The Queen's Rambles

I’m sure you think I’m being an ungracious political winner with that title, but no. This has nothing to do with politics.

I just scored the last spot in a parent’s day out program for two year olds! The program is reasonably priced, not too far away, don’t require potty training and doesn’t have a religious curriculum! This is the only program that fits all my requirements. They just started it three weeks ago.

As much as I love my friend and think she’s a fantastic teacher, this program is more what I’m looking for (one day a week, cheaper). I also worry that my friend plans to have 10 kids plus her 2 kids and no helper. Maybe if she gets it all set up and working, I’ll send Elsa to her in the fall. She is a fantastic teacher, but she is like me–very enthusiastic about her plans without really thinking everything through.

We had our preschool fair last night. I didn’t do all the work (amazing, I know. I have helium hand. It just won’t stay put when someone says “who can do this?”), but I did a fair chunk of it. I am SO GLAD it is over. We had a successful event in terms of getting vendors. We almost doubled the number from last year. Unfortunately we had very low attendance, which is still making me kind of sick to think about. We are planning on moving it to a Sunday afternoon next year, which is possible if we book the date now. Maybe that will help.

Mike was supposed to be out of town, so I signed up as the babysitter. This is the worst possible job for me because I am not fun. I have never enjoyed toddlers (except my own, of course). I ended up with one little boy and he was truly delightful. He was happy the whole time and listened pretty well. My own children? Gah. No. They were both completely melting down, especially Erik. The little boy doesn’t have any siblings or attend any type of children’s programming (except MOMS Club events occasionally). He’s a couple of months younger than Elsa and doesn’t really have anyone to practice certain life skills with. He kept hitting Elsa in the face (very softly) and I finally had to put him in a time out. He had no clue what was happening and just sat there, laughing happily. Before the mom came back Erik had a huge crying fit about this boy and how awful he was because he was “mean to my most favorite sister in the world!” Ahhhhhh. . . didn’t know he cared!

Like I said, the boy was a delight, but his mom left him an extra hour right at dinner time and everyone was getting cranky. I was not pleased. I found out later they kept telling her she could leave, but she hung around and acted like she didn’t have a need to come pick her kid up. I am not pleased.

I couldn’t really cook with him because I had to keep an eye on things. I put some water on to boil and the kid ran into the kitchen and stuck his hand on the stove. I was in shock because that is not something my kids would do. Made cooking very difficult! Thankfully he missed the burner, so wasn’t hurt.

His mom said he was a picky eater and that she had some food for him in his bag. I looked in the bag and pulled out jars of baby food. Again, my jaw hit the floor. He’s Elsa’s age. To each their own, I guess, but I will not sit around and spoon feed a neurotypical 2 1/2 year old jarred baby food. He did end up eating a banana, but even that was funny. I started the peel, then handed it to him. He had no clue what to do. He tried to eat the dangling peel. I ended up slicing it for him, which is something I have to do for Erik as well. Elsa takes care of her own banana needs and throws a little fit if I start the peel for her.

I am used to Elsa being very, very independent. Part of it is because I am trying very hard to raise independent children but part of it is also because she has a big brother. She wants to do everything he does, so she picks things up a lot faster than an oldest/single child. Also, as a second time mom I am much more relaxed and don’t have the time to do every little thing for her. It was exhausting having an extra kid around, especially a kid that I don’t know well.

Ok, now I have to go. I think I was going to write something else, but that was hours ago and I have no idea what it was.