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Using Our Words

Slice-of-life stories about parenthood

10 Things I Learned This Week, Vol 57

10 Things I Learned This Week, Vol 57

March 31, 2012 by Amy, Using Our Words 12 Comments

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Pill bug, pill bug, run away home. Our house is on fire, our mom needs a comb. Our sister can fly, just give her a push. Mom may seem angry, but her brain’s just mush.

Lesson #1: If you’re looking for hours of entertainment (and a low maintenance pet—yes, afraid we had to let Anke go), send your kids a-huntin’ for pill bugs. Preferably in your very kind neighbor’s garden. Bonus if she provides shovels and pays them for any weeds they pull along the way.

Lesson #2: Real life offers so many great teaching moments. Like this week, Little not only learned what a synonym is, he learned the power of alliteration. He illustrated both concepts beautifully by changing his bath-time song from “Wiggle Your P3ni$” to “Wiggle Your W33ni3”. So this is what pride feels like, huh?

Lesson #3: Sometimes using our words—or letters—is dangerous. The other night at dinner, Lenny thought he was being coy spelling “a-$-$” to me in a conversation. He forgot we now have a kid who spells. “A$$?!” And a kid who talks a lot, “A$$, what’s a$$? Mommy, what’s a$$?” (I chose to ignore the teaching opportunity here and, magically, they moved on.) Again, pride.

Lesson #4: The fact that Little calls his Chewbacca the mom and Darth Vader the dad (having not seen Star Wars and really having no clue what the role of these characters is), I’m thinking both Lenny and I are in need of some pretty major makeovers.

Lesson #5: In our house, the Johnny Jumper should really be called the Pink Launcher.

Lesson #6: If somebody tells me I’m on fire, it’s likely to be in the literal sense of the phrase. (Especially if we’re in my kitchen.) This week I managed to burn a good chunk of our butcher block boiling—wait for it—water. And within seconds of reheating Pink’s mini carrot chunks, it looked like the Fourth of July in our microwave. Consider this a public service announcement: Carrots are flammable. You’re welcome.

Lesson #7: When your kind, generous nanny wants to take the boys on a rainy day outing to celebrate a birthday, double check to be sure the place you send them is actually open to the public on weekends. Otherwise it might take them an hour to find another activity, then another couple hours to complete it… Wait a second. This was one wild goose chase I actually benefited from. Happy early birthday to me!

Lesson #8: Say what you will about Miley Cyrus, but in our house she’s a miracle worker. Party in the USA cures ouchies, hurt feelings, the no-nap blues and teething pain.

Lesson #9: If you want to give your six-year-old boy a crash course in worship, be sure Jim Harbaugh is going to be at church. (Yep, even in the off-season the 49ers dominate Big’s Sundays.)

Lesson #10: “Saying goodbye to something you love this much isn’t easy.” -Big, when we made him set the pill bug colony free

May you love freely and deeply this week. (But keep a fire extinguisher close by just in case.)

 

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Filed Under: Everyday Lessons, featured Tagged With: bugs, dancing, fire, football, Star Wars

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Comments

  1. OpinionsToGo says

    April 1, 2012 at 8:06 pm

    As always, the kids learned a few things, you learned a few things and I learned a few things. Your blog always has lessons for us all!

    Reply
    • Amy, Using Our Words says

      April 1, 2012 at 9:13 pm

      As you know, the main lesson here is the fire extinguisher. And I have you to thank for that! I now know where ours is…now, I guess I should learn to use it!

      Reply
  2. Melinda says

    April 1, 2012 at 9:12 pm

    I so needed that giggle. And no it’s not at your expense. Been there, done that!

    Reply
    • Amy, Using Our Words says

      April 1, 2012 at 9:14 pm

      Hey, I even take giggles at my own expense. Everyone needs ’em and I do my best to deliver. Hope you’re well!

      Reply
  3. Jodie Hoffman says

    April 2, 2012 at 8:26 am

    so if you can get Jim Harbaugh to mouth the words to Party in the USA and have the video readily available, your kids may never be sad again…?! 😉

    and I’m with you… so sad that the days of spelling words out is quickly over… now our best bet is to spell quickly… but it’s about as effective as the rhythm method (or so I’ve heard, not trying to hint at anything here!… just an analogy ;)!

    enjoy your spring break!

    Reply
    • Amy, Using Our Words says

      April 3, 2012 at 2:00 pm

      Jodie, I hear he has quite a voice, so you may have just discovered the answer to peace in our house. Amazing!! And I do love your analogy, too.

      Reply
  4. Grandma and Grandpa H says

    April 2, 2012 at 8:37 pm

    It just goes to show you that every family has a story that involves the fire extinguisher or lack thereof. Add this to the family lore and family tree! As usual your blog shines… or should we say glows!

    Reply
    • Amy, Using Our Words says

      April 3, 2012 at 2:02 pm

      Luckily my stories were much more harmless, but I do like to carry the family torch! Thanks for the heated comment!

      Reply
  5. nina says

    April 4, 2012 at 3:57 pm

    Yes I have burned carrots in the microwave too, who knew! And the reason I got my hair & nails done today had a little to do with #4, why can’t they call us princess lea instead;) love your blog Amy!

    Reply
    • Amy says

      April 4, 2012 at 10:03 pm

      Thanks, Nina. No doubt you totally look like Princess Lea after you much-deserved pampering!

      Reply
  6. Aimee @ everydayepistle.com says

    April 5, 2012 at 12:14 pm

    Hi, Amy. I’m catching up on blogs & love. this. post! The new bath time song along with the marriage of Chewbacca and Darth Vader… Oh, I have to share.
    PS: Did you make up the pill bug poem? It’s new to me.
    PSS: While I have the floor, let me say I also love the newsletter 🙂

    Reply
    • Amy, Using Our Words says

      April 5, 2012 at 3:04 pm

      Yes, it was quite a week! Thanks for sharing in my laughs and complimenting my poetry skills. My high school English teacher would be horrified to know that I ended up a writer…

      Reply

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I’m Amy, the girl next door. I’m your average obsessive mom/ happy wife/ freelance copywriter/ slice-of-life blogger/ social media addict/ chocolate lovin’ wino. Read More…

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