Monday, July 30, 2012

Like you couldn't see this coming...

I went back to the pool.  I took all three kids back to the pool to see what would happen.  I had to get that image of my daughter floating lifeless on the bottom out of my head.  I'll tell you now, it didn't remove the image, but it did bring my comfort level back at taking all three of them to the pool by myself.

Go here if you want to get caught up.  

At some point in our marriage, my husband bought each of the kids their own kid size broom.  You know, so they could help me clean.  Most of you know, I have a few issues about keeping the house clean and I can't stand having dirty floors.  Consequently, I'm always sweeping and mopping.

Now I'll let it be known right now, I'm not missing out on the kids formative years.  It's the only thing I know to do to de-stress while I have the kids home with me twenty-four/seven.  Since I've been a bit stressed with all our fun going on this summer, you could eat off my floors right now.  

Anyway, I told the kids they aren't allowed to have their swords in the house.  They can practice in the garage or on the porch, but I draw the limit at having swords in the house.  Last time they had camp, they had nunchucks and it was a colossal mess.  They brought them in and were nunchucking everything in sight.  I think the only thing that saved us was the fact our gross motor skills suck so bad.  You should have seen how clean my floors were then.

The brooms have left the building.  

Anyway, at some point, all three brooms made it into the house and Alex and Lizzy were practicing forms in the family room---with the brooms.  I let them practice because it was the first time that whole day they were actually quiet and to be honest?  It's was too damn hot outside.

Out of nowhere I hear a THWACK then, "Ouch!"  Immediately followed up by another THWACK then, "Ouch!"

I heard all sorts of commotion, a little rolling around of the floor and I think I even heard Lizzy saying my favorite expression, "God Bless America!"

Then I got bombarded with complaints from Alex, "Mom, that's not fair!  She didn't do the forms at all!  Gracie just came in and hit us on our heads.  That's so not fair!"  To which I turned it into a bit of a life lesson and said, "Well honey, sometimes life isn't fair.  Do you think when you get into a fight people are going to follow the forms?"

Alex looked at me, looked back at the two year old, his wheels turning.   Without missing a beat he goes, "Like this?"  And he thunks the baby on the head with his broom.

And do you know what I thought, smack in the middle of another cat fight???  I thought, "Yay!  He's generalizing!"

Shortly after that, all three of the brooms made it back outside and in the garage.

35 comments:

  1. You're welcome any time to take your stress out on my house, since I never seem to be caught up with household chores, and my favorite way to de-stress is to do ANYTHING but housework.

    And yay for generalizing!! Hopefully next time it will be without weapons.

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    1. Haha!! Would you be upset if I showed up at your door with a broom and mop?

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  2. What Flannery said. I tend to eat.
    And I love how our autism mama minds work. Pretty sure most of us would have had the same thought as we separated our children.

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  3. Oh Gracie! 😱

    Yes, generalizing is good (mostly) and breaking the rules does prevent rigidity... But I'm pretty sure if my hubs was the one who bought the brooms and signed them up for the camps, those brooms would be in a place where the sun don't shine and I don't mean the garage. Just sayin'.

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  4. Oh my. I mean generalizing.... great.... but couldn't he generalize with oh, say... school work? Or maybe the laundry? Yeah... generalize with the laundry! You can do the laundry at mom's house, Alex -- and then generalize to mine!

    (Please leave the broom at home ;-)

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    1. I love it, I wish they would generalize the laundry and dirty dishes too!

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  5. I'm with Alysia. I tend to eat when I'm stressed; thus, the 20 pounds I've put on this past year. I WISH I cleaned when stressed--then, my house would be immaculate.

    And I LOVE that you thought "Yay! He's generalizing!" I have thoughts like that too. Cracks me up!

    Oh, and I'm glad no one drowned at the pool!

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  6. are you free to come clean our house? I'll throw in a trip to teh Olympic Park if you come quick?!
    Fair is fair. Retaliation is the name of the game, he got it (well actually, he got it first, which is why she then got it... if you get it ;) )
    well done too on overcoming your one day pool phobia!

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  7. and wow! I just turned into a geek too and scanned your blog onto my phone - now that's clever!! Tell me, how can I get a QR code on my blog?!

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    1. That is too cool!!! You go to Red Laser and follow their instructions, super easy!!!

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  8. I love this story so much. I can't even begin to tell you how much. It has layers. That your kids sword fight. That you indulged that. That you saw the humor in a kid beating a baby.

    SO MUCH GOOD STUFF.

    I love you.

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  9. and I don't mean in a platonic way. Not at all.

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  10. I get such a kick out of your kid stories.
    Could be because I have none at my home.
    Could be I'm sadistic.
    Could be that you're just damn funny!

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    1. Haha!!! I think I'm all that and then some. I'm sarcastic as hell.

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  11. I still haven't gotten over the nunchucks (as if you have), so the sword thing is just too much (in a cool sort of way though)...maybe you could show them how to ride the brooms!

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  12. I forgot all about the nunchuck awesomeness. ;)

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  13. Your days sound hilarious, at least they are never boring! I am glad that you went back to the swimming pool and now feel better about being there with all of your kids.

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    1. Yeah, I had to go back to the pool and see if I could do it. I'm glad I did. :)

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  14. Generalising is good. I can see myself there too at a similar situation...great imitating beating up your brother initiative and imitation. Sweet stuff.
    Three brooms three kids...lol

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  15. Generalizing is good. Whacking your sister on the head, not so much. I really don't understand why you ever stop drinking during the summer.

    I am very happy that you were able to go back to the pool. More happy pool memories, please!

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  16. "Yay he's generalizing!" ... snort...ah, parenthood. My floors are a mess because I've been the lifeguard at my sister's ABOVE GROUND pool every day for...I don't know..forever?

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    1. Shoot me now. You poor thing, my nerves would be shot. SHOT.

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  17. Only another autism mom would totally get this story. I was thinking "generalizing" before I even read that you wrote it. Sometimes, you just gotta take the "good" any way it comes... :)

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    1. Isn't that cool that we were thinking the same thing?!? I love it!

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  18. It's unfortunate that Gracie had to be the brunt of a lesson, but HOLY COW! That is fantastic. I'm pretty sure I know a handful of us Moms that probably could have made the Olympic gymnastics teams for flips we perform regarding just such achievements.

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  19. So glad you went back to that pool...and that it was a success :-) Go Alex, you got it! Next thing you'll be telling us they're using the brooms to help you out. i'm making my boy do it....and saving the photos for a blog post! That I'll show his girlfriend when he's 21!!

    xx Jazzy

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  20. **Yay** Well done on getting your comfort back, and also for Alex's generalizing! Also, little babies have to learn somehow? My girl (about the same age as Gracie) is constantly whacking her poor brother on the head or doing something, but my son just covers himself and shoots me a complainy look.. **lol**

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    1. OMG and I can just see it, see your kids doing it too. Wait till he gets old enough, or gets fed up enough, to fight back--he'll be on fire!

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  21. This was a lovely post to read. Great job.

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  22. I read this post and the last post. So scary! I'm glad you went back to the pool, and everyone is ok!

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    1. Thanks. I'm trying so hard to get to your place. My kids are insane right now!

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