I Love a Cranky Child!!!

how cute is he in his Batman costume!

Bringing up the rear!

Now leading the group!

Mak's class :)

Thumbs up mom!

My little superhero~

So.... the day started fantastic!  I dropped Kaden off with Mrs. Lisa, then got to take Mak to preschool and watch his first costume parade (note the pics)!  He was adorable walking around with his little class, so proud in his Batman suit!  He told me this morning (as he attempted to fight his brother) that he was a bad guy.  I explained to him that he wasn't, and that we don't want to be bad guys- we want to be good guys.  He told me that he wanted to be a bad guy, so I tried to correct him again.  He then proceeded to grab his Batman mask and said,  "Mommy, look at this face... he's a bad guy!"  Needless to say I laughed, and left it that.  Anyway... the parade was super cute, then he flashed me the thumbs up letting me know all was well... so I left.  

I got in the car pleased with my decision to attend the parade.  I debated literally all night whether to go, or to attend my counseling PLC with work this morning.  I talked to my sister asking if I missed the parade did it make me a bad mom.  She of course was super supportive and said no... however, she hadn't seen my son's face when I told him last night I wasn't going.  He got huge crocodile tears, and said, "But I want you to..."  Then I cried.  Then I talked to my mom.  She made a good point... she said, "Tara, at your funeral is anyone going to comment on the fact that you made it to every PLC for work?  Or will they comment about you being a mother?  Which is more important?"  That pretty much made my decision.  Being a mom and having a job... sometimes juggling both is incredibly difficult, especially when you're a pleaser.  I try to pretend that I'm not at times, but.... I am- I own it!  Anyway... the mom card trumped, and I am so glad it did!   He was precious... that is until I picked him up from Mrs. Lisa's this afternoon.

So the car ride home was pretty brutal... bearable at least to the point where I didn't want to stab my eyes out, but still brutal.  The first thing Mak and I discuss is where we're going to go... Daddy's football game, Auntie E's volleyball game, or home to get a cookie.  He insisted on going home to get a cookie... which was fine with me, I was pretty beat and happy to go home!  Then he started with the million questions... for example: "Mommy, where is that blue truck going?"  Me- "I don't know."  "Yes, you do!"  "Okay, he's going to the store."  "No he's not!" "Okay, he's not..."  "Well, where's he going?"  While saying all of this he is using his oh-so-lovely tone that usually ends up with me jerking him up and spanking his bottom.  We seriously went round and round with questions and answers like this the whole way home.  I would tell him I didn't know and he would tell me I did... then when I would answer him, he would scream I wasn't right... It was a NO win situation that was driving me to want to drink.   In the midst of it all while he's whining, yelling, getting threatened to get spanked with the paddle, my sweet baby Kaden is just smiling and laughing.  Thank God for that easy going child!  Kaden would reach over towards Mak and try to play or get his attention and the only response he could get from my hellion child was "Stop, brother!  Don't do that! Don't touch me! Mommy, I don't want him to do that!"  I just laughed and watched Kaden keep doing it... it was too funny to watch the interaction!  Kaden just kept smiling and laughing never once seeming to mind the fact that Mak was incredibly irritated with him!

The car ride ends and I decide the best thing was to stay busy and out of the house for my own sanity!  So we went for a walk/jog around the neighborhood and made a pit stop at the park.  It was a wonderful 40 minutes of enjoying the great outdoors, with the children chipper and happy!  We got back to the house and I realize I should probably feed my kids being that it was almost 7... what to do for dinner?  I offer chicken nuggets (dinner of champions), leftovers, and anything else I could manage to find that would not take much effort to cook... long story short, I ate some meat (from leftovers) on bread, Mak ate yogurt, Kaden ate whatever he could manage to bum from me or his brother... because when I tried to feed him his baby food, he spit it all over me and himself, and knocked the spoon out of my hand getting it all over the floor!   He refuses to eat baby food for me- which I honestly don't blame him.  The crap smells horrible, and doesn't seem appetizing at all!  So needless to say he had a lot of bread! 

