little house on the prairie walks into a cubicle ...
Simon just took Dan to the airport with Sebastian who seems to be on nap strike. One of his bigger burn blisters popped and either he's in a lot of pain or I'm a really gullible mom. You probably didn't need to know any of that but I like a good over share of information hence the existence of this blog.
I am thisclose to throwing in the purple fuzzy blankie and start leaving the kids at home while Simon and I go to Mass separately. Theo and Julia are perfectly normal and decently well behaved human beings while Sebastian puts on his banshee pants, flails his limbs, and makes 75 scenes in a row every Sunday. In addition to, "dora", "is", and, "woof" he can now yell, "no!" and knows exactly when and how to use his 4th word to get the perfect rise out of his parents/glorified zoo keepers. I held my breath for a good portion of Mass this morning waiting for someone to ask us to leave - and I wouldn't have blamed them one bit as the request would've been completely justified. I'll just keep repeating one of my favorite parenting mantras, "it's just a phase" because ... it is. I pray.
We licked our bad behavior wounds and treated ourselves to some Kolaches (? is that the plural of Kolache?) after Mass. I only had a bite because of the low iodine diet of awful but it was GOOD and I wanted some mo please, Oliver Twist style.
Enough about that - let's move onto my favorite: the weather. It's awful and depressing and I hate it.
Happy Saint Patrick's Day!
Kids Mass Behavior:
Julia: A- (slight freak out about the whereabouts of an old Dora band aid)
Bash: F .... SO many F's.
Theo: A+
attired:
shirt: Goodwill
skirt: Banana Republic from 2398723847289347 years ago
shoes: c/o Blowfish
necklace: c/o Lisa Leonard Designs
glasses: Coastal.com (one of those free if you pay shipping dillies)
Linking up with Fine Linen and Purple.
Sigh. So stylin. Can I just be like you? LOL. You make little house on the prairie look good.
ReplyDeleteIt might be worth it to leave just Sebastian at home every once in a while - maybe one of you can take Julia and the other can have "special" time with Sebastian? And Theo goes wherever because, let's face it, he doesn't care...
ReplyDeleteBut eventually, Sebastian will behave! I just can't tell you when, because we're still not 100% at that point. Seriously, the number of times these children will fight over a HYMNAL when there are 7000000 OTHERS IN THE PEW is baffling.
Anyway, you still look cute and a million feet tall and I really like your shoes.
You look great! And so thin!
ReplyDeleteSo sorry that Bash is a boatload of fun while at Mass... this is probably why I always go to student and/or old lady Masses. Because babies distract me.
ReplyDeleteAnd you look fiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiine! With a capital F and lots of iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiines!
I repeat over and over to myself, "This too shall pass. This too shall pass." And am getting really annoyed at the people who don't have kids sitting in the cry room taking up all the seats. I have no idea why they would want to subject themselves to such mass horror.
ReplyDeleteA different parish with a nursery??? I was high and mighty and too good for the nursery....until I had kids :) We haven't had to use it yet, but I wouldn't bat an eye if the need arose.
ReplyDeleteYou look awesome -- love the color!
ReplyDeleteAs for take/not take... Well, I used to be in the camp of "we will all go together!" until we had #4, and he was a freakin' doozy at Mass. For years. As in from age 15 mos through 5.5years. We dragged him every Sunday. If I had been a better mother, maybe I could've handled it. Maybe.
Listen, do what you have to do, ok? No feeling guilty!
We're on child number three and basically don't even try to take the littlest between the ages of 14-28ish months anymore. Maybe to daily Mass, sometimes to things like Stations, but a full one-hour Mass--probably only once every six weeks or so. It's so much work, and means the bigger kids (4 and 6) get no attention/explanation during Mass. All to say, don't feel guilty if you feel the need to split up!
ReplyDeleteDid sebastian call up John to coordinate Mass behavior and a nap strike today? Pretty much identical behavior down here on the gulf coast.
