Pay Up!

We started potty-training Macey on Inauguration weekend. Garry was home for several days and it was a good time to start the process. It's been over two months, and Macey is perfect with Number One. But she's doing horribly with Number Two.

We've tried everything! Truly. People have recommended it; we've tried it. Bribes of every kind. Alright, that did not work. Punishment when she had an accident. That really did not work. Nothing has worked. Macey is Macey and she does things on her time table and refuses to negotiate. I just could not find her currency -- something that she would work hard for.

But I do know she loves soccer and school.

She loves going to preschool and soccer so I told her that she could not go back to school or soccer until she was doing better at the ole Number Two. I figured that this was a win-win threat since it was Spring Break and she actually was not missing school -- she just felt like she was.

Monday went by. She had an accident. Fine! No soccer. No school. (There was no school anyway).

Tuesday went by. Success. All on her own. No threats, no medicine, no begging. Just happily on her own.

I was teaching piano, but when I was done she proudly told me of her success. "Now I can go to school!" she said.

Woops. Clearly I did not think this out very well.

Responsible

A few weeks ago I had to make a decision: Italy or no Italy. My Mom and sisters had been planning a trip for almost a year, and I had a hard time deciding whether to go or not to go. (Insert theme music: Should I Stay Or Should I Go -- Love that song.)

After Molly was born I was pretty convinced that I should not go. At that time she would not take a bottle (though she had nearly two ounces of formula yesterday -- wahoo!) or a pacifier. So it would be really hard to leave her since the only way to calm her down at times was to nurse her. And financially it did not make sense since Garry and I plan to sell the townhouse this summer and move into something bigger where our kids can run and scream and play all day and the neighbors cannot complain! So I knew that we needed all of our pennies for that big move. Emotionally, it would have been great! Europe! No crying! No tantrums! But I just could not justify it. So I did not go.

I found out yesterday that an old roommate of mine is facing a similar decision. To take a trip or not to take a trip? Her kids are older and in school, so it would not be too hard to leave. But financially it does not make sense for her family or for their future goals. So, what is she going to do? She's taking the trip!

For the last few hours I have been so angry about this. Her actions do make sense to me, but she's getting something that I wanted. I'm started to feel a foot stomping tantrum come on and it's not from my four year old -- it's from me! Does she lack responsibility or do I lack faith?

So Close. . .But Yet, So Far. Really, Really Far.

I broke my glasses a few weeks ago and so sometimes in the morning, until I find time to put in my contacts, my vision is not so good. This morning, while I was doing the laundry, I stopped at the computer to check Facebook.

For those not acquainted with Facebook, it has a neat feature called "People You May Know". Some master computer somewhere looks at your friends list and the lists of your friends and suggests people you may know that you might want to add as a friend.

This morning when I logged on, I checked out my "People You May Know" box and for one glorious second I thought that it was suggesting Jude Law as a friend. It was a beautiful second.

I squinted and looked again. Nope, not Jude Law. It was suggesting Jori Law. Though nice, I'm sure, she looks nothing like Jude Law.

Better luck next time.

Temptation

Different people find temptation in different places. I happen to find mine on the first aisle on the right at Target. The laundry aisle.

At the end of the aisle, there are several boxes of laundry detergent. Let me confess right here that I am a powder kind of a girl. I just do not find liquid detergent to be economical though I appreciate its ability to instantly dissolve in the coldest of waters.

In front of me on said aisle I find detergents that smell nice, detergents that do not smell at all, detergents with proclaimed special fighting stain abilities. It's a fun place to stop and peruse. And so I do.

Occasionally I stray and I pick a detergent that is economical and smells sniffy and promises to make me smell sniffy as well.

But, like the girl who discovers too late that you should dance with the one that brought ya, I always go crawling back to Tide. I admit my mistake, apologize for straying, and beg Tide to follow me back home.

Because truly you cannot beat the power of Tide. It's a wonderful thing.

Tick Tock

Try as I might, it seems that I cannot stop making mistakes on my oldest child.

I seem to have the shortest temper with her and expect more than I should from her. Every night when I see her asleep (usually on my bedroom floor) I realize that she deserves better, and I resolve to do better. Sometimes I do; sometimes I fall short. Way short.

Up to this point I have comforted myself with the fact that she is so young that she will not remember all of my mistakes.

But, now she's four! I remember things from when I was four! So the chances are that she will, too! I have officially run out of time to greatly improve my parenting skills.

Thriftier Than Thrifty

Today I discovered that I am thriftier than thrifty. How? I just experienced sticker shock at The Salvation Army.

I'm in the market for a mirror for my downstairs bathroom. We're putting the townhouse on the market in a few days and that little bathroom is going to be one of the first things a prospective buyer sees. So, I am trying to make it snazzy and a new mirror would be nice.

But, I really do not want to dish out the money needed to get exactly what I want, and so a friend suggested I check out the thrift stores.

I tried one. No mirrors.

So I went to the Salvation Army. There, on the ground, was a mirror that just might do the trick. I picked it up and looked it over. Well, there were a few scratches. But, I thought I could clean it up. So I checked the price. $19.99.

What?! What?! $20 for a little used mirror?

I put it down and then went to the furniture section. Our end table has seen better days and it might be a good idea to get a new one. I saw one that might do the trick. The right type of wood. The right size. A few scratches, but nothing too bad. I looked at the price tag. $39.50.

What?! What?! Haven't these people been to IKEA?

All Of The Smiles Are Gone. . .

Today I took Molly and Macey to the doctor. (A big thank you to Tara for watching Emma!)

Macey went for her three-year well visit and Molly went for her 4 month. Macey just get weighed and checked but Molly got a shot.

Molly cried and cried after the shot, and when we got home I finally got her to take a nap. I realized that she was still having a hard time after the shots when I picked her up from her nap. All of my baby's beautiful smiles were gone! I did not get so much as a grin. Here's hoping that they come back tomorrow.