and now, back to your regular programming

My husband hopes that I don't hurt myself getting down off my soapbox. So I'll be very careful...

To update on the past couple posts:

-I decided to go with Barnes & Noble gift cards for the teachers, along with a little candle from the Bath & Body Works sale right next door. I was tempted to get gift certificates to a local ice cream place (mostly because that's what sounded really good to me) but decided B&N was safer- you can get not only books, but music or movies...

-Bill and I had a date Friday night, in honor of our anniversary. We walked to a neighborhood restaurant for a slightly fancy dinner and wine. Then we walked a few doors down to that ice cream place I just mentioned. Finally, we walked to the local little movie theater to see The DaVinci Code. What a fun night. I hope this doesn't sound terrible, but sometimes when we have a great time alone like that, it makes me extra irritated by our "real life" with kids. Maybe that was a reason for my mood Saturday?

Another reason I get frustrated with an issue like Henry going outside is that I wonder- "what is the best for my child?" It just seems like it's a mom's job to encourage her child to go outside. But it's a weekend, and the rest of us are doing things that bring us pleasure. Is it wrong to let Henry do what brings him pleasure? What is my obligation here as his mother? To force him to do something because it is "what kids are supposed to do"?

-I have not been "pissed off mom" ever since Saturday. I have still had my moments, but I have tried (as Kyra wisely suggested) to acknowledge when I'm being grumpy/irrational and apologize.

This morning I tried to get Henry to write his name on the gift tags for his teachers. Don't ask me why I go through that routine with him when I KNOW that he is going to refuse and get upset. The thing that makes it even worse is that his 2-year-old brother chimes in "yeah, Bubba. You write your name!" This makes Henry mad. Then, when I say "Tommy, you don't need to get involved with this. Just eat your breakfast" and Tommy starts crying, it makes everything worse. I ended up saying "you are both making me really mad" and throwing down the gift tags! Mature. But I didn't say what I wanted to say, which was "how damn hard is it to write your name on this gift for your teacher?!" I guess that's the thing- it is really damn hard for Henry.

As we walked out to the car for his ride to school, he told me that he doesn't want to go to the new school. I think he is really worried about that. And it's hard for me to comfort him, because I'm worried about it too. This year went so well. It's hard to start over.