ReplyDeletewe've been going to low mass because it is shorter. but i miss the men & boys choir... so we braved solemn mass today. i was encouraged today when a man from the choir came up to me and said "we don't mind if your little one is noisy!!!" if only i could embrace this as truth... oh, church with littles. it's an adventure.
ReplyDeleteJordan is in a "phase" (fingers crossed) where she stares at our pew neighbor and says "hi hi hi hi hi hi hi hi hi hi hi hi hi" x 1000000 and no she doesn't stop if they say hi back. If we try and distract her with a book or doll then we feel her wrath. Mass, why don't you & toddlers get along?
ReplyDeleteWe have had so many problems with the youngest 3 during Mass that we started going separately too and leaving the 2 year old at home. He'll be 3 in May and we just started taking him again. I know it's not ideal, but it sure makes Sundays easier and I'm not a cranky hot mess by the time Mass is over. Oh, and I thought your outfit was cute and classy, but then I love the Little House look. Forever a dork,I know.
ReplyDeleteYour shirt and shoes are cute cute cute!
ReplyDeleteThis post is so you! I was laughing from the beginning and didn't stop. (And I apologize since I guess I'm laughing at your pain. Please forgive me.)
ReplyDeleteYes, it is just a phase, and as my mom always said when I would call her complaining about her grandchildren, "This too shall pass." (Don't you just hate it when people say that?)
I love your outfit and while I laughed out loud when I read "so little house on the prairie walks into a cubicle...", I totally didn't get that vibe though. I think it's feminine and classic with a little wild librarian thrown in. (Does that make sense? I've had a few beers this evening so I might not be able to properly convey my thoughts. It is St. Patty's Day after all!)
I think you guys need to find a church within driving distance that has a cry room. That's how I made it through the terrible two's with mine. I'm not sure I could have done it without the blessed cry room! (And I feel like I need to end this paragraph with something in parenthesis since all the previous ones ended the same way!)
Yeah, all I can say is Thank God for nurseries! I tried bringing Avi into church this morning and holy mother, she was AWful! She was all smiles and sweet glances at people while everyone was singing and then as soon as it got quiet and the preacher got up to talk, she started saying "Hullabulla" (that's what she says when she doesn't know quite what to say) over and over again really loudly and wiggling/dancing around. *sigh* These kids.
ReplyDeleteAll that was said, so that I could say... You look adorable!! And SO super thin, m'dear! I wish I lost my baby weight so easily!
That shirt is a seriously great Goodwill find. And I like the black/wedges!
ReplyDeleteLoving the "prairie meets cubicle" look. Can I just say black tight rock! Anyway - Basher's behavior is just a phase. I promise. Of course it will feel like several lifetimes before he makes it through a Mass without a meltdown but he will I promise. There was a little three year old behind us today that was just having a tough time. Daddy was in and out with him as the pitch of the scream warranted. Jerry just leaned over to me and whispered "Ahhh the memories..." I smiled and said another silent prayer for the Mom and Dad. Been there, done that, got the battle scars to prove it.
ReplyDeleteKeep the faith Grace and keep breathing deeply. It does get better. Now go drink heavily...it helps.
Read it all and then caught the "damn you self timer" at the end and cracked up.
ReplyDeleteYou look fabulous!
Looking too good, but where's the green?
ReplyDeleteJust keep taking them Grace, they WILL learn how to behave!
As always, I love your outfit! #1: I'm impressed you rock heels to Mass because I can't gracefully walk in them and wrangle my youngins. #2: You are a brave brave brave woman for taking THREE children to Mass. I'm such a whimp...my kids spend their time in the nursery... ;).
ReplyDeleteI love that shirt (okay, I love the whole outfit, but especially the shirt, which appeals to my weakness for all things pink)!
ReplyDeleteOur middle was in fine form today too. I'm surprised the man in front of us didn't drum a hole through the seat with his finger tapping in annoyance at her antics. Which was kind of funny since she spent 95% of the time being at the back with my DH. I am soooo very ready for her to be through the it's-fun-to-squeal-and-shout-during-Mass phase. When does that happen again? It's got to be soon!
