Gunning For Mom Of The Year

I'm a good mom. Generally. Most of the time. In fact, I have people say nice things about my parenting skills sometimes.

But I have a secret.

Shhh.

Sometimes, Little Miss asks me to read a book, a certain book. A book that involves Thomas the Tank Engine, and I groan. Now, this isn't an ordinary Thomas book - that cheeky engine who loves to be a helper. No, this is a book that comes from the genre invented by someone who has no children.

This is one of those books that has sounds. Every third word, there is a picture, and a corresponding button that Little Miss is supposed to push that makes a "cute" sound.

*sigh*

Since Little Miss doesn't know how to read (yet!), nor has she memorized where the sounds go, she simply starts pushing them as soon as I turn the page. Then she can't hear what words I read. So she makes me repeat it. Except then she starts pressing the buttons again. And my headache begins.

Sometimes I tell her that Mommy has to work and so can't read to her (even when I've finished working for the day). Sometimes Mommy hides the book for a few days to get a respite. Sometimes I decide that naptime needs to be moved up by a half hour, and unfortunately that means the book can't be read right then. Now that Mister Man reads fluently, sometimes I ask him to read it to her -- and then I go hide elsewhere.

It isn't that I don't enjoy reading to her. We read regularly, and we read all sorts of books (except Barney that I banned from the house). We read together, and we tell stories about what we think the books could be about.

But ohhh those books that make sounds.

The good(?) news is that the batteries are starting to run low. I say this because when batteries in a sound activated toy start going, the sound quality deteriorates (further). That oh-so-adorable noise of Thomas's broken whistler now sounds like fingernails on a chalkboard. The cheerful peep of James is quite mournful. And the thrumming of Harold the Helicopter sounds ... more like paper ripping. And that might be generous.

I keep praying that the batteries will finally conk out. And I keep hiding that book, but somehow it keeps appearing on the bookshelf.

Do you think she'd notice if it was permanently "lost?"

Sometimes, I Don't Hate People

Sometimes you don’t know if people are listening when you’re talking or not. Generally, it doesn’t matter, but every once in awhile people really surprise you by doing something completely unexpected and nice that just makes your day.

Before preschool starts and ends, all the moms at Little Miss’ preschool line up outside the classroom and wait for the doors to be open. Not surprisingly, we generally end up chatting while waiting.

A month or so ago, the topic of potty training had come up. Given that Little Miss’ birthday isn’t until August 1, she’s the second youngest in the class (one boy friend of hers is August 26), and many have started to be or have been potty trained.

We were discussing the various tactics we’ve used and our frustrations and challenges and successes. At some point in the conversation, I mentioned that Little Miss was convinced that she was going to be able to wear Mister Man’s old underwear when she potty trained – and that she’d have Thomas underwear when she used the potty.

This seemed to be ingrained in her mind somehow that potty training equals Thomas underwear. Apparently she was listening a year plus ago when we were potty training Mister Man. Usually, I’d be fine if there was some hand-me-down item of clothing or toy or whatever that’s not completely gender appropriate that she wanted. I’m not really hung up on the “boy” vs “girl” things.

However, while I’m not expert, I’ve noticed that boy underwear is designed differently from girl underwear. In looking at the design of boy underwear, I can’t see how it would be comfortable for a girl to wear, so I have told Little Miss that she can’t wear his underwear. And just like I can find absolutely no girl Thomas clothes (anyone who can sew or is looking for a business opportunity, start making Thomas clothes for girls – I know I’m not the only frustrated mom!), there is no girl Thomas underwear out there.

The conversation was pretty much left at that. Today, I went to pick up Little Miss from preschool, and one of the moms told me that she had something for me. I wasn’t expecting anything, but I thought maybe she hadn’t paid for the yearbooks that the other room mom and I had made and was giving me the money.

Nope, this mom totally rocks. She was in a store and saw some Thomas iron on transfers and immediately thought of Little Miss and her underwear dilemma. Now, all I have to do is buy some solid color underwear and make my own Thomas underwear with the transfers! How sweet is that mom?

That, and the preschool teachers totally rock, too. I got a huge Gerber daisy planter with other grasses, etc from them today as a thank you for being (such a great) room mom this year. Any bets as to how long before I kill it -- not that I want to?

(And yes, that is my massive cat Meow wanting to know when I'm coming inside. His brother Roar apparently had given up at that point. And yes, that's my laptop on the front porch. I was entering gift card sales during Mister Man's piano lesson when I took the picture.)