Thanks for sharing. My lowest parenting points have been during family car trips. Every time I think of planning another one, my husband has to remind me that my limit is about 4 hours. We live in south florida so that four hours gets us to Disney World only!
I barely need to read it (though I did anyway... of course) - because I remember it SO WELL! I loved this post. Just loved it. Then and now. Praying for you as you remember it, Anna.
And there it is, right? I LOVE that you shared this (and I'd feel better about my parenting after reading it if it our family hadn't had vacations just like this, the one in Colorado comes to mind when the kids groused about not wanting to go horseback riding, and momma went batshit nuts on them, screaming how ungrateful they were, how I NEVER got to go on vacation, etc.). But the real beauty to me of this share is how you are honoring jack, yourself, tim and margaret by remembering all of it, the whole messy wonderful trip, and family. I do think we dishonor those who have died by making them into saints, they weren't, they were precious, wonderful beloved humans. Thanks for sharing, sweet, honest anna.
I love reading about the four of you! It is so neat that you have a written record of many of the memories you shared with Jack, even if there were some lows! I was laughing out loud at some of those. Thank you for sharing this.
I once threw my son's plastic Halloween pumpkin (the ones used for candy collecting) down the stairs...breaking it...minutes before leaving for his preschool Halloween parade. How's that for infantile? We took the long way and stopped at Walmart on the way to the parade. *sigh* All I remember is his crying face and his Superman costume.
Love and prayers are always coming your way. Always.
Every once in a while, "Shut up," just works like nothing else. Sometimes I think saying, "Shut your mouth," is ok, different. But really, it's not. Thank you for the funny today. I pray you have a few seconds more of not-awful everyday. I would wish for hours of not-awful for you, but I think that is not realistic.
A great gift:) And what parent hasn't had low points?! To be fair...being stuck in a car with one's {screaming/fighting/whining} children can bring out the worst in all of us;)
Ahhhh, skiing. I took beginning skiing at Massanutten for JMU P.E. credit freshman year. It was snowplowing down Turkey Trot all the way, but I sure did look cute in the pink & white snowbunny suit that I made my dad buy me from CMT! So glad Tim & Margaret enjoy spending time together. I'd be joining you in the lodge with a book & a warm beverage. Hoping you all have some smiles in your brutiful weekend. xoxo, michelle
Hm, makes me flashback to going sledding with Mac, freezing my buns off (if only that were truly possible), and yelling at him in the car all the way home because he didn't "get" that, "This is the last time," really meant this is the last time.
Boy does this remind me of one of my hubby's greatest planned vacations. The imfamous 11 hour non-stop car ride to Myrtle Beach with a 7, 4, 3 and 6 month old nursing baby. Let's just say we will NEVER go to Myrtle Beach again. EVER. Everyone was yelling (including my nipples).
Praying for some peace (and maybe a small laugh somewhere).
That was so funny. A typical mom, for sure. And dad, too! I still tell my "kids" (48 and 44) the few times they're in my car with me, "I better not have to stop this car!"
That was so funny. A typical mom, for sure. And dad, too! I still tell my "kids" (48 and 44) the few times they're in my car with me, "I better not have to stop this car!"
That was so funny. A typical mom, for sure. And dad, too! I still tell my "kids" (48 and 44) the few times they're in my car with me, "I better not have to stop this car!"
Anna, I just love you!!! You always do keep it so real!! We have had countless trips like this one., very recently in Colorado where I went off on my daughter for being a pain in the a**... I hope remembering these times has brought a smile to your face. Many hugs and prayers for you this weekend and always.
Oh my gosh, Anna: I laughed out loud. Thank you so much! You managed to normalize what life is like here just about every day. You are funnier than the e-trade baby. Thank you again -- (((hugs))) and prayers -- mariann
Oh- That was the day in a life of EVERY REAL parent. MY personal low (after one LONG day of dealing with the kid I was sure belonged to someone else-regardless of that fact that I watched him birthed) was telling my son that if he didn't get his butt out there and mow the lawn I was going to call somewhere and put him in a foster home. He still reminds me of that today just to guilt me out. He is 30! lol
My husband and I seriously considered leaving our 4 kids at a rest stop on our way to California one year... but we knew they would find us! Crazy kids!
Sometimes I think to myself "Maybe they won't remember that part . . . or what I said . . . or what I did." But when my sisters and I laugh while recalling some of our parents' finer moments, I realize I'm hosed.
