Duct tape

Today, Caty gets off the school bus and tells me she needs something for her shoes. This little imp proceeds to pull up the toe of her shoe and show me the giant hole where her foot pokes through! She says "Mom, do we have duct tape?" I love it! She wants duct tape or super glue to fix her sneaker. And she must have it for tomorrow because tomorrow is gym and she needs to wear her sneakers. She won't wear any other shoes! These sneakers are cute, I'll admit. They're blue denim slip-on that are all ripped-up looking. But, now they really are ripped up! And she refuses to throw them away. I've tried to convince her to get a different pair, but she likes these because they're cool. And what's even more funny is that I got them at Payless for like 7 bucks and I don't think she even liked them at first! And they smell. Bad. It's not pretty. It's not something you'd expect from a cute little 7-year-old! I tell you, for someone who is so concerned with looking pretty all the time, she doesn't care too much about pretty shoes. And it's not like she doesn't have other shoes! She's got a closet filled with flip-flops and high-heels and sandals and boots and loafers and whatever! She's a little Imelda Marcos for crying out loud! What is the fixation with the busted up sneakers? I don't know. I ordered her a new pair online. I hope they get here soon!

The ideal child

Today, my daughter had a playdate with one of her school chums. I love this little girl. She is so sweet and polite and, well, she's just a doll! Anyway, we're in the car and Caty sticks her arm out the window and her friend says "You can do that?" And Caty says, "Yeah, I'm doing it." And the friend says "Oh, I'm not allowed to do that." And, my lovely, wonderful daughter says... "Yeah, I'm not allowed to do it either." Yes, of course her arm was still out the window when she said it! Man, you'd think she would behave when we had company? Puh-leeze! I almost think this little girl is too nice to hang out with my kids! I think they were trying to corrupt her. I saw a lot of whispering and snickering going on out there! I just hope if I ever send my daughters over to someone else's house, they would be on their best behavior. I mean, I do try to teach them manners and to be obedient. I know it doesn't always work, but I'm trying. They better not make me look bad.

Daddy Brain

Oh no! My poor husband. He's got a bad case of Mommy Brain. You know that condition that strikes all women once they get impregnated and never seems to go away. No matter how much you try to shake it, that vapor sucking the life out of your brain continues to rattle around in there until it gets replaced by Old Lady Brain. Well, Chris has got it, I think. I'm sure of the fact that he can't remember a darn thing! If he did remember anything at all, the entirely too full garbage bag would not still be in the trash can in the kitchen. And the cereal bowl with the crusted-on frosted flakes would have been rinsed and put in the dishwasher, right? Oh, and he would have remembered that he finished the milk so he would have bought more. I'm sure all of these thoughts were in his brain at some point. What's that you say? He never even thought about rinsing that dish? He never considered emptying the trash? And by putting a sip of milk back into the jug, he really didn't finish it? Oh, I get it. He doesn't have Mommy Brain? It's a new problem, huh? Daddy Brain. Right. No cure, you say? Hmmm.