Chicken Poop

I shouldn't do it, but I do. I force my oldest to do things that she doesn't want to do. Most of the time, it's for her own good - but other times it's merely because I need a good laugh.

For instance, I forced her to take swimming lessons, knowing darn good and well she was terrified of having water in her face. 3 summer lessons past, and now the child is swimming to the bottom of pools to retrieve toys, going down the BIG slides at water parks and having the time of her life. What do I get out of it all? "Thank you for making me go mommy, I had the BEST time!"

Then, there's Phantasialand and the "Mystery Castle" ride. I forced her to go on it because I knew she'd crap her pants and come out with her face as white as a ghost. I needed a good laugh - and it was HARMLESS, right? I thought so. She went. She didn't love that ride at ALL, but there are others she was forced to go on that she asked to go on again and again and again after that.

Fast forward to this past Sunday - Legoland! This park was about 80% little kid rides, and filled with adult freaks with cameras (my husband being one) who love Legos and the things they can build with them. Stevie and I were waiting on the sidelines for Ava to finish paddling her kidi-kanu around a little expedition thingie, and we heard screams in the background. It was the big waterfall ride (you know, the kind where the boat full of people goes around a jungle for 10 minutes, and then they plunge over the side of a waterfall?) I smiled really big and couldn't even get through my suggestion of "Oh STEVIE! You should go on that with....." when she answers "NO MOMMY PLEASE DON'T MAKE ME!"

You're kidding right? 9.5 and you can't ride a slow as heck ride like the boat with a little tummy tickle at the end? I called her a chicken shit. I emphasized SHEER disappointment in the fact that she couldn't grow up and have fun. I was mad. I told her next time, we'd get a babysitter and leave her home so we wouldn't have to pay a full price ticket for her to ride baby rides. I was mean. (but all in the name of love.) I remember riding the waterfall ride with MY dad and I loved it! Sure, the first time was scary as ever... but I begged him to ride it with me again and again!

Fast forwarding some more... the sun is setting, we've made our way around the entire park. Stevie's brain has been fizzling and stressing since my temper got the best of me over her lack of courage. Finally, she asks if she can do the dragon ride. The DRAGON ride!? That REALLY big one that's way bigger than the waterfall boat ride? So we walked over, and she stood in line for an HOUR and watched over and over again, the dragon ride go flying into outer space and back filled with screaming kids. She didn't back down, she didn't turn away.... she got on, and she did it!

Unsteady on her feet - but those wings helped her soar!

Stay tuned - there's video... but I have work in the morning, so it's bed for now!

"Artwork"

A couple of weekends ago, my husband went out of town for another “man-cation” and some much needed
quiet time away from the kids. Usually, when he leaves, my nesting instinct kicks in and I scour the
house from top to bottom. That weekend was no different.

I chose to start in Ava and Victoria’s room, as I’d need to be done by mid-morning so Victoria could
go down for a nap. I walked in and immediately focused in on a piece of “artwork” that Ava had scribbled the
previous day. You know that 4 yr old artwork – markers of every color, lines in every direction…. MAYBE
a couple of curly q’s. In my mind, this immediately would go in the junk pile because it looks like every
other piece of artwork on my refrigerator. I decided to fold the paper and sneak it into the trashcan to
avoid any tantrums.

Initial wake-up phase was over for children #2 and #3. Ava and Victoria were finishing breakfast when
I sat down for a quick muffin and a glass of milk. Ava jumped out of her seat and ran to her room
exclaiming something about showing me her sun and slides. I did the typical mommy nod and half
ignored her until…. “aww man – I can’t find my picture! I had it here…. And it’s not here… and now
where is it?”

Ooouf! I quickly ran to the trashcan and fished it out and unfolded it and yelled to Ava “Hey babe! Is it
this picture?? I put it up so that Victoria wouldn’t destroy it!” Aaahhh… Mommy saved the day. Look at
that AWESOME sun! And the slides…. The purple one is my favorite!

More scribbles… thumb tacked to the bulletin board by the back door. What was I thinking?! How could I have overlooked this masterpiece - deeming it nothing more than "garbage..." SHAME ON ME!