Posts Tagged: kids


15
Sep 10

chapter 5: the bra police

upon reading the details of a contest on a drink cap and observing the list of prizes was followed by the promise of  “and more,” 9 y/o snorted derisively, “ ‘and more’ is probably valued at a meat loaf.”

6 y/o to 9 y/o discussing the vacation they were going on with their father: “are we going to wisconsin?” “yes.” “maybe we will see my camp counselor – she said she was going there.”

i have promised 9 y/o she can get a kitten when we move (no, i don’t really want one, but it was a moment of weakness due to major divorce guilt), and  knowing what a handful kittens can be, i said i would prefer (like it matters) to adopt an older cat that we know is a lap cat. 9 y/o’s reply: “with a kitten there is no need for a lap cat, it’s a hand cat. cup of coffee in one hand, handcat in the other.”

on one saturday, my only day to sleep late that particular week, 9 y/o arose bright and early and watched tv until her sister and i woke up. when i finally emerged from my room, i asked her if she wanted some breakfast and she said, “no thanks. i ate tortilla chips and i’m full now.”

part 1: 9 y/o woke up and told me she wasn’t feeling well. since, i had to work that day, we had a spirited debate about whether or not she was really sick enough to stay home & necessitate the need for me to call out & lose pay for a day. she told me, “that’s what you signed up for as a parent. you didn’t have to give birth to me if you didn’t want to call out.”

part 2: so, my mother came to watch 9 y/o, so i could work the few meager hours for which i was scheduled and 9 y/o was so grateful, that she said, “if i ever need to take care of grandma, i will take off.”

9 y/o to grandma when she came visit one afternoon, “grandma, did you bring any food?”

9 y/o was loving on her sister and it was so cute, i couldn’t help letting loose a giggle, and she reprimanded me with: “i am trying to have an emotional moment here.”

me: “i just need a few minutes to finish writing this last paragraph.” 9 y/o snidely says to 6 y/o: “c’mon let’s go upstairs so she can finish writing about us.” they will thank me for documenting their childhood when they’re 30.

6 y/o: “would you rather have a mushy squishy tushy or a bony butt?”

6 y/o ” mommy, can you play barbies with us?” me, well i was just doing some work here on the computer right now.” 9 y/o, “oh so, watching tv and drinking wine is work?’

9 y/o discussing barbie’s ride with 6 y/o, “she drives a corvey.”

9 y/o telling me something about “silly bands (the newest overpriced crap fad to hit the grade school set), ” to which i replied in disbelief, “really?” and she said, “yes. i do not lie about silly bands.

this summer, their camp had a “winter in july” day to which the girls had to bring a sled. since it was kind of large, i started to help 9 y/o bring it to the bus. she stopped me and told me she would do it herself. i said, “am i really that embarrassing? “in unison, both girls replied, “yes.” (sigh. et tu 6 year old?

i gave up on tanning in my 20′s even tho i am so white i am almost transparent. upon noticing how pale my legs are, 9 y/o said, “mommy you need a tan, you’re whiter than coraline.”

9 y/o: “there was only one thing about camp i didn’t like this summer: one day the ice cream was only for the CIT’s and i got really mad. i take my ice cream very seriously.”

6 y/o: “mommy, will you go on the tatter totter with me?”

me to 6 y/o at breakfast: “i gave you 6 mini-pancakes and then you asked me for 3 more, so how many did you have altogether?” 6 y/o: “i don’t know. i don’t have math in my head. it’s summer!”

normally, i  strap these puppies down at night, but once in awhile they roam free. one morning, 6 y/o noticed and exclaimed in horror,  “mommy! you are not wearing a bra!” me: “and, why do you care?”  6 y/o, “i am the bra police.”

6 y/o in cereal aisle asking me if she can buy a particular cereal, “mom does this have crap in it?”  i have taught them well.

6 y/o: “mommeeeeeee, come get this spider web.” “it’s not a spider web; it’s a cob web.” “what are cobs?”

my sister & i used to read “the archies” digest comic books when were mere lasses & actually saved them lo’ these many years. 9 year old recently discovered the giant stack of them at her grandmother’s house and is now a fan. that being said, she is collecting the modern day editions. so, i told her to save them for when she is older and she will be glad she did. 6 y/o said, “yeah, so she can sell them online.” to which, i laughed heartily. in response to my amusement,  9 y/o said, “she is following in your footsteps.

