Saturday, April 29, 2006

Play it again, Thsam

What's up with my daughter's toys that attempt to "teach" ABCs & 123s and other such life necessities?

More often than not I find that someone desperately needs to teach the toys correct english and pronunciation. It is so very annoying. Granted, I am an Editor by trade and have advanced degrees in English, but give me a break---I sometimes want to throw these toys straight out the window so that my DD won't pick up on some very bad liguistic habits.

For example, lysping seems to be a huge problem. She has this Little Touch LeapPad electronic book (Rainbow Fish) in which the fish has some kind of freaky accent (carrib? jamaican? british? aussie? dude, I have NO idea WHAT it is!) anyway, on every page there's a different number of scales and he pronounces scales as "thskalesth" and every number is said in his freaky accent so that it's really challenging for even an adult to understand, let alone a toddler trying to learn to communicate.

Her fisher price learning chair is equally annoying for different reasons---it "teaches" her words such as "ducky" and "froggy" and tells her that the "kitty goes meow" and the "doggy goes ruff ruff!" (I realize that this usage is so slangish its practically standard, but my grammarian side must protest, even if in vain.) And her Crazy Legs Learning Bugs by vtech is completely unintelligible when you turn it on---"thsort thsort thsort my thskateth?/thsheets? [aka skates? or sheets?], circles hearts and squares, [insert indistiquishible line here], thshapes are everywhere." I mean COME ON! Eddie Vedder is more understandable than this crap. Everytime I hear it I cringe. I don't want my DD to have problems with speaking, but she LOVES these toys.

I know I have the most influence in her speaking practices, so I try and teach her the correct words and such. But...is it just me who's so annoyed? Wait, don't answer that.

Friday, April 28, 2006

Ringin' It

I found a web ring of awesome mom blogs---Crazy/Hip Blog Mamas---and I joined up! I wish I had more time to read through more of the sites b/c everyone I just randomly looked at was AWESOME! Moms rule. I can't stress enough just how helpful it is to know that we are not alone. sounds obvious, but it's such an a-ha moment to see evidence to the fact. I so need support in this thing called motherhood. I never joined any of the support groups (like la leche league, classes at the hospital, las madres, etc.)--DH, bless his heart, has been very supportive--but nothing beats commiseration with other mamas! :) Anyway, looking forward to reading more of the CHBM blogs and getting to know some new people!

Thursday, April 27, 2006

Where Soul Meets Body

I want to live where soul meets body
And let the sun wrap its arms around me
And bathe my skin in water cool and cleansing
And feel, feel what its like to be new

Ah, Death Cab is feeding me this afternoon...a melody softly soaring through my atmosphere...

I've been poking around some of the other mom blogs out there, and it's nice to know that other people feel as clueless as I do about how to balance work, being a mom, and just having a life in general. I've been depressed lately trying to work this all out and trying to not lose my normal happy, positive attitude. But damn it's tough.

When I was pregnant, everyone kept telling me how my life was never going to be the same...and although I realized that fact, it was a hopeful sort of picture I invisioned, idyllic in a way...I was so excited to bring new life into the world, to hold that little baby and see a reflection of myself and my DH...it was such an exciting time to be pregnant and so very joyful to actually become a mother.

But man, nothing prepares you for the reality of it all. Despite the angel that is my daughter and the sheer wonderment I get from being in her presence...being a mother is So. Very. Freaking. Difficult. Throw in working full time, and we've got one crazy party on our hands! I can't help but think of this marathon runner's quote: 20 miles of hope. 6 miles of reality. (9 months of hope: 18+ years of reality?)

Still seeking balance---where soul meets body---and cleansing, newness of self---because let's face it, life HAS changed. and I am not the same. I must Live this new life. No going back. and that's ok. As long as I can figure out how to work this new one. Are you sure there's no manual I can read on how to be supermom? (I didn't take that class in college. But I can explicate Wordsworth--and the occasional Death Cab song--till the cows come home...)

Wednesday, April 26, 2006

Dear God! Dear Hubby to Work Again??!!

here's to blah blah BLAHgging! I'm happy to report that my boss is working from home today (she claims she's writing focal reviews, but weeeee know what's REEEEEEALLY going on--it's finally sunny out & warm, you see), so needless to say, it's a party around here. Evidently people find obtuse joy in chanting "raise! raise! raise! raise!" every ten minutes. Um, boss lady's out today, folks: she can't hear you. I just say WOO HOO to all bosses staying home and giving their employees raises. Ah, the joy. Makes me want to leave early—like now, at 10:53 AM—but, I'll refrain. I'll wait until at least noon.

Ok, as the title indicates----Dear Hubby (DH) took a job offer last night----dear God!---and it's throwing my brief semblance of work-life-motherhood balance off-kilter. Don't get me wrong--it's great news, but it makes me start the whole "should-I-quit-and-be-a-stay-home-mom (SAHM)" question again. Just when I've started to settle back into the work routine again. It's just like life to throw these kinds of curve balls at PRECISELY the most annoying time possible. ARGH. Yes, I'm being dramatic. I'm entitled. Pardon me while I burst. Do you have the time...to listen to me whine...? sorry, non-seq song references that come into my head may randomly appear on the screen for no apparent rhyme or reason. deal.

Now I am presented this two-way junction: to work or not to work. To be the quintessential, angelic SAHM (who am I kidding) or to shuffle my Dear Daughter (DD) off to some koo-koo-roo daycare. ugh. I shutter at the choice now presented to my already disturbed self. what to do...what to do.
Hmm, might be time for a Starbucks run...