TV

Okay, as previously stated I am not mother of the year so my kids watch television a lot- pretty much from when they wake up until when they got to bed the television is on. They may not watch it all the time but it is background noise to their playing. For Christmas Santa got me a neat little 10 inch under mount TV for the kitchen so I can watch what I want while me kids enjoy our 46 inch flat screen in the living room! How do things like this happen?! Anyway, I have come to love and hate Nick Jr.- I love that it keeps my kids occupied when I need a break or to get things done but I hate the shows and characters. I applaud you parents that have set limits on TV time or have opted to not allow TV at all- you are better parents than I AND you are saving yourselves the cost of Ibuprofen and cartoon characters haunting your dreams.
I realize that as the kids get older the shows are only going to get more annoying and could even turn into an obsession- I am glad they are not old enough to be a part of the Hannah Montana, High School Musical and ICarly Craze. I also realize that writing this proves that my life really does revolve around my kids. I mean who spends several hours perfecting a blog about preschool television?! I really need to get out more.


MAX & RUBY

First of all where the hell are their parents? This show is a CPS report waiting to happen. From time to time I see episodes with pictures of what I guess are their parents but why is Ruby always in charge of Max? She always wants Max to go away or leave her alone- So the one episode where Max is happily playing on the playground, Ruby wants him to pretend to be a baby- Can you just leave him alone Ruby!


TOOT & PUDDLE


Let's just put it out there.... They are gay- two "friends" living together, going on trips around the world, taking care of each other... really did you think I wouldn't notice.



YO GABBA GABBA


This is baby Crack- My kids stop dead in their tracks for this show- DJ Lance you are the man! I plan my day around your show. But I still don't know the character's names- they are so weird- Tofu, Moon U... I don't know and I don't care as long as the kids are entertained.


I don't have many thoughts on Franklin, Pinky Dinky Do, Jack's Big Music Show, Oswald or Lazy Town except that I can't get some of the theme songs out of my head. I catch myself now and again going about my day singing, "Pinky's got a story she wants to share with you... Pinky Dinky Doo.... If I got a problem, I know just what to do- I think and think and think and suddenly I know.... It's Franklin comin' over to your house.... Come on everyone give your foot a tap, come on everyone give your hands a clap... Dumdiddy, Dum-D-Dum-D-Dum Day-It's Jack's BIG muuusic showww... Welcome to Lazy Town- Bing Bang Diggiriga (whatever she says) funny words I say when I am dancing (yes and stupid) .... " Sorry if you now have these songs in your head but I thought I should share the wealth.


BLUE'S CLUES

Blue's clues is not bad- Steve and Joe leave something to be desired. I personally prefer Steve to Joe and my favorite episode is when they are both on together. I then saw Steve left the show to pursue his rock career- you may see him from time to time on Nick Jr. singing a kids rock tune with his band- weird.


WOW WOW WUBBZY

Again a show that mesmerizes Olivia and I want to jump out of my skin when it is on. I find Wubbzy very annoying. Wow, Wow everyone


Now we move to our ethnic or more cultural shows:


NI-HOA KAI LAN

Cute little girl with her furry friends and YeYe- yeha, yaya- whatever- her grandfather. But her eyes are on the side of her head. Has anyone else noticed this?


DORA


Hola! great you teach Spanish but how many times are you going to ask me where we are going?! I know already!- over the bridge, through the forest, to the tallest mountain.


DIEGO

I don't mind Diego so much except when I realized that a kid watching another kid, even a cartoon kid play with a baby Jaguar or coyote or other deadly animal and make them seem so harmless may not be such a good influence. I mean if Olivia ever comes to me and wants to "rescue" a snake that is outside I am not going to be as kind as Diego to this animal.



THE BACKYARDIGANS


Yes I am including the Backyardigans in this category because these backyard friends apparently live in the most ethnic neighborhood- Pablo, Tyrone, Uniqua, Tasha and Austin. I am glad to see them all getting along and playing nice- just warms my heart.


WONDER PETS

The MOST annoying show on Nick Jr. by far! I cannot stand it! I don't know if it is the songs- "The phone. The phone is ringing. There's an animal in trouble.... What's gonna work?... Team work..." or the Characters- Linny, Tuck and Ming Ming too, who by the way, needs a speech therapist- I don't know but I just don't like it.

and let's talk about the "commercials" in between shows... if I see one more Fresh Beat Band video I will scream. It makes me cringe when I hear it but I can't help but sing along- Why?!
"It was a great day, what a super day; I got, I got, I got, You got, you got, you got, we got, we got, we got loco legs.... and my personal favorite-Friends give friends a hand, put your hand in mine and we'll be fine- when you neeeeeed a helping hand.

I must be going insane!