9 y/o came home from school the other day most distressed upon learning a classmate has a heart condition & is not allowed to eat any chocolate. she said, “it’s the saddest thing i have ever heard.”

6 y/o heard the word chocolate and came over to investigate. when she learned there was, in fact, no actual chocolate, she said, “there is no chocolate here. i’m bored, ” and promptly walked away.

6 y/o saw my sister’s stretched belly (she is 6 months pregnant with twins) and said, “what happened to her bikini button?”

9 y/o had some dry skin on her face and i told her i would give her some lotion to put on it. upon hearing this she said, “yes, i need some for sensible skin.” chuckling, i said, “i  think you mean sensitive.

me to 9 y/o getting a snack to eat while watching tv: “don’t eat that on the couch!” 9 y/o, “i know the drill.”

while waiting for the bus one morning, the girls and i noticed the neighbors were having their roof replaced. the guys were yelling back and forth which prompted 9 y/o to say, “that may be the first conversation, i have ever heard on someone’s roof.”

me to 6 y/o struggling with a task: “can i help you with that, so it doesn’t take so long?”  she replied, “no, i like to be independent,”  which, of course, made me giggle. she then said, “i just knew you were going to laugh, somehow.”

i had caught a terrible cold from the girls recently and was struggling with the decision to drag myself into work or take a sick day. 9 y/o said, “go ahead, take the day off.”

9 y/o was making her belly button “sing.” she said, “it’s belly button karaoke.”

the girls are very interested in my sister’s pregnancy and have a basic understanding of how the babies grow. the other day, my  9 y/o asked me about the enchilada attached to the baby. i thought for a moment and realizing what she meant, said, “it’s called a placenta.” she replied, “enchilada, quesadilla, placenta. whatever”

i questioned if something 9 y/o said was really true, and she replied, “i swear on my cupcake.”

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23
May 10

part 2: noodle straps

9 year old on her vitamin: “it tastes like a dog’s throw-up that a monkey swallowed and then pooped.”

me to 6 yr old: “hey, what’s that on your tush?”

6 yr old, “nothing. you just want to squeeze it for fun.”

me to girls while looking at a flyer: “hey we should go see this show.”

6 yr old: “i am already going to see it with daddy.”

9 yr old: “yeah, and i don’t want to see it. it’s for ages to 5-8 and i am almost a tween. u know, a tweenager? that’s what they call it these days.”

joke written by 9 year old. she has warned me not to “plagiarize,” therefore it is reprinted here with her permission:

what did the client say about the hairdresser?

she is nice and easy-combing.

9 year old: “she said that i could babysit when she has a baby, but that won’t be for awhile because he hasn’t popped the question yet.”

9 year old: “what is the weather supposed to be tomorrow?” me: “i’m not sure. we need to check when we get home.” 6 year old: ” it will either be warm or cold.”

me to 9 year old: “are you sure you want to sleep with such a warm blanket?” 9 year old: “yes. i get cold even though my personality is warm.”

grandmother to 6 year old,” ok. let’s turn the light off for bed time.” 6 year old: “no, leave it on.” grandmother: “how are you going to get to sleep with such a bright light on?” 6 year old: “i will turn it off when i fall asleep.”

upon learning a couple is going to have a baby who is not currently married, 9 year old asks,” isn’t that illegal?”

9 year old: “mommy, take that backpack off the counter. this is where we eat and we are going to get germs in our food and get sick. we will get what they call the H1N1 Influenza they have been telling us about in school.”

one morning, i accidentally turned off my alarm instead of hitting snooze and woke the girls up for school a wee bit late. since we were rushed, 9 year old sprung into action to help me get both girls ready. when i got downstairs, she was busy making lunch for her sister and said to me, “you had to have another one?”

scene: double play date at my house

6 year old and her pal decided to paint their nails without asking me. i wasn’t pleased and muttered to myself that they “dragged all the nail polish downstairs to the basement”  within ear shot of 9 year old & her pal. the friend misunderstood & asked incredulously, “she drank all the nail polish?” to which i replied, “no dragged it.” and 9 year old added, “yeah, she’s 6, not mentally retarded.”

9 year old consoling 6 year old: “it’s just a fly. nothing to be scared of. it’s only 3 letters.”

how the tooth fairy got hustled

9 year old: “make sure you tell the tooth fairy about my tooth, so she leaves me a gift.”

me: “didn’t you tell me that you don’t believe in the tooth fairy anymore?”

