I had a nice day at work, what with all the holidays making the atmosphere more mellow. All the different teams have “goody tables” set up, and it’s a nonstop feast all day, if one chooses to graze. I also managed to get some work done, I have to admit. Lawsuits generally don’t forge full-speed ahead this time of year, though.
I took Alesia to the doctor late this afternoon. She has a viral infection of the sinuses. Dr. V didn’t want to give her an antibiotic, and I support that. She did urge Alesia to use the neti pot, which I have also used on my sinuses. It works. Basically, you just pour warm salty water into your nose. It moistens the nasal passages and in turn, the sinuses. Alesia actually tried it, but she wasn’t happy about it. Nobody wants to snort saltwater, but hey, it WORKS.
Mike and Alesia were both balky about doing chores today. It was the first real day of Christmas break. Mother had difficulty with both of them doing what she asked. I had a hard time just getting Michael to eat a piece of fruit after dinner, even though he admitted he needed to, um, as we say here, go sit on the potty. Granny has no hesitation about saying things like “So you have a headache? When have you been to the bathroom? Are you stopped up?” He hates those questions. He hasn’t figured out yet that if he will just eat some fruit she will get off his case.
After dinner, I held a family meeting. In a matter of fact tone, I told them both that if they don’t cooperate cheerfully with what they are asked to do during the break, Christmas presents will be withheld. Presents are a privilege, not a right. Tomorrow morning they will receive a chore list, and it will need to be finished before there will be any TV or computer games played. They will also need to read for an hour each day.
Yes, you can call me Mama Grinch.
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There’s been some screaming around my house lately.
This morning, I got up and crept around quietly, trying to let everyone sleep while I got off to work. I came up the stairs after breakfast and noticed the bathroom door opening. I paused. Alesia came out, glanced around, saw me, and screamed. Then she gasped and grabbed her tee shirt. “Mom! You scared me!” she said. “I was thinking I am going to be late for school! Then I remembered there is no school today.”
Yes, no school means you can sleep in, honey.
Yesterday, I got up and took my shower, before anyone else was awake, I thought. I came out into my room from the bathroom, totally naked, and I heard this little voice call out softly, “Mom?” and then I screamed. Grabbed my robe. Noticed Michael was not in there and the door was closed. Started laughing. Thank God. He has finally learned to not go barging into someone else’s room. “It’s OK, you can come in” I said, fastening my robe. He came in grinning. “Why are you laughing?”
“Well, if you had seen me naked, son, YOU would’ve screamed!” I replied.
He grabbed his head. “Aaaargh! Why did you tell me that!” he hollered.
Hilarity ensued. Not really. I just like that sentence…
