A Really Big Thank You Note

I am writing this post from seat 14F of West Jet flight 235 from Ottawa to Winnipeg.  Little C has had enough of this vacation and has thrown down about EVERYTHING today.  Mid fit, we always remind her that she never gets her way when she's shacking out, but today, the world is against her.  We drew the line at 3 yogurts, I took away the lip chap after a solid two minutes of application and airport security wouldn't let her carry the bag of liquids containing said lip chap through the scanner.  Needless to say while she was trying to escape her seat belt on the plane, I offered her a piece of 'candy', and am now sitting here, enjoying some majorly deserved quiet time.  I never would have thought Gravol was a reasonable option for traveling toddlers.  But like many, my best parenting was done before I had kids.

Even though I've got some pretty good kids, traveling with them is not always easy.  We're heading home from a two week Canadian adventure and we could not have done it without the help and generosity of some pretty awesome people. So I'm going to treat this post, like a really big thank you note.

I'll start with our dear friends who made it possible for us to fly with a WestJet Friends and Family discount.  Driving would have killed me, I'm sure of it.  You guys rule.

Second is my sister and her mechanic boyfriend, who not only took our sweet Jack for the entire time, but also fixed the brakes on our car.  Talk about service!  I should get Jack to the vet this week, I'm sure he's run off all his peanut butter sandwich weight!

Thank you to my father in law, who drove us to YWG at an ungodly hour on Day 1.  Few things would get him up that early.  I hope you had a great round of golf, Papa!

WestJet.  You make traveling with kids much more tolerable.  Thank you first, for keeping our seats together and not forcing a seat change fee on us like we've had on other airlines.  Second, thank you for only joking about losing our luggage.

To the man in the brown sport coat who (might have) *actually* enjoyed sitting beside Big C:  I wish only good things for you for many years to come!  BD is not a comfortable flyer and would much rather sit, palms sweaty with his eyes closed and a blanket over his head, so your help meant the world to this Mama who was worrying about her three babies.  I'm also supposed to tell you that she finally found K-R-I-S-T-O-F-F in her search a word.  There is so much good in this world.  Thank you for showing kindness and warmth to my family.  (And I'm crying while I write this - get me home, I'm tired!)

Our hosts in Longueuil made our Canadian adventure a lot more 'french.'  As always, the girls treasure their time with you.  Thank you for helping us drive in that ridiculously confusing city of Montreal and for opening your home to the noise and chaos of our family.  Yay for poutine!

We found an adorable little breakfast shop in Collingwood called the Old Red Hen.  The very greek owner/head chef made sure we knew he appreciated our business and stopped by our table to ask the girls for some fresh artwork.  Once again, under the security of their parents, our girls felt warmth and friendship from a stranger.  I could not be happier about it.

The reason behind our trip, was a family wedding.  The hotel staff in Walkerton made our stay feel as close to home as possible.  Then again, it might have been because we met up with my in-laws and we were able to dump the kids on them for a night.  We always appreciate that!

I'd like to thank the Queen and Groom for making our girls feel special on your big day, and to the DJ for keeping both girls on the dance floor all night.  They both slept in the next morning!

Mother Nature - YOU RULE!  We were in Niagara Falls for two days and you brought the sun and heat when we needed it!  I can't imagine what our boat ride to the falls would have been like had it been cold and windy.  My 'thrill of a lifetime' was about perfect.  It certainly made up for our $80 iHop breakfast.  Thanks lady!

Marineland - you did not disappoint!  We, along with the other 150 people in the park, really enjoyed our time with you!  We didn't have to pay for up close encounters because no one was around and everything was up close!  I know this would be written differently if your mile wide walking paths and amusement park rides had been full of people.  Everyone looooooooooves Marineland!  (Bahaha!  Now you're going to sing it all damn day too!)

After two hours of trying to find a reasonable hotel in Toronto, I had given up on seeing the Blue Jays.  Thank you to BD for putting your foot down and making us go.  Our hotel might have been far away, but 9 hours downtown Toronto wasn't THAT bad!  (Plus, we spent time at the Ripley's Aquarium - everyone should go there - it was amazing!)  The game was also very exciting.  So yeah, I love ya.  Even with that gross patch of face hair.

To our family in Ottawa:  you lent us your car and welcomed us into your home.  Our very off-schedule children kept you up late and lovingly tortured the cats for 3 solid days.  I was so happy to visit Parliament Hill at such a beautiful time of year and those Beaver Tails were everything I hoped and dreamed.  I can't believe how lucky we were to stumble across Rib Fest too!  Thank you, we love you!

***

More than ever I am so proud to be Canadian.  We are so lucky to live in such a beautiful, free country and I hope that you get to see as much of it as possible. 

Looking for more sanity?  I'll make you feel normal every day if you like my Facebook page!  www.facebook.com/mommydoesntsharechocolate.

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S

I've Got A Lot To Learn In Little Time

I made a Norwex delivery to one of my favorite customers this afternoon.  She is a past hostess from last year and I just LOVE talking to her.  She and her family are some of the most easy-going, friendly, people I have ever met.  They live in South Osborne and their old home has all the beautiful characteristics that an old home should have.  When you walk in to their house, you feel comfortable immediately.  It’s a level of wholesome that is hard to describe.  Like, I barely know them, but I just want to curl up on their sofa by the fireplace and catch up.  Their house is so calm and relaxed and you can really feel the love in their family and the respect that they have for one another.    And here’s the crazy thing – their house is full of teenagers. 

