens when we tell him for 15 minutes, to calm down and he doesn't listen. Then the next day the same thing happens. And the next day and the next. Same action, same result.
Then it was shower time. He didn't want to. He started yelling. He locked the bathroom door. Wife had to tell him to unlock the door, and tell him to get in the shower.
5 minutes later, the water is still not on.
She goes in to check, and the boy is crying. Why? she asks... "I have to be honest mommy, I didn't wear the white socks and I didn't use the lotion on my feet. And my feet are still peeling." Hug hug, reinforce reinforce, love, get in shower.
The typical getting in bed crap happens, and at "tuck in time", he says to Wife that we love his sister more. Because she gets good grades and doesn't get in trouble at school.
So- my question is not whether I love one or the other more- I love them both equally.
However, my interaction with him is more difficult. That's true. I have to reinforce with him, the ways to behave toward other people. It's FAR more difficult. I want him to be a good adult, a fulfilled kid who can play and have fun with other kids.
I also NEED him to listen to the lessons I try teaching him. Which is the biggest problem.
He simply "forgets" or ignores from one day to the next. I can tell him... "Boy Child, brush your teeth with a toothbrush. Using a Q-tip doesn't accomplish the task, because it doesn't hold the toothpaste well, and also doesn't get in between the crevices in your teeth. A Toothbrush is specifically designed to clean your teeth properly. So can you use the toothbrush from now on, and we can use the q-tip to clean between your toes instead."
"Sure dad. WhatEVER. "
"Ok, cool. thanks"
Next day- Q-tip toothbrush. Seriously.
It's not that big a deal. It's not difficult, it's not that I'm asking for much- it's just constant ignoring and reinforcing the same thing over and over, and being ignored.
It's MADDENING.
Now- remember, WRAP THAT SHIT!
This part Rules
Seriously.
This picture came to my phone while my wife and I were on our weekend getaway to Tucson. The kids had a weekend with the grandparents.
The accompanying text was:
"Daaaaddddd! This is Mr Margaret Bauman. I would like to inform you that I am a gentleman. Please acknowledge this. Best Regards. Mr Margaret Bauman"
How adorable is that?!?!?
Then, she followed up with
"Great. We have a meeting at 6:00 sharp. You need to pick me up from 1234 S Crystal Way in Chandler Arizona. I will have dinner all ready. If you have any questions or concerns, please text me back. Text me back anyways. Mr Margaret Bauman."
next:
"This is Mr Brady Bauman and I am Mr Margaret Bauman's lawyer. I look forward to seeing you tonight."
Good times. Good times.
There is your feel good story. Enjoy.
Sunday, September 16, 2012
Obsessions
Last Sunday I took the Boy child shopping for clothes.
This is always a stressful thing for the parent units to do. Not because the act itself is difficult, but because we know that it will result in a new obsession for the Boy child.
This time was no different.
We bought some red jeans at Old Navy.
Red jeans- they are kindof silly, but who cares.
Since it's 100 degrees out, you'd think the Boy would want to wear shorts, right? Wrong.
He has this thing where it's shorts in winter and jeans all summer long. He would wear jeans every single day if we let him. In 116 degree weather, the boy wants to wear jeans. When it's 60 degrees out, he wants to wear shorts.
ALSO, he is now obsessed with the red jeans. He wants to wear them every single day. In fact, today (Sunday) the FIRST thing he said when he woke up, was "Can I wear my red jeans today?"
The problem with that is-
1) It's going to be 100 degrees out today
2) He's going to be playing at the park and the jeans will get WRECKED
3) If he wears them today, he will be pissed off that he can't wear them to school tomorrow.
He had a friend spend the night last night, so despite my calm attempt to explain why he should wear shorts today, he stormed off, slammed the door, and went and hid in his closet.
Remember how I took the closet door off a couple of weeks ago? He now scrunches up in the corner of the closet and pulls the dirty clothes hamper in front of him to hide.
