Master Bathroom Remodel

We're done! It took 10 weekends to do, but some weekends were much easier than others. I'm so glad we did it, and I'm SO glad we're done.

Here's the BEFORE:

This is AFTER:

Little Bastards Got Me

I'm up at 4AM because I can't stop itching! The other night, I got around 29 mosquito bites on my legs (yes, I counted), and they are driving me CRAZY. I'll never go outside at dusk again. Tiki has a cold and can't sleep well, so we are a sad pair.

I haven't been able to post much because we finally started putting Tiki to sleep in a crib. Since we only have three bedrooms on the main level, his crib is in our office, so I wake him up when I come in here making noise. Right now, he's in my bed where I should be if I could stop the damn itching!

Hangin in the Ride

We spent the weekend doing the finishing touches on the bathroom project, but we did get a chance to finally take the hard top off my husband's Jeep. We crammed the carseats in the back, and I was very impressed that all three of them fit. The picture that resulted is probably my favorite picture ever of the boys.

Coocoo Started Kindergarten

I can't believe our little Coocoo started kindergarten this week. He did really well, and the teacher said he was very sweet and a little bit shy. When he finally decided to talk about it, he said, "momma, can you believe it was my first day of kindergarten and I already made a new best friend?" That made me sooo happy! Booboo really missed him and cried when we had to walk out the first morning.

I have mixed emotions about it. It nice to have a quiet house in the mornings. On the other hand, I miss him. Booboo misses him. When he gets home, they run downstairs and play until dinner time. They really bonded over the summer, which was my number one goal this year. On the first morning, he kissed me and dad and the baby, but Booboo's the only one he looked up from his drawing for and really hugged.

Now Booboo asks for his school everyday. He'll go to a church program for 3 mornings a week this year, but it doesn't start for another month. I think he'd be just fine if I left him at the big school every day with his brother.

I couldn't do it.

I had a talk with Coocoo yesterday and told him I would offer him a choice. He could either miss the party or loose his computer for 3 days. I told him he would loose the chance to choose if he got into trouble one time. He choose the computer, so we all got to go to the party.

I'm so glad! I felt too much guilt over the whole thing. It was a wonderful party, the good old-fashioned backyard barbecue. They played games (like sack races) and rented a big bouncy thing. It was steaming hot, though, so Tiki was a little fussy. I know I put myself into a bad position, but I decided the whole family shouldn't suffer for it. Or should I have held firm and made him miss the party? Maybe. This parenting thing is hard.

Mama's Remorse

I'm stuck in that awful corner we parents get into when we make a threat we don't want to follow through with. We had two birthday parties scheduled for today. This morning was a swim party, and tonight is an awesome super-hero dress-up BBQ. We went to the swim party, and everyone had a great time. The kids were well behaved. The difficulty always comes when it's time to leave. I got the baby and 2 1/2 year old ready, and I spotted the 5 year old heading towards the pool. Following him, I said, "don't get back in the pool, it's time to go." He got faster. I repeated myself. He started down the steps. Then I heard myself say, "if you get back in the pool, you can't go to Tobey's party tonight." Dammit! Of course, he went right on in and continued to pretend not to hear me.

I walked to the other side, and I said, "Coocoo, do you hear what I'm saying? I will not warn you; if you don't come with us, you aren't going to the next party." Well, that was a warning, but I was trying to save face. I know many of the parents were listening, and most of them will be at the party tonight waiting to see if Coocoo gets to come. He ignored me again. I said goodbye as we were walking out, and he did get out and run to catch up.

To be sure he heard me, I asked him what I had said and to describe the situation. He recalled it with complete accuracy, ending with, "and I went back in the pool anyway." Yeah, he heard me. I have no "out." I can't let him go tonight.

What kids don't know about consequences is that it really does hurt the parent as much as it hurts them. I will dread all day long the look on his face when he watches his dad and brother go to the party. I'm sick about it, and I want to throw up. Why did I have to reach so deep? Why couldn't I have said he'd spend an hour in his room or loose his computer for a week? Or just not made a threat at all while on my toes?

The new book I'm reading, Have a New Kid By Friday, says not to warn or threaten. It says to make your request calmly, walk away, and allow the child to make his own consequences. If I had done that, I would have had more time to come up with a consequence. Then again, if it doesn't hurt, what's the point? I have to establish respect and obedience now if I ever wish to make it a habit.

Now I have the horrible image of me running after him, out of control, spouting off threats with him ignoring me. I think we both lost this one.