Today was supposed to be Pumpkin Farm Day for me and the kids. Before I went out this morning, leaving the kids with Ace, I informed the little Anklebiters that two things had to happen by the time I got back: 1. Rooms had to be picked up, and 2. All kids had to be good listeners for Ms. Ace. If I got back a bad report on even one kid, Pumpkin Farm Day would have to be cancelled. Four little heads nodded solemnly.
Fast forward to lunchtime, and Ms. Ace's Morning Report. Two kids got a thumbs down.
I was so bummed. I'd been looking forward to Pumpkin Farm Day at least as much as them.
In the past year, I've gone from being a Homeschooling Mama to missing out on 35 hours of their week. Add in the weekends they spend with their dad, and you get one mom with Serious Kid Withdrawl.
Even when they are home, they don't necessarily want to spend every waking moment with Mom. They're no longer the Little Extensions of Mommy they were as infants and preschoolers. This is right and healthy. But it's left me feeling a little lost, now that they don't need me 24/7 anymore.
So when they didn't meet the requirements for Pumpkin Farm Day,it was so very tempting to give into their pleas that I take them anyway.
I told them, "I have to keep my word to you and cancel the trip." The two "good girls" cried -especially M&M, who had actually cleaned her brother's room in an attempt to keep Pumpkin Farm Day going. But everyone accepted it.
I hope that, by keeping my word to them today, I've built their trust of me and their understanding that actions have consequences.
I also hope that the weather's good tomorrow. I'm taking them to the Pumpkin Farm, good behavior or no.
I'm Krysta Knapp, a single mom of 4 kids - and I call it like I see it. Motherhood is not all Rainbows and Lollipops. It does, however, provide an endless fount of amusement. That is, if you find barf and tantrums amusing.
Three of the Four
Dubya and Banana surf on the loveseat, while Abadoo shows off her braces
Meet Krysta's Brood
I'm Krysta, a mostly-stay-at-home Single Mom (cush, I know!) of the four greatest kids on the planet. I'm about to become a full-time student, and boy, am I full of gratitude to my parents, Nana and Pop (Free Babysitters Extrordinaire!)and Ace, the college student who lives with us and also babysits. I dream of my bestseller being plugged by Oprah, of being a more-stylish Susan Boyle, of someday being able to pull off the Skinny Jean look. More realistically, I dream of raising Upright Citizens who know and love God, and who pay that love forward in really practical ways to people who desperately need someone to love on them. And to somehow save enough to pay for a Tummy Tuck.
Abadoo is 10 and a half, which is much older than 10. That girl has the most infectious enthusiasm and is always coming up with new ideas. Her newest one is handing out personalized candy treats to the kids on our street while we are trick-or-treating. Each candy is wrapped in decorative paper that contains a message she thought up specially for each child. I just burst with pride over that girl!
M&M is 9. She is into fashion, snakes, and armpit farting. I believe that, despite her Southern roots, she will never make a very good debutante. M&M is wildly creative and has the purest, most beautiful singing voice I've ever heard.
Dubya is the only guy in the family. We watch lots of Star Wars movies and cartoons to try and make it up to him. My 7 year old guy is happiest when doing math worksheets or fighting someone with his plastic light saber. He is also a Lego Genius, and he laughs at all my jokes, which makes me love him even more.
Banana is the Baby, although she scowls at me sometimes when I say that. At 5, she still talks like Elmer Fudd, and I will be incredibly sad when that disappears. She now goes to Big Kid School and spends her days desperately trying to catch up with her older siblings.
We also have a tadpole named Obi Wan and an aquatic frog named Annikin. Yoda the Tadpole perished during a recent water change.
Abadoo is 10 and a half, which is much older than 10. That girl has the most infectious enthusiasm and is always coming up with new ideas. Her newest one is handing out personalized candy treats to the kids on our street while we are trick-or-treating. Each candy is wrapped in decorative paper that contains a message she thought up specially for each child. I just burst with pride over that girl!
M&M is 9. She is into fashion, snakes, and armpit farting. I believe that, despite her Southern roots, she will never make a very good debutante. M&M is wildly creative and has the purest, most beautiful singing voice I've ever heard.
Dubya is the only guy in the family. We watch lots of Star Wars movies and cartoons to try and make it up to him. My 7 year old guy is happiest when doing math worksheets or fighting someone with his plastic light saber. He is also a Lego Genius, and he laughs at all my jokes, which makes me love him even more.
Banana is the Baby, although she scowls at me sometimes when I say that. At 5, she still talks like Elmer Fudd, and I will be incredibly sad when that disappears. She now goes to Big Kid School and spends her days desperately trying to catch up with her older siblings.
We also have a tadpole named Obi Wan and an aquatic frog named Annikin. Yoda the Tadpole perished during a recent water change.
T*I*T*S spells. . . what?
Banana proudly announced today, "Mom, I have t*i*t*s!"
"Oh? And what does that spell?" I inquired. Like I didn't know.
Banana looked at me like I'm a moron and said, "Tights."
"Oh? And what does that spell?" I inquired. Like I didn't know.
Banana looked at me like I'm a moron and said, "Tights."
M&M the Drummin' Fool
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- Krysta Carhart and Amanda Robertson
- We are about to graduate from nursing school. One of us has had four kids and has never had an epidural; the other will be starting a family soon and definitely wants the epidural!
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