Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Kindness Begins With Me

Last night I was lamenting over the fact that our children aren't very nice to each other and was wondering how we could teach them to like their brothers and sisters.  I was pretty distressed over this dilemma.  Gary in all his wisdom said that maybe "some of us" are not very nice but we'll learn one day to be kind and loving to each other and I can probably not worry about my children being serial killers just yet.

Now, I should probably point out that I could have possibly been suffering from the effects of sleep deprivation because seminary started back up this week and I woke up bright-eyed and bushy-tailed at 4 in the am because I worry, worry, worry that we will sleep through the alarm and so I woke up waaaayyyy earlier than I needed to.  This morning I woke up at 5 so it's getting a little better but I'm still a tad bit cranky.

Since I was up so early, I decided to juice some carrots and apples.  I started juicing several months ago and was juicing about 2 apples and 4 carrots every single day.  Then, in a moment of pure insanity, I coerced Kinsey into drinking a cup of juice every morning so I was juicing 4 apples and 8 carrots.  Then, for Christmas, Gary got me a new juicer and has now gotten hooked on juicing and has convinced Emily and Carson to try it (but they make faces and shudder when they drink the juice so they aren't loving it).  I know....to most normal, loving moms that would be the best news on the planet.  Except that the new juicer requires you to cut the fruit and veggies into small pieces and that is A LOT of produce to cut!  So, I decided to go back to juicing for just Kinsey and me.  No one was around until the juice was all finished and then Gary (who was much too busy to help cut the produce) showed up and offered to pour the juice for me which in Gary language meant that he would give Kinsey and I smaller portions so he could take some for himself even though I told him I was only making it for Kinsey and me.  Then Emily walked in and she wanted some (and she had the nerve to act like she was choking it down!) so we got a fraction of the juice that we normally get.  I may have scowled at them and called him a vulture because I am so pleasant.

I am also anticipating a busy afternoon with lots of driving because I have to pick up the middle school child at 4:15, rush the cub scout to the church by 4:30, dash to pick up the high-schoolers which are normally picked up at 4:30, drive them home, pick up cub scout by 5:30 and then drive across town in rush hour traffic to meet Gary so that he can take the cub scout to Special Olympics basketball practice (which Carson has ever-so-patiently been waiting for for weeks and is over-the-moon-excited about).  I got a headache just typing all that out.  It's not a lot compared to other families but that is a lot of driving for this over-anxious homebody!

I just sent this email to Gary so that we could make sure we knew what we were doing today:

Dear Gary,

Here's the email with the details for basketball. I thought we could just meet you at the school a few minutes before 6 (not right on the dot 6 or 6:02 but maybe 5:55 because I know how you can be but watch I'll get stuck in traffic and be super late now that I said that). Then you can stay with Carson because basketball is dad turf and I will probably come home to referee the other kiddos who will be mauling each other by that point....I mean overwhelming each other with so much love and kindness that we will be in danger of getting kicked out of the neighborhood because our children are too perfect and everyone is jealous of our awesome parenting skills.

Sound like a plan? Maybe I'll even make dinner while you're basketball-ing but don't get your hopes up too high because I might be cranky by then. Oh, and yes...I know that there is salmon in the fridge and yes...I know how to cook it so don't you dare give me suggestions and ideas for dinner or else! Not even a hint about side dishes! Got it?!

Who am I kidding...I am already cranky and it's not even noon! I might need a little nap or an attitude adjustment. I can't, for the life of me, figure out why our kids aren't more loving and sweet to their family and friends! It's a puzzle!!
Anyway...I love you...even though I'm cranky and don't like to share my juice.

Love,

Shanon

This was Gary's response to my soft and cuddly email:

Your emails are classic!  Everyone else in the world is deprived!  I will be there before 6 for sure.

Love,

Gary

I'm pretty sure we can all tell where my kids get their sweet and loving dispositions.  Maybe one day Gary will learn how to be more kind and loving. :)

I am curing my crankiness by snitching Gary's Christmas chocolate and consuming it in large quantities.  Shhh....don't tell him.