Tuesday 12 April 2016

reasons why my child is crying.


So now that I have been a parent for over four and half years I realize that there are things that you love and loathe about every "stage". I will confess that the baby stage wasn't my favourite. Although nothing beats a sleeping infant on your chest, I just couldn't wait until my kids could tell me why they were having an insatiable cry-fest. I can still remember rocking/bouncing/swinging my babies wishing they could tell me why they were up for the 38th time that night. Is it because you hated baby sing along group today? Is it because you detest being swaddled like a baby burrito? Is it because the elastic on your adorable little Robeez is cutting off the circulation in your chubby ankles? Is it because mommy smells like baby spit-up and puke? There are only a handful of situations I knew exactly why my baby were crying, most of the time it was a lucky guess. Looking back I only recorded happy moments, I can count on one hand the number photos I have of my babies expressing another other emotion than adorable, gleeful happiness which leads me to this misguided belief that my babies cried only 5 times in their infant year.

Because mommy made me try creamed corn.

Because its butternut squash.


So to ensure that I preserve a more accurate memory of this toddler/preschooler stage, I started documenting both Joy, Sadness & Anger. I know people refer to this stage as the 'terrible two's' and my husband refers to our 2 and 4 year olds as 'the two-nami (tsunami) and 'the four-nado' (tornado). Pretty accurate description as with this age, I feel that everything is amplified....when they are happy, they are hysterically laughing, good-for-the-soul belly laughter that is contagious but when they are upset, they are like a natural disaster of wailing, failing bodies accompanied by a tsunami of tears. But the greatest thing with this age is that most of the time, the trigger for the 'twonami' or the 'fournado' are totally irrational, flat-out stupid reasons. I used to get so irriated with these tearful episodes but I realized that if I just stayed calm that they might learn to not make such a stinkin' deal over non-issues. It also makes me feel better to take pictures of them in such episodes and know that I could blog about it later. There are less pictures of Nallie because I realized quickly that taking a picture of her while she is in such emotional state causes the meltdown to go from just 'loud and annoying' to Defcon 5. So in no particular order, these are reasons why my child is crying.
Because I have the keys but can't reach the key hole.
Because the small Mr. Potato Heads have no ear holes.
Because I didn't get to paddle the laundry basket boat.

Because a toothbrush is invading my mouth.


Because I am not facing the same way as my brother.


Because I can't reach the spoon.


Because my banana bread breaks apart when I hold it.


Because I wanted to wear my jammies all day.
Because the balloon is bumpy.
Because the cake keeps falling off my fork (and I refuse any help).
Because Dad gave the empty Kleenex box to my sister and not me.


Because I didn't open the front door.

Because I can't print the letter Y.

Because Mommy said no Cheetos for breakfast.

Because mommy didn't let me bring a princess purse with me.


Because I woke up and realized I was awake.

Because they didn't have Paw Patrol shoes in my size.

Because I wanted a 'big boy' bowl.

Because I had to wait my turn to sweep the floor.



 Because Mommy held my hand down the stairs.

And one of my favourites...
because we don't fit in the laundry basket together.

I am documenting these moments in time not to make fun of and laugh at them (although it is hard not to laugh sometimes) but to remind myself that this amplified emotional disaster over trivial issues is just a stage and as with any stage, it is an abundant blessing to be parenting little ones and I will miss it tremendously when this stage is over. And just as trivial issues will cause my kids to dissolve into a tsunami of tears, really insignificant things will also bring them great joy and uncontrollable laughter. Yesterday, the kids invented 'belly tag' and they ran in circles trying to crash their belly buttons together and were laughing until they were hyperventilating. And the things that cause them to cry might be a really big deal to them at that moment in time. At least it's a lot easier as a parent to console my sobbing toddler that it is OK to drink from a pink cup and the water will taste the same as it does in the blue cup than a sobbing teenager with a broken heart. I am not ready for that yet, so please by all means just keep crying over not being able to wear your bathing suit to school.

Sunday 10 April 2016

cheermeisters.

Simon and two of his friends signed up for Valley Granfondo in June where they will be biking an epic 160 km and Simon hasn't had much time to train lately. This is mostly my fault since I often jet off for work (and leave him with Dad duty) when he gets home from work which doesn't leave him much time to get on his bike. So I was feeling rather guilty that I wasn't giving him the time he needed to train for his 160 km race so that when I heard his friends were doing a 100 km today (the Pacific Populaire), I signed him up and told him he had 48 hours to get ready to bike 100 km. I thought Simon would panic but he looked at the route decided it wasn't overly challenging. But I guess anything after biking the Granfondo race to Whister last September, any route seems like a picnic in the park.

But speaking of picnics in the park, we gathered our cheermeisters and went to cheer all the dads. We had a picnic lunch and the kids sported their "Go Dad Go!" shirts and made full use of their loud vocal cheering abilities and shook their cowbells with all their might. Had to admit, it was pretty adorable. It was great energy and I am sure all the riders enjoyed being serenated by this pint-sized crew.



Go Dad Go! Go Dad Go! You can also watch the 7 second video of their loud vocal abilities...








 We timed it pretty well and the kids didn't have to wait long before the dads came in. Simon and Lance finished together and completed the 100 km in 4 hours and 10 minutes! Brian unfortunately got a flat tire with less than 12 km to the finish but he fixed up his tire and the kids were happy to cheer for him at the finish.
Can you spot Simon and Lance?
Brian happy to be at the finish

 Simon wanted to take the classic bite-your-medal picture but sadly they only got pins so here is the best we could do
 The finish was right by a park so that worked out well for the kids to play after their hard work cheering.



Loved that these kids made lots of people smile today!