Date With Jordan

It's obvious that Jordan's been feeling a little left out and neglected lately so I decided to have a special date with him on Saturday. Just the two of us. He got to decide everything we did. We both had a lot of fun.

We started the date with a trip to the mall. First stop, the carousel. He chose a cat to ride on. 

After the carousel he wanted to go to the play area to play. That wasn't much of a date since the point was spending time together but he wanted to do it so we did. We didn't stay there too long. 

It was lunch time. I told Jordan we could eat anywhere he wanted to and he chose the food court at the mall. So we ended up having a hot dog from A&W (his choice!) We sat next to the carousel so we could watch everyone ride. It was a painfully LONG lunch break. 

The kid sure knows how to have a good time. After lunch he wanted to go BACK to the play area but I managed to convince him to leave the mall. We headed over to Craig's Cruisers to play mini golf. It was his first time there and my first time in about ten years! He had a great time playing despite some unfortunate people both in front and behind us as we played. We ended up getting tired and left before we finished all 18 holes. 

I am a Bad Mom

This post is inspired by a post written by Life With Levi. Her post was inspired by some comments on her facebook page regarding the way she is raising her son.

It seems as moms we are prone to judgement. Everybody has an opinion about the way we are raising our children. And the only opinion that matter is our own. As long as our children are happy and loved and we are proud of the decisions we are making, nobody else's opinions matter. 

Here are the reasons why I am a bad mom. 

I am a bad mom because....

I got an epidural during my first labor and delivery

I didn't get an epidural with my second

Both my boys are circumcised

I co-slept with Jordan

I exclusively breastfed both boys and never used formula

I breastfed Jordan for 19 months

I bought store-bought baby food for Jacob

I started Jacob on "solid" food (cereal) at only 4 months old

I waited until 6 months to start Jordan on food

I never gave Jordan cereal or baby food, he started on "real" food at six months old

I use cloth diapers

I also use disposable diapers sometimes.

I let my kids watch TV and movies

I don't play with my kids very often, they play by themselves

I work outside of the home. I went back to work when Jacob was 2 months old and Jordan was 3 months old

I took pictures of my kids every day of the first year of their life

Jacob's baby book is more filled out than Jordan's is. Neither one is completely done. 

I have a favorite child. It isn't always the same one. 

I buy my kids second-hand clothes and toys.

I let my kids wear clothes that are stained. Or mis-matched. 

I used a pacifier with both my boys. My almost 2 year old still uses a pacifier.

I spank my kids and put them in time out when other methods don't work. 

I don't make them pick up their toys every day. 

I don't clean my house nearly enough.

I put Jacob in a forward facing car seat at 1 year.

Jordan is still rear facing at almost 2 years and will be for awhile

I don't make good food for them very often. 

I let my kids eat fast food and sometimes candy. 

Sometimes I give in to them just because I don't want to hear them cry. 

I don't make my oldest take a nap every day. 

I sometimes take a nap on the couch while my oldest watches TV or a movie.

I shower with my kids. 

I don't bathe or clean my kids every day. 

I don't make my kids wash their hands before they eat. 

I only brush their teeth once a day. 

I read to my kids every night before bed. 

I tell my kids "no" frequently. 

My kids believe in Santa. 

My kids know there is no Easter Bunny. 

I use bribes and threats. 

I hug and kiss my kids every day. I tell them I love them every day. 

I let my kids try to do things for themselves. 

I get frustrated easily and yell too often. 

But you know what.... I'm still a good mom. And so are you. I do not need to justify or defend any of my decisions. I am the only one who knows how to raise my children. And so far, I am doing an okay job. 

STOP THE MOMMY WARS!!!!!!!!

Redemption

I was having one of those days where I love my kids but I don't exactly like them. Jacob was exceptionally naughty and Jordan was exceptionally crabby. Add to that my fatigue and headache and it made for a disastrous day. 

At the end of the day when I was at the end of my rope, I was standing in the kitchen hugging my hubby when Jacob excused himself from his seat at the dinner table and came over behind me and wrapped his little arms around me. 

Even despite the awful days, being a mom is worth it. Thanks for the reminder Jacob!

Are you a scary mommy?

I just finished reading Confessions of a Scary Mommy by Jill Smokler. The book was hysterical. Inappropriate and raunchy at times. Downright cringe-worthy at others. But overall, just an honest and funny look at motherhood. Each chapter begins with real mom confessions and that was perhaps my favorite part of the whole book. I am going to share a few snippets below that I found exceptionally funny. Be warned, as I said before, raunchy and inappropriate.... 

"Once a woman asked me whether I planned to breast-feed my baby, so I asked her whether she shaved her vagina. Oh, I'm sorry, you don't like personal, none-of-your-business questions?"

"And then there was my husband. My sweet, wonderful, and loving soul mate of a man, who, I successfully convinced myself, might actually be able to give me the only child on earth I'd ever be able to tolerate. Our very best qualities would merge and result in a baby who would change my view on all young people across the land. there must have been something primal about my attraction to him. It was all meant to be, I thought. But, suddenly, this man I'd picked transformed into the most irritating creature I'd ever laid eyes on."

"My husband manages to 'sleep through' our hungry infant every night. Last night I pulled all the covers off of him, threw them on the floor, and slammed the door on my way out. He didn't sleep through that."

"There is no favoritism in this family.... Today I can't stand all of my kids equally."

"No matter how old you are, no matter how badass you think you are, if a toddler hands you his ringing toy phone, you f***ing answer it"

"You know it's bad when the baby tries to nurse a fat roll instead of a boob."

"My son has a poopy diaper. I just sent him upstairs and told him to sit on DH's face. Serves my husband right for sleeping so late."

"I put twenty boxes of condoms on my baby registry. No one found it as funny as I did."

{Top Ten Tuesday} Things I Find Myself Saying {now that I'm a mother}

These are all things I've actually caught myself saying {now that I'm a mother} that I never thought I'd have said before. 

1. "Please don't vacuum your brother"

2. "Don't lick your shoe"

3. "Don't lick your brother."

4. "Don't lick the dog"

5. "We don't eat dog food/paper/rocks/shoes/toilet paper"

6. "Don't wipe your boogers on your brother"

7. "Do you want me to lock you in your toy room?" (sounds like real punishment, doesn't it?)

8. "Please don't touch my boobie"

9. "Do you want to ride on a hippopotamus?"

10. "There's a monster in there and he's going to get you!" 

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