Need a chat thread. Mon., Tues., Wed. . .

Robin · Guru

Need a chat thread. Mon., Tues., Wed. . .

Robin · Guru

My kids had camp (Art and Kindergarten) for 3 hours this morning during which I:

-did laundry
-went through piles of scrapbook stuff and junk
-did laundry
-cleaned the kitchen
-went through piles of scrapbook stuff and junk
-did laundry
-ate some cheese toast for lunch

Once the boys were home, I fixed them lunch . . . hmm . . . now that I'm thinking about it, Mark didn't eat any lunch.

He didn't want a hot dog.

I bet he's hungry.

After lunch, the boys played on the Wii, then I played kickball in the backyard with Henry. The kids played in the hose for a while.

We ate popsicles.

The kids watched iCarly and Spongebob.

I did MORE laundry.

I got the neighbors' mail--they're in Disney--and our mail.

Somewhere in there, we released all of our butterflies--the last two of whom emerged from their chrysalides this morning.

Robin · Guru

I feel so broke this week.

Today was the first day of the summer session of Mothers' Day Out at my church.

I'm not working this summer.

Also my mom got in a snit with me a couple weeks ago so things have been tense.

My dad usually pays me on Fridays to do some secretarial work for him, but my mom is the one who gives me the money when we go shopping on Fridays.

Well we haven't been shopping the last two Fridays (or any other days) so I haven't gotten that money.

Robin · Guru

I am not easily stressed but this mom situation is getting on my nerves.

Two Fridays ago, I had a sitter lined up to stay with the kids while I went to lunch. After lunch, I had plans to run some errands and go to my church to decorate my classroom.

My mom hates it when my brother or I leave our kids with her for something and then don't come straight back when we're done--like as soon as I finish my lunch.

On the Thursday before my much anticipated Friday of leisure, my mom called me while I was at the pool to ask if we'd meet my brother and John at CEC for lunch right then. I told her no but we'd go the next day. A few hours later, I realized that I already had plans so I called my mom to tell her we couldn't go.

Later, she called to tell me that John was REALLY upset, and that if I canceled the sitter, she'd take my kids to CEC for lunch the next day. I said okay. Then she called later to ask if I wanted to go with them to CEC at 10:00 a.m. since my lunch date was at 11. My first thought/response was "Ick. No." but then I said I would go but I was still going to lunch at 11 without my kids.

Umm . . . 2 hours or so later, all hell broke loose. My mom called, and I answered innocently. And she started, "WHY DID YOU TALK TO ME LIKE THAT?? I DO A LOT FOR YOU! DON'T I WATCH YOUR KIDS FOR YOU ALL THE TIME?? I DON'T DESERVE TO BE TREATED THAT WAY!"

Yes, apparently my mother is certifiably crazy. Because when I say "I'm going to lunch at 11 without my kids", what it really means in crazy-mother language is that I'm a horrible, ungrateful daughter who thinks her mother is an idiot who does nothing for her and never keeps her kids. Because those two statements are the same. Right?

Sonya · Guru

Good evening, friends!

I'm away and enjoying myself as always.

Traveling one night a week is bliss.

I'm trying hard to stick to weight watchers this week so i had to pick my dinner carefully. I'm still stuffed and I was smart and careful and that feels really good.

I'm heading to the gym in a bit.

Sonya · Guru

What's everyone up to this week?

We had such a nice weekend. So busy.

The weather isn't so great right now. We had such a fabulous, unheard of spring. I'm sure we are in for a terrible summer. It might have been worth it. The spring was amazing.

Sonya · Guru

i feel like chatting.

too bad you are all eating supper or it is the middle of your afternoon.

Robin · Guru

Just so you know, when my mother went all ballistic, I said, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean anything ugly. I know you do a lot for me. That's why I hired a babysitter. I really didn't mean to be mean or rude."

So then she asked, "Are you coming to CEC at 10 in the morning? Because you don't have to. I can come get the kids."

Of course I went. *I'm* not crazy.

I avoided her pretty well the whole time I was at CEC. (She brought my dad for backup.) Then I said pretty much two words to her when I went to get the kids after my lunch. "Thank you."

My mom is queen of the snits so I know to tread carefully after one of these episodes.

She called to ask what *I* was doing for Glen's birthday. (All family bdays dinners are at her house.) When I asked Glen what he wanted, he said pizza at my parents' house so I just told her that and she couldn't refuse.

She seemed to be mellowing out a teeny bit during the bday gathering. However, right before dinner, I noticed that she had moved this obnoxious sticky-note list she keeps on her fridge of sayings that people have said that offended her. The bottom of it was stuck behind one of John's drawings so I pulled it out. The last thing said, "If a sitter is hired, leave it alone."

That PIZZED me off.

I had been bending over backwards trying to kill her with kindness but that ended. Right there.

It still gets my blood boiling, and it was Friday. There is one other saying of mine on there from when I was pregnant with Mark. Can we say "grudge"?

Robin · Guru

Sonya wrote:

Good evening, friends!

I'm away and enjoying myself as always.

Traveling one night a week is bliss.

I'm trying hard to stick to weight watchers this week so i had to pick my dinner carefully. I'm still stuffed and I was smart and careful and that feels really good.

I'm heading to the gym in a bit.

Lucky!

