Friday was Cowboy Day at Dillon’s school. Notice my cowboy refused to participate in the dress-up portion, despite the fact that I sent him to school with a bandanna and a hat. As my husband said, “He’s a lot more boy and a little less cow.”
Ironically, Dillon had great fun playing the role of cow during the assembly as Cowboy Henry wrangled him. After the show, I said, “I need to borrow that rope.” I stood there, smiling, waiting for lasso lessons.
Cowboy Henry laughed.
Um, you think I’m kidding?
All this cowboy talk to let you know that I’ll be on the 96.9 The Wolf radio show tomorrow. It’s part of the station’s Total Wellness Tuesday series. Ryan, Tyler and Jessica want to talk to me about moms staying mentally focused in the midst of the challenges of everyday life: kids and work and housework and the holidays, oh my! Apparently, they think I’m qualified to talk about this, or perhaps, that I can provide some insight into the real-life world of motherhood.
Let’s travel for a moment into my living room. This is my other son, making himself comfortable on the coffee table. Does he think he blends in with that red sweater and green pants? The photo was taken by Daddy, the biggest boy of them all. And then he emailed it to me with the subject line, “What coffee table?”
I’m fighting a losing battle here, people.
So I wonder what the folks at The Wolf and their listeners will say tomorrow when I tell them my real secret to staying mentally focused?
I tie them up.
It’s true. I tie them all to the coffee table and leave them there. For hours. I bet people will be lined up outside the radio station waiting for my autograph.
Yes? No?
If you live in Charleston, tune into 96.9 tomorrow morning. I’m scheduled to go on around 8:20. Or you can listen to the streaming audio live by clicking here.
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You Tube !!! We want to see the video of your starring role in the am with the Wolf people.
Ropes are a good idea, though, ever see the Moms with their young ‘ens on the ends of long leather leashes?? My Mother said she tried that once with my brother and I and it was chaos. I don’t recall it, but, I am sure we would have been out of control.
I had no idea they had leashes “back then.”
I still like the idea of pulling a rope out of my pocket and lassoing them. It’s the shock factor.
They actually used tire chains wrapped in leather….we were sooooo much tougher then!! HA.
Dillon was the envy of his peers. The other children kept saying, “I wish I could’ve been lassoed like Dillon.” Several even wrote about it during Writer’s Workshop that afternoon. That Dillon…he’s a trendsetter. And Blake….reverse planking is totally in vogue right?
He does like to do his own thing… I kept saying, “are you sure you don’t want to wear these boots?” He was adamant. I think Cowboy Henry might have converted him, though. And Blake… that looks more like reverse child pose. He’s a bit too relaxed for my taste.
Angie,
Thanks for doing the show tomorrow. You were the first one I thought of when we hit this topic.
MIKE
I was so happy to get your call! Thank you so much for thinking of me. It will be lots of fun to hang out on the show.
What time do you guys want me there for some geezer perspective??
8am. Showtime is 8:20.
Wow, that is awesome, you are going to be a celebrity on the radio tomorrow morning. I hope I have time to listen to it. Please remind us of this so I can listen.
I also want to thank you for being real and authentic when it comes to sharing your parenting stories. Your family is so precious and I enjoy the opportunity to get glimpses of what goes on. As for the rope, I am thinking that we had to use duct tape a couple of times in the last 25 years in my house. LOL… I wont say anything about the darts…..
Someone told me to duct tape Blake’s diaper at night. He likes to pull it off in the morning, relieve himself and THEN call us.
I think you’ve discovered what I have discovered… you have to laugh to keep from crying.
*sigh* Yes, I was one of those Mom’s that had a leash on my middle son. Seriously! Have you ever tried to keep track of a child that runs in several directions AT ONCE? Didn’t seem to harm him, er, I guess. Maybe I can blame my mother? She used to tie a rope on my brother on the clothesline and he would run from one side to the other while she hung the clothes out. Apparently he was very active. To all those who plan on turning me into Children Services – My children are now 29, 22 and 20.
Too late! Ha.
I was NOT about to pick up the phone. I think children’s services would laugh, too. Maybe.
Angie, thanks for the morning laugh!
I once took my younger son to school in his PJs because he wouldn’t get dressed. He yelled, screamed, jumped in the back seat of the car as much as he could given the seat belt, but eventually decided that it would be good to get dressed in the clothes sitting on the seat next to him, so his mother wouldn’t put him out on the sidewalk at the school in his jammies.
And then there’s the time I tucked my older son under my arm, took his hand in mine and just like a puppet, had him grasp each and every toy that littered the floor of his room, and puppet-like, convey it to the toy basket.
And yes, I was known to use a belt. To belt them into the chairs at the dinner table. They had a habit of jumping up and running around, so I told them, “if you are going to not be able to stay in the chair while we are eating, I’ll give you a “safety belt” to help you stay in the chair.” It worked. They learned not to slide off the chair, or run around during meal time.
Despite the fact that some of my friends thought I was too strict, it doesn’t seem to have hurt either of them.
Cheryl, taking the kids to school in their PJs was recommended by a parenting expert I heard speak recently. She said it shows them you mean business and it only takes one time to make your point. It hasn’t come that yet in our house, but I’m keeping that move in my back pocket!
I love the vision of Mama Cheryl laying down the law. I’ll try a few of these and let you know how I do. I think it’s about letting our kids know there’s a line they don’t cross. One side of the line is love. The other side is WRATH.
Dillon’s school has iPads AND Cowboy Day?! That’s it, we’re moving to Charleston!
Good luck on the radio tomorrow! I certainly could use some tips on staying focused amidst the chaos.
I make an excellent tour guide. Let me know where to mail the real estate info and welcome packet.
LOL! This Creole girl from Louisiana knows a little sumthin’ sumthin about lassos! When I was a kid, I spent my summers with family in Erwinville, La…affectionately known as The Country! Horses, pigs, chickens, barefeet, sugar cane, pecans, crawfish, armadillos, fishin’ and huntin’! One summer, one of my male cousins was being taught how to rope cattle. He was good at it. Well, he thought it would be a good idea to try his lasso skills out on yours truly! Before I knew what hit it me, that rope had tightened around my ankles and I was yanked off of my feet! I tried to put a whoopin’ on my cousin that he wouldn’t soon forget! But, now that I’m a mom (of EIGHT!!! ugh!)…I see the beauty of being able to rope kids…oh, uh I mean cattle!
Do you know how to lasso? I’m sorry you got knocked off your feet and experienced the other side of it, but it seems like a valuable skill for moms. Perhaps we could start a class and make some extra money?
Westerns were all the rage when I was growing up. While reading this, all I could think about was Rowdy Yeats of Raw Hide (played by none other than Clint Eastwood). I had such a crush on him. He was so cute and already had those squinty eyes.
The theme song to Raw Hide was running through my head the entire time I was reading this. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MSHr4ubuD64)
As for Dillon refusing to wear the cowboy garb, cowboys are all about being their own man, and Dillon looks like he’s having a great time. I love your unique coffee table art. Where ever did you get that. Don’t even tell me you made it yourself.
You so crazy.
Now, the theme to Raw Hide is running through my head.
OMG I can’t believe I spelled it Raw Hide… which carries a whole different meaning than Rawhide! * Snicker*
Ha– and it’s funny because I spelled it Rawhide and then looked at your comment and changed it. Oh, well. I’m a big fan of innuendo.
One of my all-time favorite SNL episodes.
http://www.hulu.com/watch/18878/saturday-night-live-phillip
I wish I could hear you on the radio in the morning. You are awesome, you know.
Super funny. Goes nicely with Lori’s comment.