Arkie Mama: Surprise snow day
This time, there was enough for a snowman!
My sweet (armed) girl
Yeah, yeah, he's about to turn 5, but he's still my baby.
Tags: The little ones
Arkie Mama: One party down, two to go!
Today we celebrated Tootie’s birthday a little early. She invited three girlfriends to go out for pizza. Then we returned to the house — which was adorably decorated by my friend Amy Upshaw — where we ate cake, opened presents, etc…
Hubs hasn’t toned the photos yet, so the colors are a little off, but you get the idea …
Cute party sign by Amy
Amy decorated while we were eating pizza. (Banner is her design.) Tootie was quite surprised upon our return.
Cake by Tracie Rich. Yum.
From left: E-man, Tootie, Jada, Rebecca, Olivia
Birthday girl.
BFF Olivia
Moody Mom's Bear, aka Rebecca
And here's Jada, who celebrated 7 in November
The E-man was perhaps a tad too muc into the present-opening.
Pin-the-tail-on-the-donkey princess/diva style.
After three perfect tail-pinnings, we realized the girls were peeking!
We had such a good time. The girls played, the E-man made the most of being a pesky little brother and the mamas had some much-needed girls-afternoon-out time.
And many, many thanks to Amy for such darling decorations. Tootie wore her hat well into the evening and is already insisting that Amy “do” her party next year.
Next up: The E-man turns 5. Then I turn 40. (Not sure whether those pictures will be fit to publish. Heh.)
And now, back to my Chocovine.
Tags: The little ones
Arkie Mama: Bullies and the bullied
A few years ago, on the way home one evening, a car pulled out in front of me and — being the eloquent former Texan that I am — I let a few well-chosen words fly.
And then Tootie piped up:
“Mama, was that a bad car?”
“Yes, sweetie. That person didn’t wait for her turn. We have to take turns when we’re driving or else we might hit each other.”
“Hitting’s bad,” Tootie replied.
And then she added: “Except when a boy pushes you down. Then it’s OK.”
Pause.
Oh, hell, what’s the appropriate response here?
We don’t hit in our house. I know many parents spank, and I’m not casting judgment. I think one parents by instinct and lingers in a chosen comfort zone. For me, spanking — or any type of hitting — just doesn’t feel right. And so we don’t.
But if someone pushes her down … ? Hmmm. Does she just sit there meekly, waiting to be rescued? What kind of message does that send? Or does she put a stop to things then and there by pushing back, by standing her ground?
People tell their children to “ignore” the bullies. Yeah, right. It doesn’t work. It never worked for me, and it hasn’t worked for countless other children either. “Telling” is acceptable only during the very early grade-school years. After that, it only adds to the helpless-victim image. And plus you’re a snitch.
Imagine being the kid who’s subjected to such misery from kindergarten on? Imagine the kid who doesn’t see an improvement in high school?
I’ve often wondered/worried about whether one — or both — of my children could ever be that kid. How would I handle it?
Since I’m a neurotic freak who often imagines dire scenarios just so I can carry on entire conversations in my head with the imaginary people who have wronged me or my offspring, I mull the what-ifs, over and over.
Because quite frankly, if Tootie or the E-man came home, day after day, year after year, bullied and beaten down, the Mama Mean-Ass Shrew in me would want to huff over to the high school cafeteria and — abandoning my no-hitting beliefs — smack the holy crap out of the offenders.
A few years ago, I wrote an in-depth story on a family who was grappling with this issue. Their teenage son was developmentally delayed, and, sadly, an easy target. They already had switched schools once in an effort to stop the abuse. It didn’t work.
He was punched. The kids broke his glasses. Twice. Called him a faggot and made fun of his mannerisms. They followed him through the halls, making threats and laughing when he cowered.
His teachers said he should ignore the kids. Didn’t work. The principal, whom I interviewed, was openly frustrated. “We don’t know what to do,” he told me. “We’re at a loss.”
How comforting.
I went to the boy’s house one morning, before school, and I remember the cajoling required to get him into the car so that his dad could drive him to the campus. I rode with them, and it was awful. This boy’s misery radiated from every pore. He was nearly in tears by the time we arrived. I watched him pull on his backpack, square his thin shoulders and trudge to the front doors.
