Monday celebrations and... not celebrations

[mommyatty]

Today is DS’s 4th birthday. I’m a little sad, and that’s unusual for me. He’s getting so big so fast!

[k3am]

Happy birthday little mommyatty !

We're moved in. We're almost entirely out of boxes.. I think we have 3-4 left to unpack. The fridge is broken, the kitchen is laid out weird (hello having to open the dishwasher in order to open one of the drawers), we should have replaced the upstairs carpets before moving in, and I'm officially feeling broke.

But this morning, I was able to get up, go downstairs without passing by a kid's room and waking one/both of them, and do a workout in the living room without waking the whole house, and it was fabulous. My commute was actually a little better than what I was previously doing (about the same amount of time, but less time stopped at lights, and not driving through questionable parts of town), and the neighbors have been super friendly.

Work vent: Trump is ruining my life. Sanctions against Russia are affecting (effecting? The older I get, the less I care about grammar) one of my largest clients - we had to freeze all of their funds last week, including payroll. So everyone here and there has been in a tizzy trying to figure out what we can do. I basically spent last week following along on emails and not getting involved, but since I'm back in the office, I have no excuses... Thanks, Trump.

[covergirl82]

Weekend was pretty good. DS hit a triple at his baseball game on Saturday. It probably could have been a home run, but the 3rd base coach stopped him at 3rd. Yesterday he had a travel baseball team hit-a-thon and scrimmage (and a cookout at the end), so we were at the field for almost 4 hours. I felt bad for DD that she basically had to find something to do for 4 hours, but she had a good attitude and ended up finding someone to play with for part of the time.

DH gets home tonight (probably around the kids' bedtime) from his weekend away with friends. I was pretty happy that I finally didn't feel overwhelmed or completely exhausted after a whole weekend solo parenting.

ETA: I forgot to add that I got a 30-minute massage on Friday, and it was fabulous. I need to do that more often!

[msn06]

DD woke up with a fever. She’s also saying her throat and ears hurt. Strep is going around her class at daycare. We are at the Drs today. DH will be home by 3 so I can go enter time and start the payroll process at work.

[xctsclrx]

I am at work and taking a short day. Leaving at 230 for a dentist appointment, but after 3 weeks of work 60 plus hours I refused to do any work over the weekend and looking forward to a dentist appt. Might have to work this evening but, I might not. I work in area where no matter how much I work there is always more work to be done. I focus on deadlines and when those are manageable I use that time to "relax"

[mommyatty]

I’m attaching a fake pic which I will replace with an AW pic if DS in a birthday shirt I made for him. (But isn’t our tiny bell pepper in our garden adorable? Maybe I’ll leave it.)

[mommyatty]

AW... the birthday boy! Poof!

[twinmomma]

Celebration: Awesome weekend! Weather is getting hot and sunny this week! Tonight I get to go out to eat at a fancy place in the city for a work event, so it's free for me!

Non-Celebrations: Realized exactly how many kids we have to invite to the birthday party. Ready to cry thinking about the chaos. If it's at a park, parents aren't going to drop their kindy kids off and bail, right?

[mae0111]

I am working on my first consulting project since leaving my job last June. I'm really happy to be getting back into things a bit, but it's just coming at the worst possible time. I'm swamped with all kinds of things over the next 2 weeks - DD's first communion (which comes with houseguests), traveling for a wedding, etc. DH is traveling for work most of this week, so all of the prep is on me. Should be interesting!

Weekend was OK. Softball was fun, then tons of yard work. On Sunday, DD and I went to a play at the school she's hoping to attend next year. The head of admissions greeted us both with big hugs, and she said they would be in touch very soon. Fingers are crossed that we hear something in the next few days!!

[2chatter]

DH is at an interview! Cross your fingers they can afford him! DD was so nervous going to school. I am sure her heart rate was super high again. Anxiety off the charts about the staples in her head. The sitter is sick. I am ready for a break and it’s only Monday.

[mommyatty]

I forgot to mention that I have a meeting this afternoon with our executive team to explain something my VP has botched the explanation of on 3 or 4 occasions. So that’s super fun. Blech. Now our execs think this area is somehow screwed up because my VP is not agile in these meetings. Should be super fun.

[186momx]

mommyatty, Aww to both. Happy Birthday! I can't believe you have a baby pepper. I still can't plant due to possible frost. Plus the ground is so wet and mucky from the days on rain the last 3 everything would drown.

I just got Ad Club's summer schedule and rates. $41 on field trip days, $35 for pool days, $28 for onsite days. They have fields trips at least once a week and pool once a week. They also do bike days and kids need to be able to ride 7 miles. DD can't even peddle her bike let alone ride around the block. I have lots of questions to ask this afternoon.

[2chatter]

186momx - I love the idea of bike days but that seems a bit wild for small children. Not all will make it 7 miles.

[186momx]

2chatter, that is my questions. For those who can't is there a stay onsite option. I would love it if this will motivate DD to learn and she could go on one by the end of summer. We have tons of bike paths near us so all of these rides will be 99% road free.

[mustardseed2007]

The office admin is pissing me off. I came in an hour late after setting up the book fair at the kid's school. Something I had planned to do and told our staff about.

My boss called my cell phone to make sure I was ok, the admin forgot, which she denies. But she forgot. Then, she immediately asked if I worked this weekend to make up for it...bitch how about you wait until we turn our time in to worry about that?

I mean, dude, it doesn't matter. I'm salaried and I have plenty of time and it was a fucking hour. She's just being petty and it's annoying. Did not need that this morning.

ETA: I just noticed she'd sent me a text saying she was running late too. Girl, I'm not on your case, why are you on mine? 

