Diva?

How do I parent this one?

Greg and I aren't perfect parents.
Nothing shocking about that, I know.
But, we do try our best most of the time.
We have a set bedtime routine, we read to our kids, try to throw in a few fruits and veggies among the junk, take them to church, try to be a good example...try to be attentive...you get the idea.
So, how, might I ask, do we find ourselves in this situation...yet again?

(last week)

One of us is usually awake while the other is sleeping. It's just the nature of Greg's crazy schedule. Most periods of the day are covered...except for when I decide to shower and Greg is busy on a phone call in the office. When that happens, apparently all bets are off.

Such was the situation when Brynnley returned home from school yesterday. I was in the shower (Admitedly, noon is a strange time to shower -- but did I mention Greg's crazy schedule? I waited for him to wake before going for a run. It was too cold to take the girls) and Greg was in the office. Of course, my showers don't last more than 10 minutes (unless of course it is Sunday morning and I am trying to really wake up and get it together enough to get us all out the door and to church on time.) but Greg's phone calls on the other hand...well...who knows?

No, in case you are wondering, I am not digressing from the point. If you know me at all...If you've ever read any of my posts...you know I like to provide details. A lot of details. I have to set the scene....It's kind of like talking to me...never a short conversation.
And so it was that while I was in the shower and Greg was on the phone, Brynnley arrived home from school and promptly cut off a good majority of her hair.



Yes. You read that right.

By the time I came downstairs at 12:32, she was sitting in the rocking chair watching a movie with Kenzie....showing no signs whatsoever of her misdeed.

It wasn't until she got out of the chair to wash her hands for lunch that there was any indication that things were amiss. I heard a slight, "I'm sorry, Mommy," coming from the bathroom. When I inquired what she had to be sorry about, she replied, "I'm sorry I cut my hair so short."

What?!?

And she had.

Now, my issues are not necessarily with my girls having short hair -- although I do have my reasons for keeping their hair long.

1) Addysen and Brynnley were practically bald for the first 3-4 years of their lives. So, it is with some hesitancy that I ever said good-bye to any of their lucious locks. That and the fact that they both have natural curl and highlights which has gone the way of cheap postage every time they've gotten a trim.
2) Shorter hair requires more effort on my part. I don't want to have to actually "do" hair all morning -- and long hair speeds this process up nicely. (Can you say, pony? pigs? tree? or barrett?)
3) Shorter hair requires more trips to the salon (because I don't know how to cut it myself) which translates to more time and money. Since I only manage about 2 trips/year for myself, I'm not about to average 4-5/year/child -- at an average of $15 each -- that adds up. (I am willing, however, to make the sacrifice for regular haircuts for Cannon...unfortunately, he is not.)

This finally brings me to my question...
How do I parent this situation?

Brynnley clearly knows better. (Coincidentally, we had just had a "refresher" conversation about it on Tuesday when she cut a small portion of her hair.)

She knows that "we only cut paper with scissors."

She knows what she did was wrong.

So....do I continue to let her run around looking ridiculous? I'm not really one for public humiliation. And, quite frankly, although admitedly biased as her mother...she is still a darling girl -- even with her crazy hairdo. So...public humiliation may not even happen.

But, if I take her to the salon to get it "fixed" is that giving her what she wanted in the first place? Because she DID want to "go and get her haircut." Am I rewarding her bad behavior? Or do I try to cut it myself? Try to clean it up without giving her the satisfaction of going to the salon? Or, am I overanalyzing the situation in the first place?

Your thoughts, please.

PS - She did end up missing lunch yesterday and spent 3 hours in her room to "think about what she did wrong." Oh -- and to try and "remember" where half of her head of hair is...since we can't find it.

We've already checked the heat vents.

A craving of a different variety.

No, this post isn't about my seriously-so-pathetic-craving for chocolate Thursday that I scrounged around until I came up with a hand full of chocolate chips. While it is true that I had been proud of myself on Monday for throwing out the fudge, I was seriously kicking myself on Thursday night. So...I settled for chocolate chips.

But, that isn't what this post is about.

No, this post is about a craving of a different variety.

Last summer while visiting my mom, my kids were introduced to Charles, Laura, Mary, Nellie, Miss Beetle...and the entire Walnut Creek gang. Are those names not ringing any bells? They are the characters from "Little House on the Prairie."


My kids were mesmerized.

