What do Hairspray and Toothpaste have in common?

If you have children, have ever watched children, or have even been around children, you know they have an innate ability to find mischief of any kind, especially if you have your back turned. Whether it's exploring how the world around them works, or a complete act of disobedience, the end result is the same. Kids are kids and if you have anything of value, or anything you would be upset to have destroyed...put it away for 18 years ;) And if you forget, thank you God for the Internet. 

Our oldest son decided when he was about the same age our younger son is now (2) that our computer monitor was a great place to practice his artwork...with a Sharpie. Imagine my husband's horror when he went upstairs to see what he was doing only to find his brand new, VERY expensive monitor covered in beautiful artwork. 

My husband, after having a mini panic session and trying not to get too mad since it was his fault to leave sharpies within reach of toddler hands, asked me to look up possible remedies on the Internet. Apparently TOOTHPASTE removes Sharpie if it's on a computer monitor. 

For those that want to know:

Put a drop of toothpaste over the sharpie on the monitor. Use a soft rag to softly rub it in one direction until it comes off. Gently wipe as much of the excess toothpaste off as you can. Use a screen cleaner to get the remaining toothpaste off. Voila. 

Fast forward two years and our younger son is now 2. He always gets to bring something special in to nap time to play with for a few minutes in his crib. One of us will go in after 5 or 10 minutes if he's still playing and take whatever it is away until after nap time. Usually he just goes to sleep clutching it or throws it out on his own because he loves binkie and nap time so much. However, yesterday was different. He wanted to finish writing his shopping list so he was allowed to bring his pen and notepad in to his crib to do so...

Who could get mad at this cute little face?

 It's amazing how much ink can get everywhere in 10 minutes. We're talking everywhere. E.V.E.R.Y.W.H.E.R.E.  So, we went to the internet. Apparently Hairspray works at getting ink stains out of clothes. I ran to the grocery store by our house last night because I certainly don't have any hair spray and was shocked (understatement) to find that a little bottle this size was SEVEN dollars?!?!?!

However, it worked at getting the ink out of my favorite sweatshirt of his and his quilt. It also worked at getting it out of 3/4 of the pants...in order to get the rest out I'll have to fork over more money for hairspray because I went through that little bottle. I should have paid the $12 to get the bigger size. Ugh. Trying to decide if it's worth it since I could just buy more pants for that price.

For those that want to know:
Spray hairspray on the ink stain. Let sit for 1 minute. Blot with a rag. Spray with stain remover. Throw in the wash. Don't dry until the stain is out. It might take several repetitions. 


What I want to know is who thinks of these things? I mean seriously. Who would have thought to themselves "I wonder if toothpaste will take off this permanent marker from my computer screen?" And to answer the original question; What do Hairspray and Toothpaste have in common? Two year olds.

Readers: What interesting things have you discovered as a result of your children, or yourself ;)

Transparent Moment--Comparisons

It's so easy to compare myself with other moms; my kids with other kids; my son with my other son. And yet, the comparisons that are so easy to form actually breed worry, envy, and can ultimately lead to a feeling of failure as a mom; all characteristics that I don't want to embody. It's hard to feel like a good mom when I'm constantly comparing myself to others. It's hard to feel like a good mom when I'm wondering if what my kids are doing is normal. It's hard to feel like a good mom when I'm wondering if I'm parenting correctly.

But, it's hard not to compare my parenting with other parents in today's society. There are images of how we should be plastered all over. The perfect body that you're expected to have weeks after having a baby, the perfect way to parent, the way a child should behave, and even taking it as far as the proper number of kids to have, the perfect combination of genders. Well, what if we, my kids and I, don't match up? Does that make me any less of a good parent and them any less wonderful? Definitely not. But it's still there.

The easier comparison to swallow is comparing my two kids with each other. Society shows us that there are certain standards of normal that our kids are expected to meet; milestone expectations...And, we're led to believe that if our kids aren't meeting those by a certain time, there's something wrong with them.Well, my boys are proof that not every child develops at the same pace. It's amazing to me how different, yet similar, two kids with the same parents can be. One of my boys didn't sleep, the other slept like a dream. One son walked at 10 months old, the other didn't walk until he was 14 months old. One potty trained fairly easily, the other likes to feel the texture of his poop between his fingers. One son laughed with ease, the other was very unhappy until he could walk (maybe that's why he walked so early). One son spoke his first word really, really early but then didn't say much (except screams) for another year, the other didn't speak much for the first 17 months and then exploded in 4 word sentences. Yes, one might reach a certain milestone sooner than the other and I could sit here worrying if something is wrong based on where society deems he should be, but the truth of the matter is, both of my kids are doing great. I've come to realize and appreciate their uniqueness. Each child is fearfully and wonderfully made; perfect in the eyes of their Creator. All I can do as a parent is try my best to guide them along the journey. After all, I know that my one son won't be in diapers when he goes to high school, and my other son is no worse for the wear with the lack of sleep.