I totally have parenting skills envy for these people.  Let me know if you’ve heard of this before, because I can’t possibly me making this feeling up.

When I first met her, my first thought was that she was very busy.  She told me to “call her” in 5 months and she’d book a party.  If you know anything about Direct Sales, you know that that is usually the nice way of blowing off a consultant.  But if you know anything about the way I run my business, you know I’ll call.  And when I called, she ANSWERED – which is another big deal in the world of Direct Sales.  And sure enough, like she promised, this busy woman booked a party.

So one June evening, I made my way to her place about 45 minutes before the party was scheduled to start.  No one was coming to the door when I rang the bell and I was starting to get my panic on, when the teenage boy cutting the lawn across the street turned off the mower and yelled ‘just go in, she’s probably upstairs’.  When she joined me at the entrance a few minutes later, I told her the kid across the street said to come in and she said that he was her son, he shovels their walk too.

While I was setting up, I met her husband, who was not overly excited about cleaning products, but certainly wanted to be polite to the guest in his home.  I also had a nice chat with her daughter, who was preparing for a speech she had to give at her Girl Guides meeting that night.  I don’t really remember the purpose of the speech but I think she was being tested, or it meant some sort of level graduation or something.  She confessed how nervous she was about public speaking and even in my presence she was comforted and motivated by not only her parents, but her brother too.  (And here I thought her brother was cutting the neighbors lawn – surprise!  There was twin boys.  Three kids, I’m sure less than 2 years apart.)

The kids vanished for the presentation, but slowly made their way back when I was done speaking.  The boys and I had a discussion about the environment and the daughter was hands-on into the cloths and the mop, making sure the Superior Dry Pad would do the trick on the stairs.  After all, the floors were her responsibility.  I was on the threshold of overstaying my welcome that night.  The kids just kept talking to me, and I couldn’t get enough.  It went from Norwex relevant to funny family stories from the lake.  When I left, they all said goodbye with ‘nice to meet you’ and ‘hope to see you again.’  I got home late, my head was spinning and my heart was full.

About one week later when I went back to deliver the party order, again, no one came to the front door when I rang the bell.  This time, I knew better and went around back where I found everyone out on the deck, laughing and enjoying themselves over a family game of Scrabble.

HOW ARE THESE PARENTS DOING IT?  (Also – can I play Scrabble too?)

I don’t even think I’m being conceited when I say that BD and I have M-A-S-T-E-R-E-D this phase of life that we’re in right now.  I mean, this ‘toddler to early years school’ is where I could stay for a looooong time.  I know that I’m a pro, because I am able to admit and acknowledge every time I screw up.  And after 5 years of experience with 4 different kids, those screw ups happen a little less every year.  But I am so scared of my life 10 years from now.  The girls already show signs of bitchiness and attitude that I am positive I am not equipped to handle.  I don’t think I was a horrible teenager I mean, I was moody – but I had good friends and sports to keep me out of trouble.  I think my parents were pretty lucky with me...

***We interrupt this messages with a special announcement - a big THANK YOU to Google, for being just techy enough that my Mom can't figure out how to leave a comment.***

...but I know they also worked hard at keeping me in check.  Considering I am (only now) realizing that the world *might not* revolve around me, and that I am probably the most dramatic, non-acting, person on the planet, BD and I are in. for. it.

Teenage me.  A candid shot of Bossy McBosserson. 

Today, when I went to deliver another order, I met one of two of their exchange students (there are now 5 teenagers in that home.)  And while I was chatting with him, (he’s from France and is really quite charming)...one of the twins spoke to Big C about how much he enjoyed grade 2 and how the math will start to get interesting and he encouraged her to read a lot.  Really??!  You are a teenage boy!  Why are you good with kids?  Why can you inspire an adult?  What does your Mom feed you?  WILL YOU BABYSIT MY KIDS?!

Our girls were ‘perfect’ for us until they started to go to school, where they learned to not eat their crusts and that talking about poop and farts all the time doesn't get old.  You’re laughing if you don’t have school aged kids, and you’re nodding if you do.  Kids suck a little more with every school day.  They’ll learn to read and write and come home rolling their eyes and saying horrible things like ‘Mom, you’re so cray cray.’  So what’s the trick?  How do you keep them close, so that when they’re in high school they’ll spend their summer nights playing Scrabble with you on the deck; yet still give them enough space that they can hang out with their friends like normal kids? 

I’m sure there are many great teenagers out there.  There has to be, right?  Even if Instagram will have us believe that all teenagers are egocentric, selfie taking, smart phone addicts who lack communication skills, I choose to remain hopeful that it is possible to raise respectful, polite, interesting teenagers who aspire to do ‘big things’ with their lives.  Good God I hope we can do that for our girls.  Even if that ‘big thing’ means always being kind to everyone.   I just need to figure out how to do it!!  Maybe I should go force myself on this family a little more.  How many ‘drop ins’ until I get creepy?

S

Do you need a little more sanity in your life?  I will make you feel normal every day if you like my Facebook Page!  www.facebook.com/mommydoesntsharechocolate 

I'm also on Pinterest!  www.pinterest.com/nochocolate4u