Let's Cut to the Crust, Shall We?

Today I have broken my own rule. Today I have set aside my own beliefs to satisfy the beliefs of others. Today I have lost the battle with the crust.

I cut the crust.
I cut the crust off the grilled cheese.
And now there is no going back.

Long ago I decided to give L & M whatever we ate and since they were 1 they've eaten all kinds of foods most kids wont...wheat bread, tofu, chicken parm, grilled octopus (I kid you not!), AND....bread crust on sandwiches.

Until today.
I gave in. They are getting pickier these days - is that a 5 year old thing? And I'm tired of reminding them, "Yes you do so like peanut butter! Yes you eat the crust, you've eaten it for the last 4 years!"

Today I gave in because I'm tired of the fight, and I'm tired of food going to waste, and I'm tired of eating the leftover food so that it doesn't go to waste!

What's next...white bread???
Scary thought.

ScaryMom

Sneakers are sneaky like that

As the back-to-school shopping continues, raise the grand total another $80 for sneakers. And I'm actually happy about that!

A long-standing Twofer Thumbs Up to Shoe Train in the Cabin John Mall in Potomac. They carry all the different brands, from narrow to extra-wide and they are great at fitting them. Usually we wait 30 min. to be seen, and then 10 min. to pick out and try on shoes. What can I tell you, my kids know what they like.

Yesterday, we waited only 10 min. to be seen. M was dancing around in her mary-jane sneakers 5 min later, but L...
L proceeded to try on pair, after pair, after pair. Is she becoming an indecisive shoe shopper at 5 or did they really ALL feel too tight, too loose, etc.?

We were almost at the point of (gasp) sneakers with shoelaces! And I was making all kinds of comments about her now learning how to tie her shoes.

Well that did it. Two more pairs and we found the perfect sneaks.

Velcro still rules. And so does Shoe Train!

ScaryMom

My Side of the Backpack Debate

I just spent $130 on backpacks for school.

Let that sink in for a minute.

$130....backpacks.....5-year olds

Of course when you break it down it's really $60 for the backpack plus tax and shipping but we twofer moms always get slammed having to double it.

Here's my rationale (which my neurotic self only reached after weeks of reading, talking, and thinking about the pros and cons of different backpacks)
1. My kids are "walkers" and will be trudging up and down hill about 4 blocks (8 round-trip) for the next 6 years so I'm set on wheeled packs.

2. This will save MY back when they complain their packs are too heavy to carry.

3. The $20 wheeled packs at Target were missing "little" things... like some way to tie up the straps so that they aren't dragging in the mud when you are wheeling it.

4. I'd probably have to replace the cheaper versions sooner so I might as well bite the bullet now.

And now, presenting the newest members of the family...
The ClassMateTM Wheel Pack from Lands End

Where's MY Bike?

I'm out of breath.
I'm sweating.
I'm tired.
No, I'm not at the gym. I'm trying to keep up with my daughters who are getting really comfortable on their bikes.













I need to either buy myself a bike, rollerblades, or one of those scooters to keep up with them.
Or....I could take their training wheels off.

Now that would be scary.

Buy Gas Now, Save Later?

So I came across this site MyGallons.com and I'm thinking, "Am I too late?" I wish I had come across this when gas was only $3.27 a gallon. You know, waaaaay back in....April.


Basically you buy a membership fee now ($40 annually) and you buy a prepaid card with gallons at today's prices in your local area. So I can't get New Jersey prices if I live in Maryland. Then you use that card to fill up and they deduct from the gallons you've purchased. It's supposed to compensate if you end up at a station that charges less than your locked in rate, and also if you travel to a different area.

I've been collecting my receipts when I fill up. Initially it was to track where the 'cheap' gas was. Now it's like this sad history of the price of gas rising over $1 a gallon in less than 3 months. You know, something to share with the kids when everything runs on solar energy.

I got so panicky that now, even at over $4 a gallon, I've bought into the idea that if I spend that money now, it will save later because the price of gas will only go up.

Now if I could just get that Prius...
SM

Comparisons

I don't have a sister. I have a brother. And there are days I'm thankful for that. Sure, we fought. We competed. But it was different, because we were different. We were different ages, we were different sexes, and we accepted each other as siblings and everyone around us expected us to have different friends, hobbies, and the like.

For L & M it's trickier.

They are the same sex, the same age, and while they look different - this has meant they have ALWAYS been compared.

The really 'smart' folks say things like:
"WHY does this one have curly hair and this one straight?"
"Oh look, this is the happy one..."
"I can see who the smart one will be!"

For me, the neurotic mother who projects 10 years ahead, you might as well be saying:
"WHY is this one more popular?"
"Oh look, this is the fat one.."
"I can see who the dumb one is!"

I can only hope that now as they are starting to compare themselves to each other (as well as their friends), they find a way to appreciate their differences, be thankful of what they have, and respect themselves.

I guess that's where I come in huh?
Scary thought.

ScaryMom