The Bank Account Revelation

After yet one more blowout with Cory today about irresponsible, thoughtless, "entitlement" behavior, I lost it completely and then redeemed myself. Yelling doesn't get through to him, but I gave it a good effort. But it was working me up and it wasn't working on him at all... So, I sat on the floor, took a deep breath and counted to a hundred before I spoke to him again. I sat there on my berber and tried to think of a way I could speak to him that would get through to him, because my next option was to literally give up on him and opt for murder. Then it came to me, and I explained this concept...

You open a bank account and you have to put deposits in before you can make withdrawals. You can’t withdraw more money than you have in there. If you try, there are penalties. If you leave enough money in there on a regular basis, you actually gain interest on the money you have put in and managed to keep in there.

Our family relationship is the same way.

Every member needs to make deposits, not just withdrawals.

There are actions that are deposits, and there are actions that are withdrawals. Some actions are worth more than others – but all actions count towards the balance one way or the other. And carrying a positive balance all the time is a very good and necessary thing to establish good credit. People look at your credit when they are deciding whether or not to approve for your things.

And by god, I think it worked. I don't mean that I think his behavior will henceforth be sparkling and a right-wonderful example of the ideal boy. That would just be silly. However, I explained it in terms that he could understand, and will be able to remember for more than twenty seconds.

In theory...

-k

New Quote

About the time we think we can make ends meet, somebody moves the ends.
- Herbert Hoover

The emPHAsis on the sylLABle

The strange thing about the holiday spirit for me is that it comes and goes. There are times when I feel very "Christmassy" - like listening to Christmas carols at loud volume (the best way to spread Christmas cheer is to sing loud for all to hear), watching Christmas specials, holiday baking, or something like that. There are other times when it just doesn't seem real.

I mean, here it is the Friday before Christmas. Sunday is the big Harrison gathering. So, in theory, I am three days from Christmas - but it doesn't feel like it. I'm not "grinchy"... I'm just not feeling it.

I think a lot of people feel like I do. And that's the magic of having small children around. Because THEY feel it. They FEEL it. They feel IT. THEY FEEL IT. Any place you put the emPHAsis, it's the same...

-k

Right Before the Holidays

Apparently, the Jeep has a cloaking device installed that I was previously unaware of. That's the only explanation I can come up with. Because I drive a big, red, boxy Jeep Commander. It's extremely visible. Yet, twice today I have nearly been run into by someone who tried to change lines right into the Jeep, and once I was very nearly in a head-on collision with someone who turned their vehicle right in front of the Jeep. And in each case, when I hit the horn (which I only do about every three years under normal circumstances), each of the three drivers had the nerve to look totally startled to see me there...

So I figure, the Jeep was cloaked until I de-activated the device by hitting my horn.

Otherwise, people are STOOPID.

And I'd hate to think that right before the holidays.

-k

Baby Hair Envy

I have kissed the baby head... and it was good.

Yes, I have met, hugged, adored, loved on, and been thrown up on by my newest niece, Tessa. She is PRECIOUS. She looks like a sweet little Jim Henson puppet, like from The Dark Crystal. She has these gorgeous eyes, and the most incredible hair! It's long and stands straight on end, is bright carrotty red-blonde, and she's rubbed all of it off the back of her head. It's only long on top, like a crazy baby mohawk. She's so darling. And like all babies, she's got her quirks. She's definately my niece because she's all about her personal space. She doesn't want you touching her face or nuzzling her neck, which is unforunate because I have a compulsive baby-neck habit and I can't be stopped when I need a fix.

John is as adorable as I remembered, and so grown up! He and Ian got along marvelously, running around like crazy people, playing together, blaming each other for everything, racing, tackling, ignoring each other, and generally competing for Cory's attention. Cory is very good with them and it makes me very proud. They played video games and raced up and down the stairs endlessly. They got into EVERYTHING as young boys should. And when it was time for them to part for the evening, they were all upset that it was over "already".

I told them that the house next to us is a rental, and that there are still great available lots and houses in our neighborhood. Somehow, I'm afraid they won't take me up on it - but that would be the best Christmas present EVER.

I can't tell you how happy I was to see them and how I will re-arrange my schedule endlessly for the chance to see them more while they are here.

Now for a deep breath, and the madness that is this last shipping week before Christmas. No, lady, I can't get it there before Christmas for less than $5 a box the size of a Buick...

-k

I could just bessssplode

Whenever Cory was very excited as a toddler, he would ball up his hands into little fists, hunch his shoulders way up around his ears, shake his arms tightly at his sides, and announce that he was going to "besssssssplode"!

Actually, come to think of it, that's still about how he responds to stress.

I am so excited today that I am fit to bessssssssplode myself because my beloved sister-in-love and her family are arriving here tomorrow. That's always exciting and cause for me to rejoice. However, it is particularly bessssssssplode worthy this time because my newest niece, Tessa, was born this summer and we haven't gotten to meet her yet!

So, if you see me bouncing around New Braunfels, you'll understand that I'm not imitating Cory this time... and although the flailing helps, I am, actually, about to bessssssssplode!

-k

Zebras

A newborn zebra is capable of standing 6 to 14 minutes after being born, is able to walk within half an hour of birth, and can run short distances by the time it is only 45 minutes old.

YES, KATIE... all these things are possible for baby zebras within MINUTES. COULD YOU PLEASE SLEEP THROUGH THE NIGHT?

