Won a Gold Medal!

Yesterday, I was working on an acupuncture client while dinner was simmering. Dear Hubby offered to finish making dinner and take care of the now one-year-old baby boy who had just woken up from his nap.

By the time I had finished with the client, dinner was done and the kids were eating. I dished up my plate and sat down as Hubby was wiping off Baby Boy. He told BBB, "Mommy deserves a Gold Medal." I dismissed it, not knowing what DH was talking about.

Later that evening when all the kids were in bed, Dear Hubby said again, "I mean it. You deserve a Gold Medal." Then he proceeded to tell me about how he had given the baby some green beans that were cooking to keep him happy so he could finish dinner. He was shocked at how fast those went down. He gave him another 8 or 10 which disappeared even faster.

Before he could stir the gravy, BB was wailing for more food. Hubby looked for the rice cereal and couldn't find any. So he pulled out a jar of sweet potatoes and had Big Boy feed the Baby while he ran downstairs to dig up a box of rice in the storage room. As he climbed the stairs, Baby Boy was screaming and signing "Please" because the jar was already empty. Big Boy said he was done, and Dad insisted that he scrape the sides clean to satiate BBB until the rice cereal could be made.

Pretty sure that BBB would not eat very much since he had already devoured so much, DH questioned how much he should mix up. Taking a chance, he mixed 1 cup of rice cereal and sat down to feed the baby, and alternated stirring the gravy.

Several impatient yelps, and an empty bowl later, the boy was finally full. He sat in the highchair while dinner was being dished up. This is where I came in.

So to restate, my hubby says that if that is what I have to do every night, every breakfast and lunch, plus other catastrophes that come up on random days, then I deserve a Gold Medal. I laughed it off until he said, "I found myself wishing I had gone into work."

Seeing as he has put in 60-80 hours a week lately (no that's not a typo), and has been so frustrated with work to the point of stating that unemployment would be better, the fact that he was wishing to be there, and appreciated my daily efforts, was touching. It was the best compliment I could have received.

I DO earn my keep, and a Gold Medal for all moms would be a nice reminder of the Olympic feats that we perform out of love.

Taught the Pediatrician about Children

Yes, I know, It sounds self righteous. There are just some tricks that I have figured out on my own or been taught by my mother that work. And I mean, ALWAYS WORK.

My kids' doctor has been expecting the arrival of his twin grandbabies. At my son's appointment, the doctor announced that they had arrived and that his daughter was having an especially hard time with her 20-month old being jealous of the twins. I told him that my mom taught me to get the last "baby" involved with the new baby and they won't be jealous. It also inducts them into Big Kidhood.

I told the doc that from the time my second was born until our latest, I have always put the youngest in charge of getting a diaper and a wipe for the baby. Then, as I get the bottom ready, the young one holds the wipe in their hands and is the "Wipey Warmer". Essentially you need the cold wipe warmed so as not to alarm the unsuspecting baby. Who better than the now-big-sister/brother? It works like a charm. The diaper change only lasts a minute and then they are tired of helping and ready to go back to their toys. But it's just enough time to make them feel special and helpful. Isn't that what we all want?

And if you do it right, they will (as BBG puts it) "Be yo gawbage gurl" and happily take the messy diaper to the garbage for you. And they'll thank you for giving them the chance to be included.