This Full House Archive

Category: Who’s Parenting Who?

  • The Christmas Picture That Almost Wasn’t

    Thing-two-and-mama-thanksgiving 

    I took this picture of Thing Two (she's my middle girl) and my mom (that's my youngest, Mini-me, popping up, on cue, from behind the couch) at my brother's house on Thanksgiving Day.  It's not a very good one (seriously, I could really use a new camera, Santa!) but, you can still see the family resemblance…right?

    This year, I really enjoyed giving up on any plans I had for hosting our family dinner (seriously, I highly recommend it) and not for the lack of wanting (I love Thanksgiving) but, things have been a little stressful at our house, lately.

    I know, you too, right?

    My husband, Garth (not his real name) works in the banking industry ('nuf said) and then my middle girl goes and blows a gasket (genetic disorders be damned) so, luck hasn't been on our side this year and, truth be told, I'm more than a little nervous about my mother's heart procedure, next week.

    Oh, did I mention that Thing Two is scheduled for her surgery, the following week, 13 days before her 13th birthday!?!?

    (more…)

  • Pretty Thankful

    Happy-thanksgiving

    "You're supposed to carry it with two hands!"

    My seven-year-old made this year's Thanksgiving pretty in class and she was very careful NOT to give it to me.

    "Wow, this is really very pretty."

    Honestly, I just love it when my kids bring their holiday projects home and — having collected a fair amount over the years — my husband, Garth (not his real name) and I are seriously considering opening a FTD greetings franchise, for kids.

    "No it isn't!"

    As Mini-me's eyes started to fill up with tears — right there in the middle of the school yard — I quickly leafed through the files in my mommybrain for a quick (yet, loving) response and pretty much, you know, came up empty.

    "Uh, yeah, it is."

    See?

    "It's not how I wanted it to be."

    Mini-me is my youngest of four and she is a walking contradiction to everything I ever knew, or thought I did, about raising kids.

    [sniff]

    "But, sweetie…my house, my friends, my family, the world…these are very wonderful things to be thankful for!"

    The look on her face, screamed…Nuh-uh!

    "NUH-UH!"

    [hands on hips]

    "Because, I have lots more stuff to be thankful for."

    So, along with the pumpkin and apple pies, we're bringing a little something extra something special to my brother's house.

    "But, I could ONLY use 4 popsicle sticks!"

    Okay, to most people, it may not be the most prettiful floral arrangement.

    "I think it's perfect!"

    But, Mini-me's school project reminded me that, as parents, we sometimes have a hard time seeing the pretty passed the popsicle sticks (or, something like that) and, to these mommy eyes, that is totally gift-worthy!

    Have a Prettiful Thanksgiving!

    My-signature

    © 2008 This Full House – All Rights Reserved.

  • The Twilight Years: Okay, I get it, BITE ME!

    I began my obsession with Twilight in the Summer of 2007, when my oldest daughter insisted that…YES…it would keep her interest and…OF COURSE…the genre would make an absolutely perfect fit into her summer reading list.

    "It’s a vampire love story!"

    Uh-huh.

    So, I read it first to make sure that it was really, you know, appropriate for teen readers and…WHAM…it truly was love at first bite.

    [cringe]

    Don’t worry, Stephenie Meyer writes way gooder than me and has taken a story line that is not really that unique — like, how love overcomes all obstacles, sort of — but, presents it in a totally refreshing way.

    With that said, I can’t help but wonder if it’s wrong that I’m totally crushing on…um, you know…my teen’s crush?

    (more…)

  • Got Teens: Then, you NEED to be reading my blog!

    My friend Jenn – whom I love dearly and needs coffee, like most mommies I know – has another thought provoking post (dammit!) about teens and the parents who blog about them.  Namely, me.  Because, you know, I am a mom, with teens, tweens, a precocious seven-year-old and I happen to keep a blog.  Or, two.

    Why?

    Well, it’s like told Jenn:

    "I’ve been blogging for 5 years now (4 kids all under the age of 10, ‘nuf said) and, yes…the stories have
    changed…a little…but, it’s still OUR story and I don’t write about
    anything that I (or, my kids) would be uncomfortable sharing, in real
    life.

    Although, my kids are in school full-time, my job is far from being done. I will have TWO teenagers, in a couple of months (ACK!) and personally, I feel that being their mom has become even harder.

