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| I already learned everything, I don't get why I have to go back. |
On her first day, drop off was really smooth, mostly because she didn't expect me to actually leave her there since I had never left her anywhere before. Today wasn't as smooth, but it could have been much worse. Luckily the staff there are good at handling upset toddlers and I was able to quickly peel her off my legs to hand her off and make a dash for the door. I feel less like a jerk than I did on the first time, so that's an improvement. I've even developed a pretty good method for distracting Faith while I get her nap mat and lunch all ready to go for the day.
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| I think Mommy gave me this waffle to distract me from something.... |
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| Tricky Mommy. What was I worried about again? |
When I dropped her off, they asked me "Do you want her to go to Jump Bunch? It's an extra fee but the first time is free." I was like "I don't even know what that is, but it has 'jump' in the name and I like tired toddlers, so yes please." Turns out "Jump Bunch" is like PE class for the preschool set and Faith actually really liked it. They told me that she played field hockey today with a plastic stick and a foam ball and enjoyed herself. I just wish they offered picture or video of that because it sounds hilarious to me.
Being home alone without Faith felt extra strange because my husband was home sick from work today, so the whole morning we were tiptoeing around like Faith was napping and we kept having to remind ourselves that she wasn't even home. I ran 4 miles on the treadmill as soon as I got home from dropping her off (I'm still paranoid that they are going to call me to come get her and I wanted to get it done before that could happen). It felt ok in terms of rib pain, but the run still felt really hard. I'm just going to blame pregnancy for that, it's my favorite scapegoat.
One thing I haven't figured out on "school days" is how to deal with the dog. Normally we walk or run every morning, but I don't have time on Tuesdays to do it before I have to drop off Faith. Then when I get home, I don't feel comfortable not being home in case they call and need me to come get her (hence the treadmill running). As a result, the dog gets shafted and then acts like a brat all day. In theory, I can take everyone for a walk after Faith gets back, but so far Faith needs to lay down for a bit after she gets home to unwind/nap more and that trumps dog walking. Hopefully we'll figure this out as time goes on because Peanut has driven me nuts today.
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| I have a need for speed! |
What's your favorite scapegoat for a bad run? I really like pregnancy and if that's not an option, then I blame the weather.
What do you do when your pet is driving you nuts? It was raining all day so I couldn't even kick her out into the yard which is my normal solution for her pacing and whining.
Can't you run with your cell in case they need to call you that way?
ReplyDeleteWhen Tals drives me bonkers, I'll literally get up before dawn and take her to this massive open space dog park. She'll run for at least an hour and then she finally mellows out!
I can run with my phone, but I feel like if she needs me to come get her, I want to be close to my car, not 20 minutes away from my car. Crazy mom stuff :)
DeleteThey make this sweet device called a mobile phone that allows you to leave the house and still receive phone calls from school. My favorite scapegoat is whatever I ate the day before. Probably because I eat junk all the time.
ReplyDeleteOk, now I'm starting to feel crazy for not wanting to leave my house haha
Deletewatch out or you'll turn into kari
DeleteThey don't get much crazier than ricig. Except for Emily. Not you, though, I don't think.
Deletenext time you should take her favorite toy, and pretend to throw it really far into the room at school. Then, when she goes to look for it, run off.
ReplyDeleteThen when you go to pick her up, let her sniff your butt.
You should write a parenting advice book.
DeleteThis is pretty excellent advice. Obviously Brian is a much more experienced parent than Kara.
Deleteyou should show him my baby photos.
DeleteI second the cell phone suggestion--you won't really be *that* far away. I understand the paranoia, though. :^)
ReplyDeleteWhen I have a bad run, I blame my period. It's the default when you don't have pregnancy.
That's a good one :)
DeleteI bet the really do take pictures and video of these toddler sports but then they try to sell them to you at the end of the "semester." They display them like at Disneyland only they are actually great pictures instead of your screaming face on Splash Mountain.
ReplyDeleteI would buy the crap out of those videos
DeleteMy favorite scapegoat is facebook. Or twitter. Or Instagram. Or blogging. Lame-o, I know. Or my excuse right now, "torn calf muscle." Pathetic! We only have fish and hermit crabs for a reason... Good luck with the last few weeks!!!
ReplyDeleteTorn calf muscle? Ouch! Hope you feel better soon!
DeleteMine is the humidity. I love scape goating. (Is that even a real thing?)
ReplyDeleteBut Faith's school doesn't have your cell phone number? Because then, you can go run outside and carry a cell phone. You can blame traffic for being late and getting you sweaty and worked up.
They do have my cell number (I don't have a landline, so it's the only option) but I'm just neurotic. I'll calm down eventually about needing to be ready to get her at a moment's notice :)
DeleteI think I'll blame pregnancy for my next ad run. Sure I'm nearly 50 and quite possibly pre-menopausal but three pregnancies have to take a bit out of you.
ReplyDeleteI do think you can legitimately blame pregnancy. You are carrying a whole extra person after all.
