All posts by Janna

My Deepest, Darkest, Most Ugly Secret

More About Me, Parenting

Here goes.  This is tough for me.  This secret lies in the farthest corner of my heart, where it’s dark and no one is allowed.  It’s in a locked drawer.  But the problem is that I am allowed there.  And being there alone is … lonely.

I don’t love being a mom.  I don’t always love being with my kids.  Sometimes, in the deep trenches of parenting, I think Chad and I would have been perfectly happy as just the two of us.

I’ve kept the secret locked up tight because I was afraid of the judgement and suggestions I … Read the rest

Wednesday Wit: March 6, 2013

Wednesday Wit

Ada: Daddy, did I eat enough supper?
Chad: I don’t know, is your tummy full?
Ada: I have this much soup left.
Chad: That’s not what I asked.  Is it satiated?
Ada: (Nodding) She ated.
I think she heard, “Did it say she ated?”

Me: Ada, please take your juice to the dining room.  Red juice can’t be on the couch.
Ada: Oh!  I get it.  Because it stings.

Ada: So Grandma and Grandpa live in the country, so that means there are no United States flags?
Me: No.  The live in THE country, not in ANOTHER country. (skipping … Read the rest

Wednesday Wit: February 27, 2013

Wednesday Wit

Chad has been explaining omnivore, herbivore, and carnivore.
Chad: So Ada, you’re an omnivore.
Ada: Actually, I’m a candysaurus.
Oh right, the fourth option.

Eli is doing his 20 minutes of reading for daily homework…
Chad: What did you just read about?
Eli: Why do you keep asking me that?  Why can’t you just trust me that I’m reading?
Chad: “Trust, but verify.”  Wisdom from Ronald Reagan.
Ladies and gentlemen, my husband 🙂

Ada: That’s the one where Mater’s in Tokoyo.
Grace: Tokyo.
Ada: Tokoyo.
Again, she likes to be right.  Even when she’s not.

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An Unexpected Rough Patch

Parenting

I love encouraging moms with little kids.  It’s part of my mission statement.  I especially have a soft spot for moms with kids that are close together like mine.  I didn’t know anyone personally in that situation, so I like to be available to encourage those moms whenever possible.  I always tell them that each stage gets a little easier.  Just keep going.

I feel like I’ve been stopped dead in my tracks recently.  All three of my kids have an unfortunate amount of energy that I just can’t keep up with, and can’t seem to direct or refocus.  At … Read the rest

Wednesday Wit: February 20, 2013

Wednesday Wit

Ada likes to be in charge of the list when we get groceries.  I know this comes as a surprise.
Ada: Next we need appler.  What’s that?
Me: That says apples.
Ada: Well it looks like appler.
Me: OK.  It says apples.
Ada: The s looks like an r.
Me: It’s an s.
Ada: It looks like an r.
We like to be right.

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Another Chapter in the ENT Melodrama

More About Me

I’ve written too many times about my time at the ENT doctor.  Well I went again last week because I’ve had some large white spots in the back of my throat for 2.5 months that my family doctor thought was tonsillitis, but two rounds of antibiotics still hadn’t cleared it up.

You remember my ENT right?  He calls me a “mixed bag”.  Not your “usual patient”.  I’ve been seeing him for four years for chronic sinusitis and migraines that are now controlled by nasal spray, daily preventative meds, and glasses for astigmatism that I didn’t know I had.

Good times.  … Read the rest

MOSTLY Like Me

Kids

Ada and I get along splendidly, because she’s mostly a 7-year-old version of me.  Chad gets along with her splendidly because she’s a 7-year-old-version of me.  Actually, he calls her the “unrefined version” of me.  I understand (for the most part) how she thinks and feels.

Today is a stark contrast to the norm.  Today is Valentine’s Day, and I will not be wearing red or pink.  If we’re traveling on Valentine’s Day I plan ahead so I don’t accidentally have those colors left to wear.  There are just some things I cannot do.  I also don’t wear green on … Read the rest

No Crying in Target

Parenting

Here’s the scene.  Chad and I are having a lovely morning/afternoon date, and we stopped in Target (as parents most often do on such occasions).  We had a big anniversary party to go to that evening (Chad’s grandparents’ 60th to be exact) and Ada had cried the day before that she didn’t have a dress fancy enough to wear.  I was feeling soft and generous, so we decided to look through the little girls’ section for a dress.  I found some I liked and looked for her size.

Wait.  These go up to 5T.  She’s a 6 now.

So we … Read the rest

17 years

Marriage

17 years ago today Chad asked me to be his girlfriend.  He gave me his class ring (do kids still do that?).  We were 16.  Two of my children are more than halfway to 16.

Let’s not drive down Panic Road today.

17 years ago the cutest boy in school asked me to be his girlfriend.  He was a drummer – he played set, he was the lead snare, AND he was the drumline captain, to be precise.  He played set for the vocal jazz group I was in.  We were in jazz band, wind ensemble, pep band, and marching … Read the rest

Wednesday Wit: February 6, 2013

Wednesday Wit

Ada: When I get married, I am going to wear a dress with long sleeves since it will be cold outside.
Me: Are you getting married in the winter?
Ada: Yes.  I want to get married on my birthday.
Me: Ah.  Don’t you have to ask Ezra? (the boy she is planning to marry)
Ada: I did.  I asked him to marry me, and he said yes.
Me: I mean, you have to ask him WHEN he wants to get married.  What if he wants to get married on HIS birthday?
Ada: Oh.  Well maybe I should wait to decide … Read the rest