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5 Things I Learned This Week, Volume 2

5 Things I Learned This Week, Volume 2

August 6, 2010 by Amy, Using Our Words 20 Comments

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Happy Friday! This post is coming to you live from NYC where I’m blogging alongside the bloggiest bunch of them all at BlogHer. (Just wondered how many times I could fit “blog” into a sentence.) No doubt I’ll be learning a lot more as the next couple days unfold, but here’s what I’ve learned so far this week:

Lesson #1: Just thinking about leaving my family to fly across the country for four days was enough to sprout gray hairs at a rate far faster than I could tweeze. (And these hotel bathroom lights are not forgiving.)

Lesson #2: This mom finally needs to enforce a privacy policy (and exercise routine). While I was getting dressed the other morning, Big walked in, dramatically wrinkled his face, covered his eyes, turned his head and shouted, “Oh yuck! C’mon!” No, I don’t always appreciate my kids’ honesty.

Lesson #3: Big is now mature enough to have conversations even I don’t understand. I overheard him talking to his GG (Great Grandma) about the conifers in our backyard. He also told me that herbivores eat leaves, but not fritters. Thank you, Dinosaur Train, for teaching my kids the science they crave and I, well…didn’t pay attention to in school.

Lesson #4: We really don’t need a pet (phew). Little plays the part by crawling over to me, purring and rubbing his head on my legs. I’ll take diapers over a liter box any day…plus his food smells a lot better. And he can talk. Show me a cat that can say “Mommy” and maybe I’ll reconsider.

Lesson #5: Average number of times you see your life flash before your eyes in a NY cab: 14. Number of times I saw my life flash before my eyes in a NY cab yesterday: 36. And no, it wasn’t an above average cab ride.

Please, share any funny or insightful lessons you learned this week. Don’t be shy. Cheers!

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Comments

  1. Sam says

    August 6, 2010 at 8:12 am

    This week I learned that keeping my kids in diapers forever might not have been a bad idea. Two “potty Trained” preschool-age boys equals one disgusting bathroom. Seriously, is there a book on how to teach boys to AIM?

    Reply
    • Amy says

      August 6, 2010 at 8:18 am

      If there is, send me a copy! I actually have heard throwing some cheerios in the bowl helps. But I’m afraid that’s a slippery slope…can just imagine the things I’ll find in the toilet if I introduce it as a game! Good luck!

      Reply
  2. leslie says

    August 6, 2010 at 8:53 am

    i love your learnings for this week! this week, i learned that meditating for 5 minutes in the car in our driveway after work before i walk in the door can make a WORLD of difference in the evening routine. going to try to continue that one… have fun in new york!!

    Reply
    • Amy says

      August 6, 2010 at 1:56 pm

      Great idea! It’s so hard jump from work chaos to home chaos…you’re smart to decompress.

      Reply
  3. Jodie says

    August 6, 2010 at 12:43 pm

    After being out of the the first half of this week… I learned that… well… they all get along just fine without me.

    Part of me was relieved… part of me felt a little bad that I wasn’t the “be all end all” of their days.

    However, once I got home, I realized that although they didn’t need me there, they all wanted me there… and I think that’s better 🙂

    Safe and rewarding travels, my friend!
    xxoo

    Reply
    • Amy says

      August 6, 2010 at 1:57 pm

      This rings so true it brought tears to my eyes. I know they’re ok without me, but I love that they want me. Glad to hear you’re home safe with the boys!

      Reply
  4. Mary says

    August 6, 2010 at 1:38 pm

    I learned I love sunflowers! Lizzy’s teacher gave her seeds on the last day of school and we planted them in our garden. All summer we have loved watching them grow, and now they are HUGE and the flowers are getting ready to pop out. I think they will be blooming soon:) Next summer I want to plant a whole garden of sunflowers! I learned (as I have over and over) how much I treasure and love the small moments of everyday- looking at flowers with my kids and seeing all of our wonder as they begin to bloom.

    Reply
    • Amy says

      August 6, 2010 at 1:57 pm

      I can’t wait to see your garden!

      Reply
    • Amy McG says

      August 6, 2010 at 3:52 pm

      Mary – Come by and we’ll cut one of ours for you to enjoy until yours bloom! Ours is a giving garden. – A McG

      Reply
  5. Jenny says

    August 6, 2010 at 3:01 pm

    I’ve learned that it doesn’t matter what gender you are having when you are pregnant, but having a healthy child should be the biggest celebration of all.

    Reply
    • Amy says

      August 6, 2010 at 7:27 pm

      Goodness knows most of the lessons you’ve learned lately haven’t been easy ones. Here’s to your little guy’s quick recovery and health! xoxo

      Reply
  6. Big Bill says

    August 6, 2010 at 9:58 pm

    I learned that training wheels are overrated with respect to teaching your children to ride a bike. I taught our son to ride a bike in a day and half by simply removing the pedals.

    Reply
    • Amy says

      August 7, 2010 at 5:21 am

      Sounds like you and your cousin think alike. He just did that about a week ago with Big’s old bike. He’s been scooting around the ‘hood practicing his balance…we have yet to really work with him though. Glad to hear it was a success for you!

      Reply
  7. Vrushali says

    August 7, 2010 at 5:47 pm

    Nice post as always, Amy! Well, Couple of days back, a neighbor stopped by in the morning to ask a quick question. He appeared slightly aghast as he took in the sight of our living room, which looked quite like the aftermath of a tornado.. in this case, it was a toddler morning-vigor-enriched tornado.

    I… well, I tried my best to appear nonchalant. Now that’s one skill I’ve realized is useful to learn and apply in my daily life, being the mom of a toddler :-).

    Reply
    • Amy says

      August 9, 2010 at 11:05 am

      I like your idea about appearing nonchalant. Frazzled is more likely the word people would use to describe me. Thanks for sharing and good luck with the toddler tornadoes!

      Reply
  8. Tracy says

    August 7, 2010 at 8:16 pm

    I’ve learned no matter how many times you wash your hands and scrub the bathroom, your kid’s nasty intestinal virus will eventually get you too. Of course, it’s once the kids are all better and are stir crazy from a week at home and begging you to leave the house….

    Reply
    • Amy says

      August 9, 2010 at 11:05 am

      Oh no! I hope you ALL are feeling much better. Take care!

      Reply
  9. Wendy Hagen says

    August 7, 2010 at 10:36 pm

    I learned that little boys do not use discretion when deciding who to fart on.

    Reply
    • Amy says

      August 9, 2010 at 11:06 am

      It turns out men don’t either. Coming back from NYC, the guy on the plane next to me didn’t hold anything back. And while it wasn’t technically on me, it was far too close for comfort!

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Bring It On, BlogHer ’14 says:
    July 14, 2014 at 4:09 pm

    […] in 2010, when my blog was minutes old, I got some huge news. I would be going to BlogHer ’10 in New York City. I remember reeling from the excitement—feeling like I’d been given an enormous gift (and not […]

    Reply

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