The Mommies' Diaries…Parenting, One Blog at a Time.

I was totally inspired by this blog post I read last week: http://honesttoddler.wordpress.com/2012/06/06/im-sorry/#more-191

It’s an entry written from a toddler’s perspective, and it’s hilarious. It got me thinking….what would DJ say if she was given an open platform to share her candid thoughts? Here’s my best guess:
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Bedtime was pretty rough last night. Mom and Dad are learning my tactics and they’re cracking the whip – its starting to piss me off, actually. So, I gotta step it up a bit, dig deep into my bag of tricks.

When I sensed we were nearing the end of dinner, I decide to ask for a second helping of chicken. Mom fell right into my trap when she snapped, “No, you haven’t even touched the chicken on your plate.” BINGO. Not only will I use this point to my advantage a little later, but I’ve got her right where I want her. We’re arguing – and I’m buying a few more minutes of “awake time.” But, out of nowhere, Dad threatened that I’d get sent straight to bed if I didn’t stop defying Mom. Ugh, I hadn’t counted on that one.

We finished dinner and I had to ask permission to leave the table. With my sweetest voice and that warm grin that gets them every time, I coyly asked, “May I please be excused?”  They said yes, and I broke for freedom. Made a bee-line for the couch and within seconds had thrown all the cushions off and jumped the length of the couch with tiny hops. It was a race against time, but I gave it all I had. Within seconds, Mom and Dad boomed, “STOP JUMPING!” so, I feigned an injury.  “Owie Owie Owie!” I cried. I blinked out a few fake tears and put my pouty face on.  Earned a few more minutes by way of sympathy hugs. Yes!

Alright, time to head into my bedroom for story time. First, PJ’s.  Mom pulled some jammies out of my drawer while Dad instructed me to choose three books.  I grabbed the biggest three books off my shelf – HA! Dad started in on the negotiations….”You can either have one of those big books, or three small ones.” BLAH, Blah, blah….I took the opportunity to glance over at what Mom had laid out. It was all wrong.  “NO, NO, NO!  I want The Little Mermaid ones, not the Cinderella ones!” Man, I’m good – another fight with Mom = more time outta bed. I gotta say, Mom’s so entertaining when she’s exhausted and frustrated.  Her hair falling out of her ponytail as she rocks my baby sister in one arm while throwing pajamas around with the other.  I try not to laugh as I delight in my evil, but I’m still trying to contend with Dad, too.

I’m not quite sure how I lost my power, but in one fell swoop, I ended up being stuffed into a Little Mermaid top with Cinderella bottoms, and three small (and totally boring) books.  I was under my covers and my lights were dimmed. Ugh, story time was upon me.

I listened intently as Dad read my stories.  Just kidding! I didn’t listen to a single word…..I was too busy revising my plan as I hadn’t intended to be in bed just yet. So, yeah, anyway.  Dad finished the books.  Mom told me she loved me and out she went.  Dad tucked me in, and followed Mom out.

Think fast, DJ. Think fast.

“MOMMY! DADDY! I need to go pee pee.” Nothing.  They’re ignoring me? Seriously? The nerve.  Really? “I need to go pee pee!!!!” Again, nothing. This is absurd.  I gotta step it up.

“I’m too hot!!!!!” Silence.  They’re seriously gonna let me roast?

“I need some water!!!!!!” I’m parched. Kinda.  Ok, not really. But, I mean, for all they know my tongue has turned to sandpaper.  How can they let me dehydrate? They’re letting me dehydrate. I can’t believe this…..

“TUCK ME IN.  I need my paci.  I need Lovey. I NEED YOU!”

Wow. Ignored. Ignored. Ignored. Time to make them regret playing this game with me.  “I went poo poo!!!!”  How ya like me now, suckas!?

As I heard Dad’s quick steps approaching my bedroom, I had a brief moment of regret – but then I thought “What could he really do?  I mean, it was their fault, after all, for letting things go this far.” I decided to throw in a tantrum for added drama…thrashing around in bed so as to throw Dad off his game when he entered my room.

I’m guessing that was a bad plan because Dad was PISSED that all my rolling around smeared my poop all over my butt and my back.  I tried not to laugh as he gagged while cleaning me up. But SCORE. I got The Little Mermaid shorts that I had originally requested. Damn, I’m good.

“Goodnight, DJ.  Do not call us again. We will not come back.  It’s bedtime.  I love you.” Dad is such a softie sometimes….awwwww, so sweet.  It’s a good time to make another plea.

“Mommy! I’m still hungry. I didn’t eat all my chicken!!!!”

Needless to say, no one came running in with a tray of cold dinner. You can’t blame a girl for trying – and with the entire night ahead of me, I was able to plan out how to sabotage breakfast.

Rock on with my bad self.

“Mommy, how full is your tank?”

“It’s up to my shoulder…guess I need a little more snuggle time.”

My kids know this kind of language about where our “tanks” are.  Do you know how it is to be trying to give everything you’ve got, but your tank is working its way down to “empty”.

In the beginning of the new year, Hunnie and I always meet up and specifically talk a bit about last year and  thoughts on the upcoming year. Last January he had been reading some book that talked along the lines of making sure you do the things that you can to “fill” you and so we each made a list:

What Fills Missy?

Dates with my man and individual date time with each kid, walking outdoors, exploring new places, reading, writing, movies, extended time with my mind “off”, showers, naps, eating with people, having girlfriends over, good “real” conversations, feeling understood, serving others

What Drains Missy?

Constant correcting, constant coordinating, noise, late nights, difficult relationships, spending money, making decisions that are hard, the “ugly junk” of the world, my health and headaches.

It is kind of important at this point in the game (mid year…still waiting on adoption) to revisit this and re-evaluate life in general.  There are some things we are still working on as a family and if I am willing to own up to some of my stuff that just needs to change, then I’ll be all the more prepared to have a stable home for future child. Sometimes I need some help getting back on track.  Hunnie is really great at asking good questions like:

What are the things, the 5%, that only I can do? Sometimes I do a bunch of stuff, but it is not really necessary, nor is it my top priority, nor is it “filling” my tank, nor is it “filling” someone else’s tank. Dinner is usually a top priority, but sometimes I feel like this:

How do I communicate with my family (or work situation) if my tank gets low and I need to refill it? Because usually, I communicate crabbiness and a slight oozing of irritation long before I realize that I need some refueling and take the time to do that.  This picture describes me all too often:

If I have only 7 bursts of energy, where do I want them to go? Yep, I spend my energy on things that I ought not to, then, I am drained when it comes time for my kiddos.
How do I want to be seen in 10 years? What do I want my family to look like? Some of the best advice from MOPS this year was to remember that I am raising a future adult.  That whole idea of keeping the end goal in focus, sometimes gets lost if I am daily “draining” and not taking the time to “refuel”.

So, how would you answer these questions? And what are some of your best “refuel” tips…so I can try them, too!