I'm going to a scrapbook retreat this coming weekend and am really looking forward to it.

Robin · Guru

Sonya wrote:

i feel like chatting.

too bad you are all eating supper or it is the middle of your afternoon.

I'm here.

I was writing a novel about adventures with my mom.

Robin · Guru

Sonya wrote:

What's everyone up to this week?

We had such a nice weekend. So busy.

The weather isn't so great right now. We had such a fabulous, unheard of spring. I'm sure we are in for a terrible summer. It might have been worth it. The spring was amazing.

The kids are in camp three hours a day every day.

We'll probably swim tomorrow afternoon.

I have a meeting at church in the morning that I'm thinking of skipping since my kids will be occupied for 3 hours.

Robin · Guru

My kids interrupted me 437 times while I was typing the crazy mom posts, and I had to minimize because I didn't want Henry reading it.

Finally I locked the computer room door.

Now I need to leave this room and think about fixing dinner.

Sonya · Guru

i love my job. have I mentioned that?

I'm so so so happy I made the change.

I've never worked anywhere where:
1. you can look around and not see one person who you think "why the hell did they hire you?" (which can also make you think "hell, what if I'm that one person", lmao)

2. they reward you for doing a good job - I got a certification (a definitely benefit to the company) and they gave me a $1000.

3. they value family - we have two big family events this summer - one an all day music fest at the CEO's farm and the second a family weekend at a resort a few hours away. LOVE!

4. they walk the walk and talk the talk - they are big believers in changing our world - they have a $1000 bonus for buying a hybred car - they only buy fair trade coffee for the offices (even though it costs them twice as much). They give us a charity day each year - you get paid to do something for charity. Tons more. I thought it was just recruiting talk but they are serious about it.

SO happy. What a difference it makes in your life to be happy and proud of your employer.

Juni · Guru

Robin - I know it's not humorous to you ATM but the fact that your mom has a list like that on her fridge is hysterical. And I'm dying to know what your other list worthy saying is. ;)

Moms are so funny. And by funny I mean weird. I hate when you do something you think is nice and it gets interpreted in such a negative way. Boo to your mom.

Robin · Guru

Sonya wrote:

i love my job. have I mentioned that?

I'm so so so happy I made the change.

I've never worked anywhere where:
1. you can look around and not see one person who you think "why the hell did they hire you?" (which can also make you think "hell, what if I'm that one person", lmao)

2. they reward you for doing a good job - I got a certification (a definitely benefit to the company) and they gave me a $1000.

3. they value family - we have two big family events this summer - one an all day music fest at the CEO's farm and the second a family weekend at a resort a few hours away. LOVE!

4. they walk the walk and talk the talk - they are big believers in changing our world - they have a $1000 bonus for buying a hybred car - they only buy fair trade coffee for the offices (even though it costs them twice as much). They give us a charity day each year - you get paid to do something for charity. Tons more. I thought it was just recruiting talk but they are serious about it.

SO happy. What a difference it makes in your life to be happy and proud of your employer.

Wow. Sounds like a great company.

I'm glad you made the right decision.

Sonya · Guru

Robin wrote:

Sonya wrote:

i feel like chatting.

too bad you are all eating supper or it is the middle of your afternoon.

I'm here.

I was writing a novel about adventures with my mom.

Robin, that all really stinks. It's so hard dealing with situations like that.

You definitely took the highroad.

I'm not sure I'm that nice. lol.

Corey · Guru

oh my, robin.

if i was the subject of one of your mothers post its, i would not be able to kill her with kindness. you must be a saint. can't you just call your father and ask him for the money he owes you?

Sonya · Guru

Robin, I really can't believe your mother puts post-it up like that.

My mind is blown.

It's kind of funny but it's also terribly sad - nothing like forgive and forget. wow.

Sonya · Guru

Robin wrote:

Sonya wrote:

i love my job. have I mentioned that?

I'm so so so happy I made the change.

I've never worked anywhere where:
1. you can look around and not see one person who you think "why the hell did they hire you?" (which can also make you think "hell, what if I'm that one person", lmao)

2. they reward you for doing a good job - I got a certification (a definitely benefit to the company) and they gave me a $1000.

3. they value family - we have two big family events this summer - one an all day music fest at the CEO's farm and the second a family weekend at a resort a few hours away. LOVE!

4. they walk the walk and talk the talk - they are big believers in changing our world - they have a $1000 bonus for buying a hybred car - they only buy fair trade coffee for the offices (even though it costs them twice as much). They give us a charity day each year - you get paid to do something for charity. Tons more. I thought it was just recruiting talk but they are serious about it.

SO happy. What a difference it makes in your life to be happy and proud of your employer.

Wow. Sounds like a great company.

I'm glad you made the right decision.

Oh yeah, and when our office moved across the street from a very underprivilaged school (it pulls from all of the 'projects' and all the middle class people send their kids to private school to avoid it), they went right over and said "we want to help". We volunteer there and we fundraise for them.

And the company has it's own charity and gives a % of profit directly to the charity and matches any contributions we make and lets us decide as an office where we send our money.

Sonya · Guru

i am downloading a Jillian Michaels dvd from itunes.

None of my summer cloths fit and I need to get serious and lose 10 lbs.

I can maintain no problem, I just need to get rid of those 10 extra lbs of butt and belly.