After dinner, was bath time!  Which usually is somewhat peaceful because they play, and I can chill on the toilet seat and play some Words with Friends, Bejewled or check up on the recent updates on Facebook.  Not so much tonight... Kaden wanted whatever toy Mak had, knocked over whatever toy Mak managed to fill up with water- resulting in a super wet floor, and Mak refused to let K play in the water from the spout, because he believes he's the only one who should be able to do that... so in return there was lots of screaming!  Finally I just got them both out and decided it was bed time before I beat them both :)  I had to make Kaden's bottle... so I thought I would just shut the gate and keep everyone (including the dog) out, so I could accomplish that in a timely manner.  Who knew that both boys and the dog (Tobee) would all latch onto the side of the gait and proceed to wail about something or another.  

Mak began to cry that he wanted in, which I informed him he could not, so he began balling, Kaden was screaming and wailing because he wanted a bottle and bed, which I obviously was not meeting that need!  Then Mak wanted another cookie... and so on and so on..... Eventually I just started screaming right along with them... I was screaming, Makson was screaming and crying, Kaden was screaming and crying, and Tobee was howling right along with us... if anyone would have walked into my house at the moment, they might have taken me away to be institutionalized.  However, after I screamed, I actually felt a lot better inside and started laughing!  My night amazingly got a little better after that!  So... lesson of the day:  To all you moms out there- when the children are driving you to drink, and nothing is going right and you feel like pulling out your hair, just scream like a mad woman!  Your children might get a little scared and look at you like your insane, and the dog may even lower his ears and look a little frightened... However, in a weird way...it amazingly brings some laughter and happiness to the soul :)           

5K

What an amazing weekend!  I managed to get through the whole thing without being pooped on... amazing!  Friday night I enjoyed an evening with the kiddos- After Thursday's craziness, and my "I'm so incredibly tired and stressed mom crying breakdown" it was nice to have a peaceful evening :)  Of course I didn't share it with the husband because he was at work- gotta love Friday night football.  And I do... most of the time.  This week though, it would've been really nice to have him home on Friday.  Anyhow... I got the kids into bed early and enjoyed laying my butt on the couch watching the Rangers!  I cheered to myself and cherished the moments watching them clench their way into a World Series.  Would've been better to share the moment with the hubby; however... I jumped up and threw my arms in the air anyway and pretended to be way more excited than I actually was!  
Got to bed at a decent hour because I had the big "fun run" in the morning.  I swear my mom can talk me into anything!  We were suppose to run at 8, so I figured leaving by 7:30 would be sufficient.  Of course my mom calls at 6:50, when no one else in the family is up but me, and informs me the fun run starts at 7:30.  Awesome- no way are going to make it.  So... I tell Duane he can take my registration fee and apply it to the 5K... because there's no way my out-of-shape butt is doing a 5K, pushing a stroller!  I informed my mom of this as well and she said she'd take care of it.  Of course to no one's surprise, we get to the race and my mom had not only registered Duane for the 5K, but moved me there as well...  GREAT!  I love you mom... but you suck at listening! :)  Oh well, I decided to suck it up, and just decided I'd do a little walk/jog for a mile or two and get my little workout in!  So.... that's what I did... Once I hit the mile mark I just told the guy working the turn that I was going to take a short cut!  He looked a little confused, but I didn't really care.. I was not doing the full 3.1 miles trying to jog with my 2 1/2 year old asking a million questions every 5 seconds.  I mean seriously... I can barely run a mile without stopping as it is... there's no way I'm going to do 3 and try to talk/negotiate/explain to my son in the process!!  So we cheated!  :)  I'm trying to teach my children good morals at a young age!  
I ended up towards the front and somewhat pretended I earned that spot honestly... however, anyone running who knew me, knew better!  My mom eventually caught up with us and we ran to the finish line with her!  I was glad to be done... but I will say it was pretty cool running in with my mom.  I mean how blessed am I to have such an amazing mother who stills has the energy to run a 5K????  And she won her age group!!! And... Duane won his, and Erica won hers.  If they would've had it, I would've totally won the "Stroller-pushing cheater" age group! :)
Okay... I just realized the bad smell I've been smelling for the last 20 minutes is myself... I guess the puke my son decided to project on me earlier is finally getting to me.  Guess it's time to bathe and get rejuvenated for another week! 

