I like to think of myself as pretty thick skinned. In most (some) areas. I dish it out in big heaping bucketfuls, so I have to be able to take it...
(Interruption)I just snapped my fingers at Cal. He was taunting his brother whom we're trying to get into the shower. It has come to that. Actually, I already regret it. Deep cleansing breath.
Now where was I...I was commenting on my thick skin...
(Interruption) Cal has just informed me that he left his math journal at school. He is worried (and I'm not making this up) that someone will break a window in his classroom and steal his journal and go forth and publish his research. I have assured him that it is extremely unlikely that will happen and have ushered him off to prepare for his...
(Interruption, interruption) Cal is (supposed to be)getting ready for his shower, and all of a sudden I hear the dryer has started up. He is concerned that it's running, but can't explain why he did it.
...so tonight I was very excited to be feeding the boys my homemade mac & cheese. Cal assured me that he liked mac &c cheese, and Nolan is reputed to eat anything. So it seems...
(Interruption) Nolan, who is supposed to be in the shower by now, just walked into the living room with his pants and underwear down around his ankles, declaring that he is not yet prepared for his shower because he has to go potty...
...uh...oh yeah, mac & cheese...so I made the most kid friendly version of mac and cheese: no bread crumbs (Cal didn't approve), no funky cheeses, just the basic, yet totally real, magilla. I made it, and served it up. Problem number 1: Nolan didn't find it saucy enough. He asked me to pour water into it (!!!) Worse, I did it. It made the dish saucier which placated him for a bit, then he flat out declared that he didn't like it, and could I please scrape all of the butter off of his bread. Cal ate a brief bit more, but honestly, I think I lost him earlier when he found out that it wasn't the Shells & Cheese in a box. I know that they're kids and all, but I'm a little put off. Fortunately, I'll live.
I decided that the boys had to eat, so I offered up hot dogs. Nolan announced that he wanted cheese, and about five other things on his. Then I told him that he could either have a hot dog or a turkey sandwich. He said turkey sandwich which I was preparing within seconds. Cal said hot dog. I put a pan of water...
(interruption) Cal just finished his shower in about two minutes and thirty seconds. He assured me that he is thoroughly clean and that he washed his hair. I am now willing to fall back on my mother's policy of being satisfied if he has managed to completely wet his hair.
...on the stove and cranked it on for the hot dog. Then the moment arrived. I caved. I gave in to every legitimate parenting instinct and tossed the fantasy completely out the window. I turned off the stove, and put the hot dog...in...the...microwave. Within 30 seconds Cal was complaining that his hot dog was too hot. I told him to blow on it, set the timer for five minutes, and announced that the dinner timer was ticking! (And I love, love, LOVE that Tom kept the boys paced with 30 second interval updates of just how much time they had left to eat.)
I can't vouch for how quickly any of you parents out there have gone from eating dinner to beddy-bye tuck in, but I'm throwing down the challenge with 10:45, including showers for both.
After all were in bed Tom looked at me and said, "It's been great, but really, I think it's time for their parents to come home." Of course, he's still frustrated because Nolan peed on the toilet seat.
Tomorrow is our last day. We're keeping them out of soccer practice to have one last full afternoon and evening together before they (and we) return to our real worlds.
Looks like 10:45 is a failed number as Tom just came out and asked me if we remembered to have the boys brush their teeth...D'oh!
I'm dying!!!! For this reason....the mac n cheese debacle.....I REFUSE to go out to dinner anywhere they serve mac n cheese.
Why? (A) Sophia will order it; (B) I sure as hell don't want to pay my hard earned money for mac n cheese as a "dinner out"; (C) She especially likes when they serve KRAFT mac n cheese, in particular....YES, the dry version that costs 49 cents on sale at some stores (not that I've bought it, I refuse); (D) all of the above!
For this reason, we avoid Mimi's Cafe (formerly known as "Mimi's House"---she liked it that much).
Two weeks was PERFECT. You needed that time to get the full experience. Congratulations on not only surviving, but flourishing and many, many congratulations on reclaiming your ability to gourmet mac n cheese, should you so choose.
:) kat
Posted by: kw | October 28, 2009 at 10:09 PM