I know I haven't posted anything recently and I apologize for that. With work and school, I just got out of the habit. A quick update on things.
D has been working with a new startup computer game company and things are going great! He is loving his job and the process is really starting to ramp up now. As for me, I have been substituting like mad! I have had work every day I have wanted it. For the last 9 weeks, I have been on a long-term substitute job teaching 8th grade physical science. It has been a mix of amazing awesomeness and incredible WTF moments. I am telling you what. Middle school kids have some very strange logic. But the teachers I work with and the administration have been nothing but supportive and it has been a wonderful experience!
Next week is my last week as a long-term sub. I am then giving myself a much needed week off and going back to Tucson to see my girls receive their diplomas and visit my friends, one of which has this adorable little girl that I must cuddle and snuggle and sniff and quite possibly steal away! Hehe.
Speaking of little ones, I wanted to share our latest adventure with you. Hubby and I are officially working on the adoption process. The problem is that it is soooooooo freakin expensive. As such, we are doing everything we can to try to raise the $20k+ we have to come up with to start our family. If you are able and willing to donate to our cause, we would greatly appreciate it. Even a dollar helps us get that much closer. Thank you for being such loyal readers and friends!
Bipolar Musings of my life, humor, health, family, friends, and beliefs.
Showing posts with label parenting. Show all posts
Showing posts with label parenting. Show all posts
Sunday, May 12, 2013
Thursday, February 24, 2011
What I Have Learned as a Nanny
So as you may or may not know, I am a nanny. I take care of this wonderful, adorable toddler who just lights up my day. I know all the textbook stuff about kids and I even babysat for the longest time, but I had never cared for a child continuously for such long periods nearly every day of the week. It has been A-MAZ-ING! Every day I get to watch this little guy discover things I take for granted. He gets this look on his face like "O.M.G. Miss Alicia!! Did you see THAT?!?! That was SO COOL!!!!"
I have always loved kids and I have always wanted at least three of my own. Now I am going to school to become a teacher while considering fertility treatments after more than 2 years of trying to get pregnant to no avail. After this nanny experience, I have learned several things are likely to happen when I become a teacher and parent:
1) Patience is a virtue
2) There is nothing more precious in the world than when "the lightbulb" turns on
3) The quickest way to go from a bad/sad mood to a great mood is to get a smile and hug from a precious child
4) The quickest way to go from a good mood to a bad mood is to have a chunk of flesh bitten off by that same child
5) I will get every single little illness the children get and it will be twice as bad as they experienced
6) Their favorite food for the last 6 months can suddenly hold no interest for no apparent reason
7) They don't care if your RA is acting up - they still need you to be on top of your game
8) They grow up waaaaay too fast
And you know what? I wouldn't trade this experience or my future experiences as a teacher and parent for anything in the world.
.
I have always loved kids and I have always wanted at least three of my own. Now I am going to school to become a teacher while considering fertility treatments after more than 2 years of trying to get pregnant to no avail. After this nanny experience, I have learned several things are likely to happen when I become a teacher and parent:
1) Patience is a virtue
2) There is nothing more precious in the world than when "the lightbulb" turns on
3) The quickest way to go from a bad/sad mood to a great mood is to get a smile and hug from a precious child
4) The quickest way to go from a good mood to a bad mood is to have a chunk of flesh bitten off by that same child
5) I will get every single little illness the children get and it will be twice as bad as they experienced
6) Their favorite food for the last 6 months can suddenly hold no interest for no apparent reason
7) They don't care if your RA is acting up - they still need you to be on top of your game
8) They grow up waaaaay too fast
And you know what? I wouldn't trade this experience or my future experiences as a teacher and parent for anything in the world.
.
Friday, June 11, 2010
"My diaper is full"
So the hubby and I are watching TV last night, live TV, which is unusual for us because I hate, hate, HATE watching commercials. Why do I had commercials? Become you inevitably come across ones like this that make you think...WHAT. THE. HELL?
Like....wow...."I poo in blue." I feel sorry for the guy who had to read those lines. But just in case you think they are totally cool and frequently let your child run around without pants, here is the official webpage for more information on these "limited edition" diapers. Enjoy...I think...
.
Like....wow...."I poo in blue." I feel sorry for the guy who had to read those lines. But just in case you think they are totally cool and frequently let your child run around without pants, here is the official webpage for more information on these "limited edition" diapers. Enjoy...I think...
.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Maybe I have been reading too many of these child development books
So last night the hubby had game night with the guys after work. What is this you ask? Well first, keep in might that D works for Sony Online Entertainment. Yes, he makes computer games for a living. This also means that he works with a bunch of other gamers. Computer nerds unite!!! Oh how I wish I could work there too. LOL.
Anyway, they had decided that after work last night, they would play a Magic tournament. That is all fine and dandy with me. They also sometimes stay after to play other games too. Card games, LAN parties, yea, they are gamers. Totally sweetheart gamers too.
