Friday, December 30, 2005

Is There Anything to Be Thankful For?

Not to be annoying and add too much more to the endless and mostly innane End O' Year List O' Mania but... there are a couple of things that I would like to mention about this year...

SOv.2 had her 1 year birthday this year and has grown into a spectacular toddler with a surprisingly sophistocated sense of humor

SOv.1 is on his way, if not quite well on, to learning how to use the potty and successfully wear underwear thus diminishing the resources put out towards diapering and all its sundry glory

SO has discovered the wonder of the SAM-e and Vitamin B combo to even out the moods which helps out in many areas of life, his, mine and ours

I am thankful for all the friends who have kept in touch with us despite the continued exhile in the desert

I am grateful for the visits we have been honored with from family and friends... I know its a trek and its not always pleasant here though apparently people pay through the nose to stay here on a weekend... we do have to appreciate swimming in December, especially when our East Coast family and friends are experiencing snow... (SO likes to rub it in)

I am grateful to have met some new people this year who have inspired me... it is especially nice to leave 2005 on a high note of a possible film production for early 2006 in the works... and if it doesn't pan out then at least I got to leave this year hopeful!

I am so glad that we continue in good health

I am glad that I turned 40 this year but don't feel it and was told today (thank you Judy!) don't look it

I will miss my Uncle Tom who passed away in October but am so thankful to me Mommasita for framing lovingly and giving me his last painting...

I look forward to 2006 and will probably ring in the New Year with a book in hand, nursing SOv.2, listening to SOv.1 snoring beside me in 'big bed' while SO, poor lovely, works hard for the money at the hotel where he will be dodging drunken revellers swaying down the hallways. I am grateful he will get off late, well past the time most of them will be drooling on their hotel pillows and not on the roads.

Happy New Year everyone!

Tuesday, December 13, 2005

I was going to write this week about the futility of it all, feeling as if I am stagnating in my job. (Oh yes, easy for you to say, "You, the mother, should be happy just to be raising your children". But you weren't brainwashed by the women's lib movement in your formative years convincing you that you were supposed to be successful in your career TOO otherwise you are a LOO-ZER!) But then, something happened. Things began to shift slightly and now there is a very strong possiblity that we may actually get a film in production. Not just that but one of the projects I would be a Producer on. That's right, full fledged, grown up title that it is, that's what I would do. Wow.

Not that it will all come to fruition. I fully expect each time something looks hopeful for it to fall through. That's not negative thinking. In the film industry that is just called realistic thinking. Staying IN the business is considered positive thinking and no other actions or statements are required to prove that you are indeed a hopeful person.

Now, I can't remember all the brilliant things I was going to write about faith and hope and the futility of planning... Now, I am just too busy planning for aproject that, hopefully will come together and if it does I have total faith that it will turn out great.

So much for pesimissm... can't seem to hold on to it when things go well. Funny that.

Tuesday, December 06, 2005

Why Don't Movies Tell the Real Story!?

... of putting little ones to bed? Add this to the annals of Things They Don't Tell You About Parenting, Volumn 500.

Its all sweetness and light in those magazines and books and websites, isn't it! Why don't they tell you about how when you finally get them to agree to stay in their own bed they revert back to yours the first time they are sick and its start from square one!

Why don't they tell you that nursing a baby till they are 2 years old is a swell idea until you consider the TEETH!

Why don't they tell you that you can't force your children to use a pacifier, soft animal or blanket to comfort themselves to sleep but that they are very likely to want to use your BOOBS!

Why don't they tell you that once asleep its not likely they will stay that way for the minimal 6 hours, forget about the 8 you really need!

This is the scene:

Wife walks into living room where Husband is embedded on the sofa. He looks up lovingly.

HUSBAND: Did she go down?
WIFE: Yes. She actually fell asleep about an hour ago but I just couldn't stop looking at that angel face.

Husband chuckles, kisses Wife on cheek as he throws a loving warm arm around her, pulling her in close for a snuggle.

What really happens:

Husband is vegging out on sofa, not listening at all to the baby monitor when Wife stomps in.

WIFE: Didn't you hear me? I have been screaming for 20 minutes!
HUSBAND: Hunh, whaa?
WIFE: Milk! The boy needs milk.
HUSBAND: Are we going to watch a movie?

Wife rolls her eyes as she stomps back into the bedroom. Sounds of screaming come from the baby monitor.

Later:

Wife sneaks quitely into the living room. Husband is sleeping, mouth agape, on sofa. The remote control dangling from his fingertips.

WIFE: Honey. Honey!
HUSBAND: Hunh, Whaa?
WIFE: You were sleeping.
HUSBAND: Uhn... Kids asleep?
WIFE: (rolling eyes) Finally. I swear if that kid keeps chewing on my boobs I am just going to cut them off! Ugh! Why can't they just go to SLEEP!
HUSBAND: Speaking of, I'm exhausted. I think I'll just go to bed. Kids in their own beds.
WIFE: (rolling her eyes) No! If you wake them up...

Sounds of rustling from the baby monitor.

WIFE: Shhhhh!
HUSBAND: Huhn, whaa?
WIFE: The babies.

Sounds of crying from baby monitor.

WIFE: Gaddamnit! Uh. I better go back in there.
HUSBAND: What time did they go down?
WIFE: Two hours ago.
HUSBAND: Alright. Well, I'll be out here watching the Daily Show.

Wife stomps back into bedroom.

Scene end.

I think we know from watching Nanny 911 and Supernanny that we are not alone. But even those shows only serve to make us feel superior. I mean, 'we' aren't as bad as those parents. But I suspect there are alot more things like sleep rituals that parenting books, magazines, websites and shows fail to mention you will have difficulty with as a parent. Can we just come clean, and not in the "parenting is the hardest job in the world" namby pamby kind of way, but in the real, yes I let my children sleep in my bed because if I don't they scream all night and make the neigbors want to call social services kind of way.... I mean please! Can we just?