Reminds me of the time we took our (too young) kids skiing, my husband and I got in a fight during lunch, and he attempted to stomp off except that is impossible in those awkward ski boots, so he ended up kind of shimmying off which of course (and much to my satisfaction) looked ridiculous.
I'm with you - a good book in the lodge is a treat, especially when everyone else is out there on the slopes!
Oh I did enjoy that. I'll take your bad parenting and raise you .... :-)
I think that will be us on our eventual Alps skiing trip. And I will certainly be found in the lounge rather than on the slopes.
I have a new student in my English class who looks like Jack to me except for lighter hair and glasses - he has a squarish face and dimples. You probably wouldn't think he looked at all like him. But I do, and I'm pre-disposed to like him.
This is the Anna Writing that I fell in love with..because I could so relate.
Took our 3 kids to DisneyWorld when they were in the 2nd, 5th and 8th grade. They fought the entire time. The 2nd grader cried the whole time. The only time they got along was in the hotel swimming pool one afternoon...when I screamed my head off at them and yanked them back to the hotel. Done, done, done with the fighting in the park.
Perhaps I could have saved $9,000 if I had just checked in to a Motel 6 in Houston, TX, to let them swim in the pool for an afternoon.
Your honesty and humor make me grin inside my head. Hug.
that was so funny! always good to find the humor, even if it didn't hit you until AFTER that trip was over. what a blessing to have all the good, the bad and the ugly preserved in writing. and yes, baby ruths are NOT GOOD!
Thanks for sharing. My lowest parenting points have been during family car trips. Every time I think of planning another one, my husband has to remind me that my limit is about 4 hours. We live in south florida so that four hours gets us to Disney World only!
ReplyDeleteSavings from not going to Europe-$10,000
ReplyDeleteSavings from abstaining from skiing-$100
Watching a mother grab her son's resees and her baby ruth? and throw it down the stairs-PRICELESS
I barely need to read it (though I did anyway... of course) - because I remember it SO WELL! I loved this post. Just loved it. Then and now. Praying for you as you remember it, Anna.
ReplyDeleteAnd there it is, right? I LOVE that you shared this (and I'd feel better about my parenting after reading it if it our family hadn't had vacations just like this, the one in Colorado comes to mind when the kids groused about not wanting to go horseback riding, and momma went batshit nuts on them, screaming how ungrateful they were, how I NEVER got to go on vacation, etc.). But the real beauty to me of this share is how you are honoring jack, yourself, tim and margaret by remembering all of it, the whole messy wonderful trip, and family. I do think we dishonor those who have died by making them into saints, they weren't, they were precious, wonderful beloved humans. Thanks for sharing, sweet, honest anna.
ReplyDeleteI love the way you keep it real Anna. It's life - the good, the bad and the ugly - real life. And you know that all too well!
ReplyDeleteI love reading about the four of you! It is so neat that you have a written record of many of the memories you shared with Jack, even if there were some lows! I was laughing out loud at some of those. Thank you for sharing this.
ReplyDeleteI once threw my son's plastic Halloween pumpkin (the ones used for candy collecting) down the stairs...breaking it...minutes before leaving for his preschool Halloween parade. How's that for infantile? We took the long way and stopped at Walmart on the way to the parade. *sigh* All I remember is his crying face and his Superman costume.
ReplyDeleteLove and prayers are always coming your way. Always.
Every once in a while, "Shut up," just works like nothing else. Sometimes I think saying, "Shut your mouth," is ok, different. But really, it's not. Thank you for the funny today. I pray you have a few seconds more of not-awful everyday. I would wish for hours of not-awful for you, but I think that is not realistic.
ReplyDeleteA great gift:) And what parent hasn't had low points?! To be fair...being stuck in a car with one's {screaming/fighting/whining} children can bring out the worst in all of us;)
ReplyDeleteAhhhh, skiing. I took beginning skiing at Massanutten for JMU P.E. credit freshman year. It was snowplowing down Turkey Trot all the way, but I sure did look cute in the pink & white snowbunny suit that I made my dad buy me from CMT!
ReplyDeleteSo glad Tim & Margaret enjoy spending time together. I'd be joining you in the lodge with a book & a warm beverage.
Hoping you all have some smiles in your brutiful weekend.
xoxo, michelle
Hm, makes me flashback to going sledding with Mac, freezing my buns off (if only that were truly possible), and yelling at him in the car all the way home because he didn't "get" that, "This is the last time," really meant this is the last time.