So yesterday I was thinking I would do something sweet and make D the crabcakes he has been craving and bring them to him for dinner along with cookies or something for the other guys. Went to the store, got all the stuff, got home, then promptly got sucked into the internet and TV. Next thing I know it's 5:30pm and I haven't even started yet. Well, I thought if nothing else, I could throw together the crab cakes for him real quick and bring at least those anyway, cause you know, I love my man and all.
So I message him explaining how I planned to feed him and how time got away from me and I ask would you still like me to make them for you and bring them? His response: "I brought dinner so I'm fine. Make them tomorrow." Ok, he obviously didn't understand the meaning and the feeling behind what I was planning on doing for him, but that's ok because he is a guy and I am not going to argue with him while he is at work. Instead, I decide to try to forget it, feed myself, and find something distracting to do until he is ready to be picked up after the game.
Apparently the distracting thing didn't work so well because this is how the conversation went on the way home:
Me: Did you have fun?
D: Yep.
Me: Did you have enough to eat for dinner?
D: Yep.
Me: Sorry I didn't have the crabcakes ready for you.
D: That's ok. I told you I brought food anyway. We can have them tomorrow.
Me: You don't understand.
D: Ummm...apparently not.
Me: Don't you know that all I wanted was to feel included, needed, and like I belonged?
D: ...
Me: Hmm...That sounds like something from the positive discipline book I just finished reading for school.
D: ... (yes my husband is a man of few words. it's frustrating sometimes)
Me: Anyway, I just kinda thought I would be all awesome-like and walk in with crabcakes for you and cookies for the guys and everyone would think how you have such an awesome wife and I could have significance and belonging for a little bit.
D: *chuckles*
Me: What?! Is it wrong for me to want to feel included?
D: No.
Me: ...
D: ...
Me: Well, maybe you actually did me a favor.
D: Oh?
Me: Yea, cause I have never made crab cakes before, so you were actually protecting me!
D: Uh huh?
Me: Well, how embarrassing for me would that be had I come in, dropped off what seemed like delicious treats, and then you bit into a crab cake just to spit it out because it tasted awful! See, you were protecting me. You are so good to me honey. I love you. *big grin*
D: I love you too.
Why do I feel like I need to feed people to feel accepted? I think I need therapy.
Anyway, they had decided that after work last night, they would play a Magic tournament. That is all fine and dandy with me. They also sometimes stay after to play other games too. Card games, LAN parties, yea, they are gamers. Totally sweetheart gamers too.
So yesterday I was thinking I would do something sweet and make D the crabcakes he has been craving and bring them to him for dinner along with cookies or something for the other guys. Went to the store, got all the stuff, got home, then promptly got sucked into the internet and TV. Next thing I know it's 5:30pm and I haven't even started yet. Well, I thought if nothing else, I could throw together the crab cakes for him real quick and bring at least those anyway, cause you know, I love my man and all.
So I message him explaining how I planned to feed him and how time got away from me and I ask would you still like me to make them for you and bring them? His response: "I brought dinner so I'm fine. Make them tomorrow." Ok, he obviously didn't understand the meaning and the feeling behind what I was planning on doing for him, but that's ok because he is a guy and I am not going to argue with him while he is at work. Instead, I decide to try to forget it, feed myself, and find something distracting to do until he is ready to be picked up after the game.
Apparently the distracting thing didn't work so well because this is how the conversation went on the way home:
Me: Did you have fun?
D: Yep.
Me: Did you have enough to eat for dinner?
D: Yep.
Me: Sorry I didn't have the crabcakes ready for you.
D: That's ok. I told you I brought food anyway. We can have them tomorrow.
Me: You don't understand.
D: Ummm...apparently not.
Me: Don't you know that all I wanted was to feel included, needed, and like I belonged?
D: ...
Me: Hmm...That sounds like something from the positive discipline book I just finished reading for school.
D: ... (yes my husband is a man of few words. it's frustrating sometimes)
Me: Anyway, I just kinda thought I would be all awesome-like and walk in with crabcakes for you and cookies for the guys and everyone would think how you have such an awesome wife and I could have significance and belonging for a little bit.
D: *chuckles*
Me: What?! Is it wrong for me to want to feel included?
D: No.
Me: ...
D: ...
Me: Well, maybe you actually did me a favor.
D: Oh?
Me: Yea, cause I have never made crab cakes before, so you were actually protecting me!
D: Uh huh?
Me: Well, how embarrassing for me would that be had I come in, dropped off what seemed like delicious treats, and then you bit into a crab cake just to spit it out because it tasted awful! See, you were protecting me. You are so good to me honey. I love you. *big grin*
D: I love you too.
Why do I feel like I need to feed people to feel accepted? I think I need therapy.
Sunday, March 14, 2010
To Be a Mother
One of the things in life that has been on my mind lately is becoming a mother. It has been quite a journey so far. For those that are interested, my husband and I have been trying to conceive for over a year now and it has been an interesting journey that carries many emotions. This is a tale of those emotions.
