We went to a birthday party today for the little boy that lives behind us. What started out as a fun and festive celebration turned into a tear filled missing daddy meltdown. Why? Because the daddy of the little boy is home for his two weeks of R and R. All the wives are jealous of the little boy’s mom and are counting down days until we get to celebrate those go by way too fast weeks and all the kids were hanging on him like they had never seen a guy before. But Monkey, well, Monkey is very much a Daddy’s girl. Has been for the majority of her four years on this earth. So, Monkey does not handle it well when there are daddy’s around and hers isn’t one of them. I felt so incredibly sad for her, it was all I could do not to breakdown and cry right along with her because there was nothing I could do to heal the hurt. I held her and tried to calm her down and I have to give kudos to the little boy’s dad, because he held her, played with her, and tried to calm her down too, but she was in full blown meltdown mode. Finally, in her tiny exhausted, quivering voice she looks at me with tear filled eyes and almost as if she was begging says “Mommy, I want to go home. I want to wait for my daddy.” I of course said OK and we came home. By the time I got her calmed down the beautiful butterfly that the really cool face painter, who was dressed like the princess from Star Wars, had painted on her cheek was gone.
Locked Out
February 21, 2009 at 3:14 pm (Alaska, Military Housing, Monkey)
I attempted to lock my door that leads to the garage the other night, but when I pulled on it, it opened so I assumed the lock didn’t work. This assumption almost lead to a disaster! Monkey had taken her back pack with her to Kendal’s doctors appointment yesterday and upon returning home she left it in the car. A while later she asked me where it was and I told her it was in the car and she asked me to go get it, so I did. I guess I pulled the door too hard and it closed. I got the backpack and tried to open the door. No luck, it was locked. I started knocking but no luck. Then I started to panic, my children were in the house, my keys were in my purse on the dryer, my cell phone was on the desk, and the only neighbor I know was at work. So, I opened the garage door and made my way to the front door in the snow, with slip on shoes and no socks. By the time I got to the front door, my feet were wet and freezing! Now, any other day Monkey would fall all over herself trying to get the door if the bell rang. Apparently, yesterday, was not one of those days. So, I started ringing the bell and I could hear Monkey saying “Mommy, the bell is ringing.” I continued to ring the bell and pound on the door. “Mommy, there is some peoples at the door.” “Mommy, where are you, the bell is ringing,” As I stood outside pounding on the door and bell, I was yelling, “Monkey, it’s me, open the door.” I finally gave up and came back into the garage. I pounded on the door, “Mommy, where are you?” “Monkey, I’m in the garage, open the door.” “Mommy, what?” “Monkey, I’m in the garage. The door is locked. Open the door.” Finally she opens the door, pajama pants on, both legs in one pant leg. I came in the house and she said “Mommy, I couldn’t find you. The bell was ringing.” “I know Monkey, it was me.” “There were some peoples at the door.” “No, Monkey, it was me at the door trying to get in.” “Well, I thought it was Mimi.” “Nope, it was me.” “Well, Mommy, I had to get my pants on.”
The Trouble With Boys
February 10, 2009 at 1:17 am (Monkey)
I picked up Monkey from school the other day, she was sitting on the floor listening to a story and the little boy beside her had his arm around her. His mom came in about the same time and asked him if Monkey was his girlfriend and he said yes. We were in the hall and Monkey looks at the little boy and says “Gavin, tell me you’re going to miss me.” He looked at her said “What did you say?” She smiled, “I said tell me you’ll miss me all day.” His mom and I laughed and I said “She’s going to be a needy one.”
Last night she kept on begging for a bath and I told her she could take a bath after dinner. She looked at me all serious and said “I have to take a bath, I have school tomorrow, and I don’t want Gavin to think I’m all stinky like sausage.” OK, I have no idea where that came from, but after dinner, as promised she got her bath! Wouldn’t want to send my child to school smelling like sausage now would I?