    However, my reasons for keeping This Full House remain the same – blogging is cheaper than therapy!"

    Then, one of my kids goes and bleeds all over herself and what if I told you that the first thing I did was Twitter it?

    (more…)

  • Parenting Tip #19,201,733: When it comes to love, there is no language barrier – unless, you are family!

    [Edited to Add: I borked-up my blog and accidentally disappeared ALL comments – sorry, if I lost yours – because, I am A DORK!]

    Welcomefriends

    This is the sign that welcomes visitors to my parents house, as it sits firmly planted in between the geranium beds, next to the bird feeders and right outside their front door.

    On the surface, most people find its salutation agreeable and a few have made their inquiries as to where they, too, might find such an amusing lawn ornament.

    Looking a little deeper, and having spent the better part of the summer visiting with my family, one might perhaps understand the truth that lies underneath its whimsical tone.

    Especially, since I was the one who bought it for them.

    (more…)

  • Mom and Mini-me’s Most EXCELLENT Adventure!

    I wrote a blog post about Mom-nesia and was recently interviewed for a piece on ABC News (I know; don’t understand exactly how that happened) and truly believe that it really DOES exist and the more children you have, the less brain cells you’re left with at the end of the day.

    They’re lucky I remember their names – let alone, their birth dates – I mean, these poor kids have to share EVERYTHING…even me!

    Yesterday, Mini-me and I were invited to a private screening of the new Kit Kittredge – An American Girl Movie in New York City (I know; don’t know how that could have happened, either!) and, since it was her birthday, we decided it was a terrific way to celebrate her 7th year at the measuring wall and bought two round-trip train tickets into The Big Apple.

    That’s right, I decided this time, there would ONLY be room for two!

    (more…)

  • Parenting Tip #29,019,543: You’ll laugh at this one day – I’m laughing, already!

    Minimegah

    My inlaws are both turning 80 this year (relax, you guys STILL look good) so, I try to keep holidays and family get-togethers as simple as possible.  Let’s face it, I know that having kids running around at these sort of things can get a little gregarious and my mother-in-law just doesn’t seem to be in much of a festive mood, anymore.

    Heck, she’s got 5 kids, I’m surprised the woman is even able to complete a sentence, or find the strength to smile, without madly clutching at her breast and gasping for breath, then dribbling her sweet tea all over the place.

    Unless, she’s eating cake at MY house – especially, if it happens to be one that Grandma did NOT bake – oh, and did I mention that I can make a really crappy pitcher of sweet tea?

    (more…)

  • PBN Blog Blast: All I want for Mother’s Day

    The Parent Bloggers Network has teamed up with Johnson and Johnson to promote their new charitable giving site, Johnson’s Baby Cause, powered by Global Giving.

    As part of their responsibility to the global community, Johnson’s has hand-selected dozens of charities around the world that mirror their deep commitment to caring for the health and well-being of mothers and children – not just on Mother’s Day, but every day of the year.

    This is the 100th Anniversary of Mother’s Day and my 15th year of raising kids — not to mention, killer dust bunnies — in this mother-loving world of comfortable running shoes and matching hoodies.

    So, as a mother of a teen, a tween, a precocious 1st grader and The Boy who refuses to admit he is NOT getting a brother for Christmas, what could I possibly want for Mother’s Day?

    (more…)

  • Be sure to leave the twenty, on the nightstand, on your way out!

    Downtime_2

    What?  Is it Tuesday, already?  Is it me…or, does anybody else NOT have the time…for anything, anymore?  I swear, the older the kids get…well, you know…I wonder.  Does anyone else know if snoring on my husband’s lap is considered foreplay?

    (more…)

  • This Is My Early Morning Singing Song!

    Thisfullhousepajamamama_2
    Gliddy glub gloopy
    Nibby nabby noopy
    La la la lo lo…

    I’m not a morning person.  I’m a mommy, you know what I mean?  Still.  My husband Garth (not his real name) couldn’t care less if I woke up, tomorrow, decided to shave my head and start referring to myself as:

    "Hello, my name is Starshine and I AM Mr. Clean’s bitch!"

    I’m telling you, as weird as it sounds, he’d STILL think I’m sexy.

    Why?

    Because, my husband is really NOT all that interested in what’s going on with my head – yes, he is a very smart man – but, he HAS sung praises of his love for me…from the neck down…many, many times.

    (more…)