ReplyDeleteYeah.
I cringe and want to cry when I remember.
Funny thing is? He doesn't recall that at all.
Boy does this remind me of one of my hubby's greatest planned vacations. The imfamous 11 hour non-stop car ride to Myrtle Beach with a 7, 4, 3 and 6 month old nursing baby. Let's just say we will NEVER go to Myrtle Beach again. EVER. Everyone was yelling (including my nipples).
ReplyDeletePraying for some peace (and maybe a small laugh somewhere).
That was so funny. A typical mom, for sure. And dad, too! I still tell my "kids" (48 and 44) the few times they're in my car with me, "I better not have to stop this car!"
ReplyDeleteThat was so funny. A typical mom, for sure. And dad, too! I still tell my "kids" (48 and 44) the few times they're in my car with me, "I better not have to stop this car!"
ReplyDeleteThat was so funny. A typical mom, for sure. And dad, too! I still tell my "kids" (48 and 44) the few times they're in my car with me, "I better not have to stop this car!"
ReplyDeleteAnna, I just love you!!! You always do keep it so real!! We have had countless trips like this one., very recently in Colorado where I went off on my daughter for being a pain in the a**... I hope remembering these times has brought a smile to your face. Many hugs and prayers for you this weekend and always.
ReplyDeleteMiaxoxo
Oh my gosh, Anna: I laughed out loud. Thank you so much! You managed to normalize what life is like here just about every day. You are funnier than the e-trade baby. Thank you again -- (((hugs))) and prayers -- mariann
ReplyDeleteOh- That was the day in a life of EVERY REAL parent. MY personal low (after one LONG day of dealing with the kid I was sure belonged to someone else-regardless of that fact that I watched him birthed) was telling my son that if he didn't get his butt out there and mow the lawn I was going to call somewhere and put him in a foster home. He still reminds me of that today just to guilt me out. He is 30! lol
ReplyDeleteMy husband and I seriously considered leaving our 4 kids at a rest stop on our way to California one year... but we knew they would find us! Crazy kids!
ReplyDeleteBeen there, done that, bought the shirt. Glad it wasn't just me!
ReplyDeleteLove, Love, LOVE!
ReplyDeleteSometimes I think to myself "Maybe they won't remember that part . . . or what I said . . . or what I did." But when my sisters and I laugh while recalling some of our parents' finer moments, I realize I'm hosed.
That is hilarious!
ReplyDeleteReminds me of the time we took our (too young) kids skiing, my husband and I got in a fight during lunch, and he attempted to stomp off except that is impossible in those awkward ski boots, so he ended up kind of shimmying off which of course (and much to my satisfaction) looked ridiculous.
I'm with you - a good book in the lodge is a treat, especially when everyone else is out there on the slopes!
Love,
Claire
Oh I did enjoy that. I'll take your bad parenting and raise you .... :-)
ReplyDeleteI think that will be us on our eventual Alps skiing trip. And I will certainly be found in the lounge rather than on the slopes.
I have a new student in my English class who looks like Jack to me except for lighter hair and glasses - he has a squarish face and dimples. You probably wouldn't think he looked at all like him. But I do, and I'm pre-disposed to like him.
(When you do come to Europe, come stay with us).
P.S. - forgot to add: I hope Tim and Margaret had fun on their trip yesterday!
ReplyDeleteThis is the Anna Writing that I fell in love with..because I could so relate.
ReplyDeleteTook our 3 kids to DisneyWorld when they were in the 2nd, 5th and 8th grade. They fought the entire time. The 2nd grader cried the whole time. The only time they got along was in the hotel swimming pool one afternoon...when I screamed my head off at them and yanked them back to the hotel. Done, done, done with the fighting in the park.
Perhaps I could have saved $9,000 if I had just checked in to a Motel 6 in Houston, TX, to let them swim in the pool for an afternoon.
Your honesty and humor make me grin inside my head. Hug.
that was so funny! always good to find the humor, even if it didn't hit you until AFTER that trip was over. what a blessing to have all the good, the bad and the ugly preserved in writing. and yes, baby ruths are NOT GOOD!
ReplyDeleteI laughed so much! Thank you for sharing this. It really makes me feel like a normal parent. We've had trips like these..oh the memories!! ;)
ReplyDeleteAnnie P.