Karsten: I don't want to work when I grown up.
Me: Me neither! Why don't you want to work when you grow up?
Karsten: I want to be able to spend time with my kids and do fun things with them.
Sigh.
I told him that sometimes working is how parents take care of their kids. Then he got a speech on "these economic times..." that I am sure a seven year old really didn't want to hear.
Laser tag is good.
I got creamed by the 10 year old kids who could bounce their lasers off of mirrors to shoot me. Daddy Andy (aka Ghost Freak) won Second Place for the first round. For the second round the 10 year olds developed better strategy than GF. Tom Rossman, ex-Army Ranger scared me. He really knew how to sniper the little kids.
The conclusion: Better than aerobics! And I saw another mom friend and her entire family who'd read my blog post before coming. She said, "we're peaceful people but we like laser tag."
Me too!
Britta just said, "everyone is boring."
I need to be careful of what I wish for.
Ok, I am updating my desire from wanting to raise opinionated kids to wanting to raise verbally articulate and humble kids. And knowing when to keep your opinion to yourself.
That's more like it.
Having a 3 year old girl is like having a mirror to hold up to myself. The other day I asked Britta her opinion on something. Her reply, "I think it was interesting."
That's when I realized I say that. All the time. That's when I realized that I should reconsider how often I say that phrase. Saying something is interesting is saying nothing at all. It is a way to give a positive answer without committing to an opinion.
I don't want to raise an opinion-less girl. Often times I find myself deferring to other people's opinion when often times my opinion is just as valid, if at times even more so. I either lack confidence to state my opinion or don't want to create waves.
A few weeks ago at the Democratic Caucus my feisty 85-year old neighbor lady asked me who I was voting for. I said, "Hillary." She was so excited and said, "that's our girl!" During the 1 minute speeches she stepped right up. She said, "my husband had to leave because he hates when I give my opinion." Then she proceeded to give an impassioned speech about why everyone should select her candidate. I sat mute in the corner with Britta. After the caucus she came over and asked me why I didn't stand up and say anything.
I gave her the cop out answer that I had Britta with me and had to do damage control. But really I didn't feel like trying to convince anyone that I had the right answer when I think Obama is a great choice. Just not the choice I was making that day.
Anyway, to end this rambling, I am going to try to say "interesting" less and say something real more. I'll try and stand up to a podium and give 1 minute speeches when I have the chance.
And I'll hope I won't offend anyone or sound stupid. It is all going to be for Britta's sake!
Britta is really skinny, and for good reason. She doesn't eat. For awhile I thought she was my "good eater" because Karsten won't try anything new. Britta will put spinach and broccoli in her mouth on occasion. She just won't eat more than a bite or two of anything, ever. When I look how thin she is it worries me.
Starting tonight I'm going to haul my laptop over to the dining table and right before she goes to bed I'm going to have her watch Cinderella and see how much food I can stuff in her concave belly. I'm also going to order some more pediasure milk. Wouldn't it be great if I could just hook her up to an IV at night?
