Mess of the Day # 28: Cat Door

The cat door is just too tempting not to play with.

WFMW: Checkout Line Pastime

I love those miniature books that come on the front of the large Cheerios boxes. They are the perfect size to tuck in a purse or diaper bag. Even for their tiny size, though, the books are complete; they're not abridged or watered down. Whenever we are stuck in a long checkout line, I get them out to pass the time. (Bonus: Distraction from all those indecent magazine covers!) Reading aloud to children is SO important and this is a wonderful way to read to your children even more!

The books are only available for a limited time and are on the Cheerios boxes now. If your kids don't eat Cheerios you can always donate the cereal to a food pantry, church nursery or preschool (you can easily get the book out without opening the cereal). Click on the picture to learn about the latest offerings:



P.S. Look at what Screech has been up to. This one's a lulu!

Here are my previous WFMW posts:

Cheap Capris
Save a Life! (Not WFMW, but an important post!)
Cooling Oatmeal
Backseat Entertainment
Gifts to Spark Your Child's Imagination
Reading Motivation
Finding a Babysitter
Charging a Cell Phone
Swim/Shower with a Cast
Free Tech Support
Calming Injured Children
Choosing a Phone Number
What NOT to Soak Contacts In
Broken Glass Cleanup
Cheap Rolling Cart for Conventions
Chocolate Recipes
Tooth-Tugging Tip for Terrified Tots
Handy Earache Relief
Uses for Leftover Bread
Leaky Diaper/Pull-up Fix
Snack Mix Recipe (at the end of the post)
Awesome Stain Recipe (at the end of the post)
"Fun"damentals of Family Life
Removing Wite-Out from Everything
When NOT to Save Money
Public Service Announcement

For more WFMW tips, stop by Shannon's blog!

Mess of the Day # 27: A Sad Day

I have dreaded this day.

I knew it was coming.

Drama Queen never did this.

Pete never did this.

But of course, we knew Screech would do this eventually.

Here's a "before" picture. Note the length. See the beautiful, golden curls.


Okay, enough suspense.

It really could have been worse.

There's enough length left in the back to put it in ponytails and no one will notice the difference.

If I leave it down, though, she definitely has that redneck look. Sort of a modified mullet:

Next thing you know, she'll be wearing nothing but a diaper everywhere we go, and I'll start calling her "Sissy" and her brother "Bubba" . . .

Mullet Girl was really proud of herself . . .

. . . until she realized I wasn't.



You just keep talkin', Mamma! I'll get into something bigger! Bigger than Wite-Out! Bigger than cereal! You just wait!!!!!

WFMW: Cheap Capris!

Stores everywhere are clearancing their children's clothing at ridiculously low prices right now. Many times I would find an awesome sale (pants for $.50!), only to be disappointed when I couldn't find clothes in Drama Queen's size. One day I hit upon a great idea: buy pants two sizes too small, and have her wear them for capris! For instance, Drama Queen currently wears a size 8, but size 6 pants make perfect length capris for her. Yes, it helps that Drama Queen has a teeny tiny waist, but this would work for most any child if you do this with stretchy knit pants or leggings. The best part is, you don't have to save them for next winter; your child can wear them in the spring. (This is a great way to start a spring wardrobe without paying beginning-of-the-season prices!)

I have also done this with pants she has outgrown. You really get your money's worth out of a pair of pants this way!

Speaking of clearance sales, be sure and go by Target right after Valentine's, Easter and other holidays. They always have cute little holiday T-shirts marked down to about $2. Some don't look holiday-specific; I once got Drama Queen an adorable pink and green "Sweet" shirt after Easter, and she wore it all summer long. I got her a pink "Snow Angel" long-sleeved shirt, and it doesn't look the least bit Christmasy.

Here are my previous WFMW posts:

Save a Life! (Not WFMW, but an important post!)
Cooling Oatmeal
Backseat Entertainment
Gifts to Spark Your Child's Imagination
Reading Motivation
Finding a Babysitter
Charging a Cell Phone
Swim/Shower with a Cast
Free Tech Support
Calming Injured Children
Choosing a Phone Number
What NOT to Soak Contacts In
Broken Glass Cleanup
Cheap Rolling Cart for Conventions
Chocolate Recipes
Tooth-Tugging Tip for Terrified Tots
Handy Earache Relief
Uses for Leftover Bread
Leaky Diaper/Pull-up Fix
Snack Mix Recipe (at the end of the post)
Awesome Stain Recipe (at the end of the post)
"Fun"damentals of Family Life
Removing Wite-Out from Everything
When NOT to Save Money
Public Service Announcement

For more WFMW tips, stop by Shannon's blog!

Thank You, Miss S

I hated middle school. I hated the kids. I hated the classes. I hated the teachers. I could write posts on this subject for years and never exhaust it. But there was one teacher that touched my life in a positive way, although I wouldn't realize it until over a quarter of a century later.

Miss S. was my Health and P.E. teacher. Unlike many health teachers I'd had, she actually put a lot into teaching the class. I even remember a bulletin board she made with a huge, hand-drawn louse with the caption, "Have You Been Nit-Pickin' Lately?"

Actually, I couldn't STAND Miss S. She had no sympathy for any of us who endured painful monthly cramps. She claimed that such things "don't exist" and told us to suck it up and dress out. She often left our gym class unsupervised, during which I suffered nearly unbearable emotional bullying. When I spoke to her about it she blew off my complaints.

I remember well the unit she did on first aid. We practiced bandaging one another, making homemade splints, and performing the Heimlich Maneuver. It sure beat my later high school health class, in which we outlined every chapter of the book, did the questions at the end, and did all manner of busywork while Coach C read the sports page and occasionally sneered at the untouchable kids.

Fast forward to this past week. Drama Queen and Pete were enjoying a snack of juicy Arizona oranges (thanks, Grandma!) while I was working on the computer in another room. Suddenly I heard gagging noises - followed by silence. My heart nearly exploded in my chest as I raced to Drama Queen. She was on her way to me, but we took different paths and missed each other. By the time she reached me, her face was THIS COLOR; no exaggeration.

Scared. The. CRAP out of me.

I immediately spun her around and performed the Heimlich Maneuver. After two or three "J" thrusts, the orange membrane popped out onto the floor.

I have never before considered a wet, sloppy mess to be so beautiful.

I have seen many pictures describing the Heimlich Maneuver, but they don't present it as clearly as Miss S did in seventh grade. (This video, however, does an excellent job.) Thanks, Miss S. I would gladly endure the taunting, bullying and loneliness of middle school all over again to be taught by you once more.

NOTE: Often when a person is coughing or starting to choke, our first instinct is to slap or pat the person on the back. DON'T DO THIS; it could make it worse. Please watch this very short video to ensure that you know how to do the "J" thrust properly. It just might save a life!