I don't know about you, but I have yet to figure out this whole parenting thing. And I'm 6 years in. I thought I was doing an ok job, but things just weren't turning out the way they needed to. My son going to kindergarten had a big part in helping me realize this. Our situation this year also being a big part of the issue, but I refuse to let that be an excuse. My kids aren't horrible nightmares and I didn't feel the need to call that Nanny show... yet, but they were not behaving or treating adults in a way that I could be proud and I knew that was falling back on me.

I voiced my concerns with my in-laws and my mom, telling them that I was tired of getting no respect, being ignored and feeling like a failure. I have tried every style of parenting out there and nothing was working. Well, my sweet mom loves to help out when you have a problem and the day after I talked to her about my concerns, she went and bought me this book: Have A New Kid By Friday. Now I know that some people are offended by people doing things like this, but I welcome it. When you get to a point of desperation and start waving that white flag, you welcome pretty much anything, right? No? Well, I do!

 

Y'all (I've started using this word again since moving back to Alabama. It makes me feel happy when I say it), this book has changed my life. I have to admit, when I saw how thick it was, my first thought was, "How am I going to read all these pages by 'Friday' and apply them?" Good news! The "instruction" portion is actually very short. The rest is answers to 100 questions that you may have.


I still have the last day to read, but people, I have been doing it all wrong. Biggest fail? I caved when I thought things weren't a big deal, but that was my problem. You NEVER cave. EVER. I'm not saying I've got it down pat, or that I'm a perfect mom now, but y'all, my kids are actually minding me better. Christopher has been so much more respectful that I've had to catch myself from falling several times. I'm just hoping that I remember each thing he mentions and keep it up. 


I realized something else this week. Nobody has ever asked me for advice on raising kids. (That should have been my first clue.) Well, except once. It was, "How do you handle grocery shopping? After you load the groceries in your car and have to return the cart and you've got the baby... What do you do?" I told her to try to always park near the cart collector. And I learned that when I was a nanny. 


I give this book 5 stars and 1 happy mommy! : )

Not sure why it worked this time, but that's they way it rolls sometimes. I don't care, I'm just glad the last two posts have photos now!

Sorry for not being here any sooner, but we've been busy having fun. : ) Brandon and I had a great time in Vegas together. I've always wanted to see what the hype was all about, but also knew that I probably wouldn't love it either. Now I've seen it, I never have to go back, but we did have a lot of fun. I was just thrilled to have a couple days alone with Brandon and that was all I cared about anyway. It was also great to see some friends that I haven't seen in almost a year and to get to spend time with them. I wish I could say that we lived the high life and stayed at the sweetest pent house and partied like we were 21, but that only happens in the movies. Vegas was nothing like it seems on tv. Unless you are a celebrity. And in case you haven't noticed, THAT we are not! (Thankfully!)

I arrived Wednesday night and Brandon met me at the airport. We headed back to the hotel to drop my luggage off and then headed out to walk and find dinner. The one thing I wasn't expecting was how smokey everything smelled. They don't have any no smoking laws there like they do everywhere else. (This is why I was one of those college kids who avoided bars. I hate cigarette smoke, it can give me the worst headache and honestly, who wants to shower twice within a couple hours?)

On Thursday, I woke up and headed over with Brandon to where his conference was so I could grab a little breakfast and meet up with some friends. I can't even tell you how much good it did my heart to see these familiar faces. We had such an amazing group of friends in FL and it was hard to leave them (even though everyone has to at some point), so seeing people I thought I would never see again was total joy. I went and had brunch with two friends, and one of the cutest little 2 year olds you have ever seen. We ran into more friends while we were there (they are stationed in Turkey, so I really thought I'd never see them!) When we finished eating, we learned the guys had a big break and wanted to get lunch, so off to lunch we went! (Best part of vacation? Eating!) We went in one of the massive underground malls they have in Vegas and found lunch for the boys. When the guys headed back for more lectures, we ladies walked around some more. They took me to the biggest H&M store I've ever seen and then they have to leave. I walked around, grabbed a couple things, tried them on, then left. It was so loud I couldn't even think and really just wanted to go see Brandon again since he was done, so I headed back. And I barely got lost, so I was quite proud.

That night we went to get dinner before heading out to see Cirque de Soleil show called "O". Incredible doesn't begin to describe how amazing this show was. At one point I thought it was about to end and was about to get really upset, but then I realized it was only the halfway point. It is worth going to Vegas, just to see this (and Brandon, of course!). After the show, we decided to go find some dessert somewhere and went to Serendipity and split the most delicious chocolate cake sundae. Mmmmmm..... Still thinking about it.

Friday, we made plans to go to the Hoover Dam with some friends. It was so fun to go take a tour and just relax and chat all the way there.
I was really tired by the time we were done and napped on the way back (luxury of not having kids along). It was taking longer than expected to return, due to traffic, so we hoped off the shuttle bus before getting to our hotel and walked back. After relaxing in the hotel for a bit we forced ourselves to get ready and grab some dinner before going to see Blue Man Group. When the show was over, the strip was really crowded (it's Friday night in Vegas after all) and we stopped to see the water show at The Bellagio and then headed back to our room.

We slept in a little on Saturday and then went downstairs for breakfast. Brandon went to check out (took him an hour and a half-- if you ever go to Vegas, avoid being there on the weekend.) while I finished packing everything. By the time he was done we had to rush to catch a cab to get back to the airport for our flight home. Have I mentioned yet how nice it was to fly without any kids along? And I've only done it twice! We really missed them though and couldn't wait to see them.

We got home around 10:00 that night and the kids were passed out. Christopher woke up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom and we called his name. He stood there in the dark staring at us through sleepy eyes and then realized it was us and not one of his grandparents and came running full speed and jumped in the bed. He said, "I miss you guys so much!!" and then curled up next to Brandon and fell asleep. It was priceless. : )