Could it be that they are so starved for shows with an actual theme? Shows with morals? Consequences? Programs that have lessons about honesty and strong work ethics incorporated into the script? Could it be that the lame, television commonly found on the Disney Channel (Sorry, I have yet to EVER find any value in the whiny voices of Zack and Cody) has them so jaded that they think there is no life beyond Hannah Montana, Wizards of Waverly Place and Sonny With A Chance? (Not trying to totally bag on the Disney channel -- but I could seriously do without those shows... Oh wait -- as Addysen is quick to point out -- we ARE doing without those shows.)

Or, could it be that they are simply so starved for something to watch?

Since we canceled our cable (GASP!) my kids are the odd ones out among their friends. A certain child, who shall remain nameless, even had a tear-filled meltdown when American Idol started last week and she/he wasn't able to watch. Wondering how she/he would be able to show her/his face at school the next day -- not knowing the juicy details of who tried out, who Simon made of, what Kara was wearing and how Ryan Seacrest looked....let's just say my heart went out to her/him....NOT. Amazingly he/she survived.

I don't know the answer. But, I do know that since I rented Little House on the Prairie from the library -- they have been Eating.It.Up. (Of course, that is all some of them are eating as the stomach flu seems to be making its way around.)

So -- here's to the tv shows of the 70's (?) or early 80's. Here's to still teaching about hard work, honesty, modesty, integrity, respect for adults and self, bullying -- anything that teaches morals and responsibility.

Even though we will renew our cable contract one of these days (I can't stand to miss conference and the final season of LOST is about to commence...) Here's to more of, "Pa says,"....followed by deep seeds of wisdom by Laura Ingalls.

Never, ever, ever forget....

Me: (Tucking Kenzie into bed.) "Kenzie, never, ever forget how much I love you."
Kenzie: "Ok."
++++++++++++++++
Five minutes later after being bombarded with, "Mom, Mom, Mom" a dozen times:

Kenzie: "Mom! Never, ever, ever, ever, forget how much YOU LOVE ME."
Me: "Ok."

++++++++++++++++
Given Kenzie's tendency toward destruction WHEREVER she goes....this reminder might come in handy from time to time.

Student of the Month

Addysen was nominated by the Ohio Lottery Commission and the Board of Education as December's Student of the Month. We attended the Board of Education meeting on Tuesday night where her principal, Mr. Millar, read some really nice things that her teacher, Mrs. Urbancic had written. She was then presented with a certificate.
Aside from the fact that Brynnley and Kenzie were beyond royal pills, we were happy to be there.
We are proud of Addysen and the beautiful young lady she is becoming.

Live like you believe

I see a future dancing with the stars

Happy Birthday Grandma Elaine

It is with bittersweet memories that we honor and remember Greg's Grandma today -- on what would have been her 86th birthday. Grandma Elaine (as she was always known to me) passed away last week after complications from surgery. We know she is in a better place and free from the physical and mental difficulties which have plagued her these past few years. However, because we are human and selfish -- we will miss her.

I will never forget her love of all things sweet or her love for her little dog, Penny. Nor will I ever forget an incident that happened shortly after she moved out here. She was recovering from a broken hip(I think) and was visiting at our house. She was supposed to use a cane or a walker - but didn't want to do so. Penny took off in the backyard (which is fenced) and Grandma Elaine was a little concerned about whether or not Penny could get under the fence. So...she took off after Penny...shuffling quite quickly across the grass. The very uneven grass. I was so worried. I didn't think it was my place to reprimand Greg's grandma -- but I certainly didn't want her falling or getting hurt on my watch...and I didn't want to have to answer to Greg's parents if/when she did get hurt! I thought I could rest easy when we all moved into the house -- but I was wrong. Grandma Elaine started playing, "keep the balloon off the floor" with Brynnley and Kenzie! I'm still not sure how we avoided disaster that day.

Whenever I think of the words "grace" and "poise," Grandma Elaine's face comes to mind. It was rough to watch her memories fade and to see her realities become distorted. Opinions differed as to the best approach. Personally, I just figured it was best to let her tell and retell her stories -- so that is what she did when she was at my house. That...and hold babies and fold laundry!

We were lucky enough to have spent much of the last two years with her and I'm grateful my kids were able to know and love "Grandma E. Kerr."

Happy Birthday Grandma Elaine.