A Poopy Day...

So this was my life in a nutshell the last 24 hrs...
At approximately 1:45 last night my darling, almost 3 year old decided he was scared in his room and pranced himself into ours.  My husband who was "still asleep" picked him up and laid him in bed with us... I exclaimed in my own way that that wasn't going to work... but no one seemed to care.. and to be honest I was so tired I decided to deal... So for the next 45 minutes I attempted to sleep with a foot in the back, tosses and turns, whispers from my child, and my husband doing his fair share of moving himself.  Then I got a foot to the face and that was it.  I grabbed Mak and marched to his room explaining that he would sleep in his bed, no there was nothing in there with him, and no mommy was not going to lay down beside him.  I will admit it took everything I had to be somewhat nice in this negotiation, because what I really wanted to do was shake him and scream it's 3:00 in the freaking morning!!! GO TO SLEEP!!
However...We finally compromised and I turned the bathroom light on and left the door open.  He seemed content, so I went back to bed.  Lo and behold not even 5 minutes later he was screaming and whining for me to come in there.  I shoved Duane (in a loving way of course) and explained that he needed to go deal with it.... Duane went in, explained the same things I had, and came back to bed.  I of course was awake attempting to sleep and was in a foul mood... I can't imagine why??  Duane called me a mean person because I snapped at him when he asked what was wrong.  I was like seriously... you're asking what's wrong?  It's 3:15 in the morning and I've been up for the last hour and a half, and  I'M TIRED!!!  Needless to say after two more attempts by our lovely Makson to get out of bed, Duane did his dad thing, whipped his little booty, and the child went to bed... and people say spankings don't work... ha!
Well... finally falling back asleep... I get a good hour and a half in when I am then awoken by my sweet baby boy, Kaden, who of course is hungry.  I try to ignore it and pretend he's not crying in hopes it will stop.. it doesn't, so up I am again!  Yay for rough nights :)
Because of the lack of sleep, I didn't get up until 7.... yeah... we're suppose to leave at 7:15... which again- didn't happen!  After mad rushing around the house, and only having to run back into the house 4 times because I forgot something... I made it to work on time, with the kids successfully dropped off with Ms. Lisa. 
Work.. well work was work.  Nothing too spectacular, but good.
Time to get the boys.  The boys had a good day... Mak only peed his pants once- yay!  I load them up and head to a meeting with my mom and Danielle so we can discuss our jewelry party... which once again.. not real sure how I got conned into that.. but whatever.. my mom and I are stupid- we think we're like superwomen or something- why not throw a jewelry party into our oh-so-calm lives??  :)
Mak is in a mood at mom's office, where he proceeds to scream no at me. My mom then gets on to him, where he then in return freaks out and cries... because when does he ever get in trouble by Grand???  Mak's crying, my mom is trying to console and teach a lesson while I watch and add input... the whole time Kaden is crawling up my legs, crying because he wants me to hold him.  AWESOME!
We finally get to the car and get home.. I'm so thankful to get home.  We walk in and I notice a funky aroma.. great- smells like poop.  Sure enough my dog, Tobee.. crapped all over the one rug and puked on another.  YAY for poop and puke~ So... my first thought is if the boys get to it before I do, they'll play in it... bc they're boys, and they're gross! So I put Kaden in his jumper where he immediately starts screaming, and yell at Mak to stay on the tile and not go near the poop.  Which of course he cannot just accept.  I'm running around trying to clean the poop and puke up, and the whole time Kaden is screaming and Mak is asking why he can't touch the poop.  Really???
Well got everything cleaned and everyone happy.... and played outside till daddy got home. Got Kaden bathed, fed and in bed.... left Mak with Duane... then headed to Wal-Mart  to end my wonderful evening to do my oh so favorite thing- grocery shop.  I know- you're all jealous of my day... admit it! ;)   