I wasn’t a mother then. But it hurt, physically, watching that boy, and feeling his dread.
Awhile back, I read Jodi Picoult’s Nineteen Minutes, a novel that dissects a school shooting — and bullying — from all perspectives. It was a tough read. Because even as I was appalled by the shooter’s coldness, I read his mother’s thoughts and the descriptions of her anguish, and I wondered, yet again, what do we as parents do?
Two years ago, Tootie’s best friend was a bully. She came over to our house twice. Both times she stalked the E-man and tormented him for no apparent reason. When I found out that this little girl also was bullying other kids who tried to play with Tootie at recess, I put the brakes on that friendship, explaining to Tootie that we don’t hang out with people who treat others that way. The bully transferred to another school around that time, so that was that.
We live in an Alpha Society. Always have, really, but now, new precedents have been set. We see more, hear more, want more, have more.
We strive to be Alpha Moms, Alpha Career Women, Alpha SAHMs. Our partners do the same. Because, really, who wants to remain at the bottom of the heap, especially as “more” and “better” become increasingly available?
But we are adults with maturity (allegedly) and experience to draw from.
Our children, while they see and feel the pull of Alpha, don’t have the capacity to manage it.
And so they bully. Or they cower.
And I wonder, as a parent, which is worse for my child? Life as one of those snotty girls I hated in junior high? Or life as the kid who agonizes each day over where to sit in the cafeteria?
How do I help them find the happy medium in the social shark pool that is school?
We tell them, “Use your words.”
Yes. Well. The only words that work with bullies are strong ones, delivered with a certain attitude. Must I chip away at the sensitivity I love in both my kids, harden them up and teach them my arsenal of cuss words?
What troubles me is that children who are chronic victims in school often remain victims even after they enter the adult world. I’ve seen what’s out there. I write about it, on a regular basis. I don’t want them to be quite as cynical as I am, but I hope they will develop a don’t-eff-with-me sort of armor.
But how to balance this? How to develop it, without cultivating a bully in the process?
I treasure my children’s innate empathy and kindness. I also worry these traits will make them vulnerable.
Kids need to learn how to deal with bullies when they’re young. Because even as adults, they will still encounter them — at work, within the social scene, at PTA meetings, everywhere.
Right now my instructions to the kids are these: Try to ignore a bully at first. If that doesn’t work, use your words. Strong and powerful words, forceful even. Make sure the bully knows you mean business. And if a kid attacks, hit, kick, do whatever’s necessary to defend yourself until a teacher arrives.
When she was 5, Tootie came home one day and told me a boy had sat on her and tried to make her eat a crayon.
“What did you do?” I asked.
“Nothing,” she replied. “I just kept my mouth closed.”
I told her the next time a boy pulled that kind of stunt, she had my permission to do whatever was necessary to get the kid off of her.
I refrained from explaining exactly where to hit or kick.
For now.
Tags: bullies, Motherhood, My quirks
Arkie Mama: Wordless Wednesday, Bloggers’ Night Out
A little over a week ago, several of our Little Rock Mamas bloggers met for dinner at Lilly’s Dim Sum, Then Some.
We gorged ourselves on both food and adult conversation.
Yes, I have trouble focusing my camera. Another reason I'm glad I married a photographer. From left: Heidi of In the Family Way; Leigh of She's Crafty; Shareese of Run, Momma, Run; and Kim of Whirligiggles.
Leigh had better luck with my camera. From the left: Cathy of Arkie Mama; Cindy of Mom on a Wire; Gina of Wheels on the Bus.
For more Wordless Wednesday, go here:
Arkie Mama: Snow & ice
The little people in this household have had a glorious few days.
Day One: Yay! Snow!!
Bulldozing a trail
Snowballs!
Deciding on their next victim.
Sledding, redneck-style.
Why, hello, Randy! Where's Chevy?
Of course, not everyone was so pleased to see the white stuff.