It is always hard to know when, where, and to whom I should talk about this journey because the gamet of reactions from a person can be so vast. Often when discussed with those who conceived their children so easily or "by accident," the reaction is to just relax, stop worrying, and it will happen when it happens. Please, if you know of anyone who is having a hard time conceiving, DO NOT SAY THIS TO THEM! There is nothing that can be more frustrating, disheartening, and upsetting. Beyond that, in that one phrase that was meant to be helpful, and yes, we know you are "just trying to help," you just convinced us you are not a person to talk to about this journey.
When in high school, and for some of us in junior high, it was drilled into our heads over and over again about "how easy" it is to become pregnant and how "it only takes once" to make a baby. Well, guess what Ms. Sex Ed teacher, that's not true for everyone. In fact, finding that out now is incredibly frustrating, especially when you see and hear of people every day who are getting pregnant while on drugs or drinking, those who know they are pregnant and don't take care of themselves, those who use and abuse others, and those who never wanted a child to begin with. Somehow, someway, nature has deemed these people to be fit parents, while my financially stable and loving husband and I are not. If this is meant to be a joke, nature has a messed up sense of humor. However, believe it or not, I have moved past the stage of anger and frustration with the world and nature. I know I will have children one day, whether they be natural, fostered, or adopted. It is just a matter of when the powers-that-be deem it time. Until then, practice makes perfect, right? Not to mention "practicing" is a whole lotta fun! Hehe.
In the meantime, as I take classes at the community college to fill up credits, I decided to take several on Child Development. I have found each and every one of them incredibly enlightening. While I think my parents did a freaking fantabulous job raising my brother and I, (afterall, I am pretty damn awesome aren't I?) I can only imagine how much more awesome we would be if they had known so many of the things I have learned in the last 9 months. My favorite class so far is about "Positive Discipline." Yes, discipline can be positive.
The book we have been using can be found here: http://tinyurl.com/positivediscipline. I encourage you to read it if you have children or work with children. It has been an enlightening read and opened my eyes to so many different ways of thinking when it comes to teaching our children right from wrong, good from bad. It has changed my opinion of using punishment of any sort, be it physical, verbal, or emotional. While some who read this blog may not agree, I now believe that punishment can be avoided all together with patience, training, and positive discipline. Can I be a positive disciplining parent all the time? No. I am human, I will make mistakes. But mistakes can be a wonderful chance for learning and I look forward to the day that I get to make and learn from my mistakes. I know I won't be a perfect parent, there is no such thing, but I hope that I can be as good as my parents were, just with different techniques.
~ Fate's Mistress
It is always hard to know when, where, and to whom I should talk about this journey because the gamet of reactions from a person can be so vast. Often when discussed with those who conceived their children so easily or "by accident," the reaction is to just relax, stop worrying, and it will happen when it happens. Please, if you know of anyone who is having a hard time conceiving, DO NOT SAY THIS TO THEM! There is nothing that can be more frustrating, disheartening, and upsetting. Beyond that, in that one phrase that was meant to be helpful, and yes, we know you are "just trying to help," you just convinced us you are not a person to talk to about this journey.
When in high school, and for some of us in junior high, it was drilled into our heads over and over again about "how easy" it is to become pregnant and how "it only takes once" to make a baby. Well, guess what Ms. Sex Ed teacher, that's not true for everyone. In fact, finding that out now is incredibly frustrating, especially when you see and hear of people every day who are getting pregnant while on drugs or drinking, those who know they are pregnant and don't take care of themselves, those who use and abuse others, and those who never wanted a child to begin with. Somehow, someway, nature has deemed these people to be fit parents, while my financially stable and loving husband and I are not. If this is meant to be a joke, nature has a messed up sense of humor. However, believe it or not, I have moved past the stage of anger and frustration with the world and nature. I know I will have children one day, whether they be natural, fostered, or adopted. It is just a matter of when the powers-that-be deem it time. Until then, practice makes perfect, right? Not to mention "practicing" is a whole lotta fun! Hehe.
In the meantime, as I take classes at the community college to fill up credits, I decided to take several on Child Development. I have found each and every one of them incredibly enlightening. While I think my parents did a freaking fantabulous job raising my brother and I, (afterall, I am pretty damn awesome aren't I?) I can only imagine how much more awesome we would be if they had known so many of the things I have learned in the last 9 months. My favorite class so far is about "Positive Discipline." Yes, discipline can be positive.
The book we have been using can be found here: http://tinyurl.com/positivediscipline. I encourage you to read it if you have children or work with children. It has been an enlightening read and opened my eyes to so many different ways of thinking when it comes to teaching our children right from wrong, good from bad. It has changed my opinion of using punishment of any sort, be it physical, verbal, or emotional. While some who read this blog may not agree, I now believe that punishment can be avoided all together with patience, training, and positive discipline. Can I be a positive disciplining parent all the time? No. I am human, I will make mistakes. But mistakes can be a wonderful chance for learning and I look forward to the day that I get to make and learn from my mistakes. I know I won't be a perfect parent, there is no such thing, but I hope that I can be as good as my parents were, just with different techniques.
~ Fate's Mistress
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