9 year old: “no, i do.”

me: “okay then.”

next morning after collecting her loot:

9 year old “i know you’re the tooth fairy.”

me: “but last night you told me you believed in the tooth fairy.”

9 year old: ” i know. i just said that to get the money.”

me: “oh, i see.”

9 year old adding insult to injury: “also, it’s not that i don’t appreciate the “fairy dust” and all, but could she use a little less? it’s all over my bed & i have to change my sheets now.”

9 year old walking past plum tree in front yard: “i can smell the plummy goodness.”

6 year old to 9 year old: “you can teach me spanish.” 9 year old: “let’s just leave that to dora.” [the explorer]

6 year old: “this week is ‘poem in your pocket’ week. i have to rememberize a poem.”

6 year old: “there are different parts of your tongue for tasting different things. this part here is for butter.”

after observing meal laid out upon the table, 9 year old to grandmother: “you really know how to put together a dinner.”

9 year old discussing a friend: “she misses a lot of school. she is going to end up in the street with credit card debt and invalid health insurance.”

note in my lunch from 9 year old on a morning i had an upset stomach before leaving for work: “dear mom, i love you. stick it out.”

6 year old singing lyrics that say come closer: “get cole slaw”

grandmother to 9 year old: “3 lion cubs were born in a zoo the other day.” 9 year old, “who’s the lucky couple?”

9 year old: “hello, loser.”

6 year old: “hello, idiot.”

9 year old. “touche.”

9 year old: “she [6 year old] can sleep in my room in her sleeping bag.”

me: “well, i really don’t want her to sleep on the floor.”

9 year old: “no, in the sleeping bag in my bed. it contains her – she kicks.”

while cat-sitting my mother’s kitty, 6 year old was beckoning the cat to follow her up the stairs which prompted 9 year old to admonish, “he’s a cat, not a seeing eye dog.”

9 year old & i had the pleasure of watching a puppet show performed by 6 year old in which one of the characters became extremely wild and had to be “disciplined” by 6 year old. 9 year old turned to me and said, “you will have to excuse him [the puppet], he’s on medication.”

6 year old: “mommy, i can’t wear this shirt to school tomorrow. it has noodle straps” me:”ok, but i think you mean spaghetti straps.”

9 year old: “why would a cleaning product be called bleck?” me (barely containing my laughter):”that’s bleach.”

among other items i had put out for bulk collection week were 2 female dress forms – one black and one white. upon discovering that scavengers had taken the white one, but not the black one, 9 year old exclaimed, “how racist!.”

quote from 6 year old’s mother’s day project: “my mom is: as pretty as a flower and a unicorn.” that is the highest compliment i have ever received.

9 year old: “when i am an adult, i am going to have a purse & shoes to match every outfit.” me: “well, my work here is done.”


make mine extra dirty, please.

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4
Apr 10

The Frozen Kid

hey folks! it’s time for the first (of most likely many) gratuitous “my kids say the derndest thangs” post. i share not only because are my kids are totally hysterical without even trying, but writing this kind of post is just too cheap and easy to resist. so without further justification, i bring you some bits from the stand up act i enjoy in my domestic comedy club on a daily basis. the two drink minimum is optional but i comply (strictly as a courtesy to the house).

we were watching a full house episode in which michelle had been given a “time out:”

9 yr old: “who makes a kid sit in a chair facing the wall?”

me: “well, it’s an old show, you know from the 80′s.”

9 yr old: “oh. the 80′s. well, they didn’t have accurate ways of disciplining kids back then.”

6 yr old: “mommy what color do you dye your hair?”

me: ” i don’t dye my hair yet. i don’t get grays. i guess i’m not that old, huh?”

6 yr old:  “that doesn’t mean you’re not old. ”

6 yr old giggling: “my teacher told us today we had to use a number two pencil for the tests. a NUMBER TWO!”

me: “umm. well, there really is such a thing.”

6 yr old: “come on, mommy. a number two pencil? that’s just silly”

9 yr old helping 6 yr old with homework: “i am a teacher in training. a T. I. T.”

me: “yah, that’s great, but let’s call it something else.”

9 yr old: “why? did i say a bad word?”

me: “yes. but it’s ok, you didn’t know.”

