Month: June 2019

A House Full of Kids is a House Full of Love

June 30, 2019

We’ve had a few house guests lately. As in, 10. It’s been busy. And, as usual, I’ve not had much time for writing.

Coming on the tail end of pregnancy-induced bed rest, the influx of company was a bit overwhelming. Granted, they came fully prepared to make me rest and cater to me hand and foot and help in whatever way possible.

In fact, I think they were a bit disappointed to find me finally up and around.

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But, eight extra kids is still eight extra kids. Just my kids all day every day requires a bit of maintenance. So, I’ve been up making meals and helping with dishes and mitigating disputes over who had what sword and which son of mine cheated in which board game.

Still, I’ve been having fun. We all have.

Three of my children are sleeping on my bedroom floor and the laundry is more everywhere than it usually is. I often feel I am sloshing through socks in order to use the restroom (which, being pregnant, is quite often). The dishes need to be done every time there’s a meal. There is a constant buzz of activity and noise.

When I married my husband, I remember him telling me the house was too quiet. He is the youngest of seven children. Being a solitary introvert from a small family, I found our newlywed situation perfect.

But after two weeks of a house full, I agree. A full house is just about right.

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Here’s what I wrote this past week:

Sunday, June 23: Thought about hotel limitations with “Where Do We Sleep on a Road Trip with Kids?”

Monday, June 24: Wrote “The Most Loving Sight.”

Tuesday, June 25: Shared a quote by Jim Gaffigan.

Wednesday, June 26: Let you in on my secret of few supplies and many mouths.

Thursday, June 27: “Where’d You Get That Face?” -a snippet about a joke my twin cousins had.

Friday, June 28: A follow-up to the dentist post of last week: “A Return to the Dentist.”

Saturday, June 29: Shared Snarky Mommy‘s tweet about her snarky son.

Sunday, June 30: That’s today!

 

Photo Credit:
Ben Wicks
Austin Pacheco
Rachel

 

©2019 Chelsea Owens

A Return to the Dentist

June 28, 2019

Last week I wrote about our first visit to a pediatric dentist. I was, as is evidenced in that post, less than impressed. I felt rushed, pressured, and frustrated. Above all, I could not believe that an office specifically keen to cater to special needs would not take simple steps that anyone working with children ought to consider.

With trepidation, therefore, we returned this week in order to fill my son’s cavities.

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The difference was night and day. I went back to sit with him and no one said anything about my being there. The assistant explained everything and tried to ensure my son actually heard her. She let him hold a few instruments and explained the process. She answered his questions and did not come across as impatient at all.

When the dentist arrived to begin the numbing procedure, I immediately apologized for how dopey I’d been. You catch more flies with honey, true; but I also felt I may have been a bit short-tempered and told him so. To my surprise, he laughed and apologized in return. He said he’d been tired, due to adjusting to sleeping with a CPAP, and hadn’t realized how grumpy he was that day till later.

Mutually apologetic then, we had several good conversations throughout my son’s procedure.

The dentist was patient, happy, outgoing, receptive, and attentive. He was everything I intended to lecture -er, gently suggest. I was so happy. My laughing gas-influenced son was happy.

Heck, the dentist was happy. He’d hesitantly agreed to try filling one cavity but successfully filled three. We scheduled the more-invasive crown procedure with confidence all around.

And my son, proud of how well everyone said he’d performed, got to pick a popsicle at the store.

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Photo Credit:
Image by Michal Jarmoluk from Pixabay
Image by Pexels from Pixabay

 

©2019 Chelsea Owens

Food Tip 6

June 26, 2019

We’ve had a lot of houseguests here for the last two days. Most of them are children, our nieces and a nephew.

Having them around has been fun for our own boys, who’ve only had themselves to smack around for the long summer days -not that there’s been any smacking, of course. The worst altercations so far have been slight tiffs regarding Legos.

Having them around has also increased The Meals Game to Maximum Level.

Where we once could throw together a few sandwiches or a pot of soup, I find myself instead considering the entire side of lamb at The World’s Biggest Costco or gauging the capacity of our largest pans.

Today’s tip has less to do with amount of food, though, and more to do with stretching what you have. Like, these apples:

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We only had six apples in the house and I needed a side for lunch. (Which, in case you wondered, was instant Ramen noodles.) Knowing this, I employed a little trick I’ve learned with my boys.

Slice thinner.

Yes, it sounds simple. That’s because it is simple. Using our sharpest, nicest knife, I cut all of the apple slices thinner. The kids know they ought to take a fair number each, and feel better about being allowed ten instead of four.

This trick also works for cookie dough (make the cookies smaller), grapes (cut them in half), and cheese slices (I like them nearly transparent anyway). Go ahead; try it.