Category Archives: Parenting

A Sampling: Phelps, Guitar Hero, Madonna, Air Supply, and L’il Wayne

February 12, 2009media, nostalgia, ParentingKirsetin

That title should get a few hits, huh?

Speaking of hits, this morning I was checking in with some bloggy friends, and I laughed out loud when I read Anne’s post “Don’t Phelps that Bong.” I found her 3rd point about journalists particularly amusing, the best being the one who said Phelps was caught “taking tokers from a bonger.” I’m still laughing. Did someone really say that? I don’t care how busy you are. It’s worth a short click over for a good laugh.

Then I popped over to SusieJ‘s and read about how Guitar Hero has built a musical bridge between Susie and her teenage son. Since just last year we suffered more than a bit of angst over our oldest son’s intense desire to fit in and download all of the songs his friends were downloading, I found this compelling. Guitar Hero can help? Perhaps we should relent. I’ll take Fleetwood Mac over L’il Wayne any day of the week.

SusieJ mentioned Love Me Two Times by The Doors, so of course I watched the YouTube link. Then I had to listen to this one, for really old times sake. Well, you know what happened next, right? I had stumbled onto Nostalgia Lane and I couldn’t leave. I just kept clicking. Madonna, The Eagles, and Tears for Fears all reared their heads. I’m not saying for sure, but Air Supply and Journey may have made a quick appearance too. Suddenly it was 1985 and man, I was young.

I even rediscovered Men at Work and their vegemete sandwich. And hey, do you remember this one?

I had totally forgotten, but there it is, preserved better than I’ll ever be. No wonder my dad hated MTV. Between these guys and Madonna’s lingerie, I’m surprised we didn’t toss the TV and move to the woods.

It wasn’t all wasted time, though. Ever efficient, I was able to learn something new during my foray into the past. Until today, I thought you could find just about anything, anything I tell you, on YouTube. But apparently, Prince (of course I tried to find Purple Rain!) and his record label have a ban on posting his music on YouTube. You can find a few soundless videos, but really, who wants to look at that? It’s all about the listening, Prince. No one wants to watch your 1984 writhing. Okay, lots of people probably do, but I’m not one of them.

And then, Prince-deprivation notwithstanding, I began to come up for air. I surfaced from the depths of YouTube and my long ago musical past, and realized that I had doctor’s appointments to make, articles to write, a Valentine’s party to plan, a birthday cake to bake, and that none of my children have clean clothes. So it’s back to 2009, where I am less young but oh, so busy. And if I need a flashback, there are always YouTube and Guitar Hero to help me out.

Happy Thursday, all!

If you want to join me in wasting some time, enjoy these blasts from the past, courtesy of YouTube:

What I Want My Son to Know

January 26, 2009balance, blog blast, nostalgia, ParentingKirsetin

Before I had you, my life centered around me. Time was a commodity and I spent it doing things I enjoyed: working at a great job, eating at fun restaurants, and reading good books.

When you were born, the center shifted and it was dramatic. As I held you, my first tiny baby, in my arms, I was overwhelmed with the responsibility of being a parent. I was overwhelmed with the responsibility of the road ahead. Instead of seeing the world through the lens of my own wants and needs, my peripheral vision intensified. I was suddenly and deeply aware of how my choices would affect you – you as a baby, as a boy, as a man.

I was overwhelmed, too, by the less significant things: the laundry—which seemed to triple with the addition of one tiny little being; the food—scheduling, and preparing, and feeding; the sleep-deprivation—enough said! Little did I know that your schedule had only begun to affect mine.

Fast forward:

3 boys, 3 schools, 3 book fairs (fall and spring), 3 parent-teacher conferences (fall and spring), 3 PTO meetings (every other month), roller skating parties, birthday parties, soccer practice, games, tournaments, football practice and games, basketball practice and games, yoga, Pilates, updating the scrapbook and the list goes on. The laundry and grocery still need my attention. Writing and speaking take time; lots of it. And don’t forget the fun stuff: foosball, darts, Barnes and Noble visits, dinners out, dinners at home, Yahtzee, dates with dad, and time with my friends.Here’s the thing, sweetheart: there isn’t enough time to do it all, and there isn’t enough time not to do it all. Before I blink you’ll be living in a dorm. You’ll get a job and you’ll marry a wife. You’ll have kids of your own and then, slowly, you’ll begin to understand all of this in a way that you just can’t until that day comes.And I will have time to spare.

So until that day, I balance these things the best I can. On good weeks, I plan ahead. I know on Monday what’s for dinner on Friday, even if the plan is eating out. I have a load of laundry in before you go to school and you get it folded before you head out to practice. The other weeks, I wing it and it’s not always pretty. But either way, we eat together, we play together, and we enjoy time together as a family. These are the moments of balance. The rest is just life, flying by, whizzing more quickly than I could’ve ever believed. I wouldn’t miss participating in it for the world.

Love,
Mom

This week’s blog blast is about motherhood and balance (or the lack thereof). This post about was written for Parent Bloggers Network as part of a sweepstakes sponsored by BOCA.

Happy New Year to Me OR Teach Your Kids To Do The Laundry

January 3, 2009chores, kid's chores, New Year, ParentingKirsetin

Washing Machine

1. Choose load size: small, medium, large or extra large.
2. Turn temperature to warm/cold.
3. Options: off/off
4. Choose agitate/spin Fabric Select:
• For loads with towels or jeans: high/high
• For loads with t-shirts, socks, shirts or boxers: high/low
5. Push round knob in. Turn to Normal (6 for smaller loads, 10 for bigger or dirtier loads). Pull knob out and water will start.
6. Add detergent to water. Low line for small loads, higher line for bigger loads.
7. Add clothes to water.
8. Close lid.

Dryer

1. Choose temperature.
• Loads with t-shirts, shirts, boxers, and socks: Medium
• Loads with towels or jeans: High
2. Wrinkle Shield: Off
3. End of Cycle: On (makes it buzz when it’s done)
4. Turn round knob to:
• Accudry Very Dry for loads with towels and jeans.
• Accudry Energy Preferred: for loads with t-shirts, boxers, regular shirts or socks.
5. Press On button (far right).

Why, oh why, you may wonder, am I typing up something I’ve already known for a bazillion years. And in such simplified terms. With so few options. Why, indeed?!

Because, my friends, it is a new year, and with a new year comes the wind of change. In this year, my 12-year old will make his own lunch, at least a few times a week, finally learn to hang his coat on the hook, and chip in by starting a load of laundry every now and then. With these few helpful hints, neatly laminated and hanging in the laundry room, he’ll no longer “forget how” to do it. It will be oh so clear. So very kind of me, don’t you think?

Now that’s what I call a Happy New Year.