-k

The Holiday Spirit

Finally struck Michael today because I brought in Barenaked for the Holidays, the holiday album by the Barenaked Ladies. It is a collection of 20 songs, mostly Christmas with a few fantastic Chanukkah songs thrown in for good measure (since most of the Ladies are, in fact, Jewish).

It borders on frantic, has a great sense of humor, is loads of fun, and really puts you in the holiday mood - which is really the epitome of the holidays for us. There are traditional songs, funny modern versions of things, and more than a dose of irreverence.

Check it out if you can. It's worth it.

-k

Ian quote

It was pea soup fog... fog thick enough to cut with a knife... foggy foggy fog. And I guess Ian hasn't ever really seen it that foggy, at least not when he was old enough to remember. I picked him up from school, and he was very impressed with the weather. We drove home, and he asked me: "Mom, where is the rest of space?"

-k

Holiday message

So work has been ridiculously busy, which means something totally different when you own the business. As an employee, I always wanted to stay busy and productive because that's the kind of person that I am. As an owner, I am acutely aware of every bill, expense, and fluff item that comes in and goes out. I know all our projections for income and expenses. Yes, I am anal enough that I keep a post-it taped to my register station that says how much gross income we need to average every day to reach our projected numbers that month. So, busy is really, really good - but having owned two seasonal businesses has changed my perspective on the holidays a little too.

As a business owner, I certainly appreciate the additional revenue - but I regret the stress it puts people under. I see clearly that there are a lot of people who "celebrate" the holiday only because they feel that they must, people who only send gifts to loved ones because they feel they have to. In a way, that makes the celebration that much more important because without that prompting, our busy lives and personal financial concerns might keep us from ever expressing our love and affection for one another!

We'd love to think that it's all become too commercial so it has lost all its value. I agree that the religious significance has gotten hugely overshadowed, so that it seems to be returning more to its original pagan roots of a celebration of the turning of the seasons and gratitude for surviving another long, hard year. I don't think that is entirely a bad thing. I'm sure this will shock, annoy, and/or horrify some people but I personally think that if Jesus was here physically this year, he would much rather we focused on showing our love and gratitude for each other and the bounty of the year than on filling our yards with enormous, tacky light-up nativity scenes. In his day, he was very much against the cult of personality that had people worshipping him as a person - and he was certainly into loving others as yourself. If his message was summed up, it would certainly include love as its central theme and say nothing about valuing outward appearances, unless to explicitly caution against them.

I started off with a post about how busy we are at work, which is largely why I haven't posted in so long and it developed into something else entirely, didn't it?

So be it. Holiday plans often go that way too. I find that being flexible is one of my strongest qualities around the holidays. If you can't adapt to the changing needs and seize the beautiful and unexpected opportunities, you'll miss out on what is really important.

Should the holiday be scaled back to just a religious celebration without all the commercialism and hype? Maybe. Would we be losing out on the opportunity to make it so much more while still preserving its spirit? I think so.

My mother knows how to keep Christmas alive if any woman knows how and this year, as with so many previous, I will attempt to learn to be even half the woman she is - and my way includes jingle bells, lots of pictures, hot chocolate with candy canes, and my own ritual of standing outside quietly on Christmas Eve, looking up at the stars in the darkness, and remembering Mary and her precious little family. Raising even one child right is an amazingly important career.

-k

An Emotional Affair

I admit it. I'm having an emotional affair. And it's not just because Michael shaved the goatee.

Today, I took the brave and difficult step of admitting this affair to Michael. He wasn't pleased, but he had to admit that he understood.

It's Josh Groban.

C'MON... have you HEARD "Oh, Holy Night"? Not unless you've heard Josh do it. I thought that song was forever ruined by Cartman's rendition. If you haven't heard that one... it's worth a listen. Go ahead. It won't ruin the song for you because Josh has redeemed that song for all time.

And "I'll Be Home For Christmas"? On Josh's version there are all kinds of messages from the men and women serving overseas who would not be able to be with their families on Christmas day... like I wasn't already crying listening to that song, now he adds that??? That's not fighting fair.

-k

P.S. I asked Mom if it's morally wrong somehow that when I listen to Josh sing, I am picturing that voice coming out of Michael.

Score one for Cory

Last night Michael shaved off his goatee. In fact, he shaved his face completely clean-shaven... which he almost never does. He's really a goatee guy. It looks really good on him, suits the shape of his face and facial features very nicely...

Clean-shaven... not his best look.

The good news is that it grows back really fast, and as a matter of fact, it may be back already... which would be a good thing...

He came downstairs this morning, where the boys were watching cartoons before heading off to school. Ian looked up at him, and said, "Daddy, who ARE you?"

Michael responded, "I'm Daddy. Where did my beard go?"
Cory's response? "Well, I don't know... but you'd better get it back."

-k

Sign of the times

I think I was eleven before I could say "hump" without giggling and apologizing for my swear word.

Not our kids.

Yesterday, we were running errands and Cory and Ian were arguing in the backseat of the car because Ian kept touching Cory and then Cory kept touching Ian and OH, someone needed to stop someone else... and they would each get very indignant about the touching because he touched me first.

Finally, Ian turns to Cory and says, clear as a bell, "Kiss my ass."

Mom and I looked at each other, clenched our lips together, and our cheeks shook like we were being electrocuted as we attempted to make no sound in response. If you laugh, it's all over with. You can't reprimand if you laughed.

Cory, appalled and horribly offended as he should have been responded with "You can't SAY that, Ian".

Ian's reply? "Daddy did."

-k

P.S. For the record, Daddy did NOT say it to Cory... or Ian... or in front of Mommy.