Weekly Obsession: My Kids

Yes, I know this sounds really cheesy and sappy. But I really am in love with them, moreso than usual this week.

For those of you with kids, do you have a day or a string of days, where you just can't. stop. kissing. your kids?

I don't know what it is, but I just can't get enough snuggles and hugs and kisses this week. Though to be honest, look at how cute they are!

 Both of those were taken at our local zoo. I'm so glad we renewed our family pass again. Here's to more cute zoo pics!

And behold the best pic of all!!!

This way, I can prove to them in 10 years when they "hate" each other, that they really do love each other!

Cursive Writing - No longer being taught?

So, as you all know, I've decided to join in on LetterMo. I said that I love my handwriting. Not to toot my own horn, but it is nice and clear to read. In fact, at work they have me write out the stuff that needs "nice handwriting". Anyway, come to find out from my co-worker, her son's school is no longer teaching cursive writing.

I get the fact that teachers are strapped for time and that learning typing skills is necessary. However, I don't think that cursive writing should be discarded so easily. What will happen in a few years when college graduates can't read a simple note written in cursive? Not to mention that fact that I have student employees right now that have horrific writing. And it's not even in cursive either!

I understand that you need to teach the basics, but didn't the saying go, "Reading, Writing and Arithmetic"? What's next? Are we going to rely on computers, nooks, iPads, whatever reading to our children?

All I know is that regardless, my children will learn to write in cursive, and will learn to write well. I'm planning on having them write in a journal every day. That way, they can not only work on their penmenship, but they can also have a large cache of their history. What were they thinking about when they were 5. How well their handwriting has gotten over the years. And granted, I'm sure there will be times when it's more of a chore than anything. But they will appreciate it one day, when they discover how rare it is to be able to write and write well.

And no, I won't read their journals. I'll give then other things to write out. Like the Declaration of Independence, their vocabulary words, or an article on a topic they like. Something. Anything to get them to practice a much needed skill!!!

And they will also, undoubtedly KNOW how to read!

So what are your thoughts about this?

The Day from Hell

**************WARNING***************

If you can't handle stories involving little children and their issues with potty training. Or stories about cleaning up bodily fluids. Don't read any further.

Seriously.

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Last Saturday turned into the day from hell. It started off like any other day. And seemed to be one of the better days as of late. Until we got home after dance class.

Angel Baby fell asleep in the car. It happens all the time. No worries, I scooped her up, and plopped her into her own bed. She's done this many, many times before. Well, she comes downstairs about a half an hour later with an armful of clothes.

Now my little Angel Baby has turned into quite the fashionista. She will change clothes about thirty times a day if you let her. So I again, didn't think anything fond it. Until she dropped the bomb on me.

"I pooped in my pants."

Now she's learning and she still has accidents from time to time. I'm still not overly worried. We'll just clean her up and go forward.

Now I offer her lunch and tell her that she has to have a nap. So after lunch we're going to have a nap. No worries.

I get her into bed, read her a pre-nap story, ask if she has to use the bathroom, (no she doesn't), and I proceed downstairs with the Squeaker to nurse him.

I hear her rustling around upstairs. And I start to smell something horrible.

I put Squeaker aside, luckily he's now passed out in a food coma, and head upstairs.

Oh. My. God. Of all that is Holy.

My lovely little Angel Baby has pooped her pants again. And this time she tried to clean up. I know I should praise her for being Little Miss Independent. But when you come into a bathroom with shit smeared all over her, her clothes, the floor AND the walls. It's very difficult not to lose your mind.

I managed to clean her and the bathroom up. And I was very proud of myself. I didn't raise my voice. But oh my, did it take work. After getting her cleaned up. Again. We headed downstairs. She proceeded to fill her pants a few more times. She also smeared poo on the walls again. This time I caught her before she coated the entire bathroom.

And my little Angel also told me that I had to clean up her toys, not her.

Again, patience tried. And won. Whew, I'm doing well here.

She is now upstairs, hopefully passed out by now. And all I can say is, thank God, the day is almost over!!!

I think I deserve a medal for this.

*Note: I realize that she was probably not feeling very well, which probably played a big part in me not losing my cool.