Moose A. Moose and Zee are great but sometimes I find myself singing their songs too-
"I don't like candy corn.... We're going on a trip, we're going on a trip.... "


On a positive note I LOVE Miss Spider- It is really my favorite show. I don't know if it is because Kristin Davis from Sex and The City is Miss Spider and I just feel a connection but I have to say that I actually enjoy watching it.

I am rereading this entry feeling like I really am the worst mother of the year but alas Nick Jr. IS like preschool on TV because the other day I was not in a very good mood and Olivia said, "mommy are u happy?"


"no."

"I know what will make you happy- hugs. Do you need a hug mommy?"

"yes baby. I do."

She gave me a hug and asked if I was feeling better. I told her I was and asked where that came from and she said, "Gabba Gabba. Sometimes you just need a hug to feel better"


Wow! I am a better mother than I thought for letting my kid watch TV!

Mommy Meltdown

Being stuck inside with two kids for 4 days of snowy, cold weather with no phone, cable or TV (at least we had electricity- I don't know how the families who had nothing survived. I can see why some animals eat their young) It was enough to send me right over the edge. The first two days didn't seem so bad- staying in pj's, playing in the snow, hot chocolate, watching movies, making arts and crafts but as day three came to an end I was out of ideas, energy and patience. Day 4 and I was determined to get out of the house- BY MYSELF. It took Bill a couple of hours to shovel, snowblow and plow us out. He then made his rounds around town helping out family and friends. Finally, at 11:30am I was ready to go. Bill informed me that he didn't really dig out my van but told me to "gun it" over the snow. Here I go on my way....

He didn't really dig out my van was an understatement- he did everything else EXCEPT dig out my car but my determination to get away was strong. I gunned it and moved about an inch. Reverse and then forward again, back and forth until all that is left is my wheels spinning, stuck in the snow! SON OF A ...

I am PISSED- yelling and cursing at no one as I walk back to the house to get a shovel. I open the door yell in "What were you thinking?! Gun it?!" and slam the door. I hustle back to the car and start digging it out. Bill goes to the window in Liam's room and starts banging on it. Now I can't really see him or hear him but I am assuming he is saying something. My blood pressure is rising and I am getting more angry that he hasn't already come out to help me. And apparently he can't open the window a smidge to talk to me. I yell at him that I can't hear him and to leave me alone. He finally opens the window and tells me to come in with the kids and he would dig out the car- NO WAY. I know that I am being irrational and mean but at this point I don't care. I am shoveling, crying, talking to myself-

"how stupid can he be. Just gun it he says, I just want a break, I deserve a break. I can't do this by myself (shovel and parent). Fine I will just not go anywhere- just back to bed. What an ass he is."

I finally realize that I am not really making any progress digging out. I am just throwing huge mounds of snow back onto the cleared off driveway. I storm inside, throwing my coat, hat and gloves off while announcing that I will just stay home. I run to my room and slam the door and throw myself on my bed (yes I can have a tantrum just as well, if not better than any 2 or 3 year old I know!) I take 5 minutes and collect myself and return to the living room. Olivia is still watching tv and Liam is playing happily in his bouncer but Bill has disappeared and I am guessing he went out to shovel my car out. He returns 15 minutes later and tells me to go. I grab my stuff and I am O-U-T- see ya later, arrivederci, goodbye!

As I whip out of the driveway I realize that I really don't know where I want to go. Well I need stamps so off to the post office I go- how exciting. I get my stamps and am starting to feel like a horrible wife, mother and person. I am torn- I feel selfish and ashamed of how I reacted but at the same time I felt like I deserved some time for me, which is very rare. When I do get some time (which is usually to go food shopping or run errands for the house or our family, not necessarily for me) I find that I am always rushing to get back home to the kids, like they are a burden on who ever is watching them, even when it is their own father. I wonder if that is a me thing or a mom thing? Anyway, my guilt running strong I pick up McDonald's for lunch for everyone, which is not good for my new diet but at this point.... the hell with it... then a Dunkin' Donuts coffee for Billy and return home with my "tail between my legs". Olivia could care less about my outburst and is thrilled with her happy meal. I apologize to Bill and give him his food and coffee as a peace offering but I have to add my two cents-

"Did you really think that the van was going to jump over the snow banks that were surrounding it?"

With his crooked little smile he replies, "I told you to gun it."

I love my husband and my kids. They are the best things to happen to me. I truly love being a stay at home mom. I love the smiles and laughter and chaos and dysfunction that occurs on a daily basis here. What I realize is that I love ME too and sometimes ME needs to recharge her batteries and get back to neutral (and a big glass of Merlot- I am talking HUGE) so that I can be the "best little wifey" and "mother of the year" and "humanitarian do-gooder" that I usually am .... or just somewhat functional- I say potato, you say potahto.