Cody never ceases to amaze me. He's a great kid. He's a teenager... don't get me wrong, sometimes he makes me want to bang my own head against the wall in hopes of seeing what he sees as logic, but overall, excellent human being. I should know. I helped God make him that way. ;)
But a few days ago, when we were at the mall getting our pictures done, he just took the cake. Let me give you a taste of the big story first... an aperitif, if you will.
About a month ago, he went with me to Walmart to do a little shopping. I chose to use the stroller that day, since it was super cold and I didn't want little hands all over shopping carts. We'd finished our shopping, and Cody was holding our bags while I pushed the stroller to the exit. I turned to him and said, "Want to wait here while I go get the car?" He shook his head and said, "Mom, go." Ohhhhkay... so onward I went. As we made it to the car, he said, "Sorry, but there were a couple of guys back there that looked kinda weird. I didn't want the kids around them." Oh, my. My instincts have clearly fallen asleep or been passed to a new generation.
Fast forward to picture day at 5th Avenue Mall: We'd done our sitting, and I had promised Cody dinner and a game from Game Stop. We ate, I was sluggish because I'd made a bad food choice, and wanted to go home, but darnit, I promised Cody his game... and off to Game Stop on the first floor we went. As we exited the elevator, Cody said, "I just want to get my game and get out of here. I don't like being here with the twins." I was taken aback, and asked, incredulously, "They embarrass you??" He shook his head and said, "No, I love being out with them. Girls look at me twice as much! I just don't like them around all these people. I feel like I can't protect them well here."
And in that moment, I knew he was ALL my son. My bodyguard career has been passed down. :)
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Saturday, February 6, 2010
I was right... and I'm STILL the one who's gonna pay for it.
I'm so damned irritated. Now, there may be some foul language in this post, so if you have virgin ears (or eyes), close this window.
I am a well read woman. I do research as deeply as possible when it comes to my health, and that of my family's. I knew that when the time came, we'd be doing a bit of crying it out. It hurt like a sonofabitch, but in my heart, it was the right thing to do. Now, before my mother moved in with us, we didn't do a TON of it, but enough that they'd go down for naps, or go back to sleep if we went in during the night with a bottle.
After Mom moved in, my world exploded in many, many different ways. Jon received orders to Afghanistan, the twins began sleeping through the night fairly regularly, I made the momentous decision to go through with gastric bypass... it was a lot to take in! However, at some point, the twins began to pick up on all the changes and tension. They began refusing to go to sleep at night. Crying it out became an hour long process. My mother CONSTANTLY interfered, busting into their bedroom with bottles, picking them up, yelling and crying at us, etc. It was absolutely HORRIFIC. The twins recognized that she'd give in, and began pouring it on full force. I've never been so frustrated!
Not long after my surgery and their first birthday, Jon left. Great. Now I HAD to depend on her for help, and help is all she gave the twins... NOT ME. Long story short (too late), they've gone from waking once a night, MAYBE, to refusing to sleep in their room at all. Now wait... before you go off half cocked giving me advice as though I've not attempted everything under the sun, you should know I resorted to melatonin. Last night, and tonight.
Last night, Teddy slept til midnight, and Rudy til 5:45.
Tonight, they haven't been to sleep yet. Apparently, melatonin is a $7 joke to my children. I finally gave Rudy to my mother, and Cody is playing with Teddy right now so I can take a few minutes to calm down. When my mother came in to see what all the crying was about, I lost it... but only a little. I said, "THIS is what I've spent MONTHS trying to make you understand. THIS is what I've been trying to avoid for THEM." She sighed and said, "What do we do now?" I shook my head and answered, "Either go on as we are, or they're going to have to cry for HOURS, over the course of several nights, maybe even a couple of weeks. I'm sorry, but I can't take THAT much crying it out. This damage is done." She took Rudy, silently, and left.
I can't sleep at night, I don't get much rest during the day, I have obligations to my 15 year old that I don't feel is fair to put on the back burner because I need a nap, and my mother is always complaining that she is tired. I'm sure she is, but *I* am the one in the house that does the bills, the driving, and the errands. I handle the household and family situations, and I'm expected to do it all with a fucking smile on my face.
Bullshit.
I'm tired and pissed, and if anyone in this house wants a piece of me, let's dance.
I am a well read woman. I do research as deeply as possible when it comes to my health, and that of my family's. I knew that when the time came, we'd be doing a bit of crying it out. It hurt like a sonofabitch, but in my heart, it was the right thing to do. Now, before my mother moved in with us, we didn't do a TON of it, but enough that they'd go down for naps, or go back to sleep if we went in during the night with a bottle.
After Mom moved in, my world exploded in many, many different ways. Jon received orders to Afghanistan, the twins began sleeping through the night fairly regularly, I made the momentous decision to go through with gastric bypass... it was a lot to take in! However, at some point, the twins began to pick up on all the changes and tension. They began refusing to go to sleep at night. Crying it out became an hour long process. My mother CONSTANTLY interfered, busting into their bedroom with bottles, picking them up, yelling and crying at us, etc. It was absolutely HORRIFIC. The twins recognized that she'd give in, and began pouring it on full force. I've never been so frustrated!
Not long after my surgery and their first birthday, Jon left. Great. Now I HAD to depend on her for help, and help is all she gave the twins... NOT ME. Long story short (too late), they've gone from waking once a night, MAYBE, to refusing to sleep in their room at all. Now wait... before you go off half cocked giving me advice as though I've not attempted everything under the sun, you should know I resorted to melatonin. Last night, and tonight.
Last night, Teddy slept til midnight, and Rudy til 5:45.
Tonight, they haven't been to sleep yet. Apparently, melatonin is a $7 joke to my children. I finally gave Rudy to my mother, and Cody is playing with Teddy right now so I can take a few minutes to calm down. When my mother came in to see what all the crying was about, I lost it... but only a little. I said, "THIS is what I've spent MONTHS trying to make you understand. THIS is what I've been trying to avoid for THEM." She sighed and said, "What do we do now?" I shook my head and answered, "Either go on as we are, or they're going to have to cry for HOURS, over the course of several nights, maybe even a couple of weeks. I'm sorry, but I can't take THAT much crying it out. This damage is done." She took Rudy, silently, and left.
I can't sleep at night, I don't get much rest during the day, I have obligations to my 15 year old that I don't feel is fair to put on the back burner because I need a nap, and my mother is always complaining that she is tired. I'm sure she is, but *I* am the one in the house that does the bills, the driving, and the errands. I handle the household and family situations, and I'm expected to do it all with a fucking smile on my face.
Bullshit.
I'm tired and pissed, and if anyone in this house wants a piece of me, let's dance.
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