Persevere, sweetie!! He will learn, I promise. It's SO hard when they are in that stage, but if you don't take him, how is he going to learn to behave? Not saying it might not be easier to leave him and try again when he's older and a little more rational, but he still needs to learn sometime. We used the nursery little with our older two when they were toddlers, but frankly, it made it that much harder when we did start taking them to Mass. They couldn't understand why they couldn't go "play" instead. So it's a double edged sword. Our younger two never went to the nursery - we always took them to Mass. But I did spend a good deal of time in the gathering area with one or the other. But it passed - everything is a stage and you just have to get through it. The outfit was lovely and you look FAB as always!
ReplyDeleteRaises hand as a big fan of separate Masses during those phases. It is so amazingly wonderful to be able to listen to a Mass every now and again. Do it when you can!
ReplyDeleteNursery is how we roll! But I don't know if any parishes up there have them. You might check around?
ReplyDeletethe weather has been the absolute worst this weekend. i can't even tell you how any times i've complained about it this weekend. tears might have been shed.
ReplyDeletealso, low iodine diet? what is iodine even in?
Kolaches are the best! God bless the Czechs.
ReplyDeleteI, too, love the prairie girl meets cubicle look and love your description of it even more. I so feel you about Mass. Uggggggggggggh toddlers in the teens. I do love always going to Mass as a family since Chris and I don't really get to go with each other during the week, but then normally we are separated during most of Mass anyway because Mr. Vocal-chord-body-twister-show-off won't stop. Hmmm. Maybe once every couple of months you could get a sitter, go to Mass just the two of you and then brunch? I know, easier said than done. Solidarity, sister.
ReplyDeleteJust after Hannabert dropped a diaper load that required the evacuation of the cry room and his unaccompanied singing off Allieua and his joyful shout of Yeah and clapping at the end of communion, our priest made an announcement that the noises of child were a blessing. Yep we were called out. The entire side of the church immediately turned to us.
ReplyDeleteDear Grace.....
ReplyDeleteI am the "crazy" old lady at mass ;-) when i am able to catch the eye of a misbehaving young'en I stick my tongue out at them, or make a funny face. It has great shock effect...as in "mom protect me from that strange lady" ;D when mom or dad turns around to see what the heck I give them a big smile and a wink.
signed
Ms Magilacutty in the pew behind you ;p
Sorry about Basher. Middle child syndrome for sure. At least you look good... right?
ReplyDeleteAnd the weather? Yep. It sucks. I woke up to 2 inches of slushy hell this morning. March clearly doesn't realize that it is more than halfway over already.
PS you are super brave. Self Timers? Front Yard? I applaud you.
banshee pants. I think that might be my new favorite phrase!
ReplyDeleteLove the outfit! i would wear something like this to work..... i guess im a cubicle type of person. NOT. i love interacting with patients!
ReplyDeleteDon't feel bad if you have to leave the kids at home and go separately to Mass (sometimes). You do need your time with Jesus. yeah, corny.....but true :)
That shirt looks AH-to-the-MAZING on you!!!
ReplyDeleteKolache is plural. Kolach is singular. And if it had sausage in it, it was a klobasnek. Kolache have sweet fillings. Prune or poppy seed are especially traditional, but I think apple are my favorite.
ReplyDeleteI'd leave Bash at home most weeks. I don't know how you have the patience to deal with him day after day like you do.
thank you! I knew I had it wrong ... as I usually do.
Deletethe pedantic baker is at your service!
DeleteWhat a great look Grace! The photos are gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteZoe xxx
What a great look Grace! The photos are gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteZoe xxx
Taking kids to church makes me anxious! I always expect it to go horribly!
ReplyDeleteGirl, you look FabULous. Please, post your post baby ways!!
ReplyDelete