Cleaning... Cleaning... Cleaning...

Yesterday I polled my kids when I was tagged a quiz in Facebook.  One answer came up a lot: Cleaning.  In an effort to show you that I'm not a crazy neurotic clean freak (you know, my Mom) I'm going to give you a peek into my son's room on a typical morning.  Now, my kids are animals and can trash a room in under 30 seconds.  Don't believe me?  Look at these pictures (Caution: these can be very upsetting to the neat freak.  You've been warned).

See that pile of clothes to the left? Those are CLEAN folded clothes that were supposed to have been put away the day before.  You know the drill, "Boys.. here are your lovely fresh clean clothes.  Please put them away now."

"Yes Darling Mother who takes care of us like no other... we will put our clothes away now because we love you and want to show you how much we appreciate all your tireless work."

This bed was made yesterday.  This bed looks like this everyday.  What kind of nightmares is this kid having that the sheets and blankets have to be redone everyday?

And this is what you see when you walk into the room.  See that red thing?  Don't have sons in sports? It's a cup. I'm sorry.. but, that's just nasty and I ain't touching it.

So I'm not asking for perfection here but I admit I clean all day everyday.  But, if I didn't--we couldn't make it to the door without tripping which probably a fire hazard.  But I promise that the next time I see their freshly folded laundry on the floor of their closet instead of in their dressers I will not yell, "Get in here you rotten little gremlins..."  I will say, "Dearest children, you must not have had time to put your clothes away... let me get that for you."

Yeah, right.  ;)

What does your child think of you?

If you’re unaware of Facebook (ahem… really?) then you don’t know about the quizzes. I was tagged in a quiz asking me what my children think of me.   I usually ignore quizzes but this looked like it could be interesting.  I asked the questions below to each of my kids and I am giving you their answers verbatim. I don’t want to read into things, but there seems to be a theme. I’m hopeful that my kids don’t twitch when they see an unmade bed.

Answered by my children Duke 11, Zilla 5 and Princessa 3.

1. What is something mom always says to you?

Duke : That she is proud of me

Zilla : Always ask for permission.

Princessa : Clean up

 

2. What makes mom happy?

Duke : Surprise & cleaning up room

Zilla : Me

Princessa : Clean up

 

3. What makes mom sad?

Duke : Not cleaning up

Zilla : Me not hugging you

Princessa : Not clean up

 

4. How does your mom make you laugh?

Duke : Tickling me

Zilla : When she laughs

Princessa : When she calls me a baabaa head (I have no idea what baabaa head is and have never used that term)

 

5. What was your mom like as a child?

Duke : I don’t know

Zilla : Me

Princessa : A baabaa head

 

6. How old is your mom?

Duke : 41

Zilla : 41

Princessa : 41

 

7. How tall is your mom?

Duke : 5’ 7” (it's actually closer to 5' 8" but why quibble?)

Zilla : 5’ 7” (echo)

Princessa : 5’ 7” (echo)

 

8. What is her favorite thing to do?

Duke : Go kayaking

Zilla : Hug me

Princessa : Cleaning up

 

9. What does your mom do when you're not around?

Duke : Go shopping

Zilla : I never know

Princessa : Cleaning up

 

10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?

Duke : A writer (extra brownies for dessert for him tonight)

Zilla : Making necklaces

Princessa : Hugging each other

 

11. What is your mom really good at?

Duke : Making jewelry and teaching me

Zilla : Hugging me

Princessa : Making brownies

 

12. What is your mom not very good at?

Duke : Playing video games

Zilla : Skateboarding

Princessa : Climbing up on the chandelier

 

13. What does your mom do for a job?

Duke : Teach me

Zilla : Keep me safe (a FULL time activity)

Princessa : You’re always here

 

14.What is your mom's favorite food?

Duke : Subway sandwiches and jalapeno peppers

Zilla : Chicken wings (buffalo)

Princessa : sandwich and soup

 

15.What makes you proud of your mom?

Duke : That’s a toughy

Zilla : Keeping me safe (I appreciate that he understands how demanding this has been for the last 6 years...)

Princessa : Getting roses for me

 

16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be?

