Is it opposite day?

Quote from my 4 1/2 year old:

"Mommy, Doofenschmirtz and Perry are nemiseses. That means they're friends 'cept they fight alot."

reflections on mommyhood

Today was our last MOPS meeting of the year, and it was great fun. We did a program called The Golden Mommys and each mom received an award or two that reflected their personality.

As an aside, mine was "The mommy most likely to host a TV show about large families who coupon".

Obviously, they know me. That, or I am just obnoxious about saving money.

Anyway, all this mommy talk got me reflecting about my years as a mommy. Being one of the older moms in MOPS, I am experiencing several different childhood periods at once. So while being in the throes of diapers, potty training, and breastfeeding, I have also been dealing with homework, science fair projects (the horror!) and team sports. I sort of have my hand in several things at once.

When I look at some of our younger, "newer" moms, with a toddler and baby, I am taken back to my years when I was in that position. How I wish I had been involved in a MOPS group then! Though I had many mommy friends, the opportunity to come together - to recharge, learn, commiserate with each other as well as build each other up - would have been a wonderful experience for me.

My needs as a mom have changed as I've had more children and their activities have pulled me in different directions. But my need for women friends with whom I can share my mothering is still present. I'm so glad I have MOPS now, even at this late stage in my mothering career!

Did I sign up for this?

Weird parenting moment #2,319:

I was finishing up my shower and opened the curtain in my towel to find my daughters in the bathroom (you didn't think I was in there alone, did you? That's crazy talk!).

As I was talking to them, my 4 1/2 year old came in (did I mention this is the smallest room in our house?). He was holding an empty water bottle and a 2 Liter of Coke. Can he please have some Coke, he wondered?

I stood there for a moment, in my towel, in the shower, deciding. What the heck, I figured. If I spill, I can just rinse it down the drain.

So I poured my son a small bit of Coke into a water bottle, while in the shower. There's a first time for everything.

Clean as a whistle

We have a recliner that has been in our family room for 13 years. I have rocked all my babies in it (some for many more hours than others). It's not fancy or overstuffed; it's pretty utilitarian.

I have to admit, though, it had never been cleaned. AND - it wasn't new when we acquired it.

Shameful, I know.

But, before you lose all faith in my housekeeping abilities, it was cleaned today. I also had my family room rug and stairs and upstairs hallway cleaned.

I have to say, it's a glorious feeling. My family room rug and the stairs are so soft and look so bright and new, and the recliner looks much better. And even more important than how they look, is the fact that all that dirt is gone. I didn't see how much was pulled up out of the carpets and furniture, a fact which I think is for the best. Better I don't know just how much filth was residing with us!

Chem-Dry did the cleaning for us and I thought they did a great job! The guys were very polite and thorough. They even had an insulated bumper of sorts that they placed on the front door while their tubes were propping it open (since it is ridiculously cold today). I was impressed with that thoughtful detail!

The recliner won't be with us forever. I'm glad we decided to give it a new lease on life in its old age.

I wonder how long it will be before I allow the children to walk on the carpets. . .

A possible case of future failure-to-launch?

At 9:15 this evening, I went upstairs to do something, only to find my 4 1/2 year old still awake. This has been a problem lately.

I went in to tell him, again, to go to sleep. I cradled his face and told him how much I loved him.

He said, "I know how much you love me!"

I replied, "When you have kids, you'll understand how much I love you. When you're a daddy, you'll love your kids as much as I love you."

He pondered this a moment, then burst into tears, lip quivering.

"What's the matter?" I asked.

"I don't ever want to leave you! I want to live with you forever!" he sobbed.

After much cuddling and reassurance that he could stay with us as long as he wanted (within reason, my passing-by husband interjected), his tears slowly subsided.

How I love this child! His sincerity melts my heart.

I think I'll show him this post in about 18 years when I am wishing he wouldn't grow up and leave. I wonder if he will have changed his mind?

There are worse things I could be addicted to. . .

I have a new topic to write about here.

Extreme couponing.

I realize I am not as obsessed as the guests on the new show on tv, but in my little world, I am becoming close.

I was recounting my savings today to the kids on the ride home from school.

"Listen to how much I spent at Target! Listen to how much I saved!" I exclaimed.

"You're becoming obsessed, Mom!" said one child.

"Yeah, you are getting out of hand with all these coupons!" said another.

"And what are we doing with all this money you're saving, anyway? Anything good for us?" said yet another.

As you can see, there is no shared joy with this crowd.

So I come to you, my dear readers, because I know you will rejoice with me as I tell you all the details. (You will, right?) I also come to you because I fear all my Facebook friends are tired of hearing about how much I saved.

So here's the scoop: I spent $28.13 at Target for $71.88 worth of merchandise, and I spent $11.23 at Meijer for $33.83 worth.

You're cheering for me, right? And for all the money I saved?

For the record, one of the children said disappointedly that I was probably only using the extra money to pay the electric bill, anyway.

Oh, the injustice. . .

Due to some back talk this morning, my boy lost the privilege of all electronic devices this afternoon.

Upon arriving home after school, he lamented, "I have nothing to do. I can't even look at the clock!"

*Edited a few minutes later* This boy is taking all electric devices to the extreme for sure. He is hiding under a blanket in the recliner. When I asked him why, he morosely explained that the blanket is the best way to keep out the heat.

Should I tell him that the heat is gas?