Commercial Boy, Part 3

I was away last weekend with my girlfriends. I was going to say that Mike went out with his boyfriends on Saturday night, but that doesn't sound quite right. What? They're friends that are BOYS! What's the problem? .... So ANYWAY he went out with the GUYS on Saturday and needed to sleep a little later on Sunday morning.

But of course he had two boys who bounced in early morning. He mumbled to them to go do something, and so they did. They read through all the weekend flyers and did a little selective cutting. Here's a sample of what they plastered onto Mike's face as he slept:

Inspired by their ingenuity, Mike took them to trade some old games for this new one. Trouble is, when I got home on Monday I found he had traded MY Guitar Hero for THEIR game. I am upset.

Sometimes you just gotta...

You just gotta get away sometimes, you know?

Because how can you appreciate sticky kisses unless you experience a night without them?

Because how can you appreciate exuberant joyful noisiness unless you experience peace and quiet?

Because how can you appreciate crazy busy routines unless you experience a morning when you don't HAVE to get up for anything?

Thanks to Chantal, Ivana, Kim, Marzia and Megan for our Manning Park retreat. And in fact, there WERE a few sticky kisses, lots of exuberant joyful noisiness and definitely some craziness. But also a ton of relaxation, great food and great company. Two nights away and much appreciated! Now I promised not to post pictures here so I won't. But oh boy, am I tempted!!!

What was I thinking?

Mothers should know better than to stick their hands into returning lunchkits without looking.

Really. We should know better by now.

Going to wash squished fruit off fingers and pick it out of fingernails now...

Commercial Boy, Part 2

Home from Costco with a large load. Jack askes me as we unpack the mega-Chips Ahoy package:

"Is that a national brand?"

"Yessss..." (I know where this is going - I can sense the commercial about to start)

"Did you know that there is a cookie with more chips per bite than the leading national brand?"

Sigh. And if you could just hear his little voice saying it, you would die. He talks in the words of an adult sometimes, but he has the squeakiest 2-year-old's voice in a mini 6-year-old body. He is still "firsty" for something to drink, and sometimes he "wides" his scooter.

Also he calls me "Hey Mister Mummypants" which makes me crack up Every. Single. Time.

The Year/Month/Week/Day of Me

I found out something VERRRRRY interesting today. A friend of a friend sent her youngest to Grade One this year, just as I will do in the fall. This whole year, she has celebrated the Year of Laura. She drops the kids at school and then... DOES WHATEVER SHE WANTS. ALL DAY. NO GUILT.

This woman has spent entire days playing Wii by herself at home. She's enjoyed wine and Oprah. She has done anything she wanted to. She hasn't worried about what she SHOULD be doing. She has only done what SHE wanted to do that day.

I was speechless. I literally sat there with my mouth open like a fool. YOU CAN DO THAT???? What an unbelievably awesome concept. So immediately I thought about sending Jack to Grade One next year. It should be the Year of Me!!! And then next-to-immediately I thought how it could never work for me. Tuesdays and Thursdays are out because of work. Could I conceivably do what I wanted, guilt-free, three days a week from 8:35 - 2:35?

Clearly the answer is no. It's all because of that stinky guilt-free clause. But I think I should definitely work a Day of Me in there somewhere!!! September, here we come!

Commercial Boy

(I am replacing the paper towel roll)

Jack: Mummy, is that Bounty?

Me: Why yes, it IS Bounty.

Jack: Did you Know there is a Kitchen Towel that Soaks up Spills Better than Bounty?

(That was an actual quotation. Of Jack. And apparently of the commercial. To the letter.)

Ethan: Yeah, it's called Scott Towels.

(And I didn't even think they watched the channels that have commercials. Obviously I am an awesome TV supervisor.)

And then later:

Jack: Mummy, I don't want to be Jack any more.

Me: No? Who do you want to be?

Jack: You can call me: "Commercial Boy"!!!

Well, ok then. Commercial Boy it is.