But the comparisons get harder when I compare my kids to other kids and myself to other moms...probably because it feels like a reflection on how well I parent, or don't. Why isn't my kid sleeping and yours sleeps like a dream? How do you get your child to be so obedient while mine is running away from me? Whose child is that scream? Oh yea, he's with me...How is that other mom able to do all that and I feel like I'm barely hanging on? I wish I looked immaculate like her instead of like I just rolled out of bed. Wow, she has the patience of a saint...mine flew out the car window along with the sippy cup at about half past noon (generous). Why isn't that other mom's kids freaking out in the grocery store? I know mine aren't the only ones to do that. And I know that mine aren't the only ones to scream on an airplane. But you would never know that by the looks I receive. The looks, the differences in comparisons, if I'm not careful it can lead to questions of doubt...Am I doing something wrong? What if I hadn't given so much here or what if I stepped back a bit more there...maybe then my kids would behave more like so and so. Well, as a parent I've realized that I'm not perfect. I too, like my kids, will have my own unique parenting style. And yet, despite the fact that I do not take a cookie cutter by the book approach (because let's face it, there are so many parenting books out there how could one possibly embody them all?) to parenting, I am still a great mom. Of course I will make mistakes. All I ask for is a little grace along the way. And you know what? I'll be ready to offer that other mom some grace because she too will make mistakes.  And that. is. okay.

I'm not writing this to get affirmations of how well I parent because I know I'm a good mom. Rather, I am writing this in hopes of you hearing that you're great too. We all make mistakes. So, if I pass you in the grocery store when your kids are screaming, instead of giving you the look of death, I will give you one of sympathetic and understanding (while I'm secretly smiling knowing mine aren't the only ones). And heck, my kids will probably join yours in the chorus.

Kadyn

Kai (no, his hair is not that red!)

Readers: Do you ever compare yourself to others? How about your children? How do you handle the "looks" from people in the grocery store if your kids are acting up? 

© Transparencies of Motherhood 2010

Life Without Kids?

The other day I was asked if I remember what life was life before having kids? Sure, it was quiet, carefree, and without much responsibility. We were able to sleep in (or sleep in general) until our hearts content, make plans on a whim, and our house was always clean. We rarely frequented the doctor. 

Our quiet house is now filled with chatter and coos, giggles and baby laughs, I love you mommies and I love you daddies. Our restfulness has been overtaken by sleepless nights and early mornings. Our once clean out has become cluttered with toys, children’s books, and Disney DVDs. Every room has a unique touch of child…small shoes by the door, mini washcloths and potty seat in the bathroom, bibs and highchair in the kitchen, etc. Our plans on a whim have become events, even the smallest outings, meticulously planned weeks in advance (something that can never be understood unless you have kids of your own). As for responsibility? Yikes.And  the Doctor visits? We are now on a first name basis. In fact, Kadyn is know as the "child with the most severe allergies in the clinic." Talk about responsibility? Double yikes.

I wouldn’t trade a moment of silence for all the noise our household creates. And I miss the boys when they are sleeping even though I cherish those precious moments. A clean house is no longer at the top of my priority list and all the extra loads of laundry?...I think I spoke to laundry in my last post...I smile as I fold their tiny little clothes thinking of them wearing each outfit (MY and MY HUSBAND'S laundry is another matter). 

We are all things boy: trucks, dirt, and bugs. Blue, brown, green. Overalls, crocs, camouflage, polos, baseball hats, and big boy undies. Blocks, trains, cars. Play-doh, Legos, remote control cars. Running, jumping, climbing. Owies, kisses, and Band-Aids. Trikes, wagons, and forts. Frogs, spiders and lizards. Hammers, noise makers and flashlights. 

I will miss these days; days of baby cracks, big lights and special blankies. Padded jammies running down the wood floor hallway, endless hugs, and saying each letter “k” as a “t.” Days of baby rolls, all about mommy, and seeing life through the eyes of a child experiencing them for the first time.

Of course there are days that I want to pull my hair out, days that I wonder why God chose me to trust so much, days where I wonder if I will ever sleep a straight 8 hours again and days when I wonder what I am possibly doing wrong. Days I think if I hear one more scream, I will probably go insane. There are days that I need to step away, just to catch my breathe. And that's ok. 


Through it all, I am always reminded of how wonderful being a parent is. 

What was life like before kids? Boring.