What?

We've been working a lot on Declan's tone or voice. He gets angry and talks to me in a very unacceptable voice. I call it his "I'm in charge" voice. And he IS NOT in charge of anyone or anything at this point in his life. I tell him it's a voice that he can only use when he is a Daddy.

Today he started to speak to me with that tone in his voice. I stopped him.

Me: "Excuse me?!"

Declan: "O.K. Mom, I know you think I was yelling, but it was an accent."

What the...how does he even know what an accent is? If I'm facing this kind of an argument at 5, I'm really, really nervous about what lies ahead (which is why I REALLY want to get on top of this voice thing now).

Doesn't he look so innocent :)

Five Kids

That's how full my day was. Three are staying the night, including mine that is 4 (3, 5, 5, & 6). I have a good friend that is pregnant and VERY sick. As in- she was at the hospital today getting IV meds and fluids and going back at 8 am. Tomorrow I'll have 5 again ( 3, 3, 5, 5, 6). I love having a house full...but the whole sibling dynamic is certainly the most challenging over extended periods.

I must say the wonderful part about having an only child is not having to constantly deal with conflict.

Did you know...

That if you own a Kenmore washer and you change the load setting but don't get it EXACTLY on a setting (it is slightly between two settings) that the water will not shut off? It will just keep filling, and filling and filling. I find it very strange that there isn't an emergency shut off / default fill level indicator for such occasions - weird and well, annoying.

Did you also know, that a floor heating vent can make a great drain once you have 1 to 2 inches of standing water in your bathroom?

Now I REALLY feel like I'm getting old!

THIS is unbelievable to me. It seems so unnecessary; I guess that means I am getting old.

Sometimes...

They make you so proud:

Today at VBS, we were discussing Jerimiah 17:7 "Blessed is the man who trusts God, whose confidence is in Him." I'm a parent helper in a room where we are practicing this verse as a group (which is way too much memorization for 4/5 year olds). I cannot take it any longer, realizing that most of these kids (most likely mine included) have NO idea what confidence means:

Me: (raising my hand) "What does confidence mean?"

Teacher: "ooo good question! Does anyone know what confidence means?"

Most kids: "Nooooo"

A few raise their hands, including Declan. (I can't believe he is willing to speak in front of 30 kids and I'm curious to see if he knows the word).

Declan: "Well, I know one of the words. It might mean something else, but I know one."

Teacher: "Well, what do you think it means?"

Dec: "Well, like when someone tells you something, but it's like a secret."

Holy Cow!! I look at the other adults in the room and shrug cause I had NO idea that was coming.


AND sometimes you just want to Spank them really hard:

Me: "Declan, you need to STOP getting out MY door in the car. I've told you over and over. You keep getting my seat dirty."

Dec: "Well Mom, that's just the way I've always done it. A person can't just change the way they do something!"

Me: "That is NOT an acceptable answer."

Dec "But Mom..."

Me: "I DO NOT want to discuss it. Your telling me you can't do it any other way is NOT acceptable."

pause, pause, pause...

Dec: "Okay. I just have to say one thing. I can get out any door on the car except mine, Okay?"

Let me tell you, this is NOT an O.K. kind of conversation to be having with a 5-year-old.

stub·born
adj. stub·born·er, stub·born·est

a. Unreasonably, often perversely unyielding; bullheaded.
b. Firmly resolved or determined; resolute. See Synonyms at obstinate.
2. Characterized by perseverance; persistent.
3. Difficult to treat or deal with; resistant to treatment or effort

The Mind of a 5-year-old

D: "Did you know that some kiddos wished that they didn't have a Mommy?"

Me: "No, that seems strange."

D: "Well, not me. I wish I had TWO Moms!"

Me: (Confused) "But you do have two moms?!"

D: "Well, I don't mean Mom. I mean you. I wish I had two moms like you!"

Me: (still confused) "Why?"

D: "Well, I think your skin is soo soft and I just like your style."

.

Sometimes they just say the cutest things! I don't know where he picked up the phrase "I like your style." Pretty funny, I don't really know what he is referring to by my "style" but I have to admit I'm flattered :)

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Another conversation that occurred when I told Dec about my new job. Which by the way, I'm still kind of in shock about it. Honestly...the job is soooo perfect -location, grade, and subject. I never would have believed I'd land a job that quickly either.

,

Me: "So, it's pretty cool about my new job. I am really blessed."

D: "Well, I don't think God is blessing you. I think he is blessing ME."

Me: "Really why is that?"

D: "Well...(thinking) because now you'll have more money and you can buy me stuff."

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(umm this is the kid who has a play yard with a wooden play structure, trampoline and a newly added climbing dome...then there were the TWO trips to Disneyland in '06. Yeah, he REALLY needs more "stuff")

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I then take a few moments (O.K. Minutes) to explain that he has SOOO much more than many kids do. Too much in fact. Also, I point out that if it weren't for his Granny and Poppa we would have much less. Lastly, I explain that I must be more responsible with my money and start saving for retirement as I've put that on the back burner for 5 years now. (I have a A LOT of catching up to do!)

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Happy 4th!!!

P.S. Sometimes I CANNOT get this blog to add spaces between paragraphs, that is why you see the strange periods randomly!