What have you learned young lady?

The blog is nearly a year old. Good gravy Miss Daisy that is a lot of musings from me! (I mean for those of you who have to read this drivel, I certainly have lots more to say – consider yourself warned).

I thought in light of this most auspicious (or not) occasion I would recap what I have learned (and sometimes shared with you) over the past year:

The first thing is that when I complained some months back about ‘why’ I didn’t even know what annoying was. I was a fool, a FOOL I tell you, to even think about whining about it now that I have truly experienced its full and awesome power.
I get asked about 20 times a day ‘why’ something is what it is or why we do what we do, and with the frequency of the questions comes a grating on my nerves that only fingernails on a chalkboard can begin to describe (remember when Nancy Kerrigan got whacked in the knee and they played the footage of her screaming “WHY? WHY?” over and over in that whiny, high pitched voice – that is what it translates into in my head when the Mud Puddle does it).

I have learned that I am capable of being a better mom than I am but am at times too tired or annoyed to bother to go for the Mommy Gold. I TRY and make every ‘teachable moment’ a quality one but sometimes I am just not up to explaining the ins and outs of God and his many attributes. This makes me a bad mother, but an honest one – the first step to resolving any character flaw is to admit you have one (wait, no, that is the first step in AA, forget I said anything).


I have learned that the terrible twos are a freaking cake walk compared to the Frustrating Fours. In the past month he has pushed the boundaries and my buttons more than ever before. And what did that get him for his efforts? Drastically reduced tv privileges and an earlier bedtime. That outta teach him (who am I kidding?)

I have learned that an orange hunting hat that cost 99 cents can be a fashion accessory to any outfit if it is cold enough.

I have learned that you may be potty trained but peeing standing up is more about height than bladder control (to anyone who has witnessed a toddler half an inch too short trying to straddle the bowl knows exactly what I am talking about). And that leaving the seat up is something genetic in the male of the species and you have to be trained NOT to do it.

I have learned that if you go swimming you don’t need to take a bath that day (ok, maybe I haven’t ‘learned’ it per se but I certainly follow it as a rule).

I have learned that if you drink any liquid half an hour or less prior to bedtime there is an 87% chance you will pee the bed.

I have learned that four years into this roller coaster ride I still love the Mud Puddle more today than I did yesterday, the laughter still outweighs the anger, and my proudest name is Mommy.