getting educated

Here we are at three-ish months to go until baby #2 makes his or her entrance.  It's time to figure this thing out, or at least figure how to get it out.  Yes, I realize that humans have been doing this since there were humans and we are designed to do this, and blah blah blah, but a little education can't hurt...right?  Plus, why isn't some sort of education required before having a kid?

To adopt a Russian Jim and I had to log 10 hours of education each.  Book reports, online lectures, etc.  That requirement is way more intense these days.  These days, ha, that makes it sound like we adopted ages ago...things just change so fast. 

Anyway, Jim and I signed up for a course through our hospital.  It's a five week course that goes through pre-labor, labor, delivery, natural measures, medication, a tour of the hospital, newborn care basics, and Jim even gets to wear "the belly."  Fantastic.  I'll keep you on the edge of your chair waiting for that photo. 

We had our first meeting on Monday.  I didn't think it was too intense.  Jim said "oh my, there is so much to know."  Oh, let me clear things up for you Jim.  When I say lets go to the hospital, you drive me there.  Once at the hospital you continue to follow my instructions.  At least that's what I gleaned from the class.

Besides this five week basics class, we are going to take a nursing class and Oliver is going to take a sibling class.  Sure, he had like 149 "siblings" back at the orphanage, but that was awhile ago, he needs a refresher.  

shower time

Ah the preschool/elementary school "walk of shame."  You know it.  It's when your kid comes home in that extra pair of clothes that you sent in for accidents.  In my history as a kindergarten teacher the most popular accidents include...

-peeing or pooping in your pants
-drama at the water fountain or sink
-inability to open your milk at lunch thus resulting in a milk explosion
-other lunch related issues
-mud or water found outside at recess or on a nature walk
-sudden rain storm while navigating the streets of Boston
-snack issues
-paint problems
-puke
-bloody nose


There may be more, but at the current time I can't think of them.

Anyway, I went to pick Oliver up from preschool today and he was wearing "those clothes."  I ask, "Oh man did you forget to pee in the potty?"  Nope.  "Did you have a hard time eating your yogurt snack?" Nope.  "Did you get messy outside, did you do messy art, did you have a problem at the sink?" Nope. Nope. Nope.  I turn to his teacher.  Then she tells me a reason I've actually not come across.

HE PUT HIS HEAD IN THE URINAL WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY FLUSHING IT!!!!!! 

That's right, my kid took a shower in the urinal.  His teachers says "He really likes water." 

Yeah I know.  Maybe I went a little overboard with the whole "tub is not torture" series back in 2011.

good mom?

really?

I keep seeing these signs popping up on Pinterest and Facebook and they annoy me every time.  I want to have a clean house AND a happy kid and I kinda think that kids actually like living in a clean semi organized space.  When Oliver gets too many toys out in his toy room, he will stop going in there until we put everything away and "reboot."

I think the sign is implying that happy kids have mommies that play with them and aren't all consumed with housework. True.  I spend a lot of time with Oliver.  We read stories, we build stuff, when it's under 90 million degrees (rare) we play outside, and we also clean together.  After all, doesn't your daughter want a husband that knows how to separate laundry and work a vacuum?  Shouldn't a three year old be able to play on their own for 20 minutes while I clean out some science experiment growing in my fridge?  I actually really love listening to him play alone, being all chatty with his trains.    

Is the sign trying to make me feel guilty for having a clean house? Or is it trying to give others validation for having a messy one?  In either case I'm quite sure being a "good mom" is way more complicated.  Like way complicated.  


P.S. I put up a little poll on the top right side of the page.  Get your vote in.  Is baby #2 going to be a girl or a boy?