This Full House Archive

Category: Who’s Parenting Who?

  • Motherhood Should Come With a Set of Ear Plugs, Right?

    Brain
    YES, IT'S MY BIRTHDAY and I'd wear a dress, if only someone would tell me where the hell the rest of my body went, 'cause I seemed to have misplaced it, along with my reading glasses DAMNIT!

    Holy crap, but I can't believe it's Wednesday…already?  I mean, wasn't it just Friday and weren't we all just thrilled about celebrating another 3-day weekend?

    [shakes head and blows bangs out of eyes]

    Except, those of us with sick kids at home…I mean…I guess my husband, Garth [not his real name] and I should be really happy we didn't have any plans for Memorial Day, right?

    In fact, my 7-year-old was home yesterday (it WAS Tuesday, right?) and was kind enough to share the creeping crud with her mother (that would be me) because, here at This Full House of creeping crud and all things crusty, it's how we roll.

    [yawn]

    Aaaaand, I can't believe that tomorrow is my birthday (never mind, which one) or, that I have absolutely NOTHING planned.

    Why?

    Frankly, it's been one hell-of-a-year (for you too, huh?) and I'm hoping to feel at least a little better (okay, A LOT) and get-together with my twin brother (you know, SSG Kat, right?) this coming weekend.

    [cough]

    Barring any latent attacks of the creeping crud, regardless that I'm celebrating yet ANOTHER anniversary, of my 29th birthday, or the fact that I do NOT look as old as I feel, right?

    Lalalalalala, I can't hear you!

    In the meantime, I've got a post up over at New Jersey Moms Blog on how I've lost my mind and plan to take over the world.  No, not really.  Just don't make any solid plans, for the next few days, okay?

    Mind my mommy brain on the way out!

    Liz@thisfullhouse signature

    © 2009 This Full House – All Rights Reserved.

  • Blogging About Teens, Tweens: Walking Contradictions in the Term Mom Bloggers Unite!

    Go Go's Revisited

    I can't believe that Hopey's 7, going on the Go Go's!

    Last week, there was some backtalk at BlogHer on blogging about teens and, well, seeing as I happen to be raising 2 of them (teens, I mean) along with a couple of other kids, whose names and ages escape me at the moment, I thought…about DANGED time…because, it's not just me. 

    My friends Jenn and Busy Mom were also speaking up and I, for one, am really sick (and tired) about how some folks (you know, the ones who think they know everything) believe moms with teenagers are just itching for good blog fodder…DANGIT…as we, undoubtedly, have nothing to say, or worthwhile to add to this (or, any) conversation…about our DANGED kids!

    Well, then, my friend Melisa, I hate to be the one tell you this, but you ARE a walking contradiction!

    Excuse me, while my Joizey comes out, but are you tawkin' to me?  Of cawse you are.  I got staw-rees that would make even my gran-muthuh go all, like, you go girl!

    [clears throat]

    Becawse…[cough]…beeee-cause, I have always tried to be very careful about the stories I share (regardless of my children's ages) and mindful of whether (or, not) my words will hurt, or embarrass my family (or, the people reading our story) in any way.

    Still.  I'm not perfect. There is always someone ready, willing and very able to prove me wrong and that someone is almost always…one of my kids.

    This is one of those stories.

    (more…)

  • Because, Big Mommies Don’t Cry and So What?

    So-What 

    My 13 year-old thinks I have mad "mommy face" skillz…it's my new Twitter look…way different from the more professional and much happier-looking me (see sidebar at right) right?!?!?

    My husband, Garth (not his real name) comes from a long line of Thompsons, whose family roots date back to early American history, while I am descended from…well…pretty much everyone (who would admit it, anyway) or, nearly every East European nation, depending on where its border was situated, at the time.

    You think that's funny, you should have seen our wedding!

    My husband agreed with the wedding planner (who just so happened to be, you know, me) that we should give up the tradition of separating the groom's side from the bride's side at the church and opted to toss everyone in and mix 'up both sides of our family, but good.

    Or else, risk the chance of befuddling our guests into choosing between the extremely wet and wild crowd stuffing each other full with tissues, or the more straight-backed and dry-humored side of the church.

    Guess which one my side of the family would have sat on and guess who cried SO HARD, just the other day, our kids thought it somehow MUST have been their fault and quickly started blaming each other (big time) and then BEGGED to move in with their grandparents???

    Go ahead, I'll wait.

    (more…)

  • Co-ed Sleepovers: Yay, Nay or NO FREAKIN’ WAY?

    This-full-house-high
    Growing up and letting go, one child at a time!

    Remember the other day?  You know, when I first realized that my 7-year-old daughter admittedly accepted the fact that it's tough being friends with a girl and NOT be sucked into all the meanness?

    How do I know this?

    Because, I was a girl (once) and STILL feel the sting of being singled out for wearing a pale lemon yellow body suit, without a training bra, in the 3rd grade and (especially, if you were a girl once) you know that some girls grow up to be moms and are raising their girls the same exact way.

    Or, not.

    Right, or wrong, the girl can't help it…because, she's a girl.

    "So, did you hear that So-and-So had a boy sleepover at her 13-year-old daughter's party?"

    [eyes go wide]

    At this point in my life, I don't insist on getting to involved in my kids affairs…as much as I used to…I mean.

    "Yeah, actually I did, and my kid was invited and went to that same party, too."

    Unless, however, it was my 13 year-old daughter and I found out a boy attended the same sleepover party….FROM ANOTHER MOTHER???

    "Oh, but it's okay…he's gay!"

    (more…)

  • How I Strive to Be the Mother My Kids Do NOT Remember!

