February 29, 2008

The Mean Girls

Yesterday afternoon, Dawson and I headed to the public library in town. What used to be a weekly occurrence has now become an every-other-day-thing. Dawson loves the children’s department because they have two train tables with his favorite Thomas the Tank Engine toys. I enjoy the time to read quietly while Dawson is occupied.

On this particular visit I was caught up in observing others. Okay, I’ll be honest, I was people watching. Mostly because I like to see how other parents interact with their kids be nosy.

There were two little girls making plastic french toast in the play house, while their grandmother caught up on Midwest Living back issues. Every so often, Grandma would ask the girls to bring her another pretend cup of coffee. It was so cute.

The oldest girl was probably 7 years old, and her sister looked about Dawson’s age. The older girl had long brown hair and wore glasses, that she pushed up her nose every so often. Her smile was contagious, as well as her upbeat attitude, and I smiled when she came over to me and said hello.

“Hi! I’m Rena! That’s my sister Angela!” she said.

“Hi Rena, I’m Dana. It’s nice to meet you!” I replied.

“What’s your little boy’s name?” she asked.

“That’s Dawson. He loves trains.” I said.

With that, Rena went over to Dawson and introduced herself. My little bug is still kind of afraid of girls, so he started to blush and then went back to his trains. It was adorable.

After we had been at the library about twenty minutes, another mom came in with her daughter and the daughter’s friend. The two girls were most likely 7 or 8 years old as well. These girls went over to play with the doll house and I watched as Rena went over to say hello to her potential new friends.

“Hi! I’m Rena! What’s your name?” she asked.

“I’m Hayley,” said the first girl.

“I’m Karissa,” said the second.

I watched intently as Rena tried to befriend these two girls. She asked to play with the dolls, too, and the new girls reluctantly agreed. After a few minutes, Rena’s grandmother said it was time to go. After Rena and her family disappeared into the elevator, I listened to what Hayley and Karissa were saying to each other.

“I don’t like that girl, do you?” asked Hayley.

“No. She’s weird. I don’t like her either,” Karissa replied.

I was stunned. Those two little brats! What a rude thing to say. When did little girls become so gosh darned mean?

“Why don’t you like her?” I asked the girls.

They looked surprised that I was speaking to them.

“Uh…we don’t know her. She’s different.” said Hayley.

“Well,” I began. “Being different, and being yourself, is a wonderful quality. If every little girl was the same as you, this world would be very boring, and not very friendly, now would it?”

Both girls shook their heads and went off to play with something else. I don’t know what compelled me to speak up. Maybe it’s because I saw a little bit of myself in Rena. I was always teased for not being like everyone else.

Kids can be cruel to those they think are different, simply because they are too afraid of what others think. Rena didn’t care what anyone thought, she wasn’t afraid to be who she was. Rena, where ever you are, keep being your beautiful self. It truly was nice to meet such a sweet girl like you.

February 28, 2008

To Catch the Moon

Last Wednesday, even after receiving awful news, I still managed to catch part of the eclipse.  Dawson and I sat next to the window and stared up at the moon.

“Dawson, do you see the moon?” I asked.

“Uh-huh!  Mommy, it’s a pretty nice moon.” he replied.

“Do you see what is happening?  That’s called an eclipse.”

“A clips? Oh, Mommy that’s a nice clips.”

“Yes.  Don’t you wish we could reach out and touch the moon?” I asked.

“No, Mommy.  We can’t catch the moon.  We need a bigger net.”

Not only that, kiddo, but a net with a very long handle.

February 27, 2008

Caption Contest

Okay, bloggy friends… it’s time for a contest.

Help me come up with a caption for this photo.  The reader who submits the best caption will win a $10 gift certificate to Amazon.com.

Submissions must be left in the comments, one per person, and please include your e-mail address so that I can contact the winner.  All entries must be received on or before Saturday, March 1st by midnight CST.

Don’t worry.  I will not be the judge.  I’m leaving that job up to the Hubs.  Y’all don’t want to know the caption he came up with.

So, get to it!

February 26, 2008

What’s In Store for Today

Cleaning Dawson’s Room.

Before you get on my case or tell me I shouldn’t have let it get this bad, please remember I used to work 40 hours a week and barely had time to blog, let alone clean. And yes, I do have my priorities in order, thank you very much.

Now that I’m home, it shouldn’t be this messy ever again, right? (Crossing fingers behind my back.)

February 25, 2008

Free Time

Now that I’ve been home for a few days, Dawson has been glued to my side. I cannot use the bathroom without him barging in to make sure I haven’t disappeared forever. I don’t understand why he’s acting so clingy. He sits next to me through out the day. If I switch chairs in the living room, he will follow. I love the extra time I have to spend with him, but I can only take being smothered for so long.

Yesterday, I spent the day with my mother. Dawson was very mad that he couldn’t come along, but my husband reasoned that I will have plenty of time alone with the Doodlebug, so I should take advantage of my time away. Doug and Dawson spent the day at home playing with Matchbox race cars, and my mom and I went to Marshfield to checkout the Figi’s outlet store. On the way back we had lunch at a local dive, Sunrise Restaurant, and the food was delicious. Cheap prices and huge plates. I had the Gyro platter and I was stuffed for hours after we left.

After I took Mom home, I spent some time at her house, talking about my job options with her and my father. Dad suggested I open an at-home daycare because our house is in the prime location, between two elementary schools in a part of town that is filled with young families. I’m definitely considering the idea, and if Doug goes along with it, I’ll be even happier.

For years, I’ve wanted to stay home with Dawson. If I can do that and still contribute to the family income, my life would be complete. Wish me luck. I’ve got a lot of thinking to do!

I’ve managed to get a lot of housework completed these last few days, a major accomplishment, and Doug loves coming home to a clean house. (A plus! I’ll use that in my case to persuade him to allow me to work from home.)

I’m off to tackle Dawson’s room. It looks like a tornado has blown right through it.