The girls and I made it out for a family lunch today. When I say ‘family’, I really mean my dad’s brothers and sisters and some of us cousins hanging out in Tona Roma’s eating Riblings! We were there for over two hours and the girls were great. There were no spills. There was no screaming. There was no huge stains on any clothes. It was actually a very nice lunch. This isn’t always the way it goes of course. Some days I want to get up from the seat and pretend that they aren’t my kids….who’s kids are those…what kind of parent would let her kid do that in a restaurant? But, both E and H look like me, so that won’t work. My dad had me late in life, so my aunts and uncles are older rather than younger. I was a little worried about my two girls and five seniors chilling out together. But, my family is great. They pitched in. They made faces. They rained kisses all over. It was a great afternoon…..the best part was…..they picked up the tab! What a great day. It was so nice, I will probably be fooled into taking them out again sometime soon.
What Are We Thinking? June 1, 2008
We are getting ready to head out the door in a couple of minutes. I am not too sure how well this supper will turn out. Thankfully it is just to Boston Pizza and not some super fancy place where the kids will cause a huge scene. As it is, they will probably cause just a little bit of a scene.
About a month ago, Hannah started having tantrums in restaurants. This hasn’t been fun at all. We shovel our food in as fast as we can, and take what we can’t eat home. Eventually we throw it away because our appitites have been lost. I dont’ know why we said we would go out. I just figured we would wait a few months until all the crying and screaming was over with before we ventured out in public with the toddlers. Hmm. I will have to let you know how well it goes…but I might just take an Ativan now and help along the night where I can.
Woe’s Me May 31, 2008
I am a spiteful wife. I watched in blissful contentment while my husband fried bacon, whipped up french toast and chased children around the kitchen. The counters are covered in last nights party mess on top of which the breakfast chaos has been piled. The food has been eaten and now there is work to be done in the back yard, which means my husband is skipping down the back stairs and leaving me alone in the house. I guess my spitefulness has caught up to me. I have to clean up the mess my husband made while I sat in blissful contentment. Hmmm. Maybe I should have helped when I had the chance.
Now my children are covered in sticky syrup and are bouncing on a sugar high. We are heading out to do groceries the three of us. I see mayhem in my future. At least I have gotten out of helping lay the sod in the back yard and the concrete patio. Maybe the back yard would be less adventurous compared to the fruit and veggie section of Safeway with two todders in tow.
Although my husband is very progressive in his views on marriage and parenting, I still find that I do the majority of the house work. I don’t know why this is. I wish it were different. I wish he did more laundry and would vaccum the floor and scrub the toilet without having to be asked….three or four times. I don’t know why it is that the interior of our house falls to me to keep in order, while the outside fall on his shoulders. I consider myself pretty lucky to have a guy who is so hands on with the kids and is capable of cleaning. I guess I want it. I want my husband to work a full day and then come home to finish the laundry I started and wash the floors I just vaccumed and then to thank me for the wonderful supper I have cooked and quickly clean up the kitchen so it is spotless while I read a book or have a bath. Is this too much to ask? Oh, in my perfect world it would be bliss.
Sick Daddy May 25, 2008
My dad is sick. He has a non cancerous tumour in his brain, sitting on his pituitary gland. This isn’t anything new. We found out about this tumour coming three years ago. He was sucessfully taking medication, which was shrinking this tumour and making his daily life enjoyable again. Lately though, things have taken a turn for the worse. The pressure is back in his head. His body hair isn’t growing so much any more. When he bends over his nose leaks fluid from the tumour.
When my dad was over last night he shared with me this latest update. I of course panicked. I don’t know how to process the thoughts of loosing my dad. I lost my mom when I was a teenager and I barely survived that. I honestly think that loosing my dad would send me over the edge.
The scarest thought to me is being orphaned. I honestly don’t know how to be a parent if I don’t have my own parent. I can’t imagine my world without my dad in it. Who will make me feel better when the world feels like it is closing in on me. Who will make me feel safe…and yeah….I know I am married and a parent myself…but still, who?
About putting my foot in my mouth….here is how I did it….
After my dad left I was rattled. I needed to talk to someone who had more answers for all my questions. I phoned my dads wife – a nurse. I started asking her about the symptoms my dad shared. I needed reasurance. My dads wife had no idea what I was talking about. My dad hadn’t told her. She hates it when I know more than her, or know stuff before her. I really did it this time. She was mad and I felt horrible for saying anything at all. How was I supposed to know that he hadn’t told her yet. They live together….she is his wife. How could I have known?
