March Madness

OK, can I just put it out there that not all Canadians are like that Brent guy on The Apprentice? He took Mime and Clowning in high school. What high school was that? Geez, this and Stephen H's Bush-like photo op in Afganistan are really not doing our global image any good. (For the record, however, if you are going to send troops places, you'd damn well better visit them and thank them often.)

Ya, I'm a little grumpy.

It's week one of Baby Girl's two week March break. And it seems like we are the only people not flying off to sunnier climes (well, to be fair, Andrea Gordon is also staying put). And the weather. It sucks. I mean what is the point of it being 17 degrees celsius in March if it's gonna rain all friggin' day?

Now, I really thought that this week might be great. Last week was awesome. Truly awesome. With the unseasonably warm spring-like weather, Baby Girl and I got out for long stroller-rides. We joined the museum and Baby Girl is just in love with their kiddie area (ok, we kind of, sort of did get semi-escorted out of the Lalique exhibit as screaming, stroller pushing, rubber boot throwing tantrums aren't really welcomed among the Art Nouveau/Deco glass pieces but generally it was good). We had a few days where I remembered why I love living right in the city and what a rich experience it can be for kids and their beleagered mamas. After a long winter of "I can't believe we live here, I hate it, I hate it, I want to move to Leaside," it was a welcome feeling.

And the weekend -- gorgeous. It was warm enough for Baby Girl to play in her sandbox in the yard (one of the advantages of no lawn is no spring mud). She set up her little Elmo chair and table set. We took the double stroller out for a spin and Baby Girl loved sitting next to The Dude ("He's holding my hand!" she squealed). And there were 700 dogs being walked, which always puts Baby Girl in a happy mood.

In my mind, this week would be spent doing crafts (I loaded up on playdough and other art supplies), and wandering up to the ROM, and going for long, leisurely walks. I had visions of sharing an ice cream cone with my sweet toddler on that giant rock in Yorkville.

Right.

To be fair, the first half hour of March break was great. We kicked off the morning making playdough Elmo and playdough dogs and playdough care bears and even made little jackets and hats for them (I am quite a decent little sculptor, as it turns out). But then it all sort of went pear-shaped. On the trip to the grocery store (grandma rode shotgun), there was a lot of whining coming from the peanut gallery. She wanted cheddar gators, no no water, no no milk, a cloth, a cloth! She screamed when I would not allow her to open up her umbrella in the car. She screamed when I insisted that we hold hands in the parking lot. She screamed when I would not let her have more than one bag of throat lozenges to play with. She screamed when I picked up the size 3T Dora Feel and Learns because she wanted the other size 3T Dora Feel and Learns. She didn't want to eat, didn't want to nap, didn't want to cooperate. She insisted on playing outside in the puddles wearing her pajamas and no shoes (I thought she'd chicken out, but she called my bluff when I opened the door and scooted right on out). She hit me with a pillow, hit me with a toy train and tried to run over the dog with her ride 'em BMW car.

And then there was the afternoon...

I'm already running low on ideas. We have one playdate booked and there is some sort of travelling reptile and rodent show on at the local (slightly dodgy) shopping mall that looks sort of appealing (god, things are grim). I'm really looking forward to my 2 hour pulmonary test at the hospital now because all I have to do is sit there and breath into a tube. It's the mothered up version of a month in St. Barts.

It's gonna be a long two weeks.

 

Comments

[Sharon]

OH I'm so glad I live In Quebec. We had our march Break the frist week of March and things were fine. (You see time makes things all better) Of course my March Breaker is 15. But next year I will be with a 5 yr old one who will be bored hour 2 into the first saturday.

Jen You will Survie. And I'm proof that you do.

(Hoping she dosen't notice the nervous twitch)

[cmhl]

good luck!!!!

[Her Bad Mother]

These stories about the trials of toddlerhood make me more grateful for Baby's 4-month-old limitedness - entertainment comes in the form of her own feet! No talking back! Frequent naps!

Your post put my kvetching about the challenges imposed by Baby *rolling over* in its proper place - I'll be looking back on these days when I face my March Break trials in a few years and I will weep for my lost innocence...

[Marla Good]

I will happily bring my daughter to Dufferin Mall to have her daily tantrum so that she will make your Baby Girl look good by comparison. After all, it's not about having the best-behaved child- it's just not having the worst one, right?

For the record, Steve took Josie for a walk on Sunday afternoon. While walking past a particularly grungy bar on Queen East, she decided to lay down in their doorway and claim she was tired and just needed to rest (learning from the example of the regular patrons there, I'd say). Then, as he picked her up to carry her away from the no-doubt urine and phlegm soaked doorstep, she screamed "I'M NOT YOUR BABY!" and flailed at him, causing even the neighbourhood bums to look at him like he should be locked up. Nice, huh? Then he came home and blamed me for suggesting that they go for a walk when she wasn't in the mood for it. So it's my fault, you know.

[Laura]

Could you film a few hours and send it to me? I need a good laugh....even if it is at your expense.

[laura]

Hey, my little girl can't resist a good puddle either. Socks are even optional :)

[MoMo]

For the record, I didn't even know Brent was Canadian...must have missed that part.

I hope your week gets better. Lots of luck!

[Patience]

I used to have March Breaks where I would line up three or more events/playdates and they would fall through/ someone would get sick (usually the other people's kids)so it would get cancelled. Now I maybe line up one thing and just try to enjoy the fact that we don't have to do anything and rely on tv and exciting things like a trip to Value Village to take up the slack. And my youngest is almost three and chomping at the bit to go out by 8am and my older one is almost 11 and comatose at that hour. We are having my almost 20 year old over for a visit too; whoopee!

[Miche]

Hang in there!

I hear you on looking forward to personal medical appointments as time at the spa.

Good luck with your pulmonary test!

[Chris]

Oh, gak!

Isn't it irksome how the days when you plan for highly engaged, interactive mothering go horribly wrong but the days that you are doing the basics and sort if phoning it in are (relatively) serene?

As my Dad says 'Children! They're so damn childish.'

Good luck!