9 yr old: “well, that is why i need to know all the bad words, mom: so i don’t use them by accident. ”

6yr old: ” well, i know the H.A. word.”

me: “the H. A. word? i am not sure what you mean by that.”

6 yr old: “daddy says it all the time when he’s driving.”

me: “really? what is it?”

6 yr whispering in my ear, “Head Ass.”

me: “what???”

6 yr old still whispering, “daddy always says to the other drivers, ‘get your Head out of your Ass.’ Head Ass.”

me: “ohhh. the H. A. word.”

we eat out a lot and i find it so frustrating to constantly waste money on ordering food the kids insist they want & promise to eat but end up not doing so time after time. this particular night my oldest daughter demanded an order of eda mame which usually go uneaten. we argued back & forth resulting in my agreement to place the order with this caveat: “if you don’t eat them, then you will have to pay me back for them.” a completely ridiculous comment made out of frustration that caused my sister to snicker behind her menu. so the eda mames arrive & my daughter starts shoveling them in like it’s her last meal, and i say “why are you eating like that?”  to which she replied,” if i don’t finish these you are going to charge me for them!”

9 yr old: “i have an on/off relationship with crusts.”

me to 9 yr old during power outtage: “stop freaking out your sister.” 9 year old, “i’m not. i just froked myself out.”

my kids came home from their respective valentine’s day parties at school this year, with all kinds of crap about which dentists have nightmares. they sat down to a candy buffet while i was in the other room. when i returned, i came back to see they were cutting fun dip with pixie stix sugar. i guess fun dip has a higher street value?  this has to be how addiction starts…

little sister to big sister: “i am going to kick your butt at this game” and then proceeds to literally kick her in the butt. big sister to little sister: “that’s a saying, it doesn’t mean you actually do it!”

9 year old: “mom do, i have to go to [6yr old sister's] gymnastics with you? i hate sitting there for an hour smelling feet.”

my mother was telling me about a class she took at a local community college about carmen, the opera. suddenly, my 6 yr old pipes up and says authoritatively, “grandma , it is not opera, it’s Oprah!”

my 9 year old likes to order a turkey sandwich at our local deli. she also likes to order for herself. so, she asked the waitress for german dressing on the side. the waitress looked at me quizzically, i looked back at her just as confused, and then at the same moment we both realized: she wanted russian dressing.

9 yr old: “why does she [6 yr old sister]  get so excited when my friends come over?”

me: “dunno. it’s like how dogs get excited when they see you”

9 yr old: “well, at least, she doesn’t pee on the floor.”

6 yr old upon losing her second bottom tooth: “but i can’t whistle.” me: “could you whistle before your tooth fell out?” 6 yr old: “no.”

at my mom’s house for dinner one night: she fed the girls and then made one of my childhood staples, “franks and beans,” for me. upon learning such, both girls replied in horror: “no mommy! major gas tonight. it’s  gonna smell in our room.” a few hours later, my stomach was rumbling & an earthquake was about to roar through my intestines. so, i told to my oldest that she was right about the dinner entree- it probably wasn’t such a good idea,  and she said, ” mommy, it’s franks or beans. not both.”

9 yr old: “can i take my ice cream to the tv room?”

me: “no. sit with us and eat so we can all be together.”

grandmother: “tell us your thoughts. are you thinking about anything?”

9 yr old: “yes. i’m thinking that i really want to watch tv.”

grandmother: “do you want me to defrost something for breakfast or make some fresh pancakes?”

9 yr old: “why would i have frozen when i can have fresh? mommy defrosts everything. i am The Frozen Kid.”

9 yr old: “i really want a kitten. so i can raise it until it gets big.”

6 yr old: “don’t you think that will be a lot of work?”

9 yr old: “yes, but it will be worth it for that bundle of joy.”

5 minutes into a rousing game of “who can be quiet the longest” while in the car late-ish one night, 9 year old asks, “can we talk now? not talking makes me nauseous.”

for some reason known only to my dvr, it taped all of one week’s simpsons episodes in spanish. upon hearing me remark how odd that was, 9 year old says, “maybe it’s hispanic week.”

one night i was having a hard time getting the 6yr old to bed. helpful 9 yr old starts making bribes to her sister that i don’t want to have to make good on at a later time.  i say to well-meaning older daughter, “just stop.” “stop what?” “stop having ideas.” my sister just looked at me with a smirk and instantly realizing how ridiculous my statement was, i  said to her, “you know people are always writing funny things kids say, but really they should be writing about stupid things parents say to their kids.”

hey! if you enjoy the blog, become a fan of swv on facebook!