The Very Reluctant Snow Shepherd
I am not leaving my doggie bed for the not-so-great outdoors. You cannot budge me.
$*#%&*%$!!!!!
Tags: The little ones
Arkie Mama: Daddy/Mama dancing for Wordless Wednesday
This year, Hubs and I are participating in the father/daughter and mother/daughter routines for Tootie’s dance recital. And so are Moody Mom and her hubby.
First, I have to say that Hubs is a marvelous dancer, so his routine has been moving along nicely. As for me? Well, I can dance by myself, but I’m finding it difficult to lead my daughter, especially when it comes to twirling her.
Here’s a sampling from last Saturday. The men’s dance is “My Girl” and the women’s is “Respect.”
Music begins. Hubs is in the black shirt.
Now the men walk out, snapping their fingers and veering left and right.
The girls scamper out to join their daddies.
The dip.
A twirl.
The kiss. Which prompted the E-man to yell, "BLECH!"
Fancy footwork.
Another dip.
Finishing with flair.
OK, moving on. You’ll note that Moody Mom and I had a bit more trouble mastering our dance. By the end, we were laughing so hard it’s a wonder we didn’t trip over our children.
Note my focus and Tootie's skepticism.
This isn't too bad.
The E-man finally quit yelling, "Blech!"
Oh, look, somebody's child isn't behaving.
I wonder who he belongs to?
Here's the part where we all show "attitude."
Oops.
Something clearly went awry here.
Moody Mom and I cannot stop laughing.
Meanwhile, our children beg for mercy.
For more entertainment (and photos) drop by Moody Mom’s. Note she did not include any pictures of herself!
For more Wordless Wednesday posts from our other Little Rock Mamas, go here:
Tags: My quirks, The little ones
Arkie Mama: Let’s just say I’m not da Vinci
So last night we had a few people over and somehow the discussion turned to those calendars we women had scribbled on during our late teens and early 20s.
You know — the ones with cryptic phrases and code words and pictures that would remind us of what we did that day without actually spelling it out.
We were soon howling over a story in which one young woman’s boyfriend’s father found her calendar and very handily decoded the more, er … “important “dates. Talk about eternal humiliation!
Some of us (me) were so worried about such a revelation that we used code words and images that are now … well, rather bizarre and baffling.
I pulled out one of my college calendars and we spent a good 15 minutes laughing and puzzling over some of the drawings. On several dates, I had drawn an umbrella with raindrops. On others, I had drawn simpy raindrops. There were also varying sizes of exclamation points and asterisks.
At the time, I’m sure I thought I would never forget all of these “momentous” occasions. Now, however, I wonder what on earth I was doing on the night of Dec. 1 that warranted a picture of an umbrella! And raindrops.
So — are my two girlfriends and I the only ones who kept such calendars?
I’m thinking probably not.
But do you remember what your code words and drawings meant all these years later?
Arkie Mama: Pregnant women are smug
If you haven’t seen this video, go watch it now. Hilarious!!!
Arkie Mama: Wordless Wednesday
Summer is how many months away?!
I am sick of the rain. You?
For more Wordless Wednesday, go here:
Tags: The little ones
Arkie Mama: My hips don’t swivel like they used to
I’ve mentioned before my love for Zumba, an aerobics class based on Latin fusion and hip-hop. It’s fun, doesn’t feel like exercise and you get to wear pants with streamers and tassles on them. (Hubs calls them “butt pasties.”)
I got this pair for Christmas.
Problem is, once you put on this pants, you want to set those hips in motion. And mine are rapidly approaching the 40-year mark.
Ever since I got those pants, I’ve been gyrating like a maniac. Last night, I got a little carried away during a merengue and pulled a muscle in my lower back.
Even so, I just ordered a purple pair of pants from my instructor. I may incapacitate myself before my birthday, but I can’t wait to make those tassles twirl!
Tags: My quirks
Meet Cathy Frye — deer widow, mama to two small children and stepmom to two teenagers. By day, she writes for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. By night, she Googles things like “whooping cough symptoms” or “child ate toothpaste.” Cathy describes herself as barefoot, breeding and medicated. Her husband considers her a real catch! 