Mean Moms

Mean Moms

Someday when my children are old enough to
Understand the logic that motivates a parent,
I will tell them, as my Mean Mom told me:
I loved you enough to ask where you were going,
With whom, and what time you would be home.

I loved you enough to be silent and let you
Discover that your new best friend was a creep.

I loved you enough to stand over you for
Two hours while you cleane d your room,
A job that should have taken 15 minutes.

I loved you enough to let you see anger,

Disappointment, and tears in my eyes. Children

Must learn that their parents aren't perfect.

I loved you enough to let you assume the
Responsibility for your actions even when the
Penalties were so harsh they almost broke my heart.

But most of all, I loved you enough to say
NO when I knew you would hate me for it.

Those were the most difficult battles of all.
I'm glad I won them, because in the end you won, too.
And someday when your children are old enough to
Understand the logic that motivates parents, you will tell them.

Was your Mom mean?
I know mine was.

We had the meanest mother in the whole world!
While other kids ate candy for breakfast,
We had to have cereal, eggs, and toast.

When others had a Pepsi and a Twinkie for lunch,
We had to eat sandwiches.

And you can guess our mother fixed us a dinner that was
Different from what other kids had, too.

Mother insisted on knowing where we were at all times.
You'd think we were convicts in a prison.

She had to know who our friends were
And what we were doing with them.
She insisted that if we said we
Would be gone for an h our, we would be gone for an hour or less.

We were ashamed to admit it,
But she had the nerve to break
The Child Labor Laws by making us work.

We had to wash the dishes, make the beds,

Learn to cook, vacuum the floor, do laundry,

Empty the trash and all sorts of cruel jobs.
I think she would lie awake at night
Thinking of more things for us to do.

She always insisted on us telling the truth,
The whole truth, and nothing but the truth.

By the time we were teenagers,
She could read our minds
And had eyes in the back of her head.
Then, life was really tough!

Mother wouldn't let our friends just honk
The horn when they drove up
They had to come up to the door
So she could meet them.

While everyone else could date
When they were 12 or 13,

We had to wait until we were 16.

Because of our mother we missed out
On lots of things other kids experienced.

None of us have ever
Been caught shoplifting, vandalizing other's
Property or ever arrested for any crime.
It was all her fault.

Now that we have left home, we are all educated, honest adults.
We are doing our best to be mean parents just like Mom was.

I think that is what's wrong with the world today.
It just doesn't have enough mean moms!

The party's over

Well, after almost two weeks of celebration, Aidan's 5th birthday is finally over!! We had his kids party today, and 10 of his closest friends went to the gymnastics gym and ran, jumped and tumbled. It was a blast, and it also signified the last party for the little man. I tell, ya - I am totally birthday'd out!!

Here are some videos from the party:

Happy 60th!! and..... Happy 5th!!! and... Happy thirty????

It is a week full of birthdays!!

On Sunday my Dad celebrated his 60th birthday. So we headed up to TO to have a party to celebrate six decades of Tony. We had a great party at Kenneth's house, complete with a bassist and piano player, and fantastic dinner.

On Tuesday Aidan turned 5 - five?!?! Can you believe it?!?! I'm a bit in denial that he's turning 5.... there's just something about the age of 5 that seems to symbolize that he's not a wee one any more. The little man is having a week of celebrations, starting with a party at Tusha's house for my side of the family. Then we went to dinner on Monday (complete with a serenade from the waiters). Next he'll have dinner at Karen's house on Friday, PLUS a friends party on Sunday. WHEW! That's a lot of partying!

Tuesday was also Karen's birthday. Yep, Aidan's lucky enough to celebrate his b-day with his Aunt! We'll be celebrating both Kare & Aidan's b-day on Friday (the birthday girl is preparing dinner for us - how sweet is that!!)

Here are some pics from our weekend:
Miss Shannon all dolled up:


Hugs for birthday boy Nannu:


Aidan tickling the ivory:


Pickles the cat was fascinated by Shannon:

The snow must stop!

OK - I am so beyond tired of winter right now. On Sunday and Monday the temperature was about -18, and today it was a balmy -10, and it started snowing again. I am so over it already!!

On a much happier note, here are some pictures of our littlest cutie:

Snowblower Etiquette

Anyone who lives in Ontario has been wallopped by a massive snow system that's lasted for about 3 days. We have about a foot and a half of snow on the ground, which means we have been shoveling constantly. So here's my question:

What is the etiquette when it comes to snowblowers?

We do not have a snowblower, and in fact, I don't mind shoveling. (I like to think of it as my daily exercise!). But here's where I get a wee bit peeved: Aidan, Quinn and I were out shoveling after the snow plows came down our street and dumped piles of snow at the end of our driveway. Our neighbor two doors down came out about 5 minutes later with his snowblower. Turns the darn thing on, plows the end of his driveway and two minutes later he goes inside and closes his garage door.

Are you @#%$ing kidding me? I'm out with two young kids working our tails off to get the heavy, slushy, piles of snow off the bottom of our driveway and you come out, snow blow, and then don't even walk the 20 feet to offer to help us?!?!?!? COME ON!!!!

I don't know, maybe I'm being unreasonable. Personally, if I had a snowblower, I'd be snow blowing everyone's driveway - plus the frickin street!! But that's just me.....

Here is the snow-family Aidan & I built while we were outside. You'll notice that it is an accurate depiction of our family, complete with a Daddy, Mummy, Aidan, Quinn and Shannon!

Mississauga Meanderings

Last week we headed up to Mississauga so that Chris could help Dave tile their shower, and so he could play in an all-night ultimate tournament. (and of course, so the cousins could play, play, play!!)

On Thursday I took the kids (including my nephew Devan) over to my friend Carolyn's house for a visit. I think it's been about a year and a half since I last saw her and her kids (far too long!) and it was so nice to visit and catch up. Next time we'll have to do it sans children and over martini's instead of coffee!!! ;-)

Dave and Chris worked diligently on the shower (it was LOADS of fun using the wet tile saw outside in the middle of winter!) and it turned out fantastic. They've done a great job on their bathroom, and the shower looked beautiful!!

On Saturday we got to visit Kenneth, Jacquie and Keiran (both Keiran and Aidan were very sad when we had to leave). Then we headed off to my Aunt Sue's house and had dinner and a nice visit with them.

Unfortunately, the highlight of the weekend, the all-night ultimate tournament, was canceled due to the massive snowstorm that hit on Thursday night and Friday day. But a big upside was that Nigel and Shawn braved the snow and came over for some drinks on Friday night so at least we got to see them!!!

On Sunday we made it home in record time (I refuse to disclose the actual driving time for fear that the OPP might see this!), and then we watched the Superbowl. Well, sort of.... Chris and I were both so tired we slept through most of the fourth quarter, but we woke-up in time to see the Giants win. Who would have thunk it!!!