Duke : The girl bunny on looney tunes

Zilla : Blue from blues clues

Princessa : Ferocious beast

 

17. What do you and your mom do together?

Duke : Work

Zilla : Hug

Princessa : Make brownies

 

18. How are you and your mom the same?

Duke : We both have laptops

Zilla : We’re both second born, and I am a big brother and little brother and you are a big sister and little sister.

Princessa : We both like brownies

 

19. How are you and your mom different?

Duke : Born different years

Zilla : I'm a boy and Mom's a girl

Princessa : I’m three and you’re not

 

20. How do you know your mom loves you?

Duke : She buys us nice presents

Zilla : She hugs me

Princessa : Cleaning up

 

21. What does your mom like most about your dad?

Duke : Making daddy food

Zilla : Oh my god

Princessa : Making daddy so happy

 

22. Where is your mom's favorite place to go?

Duke : Peconic River Herb Farm

Zilla : Disney

Princessa : Swimming

What Made Me Smile Today

I got up early today.. a little after 6.  I am normally the last one asleep here, and I like to be the first one awake.  I quietly get my coffee and slowly sip while looking through magazines or books.  No TV.  No music. No one interrupting me or asking me to get them something. 

As I zombie-walked towards my favorite appliance, Tassimo coffee maker, I remembered that the boys had "camped out" in the office (the room adjacent to my living room).  I decided the kitchen would have to do for my morning coffee/hiding place.  I peeked in the office and saw that both boys were already awake and I was instantly crushed.

I made the coffee and went to the couch anyway.  Jewelry-making magazine on my lap, coffee cup in one hand, I desperately tried to recreate my morning routine.  Zilla said, "Mommy, I love sleeping in my sleeping bag."

:::yawn... sip... page turn...::::

"Mommy, did you hear me?"

"Yes honey.  I'm glad."

"I love my sleeping bag because I love exploring.  And when I grow up I'm going to be an explorer..."

mmhmmm... page turn... "That's nice honey..."

"...actually, not an explorer.. a SCIENTIST.  Yes, that's what I'm going to be.  That's a good job, right Mommy?"

"Very nice honey."  (Starting to wonder if a scientist makes good money and if my Momma's boy will give me wonderful gifts like cruises through Alaska or trips to Europe)

"Oh you know what?  I'm not going to be a scientist!  I'm going to be an ice cream man. Then I can eat ice cream everyday!"

What Made Me Smile Today

My son, aka Zilla, is turning 6 in a couple of months.  He's been asking me for a puppy for quite some time.  The first time, my youngest, princess, was still in diapers.  There was no way I was interested in cleaning up dog poo or pee.  I told him we'd have to wait until she was out of diapers.  He did.

I started potty training princess and he asked again.  But potty training has got to be one of my least favorite milestones in a child's life and even after having 3 children I'm still not sure I know what I'm doing.  Did I "teach" my children to use a toilet?  Not sure.  I think they got sick of being wet or smelly and figured they needed a new plan. I imagined cleaning up puddles or piles off my floors and said, "we need to wait a bit longer honey."

Now his birthday is coming and his best buddy got a puppy for Christmas.  So you can imagine how much the requests for a puppy have ramped up.  (Thanks a lot Lee!) 

Zilla brought a book home from the library and asked me to read it.  It's all about Airedale Terriers.  At the end he said, "That's the dog I want."  I pointed out that the dog was pretty big.  He said, "That's ok."  I said, "You know, bigger dog means bigger poop."  He shrugged his shoulders.  I emphasized, "You know you'll have to pick up the dog poop, right?  Are you going to clean up the dog poop?"  He thought for a moment and said, "Can I get a hamster?"

What Made Me Smile Today

(Yes, I know, it's been a while)

Tonight my 3 year old daughter, aka princess, said to me, "Mommy, I'm a very sad girl today."  I asked, "Why are you sad?"  She said, "Because I want Daddy to play with me."  I started to explain that Daddy was still at work.  She continued (no one really listens to me here anyway).  "I want Daddy to play Hop Scotch with me."

"Oh..."  (Wondering how a 3 year old knows about hop scotch)

"But he said we can't play it..."

I try to imagine my husband, 6' 2",  bending over on one leg to pick up a stone off the 3 square....

"We can't play it because he said we don't have any scotch."