• Home
  • About
  • Mom Musings
  • Everyday Lessons
  • Belly & Baby
  • Tips & Ideas

Using Our Words

Slice-of-life stories about parenthood

10 Things I Learned This Week, Vol 94

10 Things I Learned This Week, Vol 94

February 24, 2013 by Amy, Using Our Words 1 Comment

Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)
  • More
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)

Planning back-to-back vacations was a bold move on my part. Especially since we went from a tropical luxury resort to a snowy mountain cabin. I like a challenge, and the packing/shopping/preparation for the extremes definitely gave me a run for my money. But no matter what, they both provided me with really great memories — and material.

Lesson #1: When you have a very small window to get everything on your to-do list done so you can actually enjoy some play time with the kids, you can’t help but pat yourself on the back when you actually finish early for once. (Yay!) That is until you realize that — in your rush — you left your credit card at Target. (Boo!) And, when you finally make it back there to pick it up, the manager has her own to-do list which apparently doesn’t include rushing to get to you and your three kids playing chase in Guest Services.

Lesson #2: In your drunk-with-happiness state (mid-way through Lesson #1, that is), you think smiling at grumpy parents at the indoor play space is the least you can do to help spread the joy. But when you realize that the reason this dad is grumpy is because you and your 4- and 1-year-old are running circles around his baby in an area clearly marked “Crawlers Only”, you put your tail between your legs (and your kids under your arms) and, well, crawl away.

Lesson #3: I’m a trend setter. Little’s preschool teacher has now started emailing all the parents so people don’t forget very important moments. You know, like Valentine’s Day.

Lesson #4: If you don’t have bruises and scabs all over your legs, you’re not a proper 6-year-old boy.

Lesson #5: You know the men’s idea of vacation is different when, within 15 minutes of arriving you hear, “If only we had a wrench…”

Lesson #6: Vacation breathes new life into kids as well. Little would now like to be referred to as “Black Skittle” (who is, as you might imagine, a bad guy). Suddenly “Big” and “Pink” feel a little, well, unimaginative.

Lesson #7: It’s a good idea to go into the forest and mountains in the winter. Because, as Black Skittle pointed out, that’s when all the bears are hibernating.

Lesson #8: Flying downhill in an inner tube, examining snowflakes that look like pieces of art, and spending time in a place that feels like it’s a world away are just a few things I should really do more often.

Lesson #9: I’m pretty sure it’s no coincidence that co-sleeping and Starbucks became all the rage around the same time. (If only we had a wrench… But we didn’t. Which meant the crib stayed in the loft that opened up to the living room (?), and Pink stayed in our bed. Well, when she wasn’t falling off of it. Yeah, that happened.)

Lesson #10: When you’re feeling car sick, having your toddler yell, “Whoa!” and giggle her way through the windy road makes it a bit more tolerable. (Doritos do the rest.)

Here’s to making new memories and enjoying the beauty in the little things. Like snowflakes. And Skittles. And cribs.

Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)
  • More
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)

Related

Filed Under: Everyday Lessons, featured Tagged With: family vacation, lessons, snow, vacation

Subscribe

Never miss a post!

Subscribe and you can get my new posts delivered right in your inbox!

Comments

  1. Jodie Hoffman says

    February 25, 2013 at 7:42 pm

    I so hope Little can get his future soccer/baseball/etc. team to call themselves the Black Skittles so he’s got that name in writing somewhere. Or come on – you know you want to get some black fabric and iron-on letters and make that kid a cape – love it!!!!! 🙂

    Reply

Use Your Words Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

A Bit About Me

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…

Subscribe

Some Reader Favorites

If These Walls Could Talk

At the End of the Day

Copyright © 2023 · Amy Heinz | Using Our Words

Copyright © 2023 · Lifestyle Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in