    This-full-house-70's

    I remember when this was taken.  The year was 1971.  I was my youngest daughter's age — although, I look a lot…you know…bigger — it was the day that the Woodbridge Center Mall first opened its doors and, ironically, Abraham & Strauss, Orbach's and Sterns are now all out of business.

    My parents have tons of pictures like this.  This one's in pretty bad shape, but I promised to go through and save as many of their photos, digitally, whenever I could (I mean, they've got boxes and boxes of 'em) but, it's become very difficult.  Harder than they could ever imagine and it's not because my parents don't have a computer, either.

    I just realized, for the first time, how much I really do look like my mother and it's killing me.

    (more…)

  • Old House, Has Good Bones

    Nest

    It was a rundown cape, on a rather large piece of property choked by over a
    dozen trees.  I still remember that first day; my father unlocking the front door and
    being surprised to find the stray dog, the previous tenants had left
    behind, still alive.

    Then, the pipes froze, my father forced open the cellar door, the
    entire front wall caved in and I don't know who cried more – me, my
    brother or my parents.

    Still, my twin brother and I were 12-years-old, sharing the same bedroom and my parents couldn't live with my grandmother's abusive husband…one…minute…longer.

    (more…)

  • Flip-Worthy Moments & Delurking Day ’09

    Today's Flip-Worthy Moment is brought to you by my next door neighbor, who wants to know:
    Is it selfish to expect older kids to help take care of their younger siblings?

     Part II – Continued…after surprise visit from in-laws…and patting down the stray hairs that were sticking outta my head in Part I…UGH:

    Please, for the love of all that is flip-worthy, let me know what you're thinking…okay?

    Delurking2009 copy

    Oh and, by the way, it's Delurking Day — yes it is, my friend Jodifur and Rude Cactus said so — but, (since, I am a SELFISH MOM and all) would it be too much to ask you (if you haven't, already) to pop on over to my Blogging Out Hunger post and leave a comment there, too…pretty please?

    You see, Stop & Shop will donate $1.00 for every comment I can get…up to $300…to the Community Food Bank of New Jersey!!!

    My-signature 

    © 2008 This Full House – All Rights Reserved.

    ——————————————————————–

    This
    is where I pimp my stuff:  Is online video gaming safe for kids and Xbox 360 vs. Wii – what's the diff?  Check out our family review & trust me, you won't wanna miss THIS GIVEAWAY!!!

  • Why I Made My Kids “Friend” Me on Facebook!

    DSCN0002

    O…M…G…don't even!

    My middle girl turned 13, last month (someone hold me!) and used her birthday money to order the really cool camera that I have been coveting (these darn kids get EVERYTHING!) and, after we got home from having her stitches removed this week, Thing Two was thrilled to find it waiting for her at the front door!

    "Here, try it!"

    Typically, I hate having my picture taken and consider myself severely photogenically-challenged.  It's okay.  I'm down with that.

    "O…M…G…what are you trying to do?"

    Gosh, but kids make me feel so stupid…sometimes.

    "Uh, don't kids do peace-out anymore?"

    Judging by the look on her face, apparently, not really.

    "No, we just do peace."

    I know I'm just a stupid parent and all (seriously, with 2 teenagers in the house, never felt dumber) but, didn't I just say that?

    "Will you take a picture of me for Facebook?"

    Yes, the day she turned 13, I allowed Thing Two to sign up for a Facebook account (I mean, her 15-year-old sister has one) and it's really no big deal…I'm on it, too…besides, I'm her mom and MADE her "friend" me!

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  • Happy Birthday, My Christmas Baby!

    [Soliciting Comments for Charity:  Okay, so I'm BLOGGING OUT HUNGER and totally willing to beg for someone
    else's food, this week     – I know I'm no Dooce, but won't you consider
    helping reach my goal of 300 comments, for charity, even for a Dork,
    like me?]

    This-Full-House-2

    Greeting cards have all been sent,
    The Christmas rush is through.
    But I still have one wish to make,
    A special one for Thing Two…

    [clears throat]

    Sisterly-kiss
     Happy Birthday, Baby
    Though 3 days after Christmas, it's still true
    You're 13 now and in my dreams
    I always wished for a girl, like you.

    Sup
    Growing up is NOT always joyful…especially, when something's bothering you
    But every day's a holiday
    When I can laugh with you

     Gothgirl


    The things you could be
    I wish you could see
    I wish it every day

    You're smart and very strong
    Darn good at singing songs

    And pretty, too…YES!…way

    Heather2
    TRUST ME…I see it everyday
    But my singing…uh…can sort of suck
    'Nuf said…don't press your luck

    [clears throat]

    Thing-two-christmas-pretty
    Happy Birthday, my Christmas Baby
    You're thirteen, I can't believe it's true
    But, I've just one wish on this special day…

    I wish I were more like you!

    My-signature

    © 2008 This Full House – All Rights Reserved.

  • All I want for Christmas is an American Girl Doll that won’t break the bank, or make mom feel all Scroogy!

    According to their latest survey results of over 1,000 respondents, TodaysMama.com revealed that 85% of Moms across the United States are trimming their holiday budgets due to concern about the long-term economic outlook, specifically:

    14% plan to cut holiday spending by an astounding 75%
    32% will cut holiday spending by 50%
    66% believe it will take two to three years for the economy to recover

    Okay, we get it — honestly, you don't have to beat parents over the head with a mailbox full of sale flyers to know that life is too short to worry about the little things, like, what the cool kids want and the things that mine aren't, you know, getting this year, again — so, why am I still feeling so gosh-darned Scroogy?!?

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