Her Words #1

Z: Daddy can I have burritos for a snack?

Me: Burritos? Do you know what a burrito is?
Z: Yes. And I want some for a snack.
Me: Some? Girl you can't eat SOME burritos.
Z: Uh huh, mommy gave me some yesterday.
Me: She did? How many?
Z: She gave me one, two, three, a lot.
Me: (Lol) I don't think so.
Z: She did, let's go ask her.
Me: Okay.

Burritos = Cheetos

The Jungle

I’m man enough to admit that at the end of most days when everyone is in bed and recharging for the next day, it’s usually me laying face down on the canvas, beat down by a couple of little girls. But even though they may be powerhouses in our home, in the real world they’re just two little sweet, polite, loving and happy children. And it scares the shi crap out of me every time I think about them being vulnerable to any of the craziness going on in the world these days.

Every day I turn on the news or pull up CNN.com there’s been another unthinkable crime against children or some heinous story that reminds me of how dangerous this world is, not just for my girls but all girls and it’s enough to turn a somewhat normal guy (that’s me) into a doomsday prepper. I can see myself now hiding in the woods teaching my family how to defend themselves with paper clips or how to communicate with birds and squirrels.

I know that part of this is normal parent anxiety but I also recognize how much the world has changed since I was a kid and I’m not even THAT old. It makes me wonder if this whole civilization thing is played out and maybe we’d be better off somewhere like the Swiss Family Robinson left to our own devices where the animals are walking around on four legs and kill for food or self-defense, not for what they can get from you or worse, for the pleasure.

Maybe I’m tripping but it’s hard not to when you pay attention to what’s going on out there and then look into your kids’ eyes and see nothing but innocence and love and realize how much that will have to change just for them to be able to navigate through the ugliness that’s waiting for them.

That sucks.  

~ Cp

Remember When...

In just a short amount of time a lot of things change in a house with two small children. Routines change routinely just to cater to the consistent evolution of behavior, habits and attitudes of toddlers. It’s to a parent’s credit to recognize when it’s time to make those changes before things get out of hand and not try to force feed old ways onto a child that has new ideas (that can get ugly). Every once and a while one of my girls does something that makes me think…”wow, I remember when she couldn’t/wouldn’t do/eat/say that”.  For example…

I Remember When:

I couldn’t leave them on the couch unattended because they might fall off. Now I can’t stop them from willingly jumping on, running into and flipping off of it.

Zari would never talk or barely make a peep. And now…NOW? Let’s just say that if what they say about inquisitive children is true then this kid might cure cancer or something. #pausebutton

We had to be ready to feed them with a warm bottle when they were ready to be fed no matter what time of day or night. And now we have to use everything from desserts to extra tv time and the threat of abandonment (in the kitchen) to get them to eat dinner. 

I couldn’t leave the girls in the same room alone……wait, still can’t do that.

The look of fear in their eyes when I threw them too high in the air. And now the only look of fear is mine when I give in to chants of “higher, higher” the whole time hoping I can make the catch. (Mom note: His first drop will be his last).

They would get a new toy or game and how much I loved to see the joy on their faces…. And now I’m smuggling toys out of the house every week because there’s no room in the toy box, they won’t stop fighting over it, or it’s too loud. #gottagogottago

When I had to do everything for them because they couldn’t do it for themselves……And now? They insist on doing it themselves while begging for help all in the same breath. So no matter what Dad does, it’s going to be wrong. #cantwin

Insurance Policy

For as long as I can remember, my girls absolutely refuse to let me leave the house without giving them a hug and a kiss. If I'm going to the corner store for 5 minutes or a daddy day for 5 hours, they want their hug and kiss. It's really sweet but sometimes it can actually be a bit monotonous especially if I'm in a hurry.  And if I do ever somehow sneak away without performing the ceremonious goodbye, when I return Mrs. Cp is sure to let me know of the carnage I caused by doing so.

But it's not the temper tantrums or tears that makes me fulfill my hug obligation, it's this one nagging and scary idea that when I walk out that door, there is a possibility that I don't walk back through it. That's the world we live in. It's scary out there. But they don't know that. Do they?

Whether they do or not whenever they scream "wait daddy, you have to give us a hug and a kiss before you leave!" what I REALLY hear is "wait daddy, you have to give us a hug and a kiss before you leave in case we never see you again!" And that's some scary sh   stuff to carry out the door with you every time you leave.

So I do it; on the surface just to avoid the immediate drama I'd cause if I didn't. But below the surface I do it because maybe children know something that adults often forget. Maybe everyone should be hugging and kissing their loved ones whenever they say goodbye. Let them know how you feel and that you'll miss them while their gone. It's like insurance just in case something happens.

Just in case.
xxooxxoo

Today's Rant: Breathing Room

I've realized that whenever I start a sentence with "I really love my girls" it usually means that I'm about to complain about something that I probably shouldn't be complaining about. It's like my brain throws in the disclaimer to soften the blow of what my mouth is about to say.

So with that being said...I really love my girls BUT...

For the life of me I cannot figure out why they act like they can't be in a room without mommy or daddy for more than 3 minutes. I mean we (mommy, daddy, grandparents, great grandparents, uncles, godfather, etc.) do a lot to make sure they have the toys, games, books and everything else they need to entertain themselves adequately and yet you would rather sit on my lap and talk about our dog eating bugs while I'm trying to watch Game of Thrones? It's hard enough to understand what these characters are saying as it is. If you're playing in the living room and mommy accidentally pokes her head in and you catch her...HER bad. Because now you're following her wherever she goes until she can shake you. It's crazy.

But many people have told us to enjoy it while it lasts because the day will come when we'll be the ones following you around trying to sneak in a little quality time while you avoid us like Jehovah's Witnesses. But when I'm in the bathroom handling private business and you're banging on the door to ask me why it gets dark at night time, that day feels light years away.

But I really love my girls ;-)