Just keep swimming swimming swimming....
This is always a stressful thing for the parent units to do. Not because the act itself is difficult, but because we know that it will result in a new obsession for the Boy child.
This time was no different.
We bought some red jeans at Old Navy.
Red jeans- they are kindof silly, but who cares.
Since it's 100 degrees out, you'd think the Boy would want to wear shorts, right? Wrong.
He has this thing where it's shorts in winter and jeans all summer long. He would wear jeans every single day if we let him. In 116 degree weather, the boy wants to wear jeans. When it's 60 degrees out, he wants to wear shorts.
ALSO, he is now obsessed with the red jeans. He wants to wear them every single day. In fact, today (Sunday) the FIRST thing he said when he woke up, was "Can I wear my red jeans today?"
The problem with that is-
1) It's going to be 100 degrees out today
2) He's going to be playing at the park and the jeans will get WRECKED
3) If he wears them today, he will be pissed off that he can't wear them to school tomorrow.
He had a friend spend the night last night, so despite my calm attempt to explain why he should wear shorts today, he stormed off, slammed the door, and went and hid in his closet.
Remember how I took the closet door off a couple of weeks ago? He now scrunches up in the corner of the closet and pulls the dirty clothes hamper in front of him to hide.
Just keep swimming swimming swimming....
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
HAPPY NEWS!
Ok, I fell for the sensationalist news media trick. BIG IMPORTANT HEADLINE!!! LOOK! LOOK!
So anyways...
Bonnie is at a work conference overnight tonight. So last night I made a crock pot. THAT's right- I even planned AHEAD!
This morning was a bit chaotic. Getting B out to her conference, the Girl Child had to take a shower, the Boy Child was fine, but having an ADD morning. No big.
I got the already prepared crock pot out of the fridge where I had properly thawed the meat overnight in the fridge :)
I turned the crock pot on low.
SO- is low, enough to cook a crock pot, in 10 hours? I think so.
What you will notice, is that I never plugged the crock pot in.
It sat all day on the counter. What does this mean? It all goes in the trash.
Sad News!
Since the fridge is recently cleaned out, I didn't really have many options. I mean, I had a plan in place for goodness sake!
And, I had to get a haircut.
The boy was at his friend's house playing (since he finished his homework rapidly and accurately) and the girl was working on her homework, which was plentiful.
I called the Girl Child when I got to the grocery store and asked if she noticed anything we needed for the kids' lunches, etc. Everything was fine on that front, but when I told her I was going to get rice noodles, veggies, and chicken to make a stir-fry, she immediately said "No DAD! I was looking at recipes on line yesterday, and I have a PERFECT Dinner! Let me look up the recipe... no wait, I wrote it down already, so... Oh! Here it is. Ready?"
She proceeded to tell me the recipe for the Rotisserie chicken salad and side of homemade hummus.
I mean really. Really?
The salad was delicious. We followed the recipe, using their suggestion to substitute peanut butter for tahini in the hummus. I... um... do not suggest you try this. Unless you have a kid who insists on eating peanut butter, and you're trying to trick them into eating hummus. Because it's quite peanut-buttery.
Still- we had a great dinner, very nutritious, and no preservatives. All fresh, all yummy.
The email:
I need
1 can garbanzo beans
peanut butter
lemons
parsley
red wine vinegar
cucumber
tomato
kalamata olives
romaine lettuce
baby spinach
viola! that's it! the recipe is pretty much just make a really easy hummus, and make a quick salad, shred the chicken and bada bing bada boom! ya got yourself a nice dinner made by chef Maggie!
There ya go Christine ;)
So anyways...
Bonnie is at a work conference overnight tonight. So last night I made a crock pot. THAT's right- I even planned AHEAD!
This morning was a bit chaotic. Getting B out to her conference, the Girl Child had to take a shower, the Boy Child was fine, but having an ADD morning. No big.