[xctsclrx]

mommyatty, 186momx, any one else with older kids


So when should I start teaching my 3.5 year old how to bike? I was going to have Santa bring him one for xmas this year. He will be a new 4. To early or too late?

[186momx]

xctsclrx, earlier the better. DD was a rock star at the balance bike. She can balance a two wheel bike but can't peddle for the life of her. I actually took the peddles off the big bike and she can push it and glide fine. So basically her issue is that it takes her so much energy to peddle she can't keep the momentum up and gravity takes over. Her words "gravity and I are not getting along". She also has the mindset that she would rather ride a horse than a stupid bike. We worked at it last summer and it was a big fail. Going to try again this summer and see if it clicks. Hoping peer pressure over the summer will help.

[mommyatty]

We got DD a balance bike when she was 3. She still loves it. She doesn’t like pedaling, though. And she’s afraid to try with no training wheels even though her balance is awesome. DS, now 4, has had access to a balance bike for as long as DD has. He has never once tried it out. So I say follow his lead. When he wants to ride, get him a bike. But until then you are wasting your money.

[covergirl82]

mustardseed2007 , your department admin sounds like my department's admin. We call her the PTO Nazi. She's always asking, "is so-and-so on PTO today?" if someone comes in late or leaves early or isn't in the office for some reason. We're all exempt/salaried in my department (except her), and apparently she (still) doesn't understand that there is more flexibility when you're exempt.

xctsclrx , I would definitely get a balance bike. I wish we would've done that for my kids when they were younger. Both kids just learned how to ride bikes last summer (DS turned 8 in July and DD was 6.5).  Balancing was the biggest hurdle for them.  DD still has a hard time getting going with just pedaling, but if she starts on a slight downhill, she has no problem pedaling from there.

[k3am]

xctsclrx, we got DD a balance bike when she was 3. She refused it. We got her a real bike when she was 4. She is still sporting training wheels at 5 - she refuses to try without them, and we haven't pushed the issue. But she'll go 3ish miles on it with us while we run.

[rere]

Vent - I am one of those people who I think need some downtime. I haven't had any in weeks. Between yard work, volleyball, birthday parties, etc.. I have had no decompression on the weeknights and weekends at all. This week I have to get ready to go to DD's class trip Thursday. 2 days on a bus with 15 kids and parents and a packed itinerary and a baseball game is not decompression.


Celebrate: DS had a great birthday party. He had been wanting new boots forever, so he had those on for the first time and you could tell he thought the were something. I freaked out because I found out all the parents were staying. We are all friends, but I wasn't prepared for adults, so I got another fire pit and more burgers. The kids had the basement and the backyard and backyard fire pit, the parents and other kids had the upstairs and a fire ring outside our garage in the front yard, and it all worked out.

Vent: I had to go to the funeral home during lunch for a friend from high school that died unexpectedly . They did an autopsy but they won't know the results for a while. It's so crazy.

Vent: - I am teaching classes all day. I hate going back to back on classes. Much respect to teachers.

[xctsclrx]

rere, I am sorry I hate when I can't get any down time. I am there right now too. I have to get through this week and weekend then I scheduled Monday off. I am planning on going to a doc. appt and then the movies.

k3am, That is pretty good. I didn't start riding my bike with my dad running until I was almost 8. I couldn't keep up.

My kid loves his "trike" no pedals so I think he will love a bike. I am afraid if I do the balance bike he will get complacent and won't want to try the other bike. (just his personality)

[k3am]

xctsclrx, I highly recommend getting a balance bar. It's so helpful for keeping her balanced and giving her a boost or brake for hills. We definitely don't go at my full pace, but my choice is a slow run or no run, so slow run it is. Also, we started this way with my running partner's DD at around the same age, and her kid has us so far beat now it's not even funny.

[186momx]

xctsclrx, DD would still ride her strider if she could. She has gotten way to tall though. She really wants a scooter and I told her no. Not until she could ride a bike because I could see her choosing the easier scooter over a bike.

DH thinks we should get DD roller blades? Opinions? Also we checked out the ice rink and it was the last day they were open until next November. Indoor rink and they only run the winter months. DD didn't care for it because it was too cold, LOL.

[xctsclrx]

186momx, hahaha on the strider. For roller blades. If you do it make sure you get wrist guards and of course a helmet. When you fall you definitely have a high potential of breaking the wrist without them. My mom broke her wrist the first time she went out. I LOVED them as a kid and now I am not brave enough so there is that.

[oldbaylover1024]

Well, hello, Working Parents!

Most of you probably don't remember me, but I was pretty active on the WP board at the place-that-shall-not-be-named and figured I'd check in here. I know it's been forever. I saw erinshelley21 tagged me on a TWERKS thread in March, but tax season kicked my ass and I was barely online at all. I'm hoping now that Hell Season is over I can try and rejoin if you'll have me.

I need some WP action in my life. My dynamic at the office is changing and I find myself in need of fellow parents that 'get it.'

So... hi!

[judyblume14]

mommyatty, your son AND your pepper are absolutely adorable!

[oldbaylover1024]

mommyatty - He's precious! And happy birthday to you both Four has been kind to us. I wish you the same!

[traveltheworld]

Total FWP - we are in Paris and it's freezing! It was 43 degrees, rained all day with gusts of strong wind. We still made it out, but waiting to get in places with two little kids when it's raining and cold outside is jot my idea of vacation fun. It's suppose to warm up a bit in the next few days, but not warm enough to do all the things I've envisioned - bike rides, picnics, etc. Oh well, we've never had bad weather on vacation so I guess it's time we pay our dues.

DD was a trooper though - we didn't bring a stroller so she walked everywhere with us and only complained about being cold a few times.

[mustardseed2007]

oldbaylover1024, welcome back!