You did this three times?? My hat is off to you.
DeleteTell them that your kennel has photos and videos, and if they don't start making them, you'll move your kid to the kennel and tell all the other parents about it.
ReplyDeleteI like the way you think.
DeleteAlso, I have this sneaking suspicion that some people ran in the rain. The heavy downpouring rain.
ReplyDeletea small ziploc baggie solves all these pesky "rain" problems for the phone.
DeleteProbably larger ones could be used for dog, kid, martini glass, crackers & cheese, and other accoutrements.
DeleteHands down the heat as a scapegoat, but I can also go with the asthma or extra bone in the ankle acting up.
ReplyDeleteAnd toddlers playing field hockey- is next week badminton?
I would love to see a room full of toddlers with rackets. In fact, I would pay to see that!
DeleteThat must be one delicious waffle. Having to pay extra for daycare events is annoying. I remember daycare when I was in elementary school and my mom payed extra for swim and ballet. I blame the heat. I hate being hot.
ReplyDeleteI would pay extra for pretty much anything that tired her out. I'm lazy like that.
DeleteI second all the cell phone suggestions.
ReplyDeleteSince we've moved, I blame weather for all my bad runs. I don't have pets right now, but when we petsit for my parents, I take them running when they get annoying. They don't go running with my parents, so it's kind of a shock for the dogs. First, they're all "this is awesome! We're running!" 10-15min later, they're like "lady, do you know that we're not chasing anything?!?!" And after 3mi, they're like "I'll never whine again...take me home!"
Hehe. Patrick's parents' dog wanted to run with us one day so we took him for 6mi. The next day when we got out our running shoes, he hid behind the couch.
Haha I love that the dog hid from you! Peanut is the kind that uses her nose to push your running shoes toward you. :)
DeleteUsually Bungee is a nutcase during bad weather, but yesterday she scared herself so much that she was exhausted. I'm sure she'll drive me crazy today until she gets run, though.
ReplyDeleteAlso, your only phone is your cell phone, so yeah, everyone is right about carrying it. You could just run one mile loops by your house so you can get home fast.
Clearly, I am an idiot.
DeleteI'm pretty sure your pregnancy is a legitimate reason for having a difficult run, not just a scapegoat. I usually use the weather or work stress but given the lady at Lowe's thought I was pregnant, maybe I can start using that even if it's not true.
ReplyDeleteHysterical pregnancies are a real affliction :)
DeleteDude. You have a fenced in backyard! You can't throw the ball for the dog for a while and have that wear her out? Or is she like Pippi and has no idea what to do with a ball?
ReplyDeleteDude, you have a fenced in backyard! Just run in circles around that, and you're never more than 1 minute away from your car!
DeleteBrian, you win today. Congrats.
DeletePoor Peanut...
ReplyDelete:)
She really suffers a lot.
DeleteI have lots of great excuses for a bad run, but usually it's the weather or underfueling:) When my dogs annoy me I send them outside or throw toys until they tucker out (doesn't take much for my dogs)
ReplyDeleteMy dog could literally play fetch for hours. Freaking hound stamina!
DeleteI can relate! The 2 times I've been able to run since Zain started school, I have run in the direction of his school in case they call me and need me to get him. Luckily, his school is less than a 5min drive from my house so it's walking distance if I need to get him and walk home.
ReplyDeleteI always have excuses prepared for why my runs sucked - the weather, what I ate, etc. Pregnancy is definitely a good excuse for a crappy run.
That's great that the school is in walking distance! Mine is close, but not walkable.
DeleteThankfully my asshole dog is small enough that he can get a full run in in our backyard. If he's being really terrible I can just lock him out there. Because I'm a bad person.
ReplyDeleteI wish my asshole dog was smaller. So much easier to exhaust!
DeleteMy dog will run laps around the living room and dining room if I just clap. It's pretty hilarious and it drives my hubs crazy so it serves dual purpose!
ReplyDeletePeanut loves to run laps in the house too and we'd enjoy it a lot more if she was less clumsy! :)
DeleteI blame the humidity or extreme cold.
ReplyDeleteWhen Hawk is being a lunatic, I give him a bully stick. I know that's more of a reward and probably not the best thing to do but it occupies him!
My friend Carolyn (we parked at her house for the Bmore marathon) taught jump bunch in the summers when we were new teachers and roommates and she brought home the giant volleyball and we had the best freaking game in the alley outside our house. I can't even imagine how much toddlers must love it. One time Jackie was on call so she ran 20 miles within one mile of her house including repeated loops around a parking garage. Just do that. Sounds like Faith is doing really well in school!
ReplyDeletePut the toddlers inside the giant volleyball. The adults will love that.
DeleteIf I sent my kid to school, I would turn off my phone until I had to pick them up.
ReplyDelete"What, you called?! Sorry! My dog ate my phone and I took the day to enjoy the peace and quiet."
(and maybe that is why I will never be a mom...)