Then as I got her ready for bed she asked “Mom, can I wear my princess dress to school tomorrow?” “No” I replied. “Why?” “Well Monkey, it would be difficult to tuck into your snowsuit when you go outside to play, it might get torn, and you might get paint on it and do you want that?” “But mama, if I don’t wear my princess dress to school Gavin won’t think I look pretty.” “Monkey, I’m sure you have something to wear that Gavin would think was pretty.” All the time asking myself why I’m having this conversation with my four year old. “No, only my princess dress.” “I’m sorry Monkey you can not wear your princess dress to school, you’ll have to find something else.” “OK, mama, Gavin will like my pink shirt and blue jeans.” “Yes Monkey, I’m sure that Gavin will like that. So, is that what you’re wearing tomorrow?” “Yes mama.” Yes! A point for mama! Fashion dilemma diverted! Oh what a long road it’s going to be if she’s only four and already trying to dress to impress a boy. It probably doesn’t make a difference but I keep trying to make her understand that people should like her for who she is not what she wears!
Sleeping Beauties
February 5, 2009 at 1:54 pm (Kendal, Monkey)
My babies fell asleep in my bed last night and I noticed that not only do they look alike, they sleep alike! How cute is that?!
Broken
January 23, 2009 at 12:06 am (Army Wife, Faith, Kendal, Monkey)
I love being a mom, I truly believe I was put on this earth to be a mom. I love my little girls and I feel blessed to have them in my life and to have the opportunity to raise them. That being said, it’s hard to have a preschooler and a newborn with a deployed husband that left when the newborn was a week old. I know there are moms out there who do it everyday and I tip my hat to them! Anyway, I was reading my daily devotional yesterday, it was written by a woman who loved being a mom now, but had not always felt that way. She talked about being ready to give up and the day that everything changed. It made me stop and think about the night I was ready to give up and the moment that changed me.
I do not consider myself a strong person. I do not like to be in charge. So, being an Army wife is really hard for me. I’ll admit that it has changed me in some ways for the better. I have learned I can survive on three hours of sleep, I can take care of two sick children and still keep the house clean, I can navigate icy roads, I can handle the money.. But, it was one of those nights. Kendal and I were up for the fourth or fifth night in a row, she was screaming, I was walking, rocking, feeding, burping, bouncing…everything I could think of to calm her. Monkey was up every ten minutes missing her daddy, needing a drink, wanting to sleep in my bed. By three o’clock in the morning I was done. I couldn’t take it anymore. So, there in the middle of my bed I collapsed into a mess. As I held my precious child close to my body and rocked her, I began to cry, almost as loudly as my tiny, helpless infant. As the tears streamed down my face and the resentment toward my husband began to surface I looked up at the ceiling and said “I can’t do this. I am done. I can’t do this.” Almost immediately my baby stopped crying and closed her eyes, she was asleep! My tears stopped almost as quickly as they started and I felt the most beautiful sense of peace. At that moment, I knew I wasn’t alone, I wasn’t doing this by myself. The resentment I felt began to fade. I knew that God was with me and everything would be alright. I have always had faith in Him and have struggled and continue to struggle to be what He created me to be. I’m so thankful for that moment, the moment I was completely broken.
After that night I had a new peace, a new joy. I felt calmer and more relaxed. That feeling has stayed with me. That is not to say that we still don’t have some rough nights, but they are less frequent now. On those nights I say a prayer and do all I can to comfort this beautiful little person God has entrusted to me. I know it’s all going to be alright as long as I remember I’m not doing this on my own.
And, to ease the husbands mind, I don’t resent him, anymore. I know he’d rather be here with his family than where he is.
The Red Eye
January 20, 2009 at 8:51 pm (Monkey)
Had to throw this pic in, she’s just too cute!!
I took Monkey to the doctor today because she has a red eye with green goo. Yuck! I knew what it was before we saw the doctor, but since she was complaining with her throat, ears, and a stuffy nose I held on to a bit of hope that maybe, just maybe it was caused by a cold or allergy. No such luck, pink eye has reared its ugly head! As soon as the doctor walked in the door he announced the diagnosis! Now I have the lovely job of applying ointment to her eye three to four times a day. Do you know how difficult it is to keep a four year olds eye lid open, while pulling the lower lid down, while trying to apply ointment? Now my hope is that Kendal and I won’t get it although I’m sure one of us will end up with it and that it clears up soon!