Some recent pics of the fam~

Being a Working Mom

I love being a mom.  It's the best job in the world.  I love being a school counselor.. it's the best career in the world!  Both can be so incredibly exhausting at times... but when I lay my head down at night, I know every tear, scream, mess to clean up, spanking when necessary, bottle made, diaper changed, pee in the underwear, food wiped off the face, toy tripped over, laundry overflowing the basket, nighttime story and prayer, corrective behavior, yell in the hallway or lunchroom...was totally worth it.  Some moments at home I want to scream in frustration... then the next my heart is so full of joy because Makson comes willingly, and gives me a hug and a kiss, and says, "I love you, Mommy."  Or Kaden looks up and grins that snaggle tooth smile and melts my little heart... Or when a kid runs to me in the hallway and says "I'm having a great day Mrs. Allred! Thanks for the help yesterday!"  Or cries in my office because their parents are divorcing, and I can be that one constant in their life for the time being...  all of the sudden all those little, petty things that happened at work and at home...don't matter anymore. 

Being a working mom definitely has its advantages and disadvantages.  I often ponder how life would be if I chose to stay at home instead of going to work every day.  I absolutely adore my job and the opportunity I have to influence student's and make a difference in a kid's life.  I also really enjoy the adult conversation I get to have every day... I'm not going to lie- it's really nice!  Sometimes though when I'm driving my kids to the babysitters I notice some of the other moms walking with their little ones snug away in the stroller, and my heart gets a little jealous.  What would it be like if I didn't have a career??? Let's ponder that...

Well, my alarm wouldn't be set to go off at 6:20.  When currently it does.. then I proceed to hit the snooze button multiple times until it is eventually 6:45.  Then I'm like "crap, it's already 6:45, we need to leave in 30 minutes.."  which never happens by the way!  Of course it did the first couple weeks of school, then slowly but surely I figure out exactly what time I could get out of bed, get ready, get the kids ready and in the car, to the babysitters and walk in the door to work.  Which I can do with getting up at 6:45... so there ya go.  My hair usually looks like crap, but makeup is always done!  However, if I was a stay at home mom... who cares if my hair is in a ponytail every day and if my makeup is perfect??  Mak will tell me my hair looks good if it's in 5 pigtails sticking straight up!

But then again... when Mak wakes up whining and crying because he doesn't want to watch Mickey Mouse and we have the wrong juice, and his bar is broken in half so he doesn't want to eat it... I am more than happy to load his little butt in the car and drive to the babysitter's!  Where of course is where the car rides come in.... which will be a new post.  I have way too many stories about the car rides to include them all on here!

Anyhow... any working mom could probably relate to the guilt they sometimes feel about not being home with their kids during the day.  I use to feel it more often, but now I know at this time in my life I'm not cut out to be a stay at home mom.  Don't get me wrong... I think I'm a good mother... I just think people are all called to do different things... I think being a stay at home mom is not for everyone.  Some are just better at it than others.  I often worry if I was a stay at home mom CPS would be called on me within a week!  I'm just not sure I have the patience.... especially when dealing with my lovely almost 3 year old.

Sure staying home has its perks, and sure maybe I'm missing out on some things with my kids when I'm at work... but is it really detrimental to my kids? I actually had a mother this summer come to my school to talk to me about her own child.  She was admiring the pics of my boys (that are posted all over my office) and asked me if I wanted any more children.  I said sure, at least one ore two more! She then proceeded to tell me that she didn't agree with that, and it was not fair to my children for me to work and to continue to have kids.  Her words were short, and she didn't carry on about it; however, her words hurt and are something I'll carry with me forever.  I often think about what she said, and wonder... should I have more kids?  Is it fair to reproduce then go to work and pawn them onto someone else for 8-9 hours a day?  Maybe she had a point... but I do know that if I stayed at home, I would not have influenced the 100's of kids I have at work.  Is it possible to be a working mom, and have the ability to influence kids at school, and my own children, to the extent that I want to? 

Two jobs- Being a Mom and have my career... lots of people do it.  People ask where I get the energy to do it all... Easy- the look on all my kid's faces when I've made a difference!

Starting a Blog...

Finally decided to get this thing rolling!  A blog is something I've considered doing for awhile.  I've finally just done it!  I'll probably end up using this somewhat like a diary, and hope that people enjoy some insight into our lives and maybe even laugh... and maybe a miracle will occur and someone will read my posts and want to publish them and make me rich! :)  One can dream...