I got the already prepared crock pot out of the fridge where I had properly thawed the meat overnight in the fridge :)
I turned the crock pot on low.
SO- is low, enough to cook a crock pot, in 10 hours? I think so.
What you will notice, is that I never plugged the crock pot in.
It sat all day on the counter. What does this mean? It all goes in the trash.
Sad News!
Since the fridge is recently cleaned out, I didn't really have many options. I mean, I had a plan in place for goodness sake!
And, I had to get a haircut.
The boy was at his friend's house playing (since he finished his homework rapidly and accurately) and the girl was working on her homework, which was plentiful.
I called the Girl Child when I got to the grocery store and asked if she noticed anything we needed for the kids' lunches, etc. Everything was fine on that front, but when I told her I was going to get rice noodles, veggies, and chicken to make a stir-fry, she immediately said "No DAD! I was looking at recipes on line yesterday, and I have a PERFECT Dinner! Let me look up the recipe... no wait, I wrote it down already, so... Oh! Here it is. Ready?"
She proceeded to tell me the recipe for the Rotisserie chicken salad and side of homemade hummus.
I mean really. Really?
The salad was delicious. We followed the recipe, using their suggestion to substitute peanut butter for tahini in the hummus. I... um... do not suggest you try this. Unless you have a kid who insists on eating peanut butter, and you're trying to trick them into eating hummus. Because it's quite peanut-buttery.
Still- we had a great dinner, very nutritious, and no preservatives. All fresh, all yummy.
The email:
I need
1 can garbanzo beans
peanut butter
lemons
parsley
red wine vinegar
cucumber
tomato
kalamata olives
romaine lettuce
baby spinach
viola! that's it! the recipe is pretty much just make a really easy hummus, and make a quick salad, shred the chicken and bada bing bada boom! ya got yourself a nice dinner made by chef Maggie!
There ya go Christine ;)
Friday, September 7, 2012
Teacher Replies to Letter
So, you recall the post from a few days ago about my letter to the teacher.
She did reply.
You deserve to know the truth:
Good afternoon,
Yes, he got another reflection paper. Yes it took him 3 hours to write.
The unexpected twist, is that the teacher sent it BACK with him and said he needed to REDO the reflection paper. Not enough content.
And the beat goes on...
She did reply.
You deserve to know the truth:
Good afternoon,
Brady's behavior was on and off - he has still been shouting out, making gestures and noises, etc. but he had more control over it toward the end of the week and was apologizing rather than arguing. I was out due to illness last Friday and the sub left a note that Brady had been disrespectful - refusing to do an assignment she had given him. Yesterday he began respectfully but then began arguing with another student and trying to argue with me when I reprimanded him. He started off today much better. I'll keep working with him on this and reinforcing what is appropriate and inappropriate in the classroom. So far so good today. I will keep you posted.
Thank you,
Teacher Lady <name withheld>
The unexpected twist, is that the teacher sent it BACK with him and said he needed to REDO the reflection paper. Not enough content.
And the beat goes on...
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
Today's Letter to the Teacher
Hello Ms. Singh,
Good morning!
Can you please tell me how last week went for Brady? I know it was a short week since we spoke- Wednesday and Thursday, but did he behave well?
Also, he cannot find his favorite black jeans, so he was a bit upset this morning. Just a heads up.
I did let him have his left over Doritos in his lunch, so hopefully that helps. Also, I'm riding my bike to school with him which should help him be happier.
Yesterday one of the other girls from class was at the park and she was playing around and Brady got hit in the head with her guinea pig's bag. He immediately said that he thought he got lice from the bag. (he had lice in 3rd grade) He was obsessed with the idea, so I asked if he wanted me to shave his head, which I did. This is completely in his mind- there were no bugs of any sort, so if he starts talking about getting lice, it is NOT real.
Steak and eggs for breakfast- BRAIN FOOD!
Thanks so much, have a lovely day!
Andrew Bauman
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