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5
Oct 09

not my mother’s cook book

pbj

i can be found most every night, slaving away in my kitchen making dinner for my beloved children. after much trial & error, i have created a vast arsenal of nutritious meal options. since i want to share my experience with new & fellow mothers, here are a  few of my favorite recipes*:

cold cereal

1. pour in bowl.

2. since you are out of milk again,  just give your kid the box. works well for when you run out of school snacks as well.

chips & salsa***

1. pour salsa in bowl.

2. open bag of chips.

3. give kid bag of chips & bowl.

ice cream***

1. get 1/2 gallon container out of freezer.

2. coat with sprinkles generously. use multi-colored sprinkles for extra vitamins.

3. serve with spoon.

(provides 100% of RDA for calcium, which is integral to young bone development.)

tuna**

1. open can, drain most of liquid, & dump contents into bowl.

2. scrape remnants out of mayo jar & combine with tuna.

3. mix well enough.

4. glob on crackers.

5. admonish kids not to get cracker crumbs all over couch.

pizza***

1. call for delivery.

2. eat out of box.

chinese food***

1. call for delivery.

2. eat out of containers.

microwave popcorn***

1. place bag in microwave.

2. follow directions.

3. pick out burnt pieces.

4. open windows to let out burnt popcorn smell & deactivate smoke alarm.

5. serve in bag with mint flavored floss.

(on shabbat: pour in bowl.)

frozen waffles

1. defrost in microwave until mostly warm.

2. hand to kid on a napkin because dirtying a plate is really unnecessary.

3. ignore complaints about frozen spots because bus in already in front of your house waiting for your kids.

chicken nuggets

1. get in car.

2. go to mcdonald’s drive through.

3. cave in to happy meal requests as long as it’s a different toy than last time, but insist apple side is chosen over fries to offset nugget guilt.

cheesesticks***

1. open package.

2. hand package to oldest child & direct to open wrappers for smaller children.

grilled cheese***
1. bring children to grandma’s for dinner.

soup***

1. open can.

2. pour in cereal bowl.

3. add water.

4. microwave until lukewarm.

(spoons are optional.)

peanut butter & jelly

1. turn bread over so kids can’t tell you are using the heels because you forgot to buy bread when you were at market today.

2. spread too much  peanut butter on each side of bread.

3. slop too much jelly on so it leaks out the sides (kids totally love this) being sure to get peanut butter in jelly jar b/c you are too lazy to get another spreading knife.

4. cut off crusts.*

pasta*

1. boil water until 1/2 ” depth is left in pot because you forgot about it.

2. refill pot & boil new water.

3. use random pastas collected from several 1/4 full boxes that have been left open.

4. overcook pasta because you forgot about it until you passed by kitchen to re-wash laundry  that you also forgot about from 4 days ago & left in machine.

5. serve with any topping you can find because you have no actual tomato sauce, while convincing children it’s international pasta night & that is how they eat in whatever country you can remember from 5th grade geography.

mac & cheese

1. follow directions on box & serve.

2. eat leftovers from pot while standing up.

crackers & cheese

1. give kid package of cheese.

2. give kid box of crackers.

3. show child how to properly tear proportional pieces of cheese & place on crackers.

4. get mr. clean sponge to scrub permanent marker off of inside closet doors  in 5 year old child’s bedroom that 8 year old knew was there for 6 months, but chose this one time not to tattle on younger sister. remove most of paint from doors even though most of marker remains. be happy anyway because she wrote ” i love mommy.”

go out to dinner

1. ask kids where they want to go.

2. go where you want anyway.

3. get your other slacker pals to join you with their kids.

4. seat kids at own table while you & pal sit at another & dish about your fascinating, fulfilling, suburban lives.

(this is my favorite, most used, & most highly recommended recipe.)

after you master these recipes, sit down with a vodka tonic in your water bottle, pat yourself on the back for nourishing your brood, and eat the leftovers while standing over the garbage can as you are throwing out the paper plates.

guide to asterisks:

*all recipes to be accompanied with baby cut carrots & side of tv.

**to be attempted by advanced chefs only

***feeds multiple children simultaneously

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