Mommy of a Monkey (& a princess)

This is an old post that somehow was never published. I thought it was funny – so here it is. 🙂

From December 2011:

So the monkey has a new bff. Or at least a boy that would like to be his bff. The boy wants to dress like him, wants to sit with him, wants to play with him. Very cute, right? Except that it’s seeming to be a bit much for the monkey. Either he doesn’t get it – or he’s not in favor of the same kind of relationship.

This morning it was very obvious – apparently when he was dropped off he sat at the breakfast table to eat his mac and cheese (I know… what kind of mother sends her child to preschool with mac and cheese for breakfast…). His new bff arrives and sits right next to him. This was a little too close for the monkey’s liking because he says, “Oh, I think I want to sit over here,” and he picks up his breakfast and moves to the other end of the table. His friend was crushed.

If that wasn’t rude enough – he also questioned why his friend was wearing a coat, hat, and mittens. “Why are you wearing that?” he asked, “It isn’t snowing…”.

I’m wondering if the level of snark in our household isn’t rubbing off on him… here’s hoping he isn’t a total punk – and manages to keep some friends.

Decision is done. I’m going to keep staying the course – rather than make any changes now… Though I really wanted to make the change, I had so many reservations that I just couldn’t commit.

I’ve been visiting the gym most days on my lunch break. It’s wonderful. I hope that I can keep up this new habit! It makes me feel so much more energetic, breaks up my day, and is a bit refreshing. 🙂

I’m always one to just try things to see what happens. Because what’s the worst that will happen? Nothing? Someone says no. Not a big deal. But this time, I tried something, applied for something, and now have a very big decision to make. A decision that could impact my workplace, my child’s education, and my schooling… And I have to make it by Friday. Ugh.

On other fronts – I just finished one of my two classes for this term. Such a relief to have that done. Now I just have to finish the discussion and conclusion for my research paper – also due on Friday, and focus on finishing my other class. It seems as though almost all of my coursework is done – only two more semesters of classes (summer & fall) and then dissertation time! I’ll be so happy to have that done – weekends free again!

Okay, off to think about this decision some more. Just don’t know what to do. Ugh.

Wow, it’s been a long time since I’ve had time to write. Actually that’s not true, I’ve done a lot of writing over the summer, but none of it was pleasure writing. Instead it was all school work…

Today I’m home from work with the sick monkey. He’s got a low fever, but no other symptoms (other than being a bit grumpy), so we’re just relaxing at the house.

Earlier this morning, monkey heard the garbage truck. Oh how that boy loves to run out to see them. So we did our normal dash for the front door when he noticed the sound of the glorious green garbage truck. Luckily for me, the truck had already picked up most of the garbage on our street. On our walk back into the house, we stopped to examine our basil and tomato plants. As I was busy pinching off dead basil leaves, monkey was examining the tomatoes. We’ve been watching the little tomatoes grow on the plants, eagerly awaiting their transition from a pale green to a more edible red. As we started to walk in the house, monkey says “what do you have in your hand mommy?” I reply, “dead basil leaves.” He says, “oh. look what I picked.”

What did he pick? Just one of the little green tomatoes. I figure, oh well, they were probably never going to make it anyways. So inside we go. I have plans of cutting the tomato open and letting him taste it.

Somehow between entering the house and me tossing the dead leaves in the garbage, the monkey finds his way to my bedroom. Shortly I hear him calling me – “mommy I need help, I can’t find my tomato.” UGH. What has the child done with an unripe tomato in my bedroom? And why can’t he find it?

After a long discussion, he tells me that “I stand on the bed and throw it in the air.” He did this to have it hit the ceiling fan. Then the fan made it fly somewhere in the room… We had to have spent 15 minutes looking everywhere in the room for the tomato. I had visions of a horrible smell in my room… Luckily we did find it eventually – under a dresser. One fewer tomato on my tomato bush and one less chance of rotten food in my bedroom.

Just another day in the life with a child who is also a bit of a monkey. 😉

That’s what the monkey just told me. I guess he’s realizing that I’m going on yet another trip in the morning. I just spent the past week at school, while he got to spend it at home with his grandma from California. Tomorrow I’m leaving him in the care of my closest friend who will be trading him off with his other set of grandparents.

I’m off to a conference. The first conference I’ve attended in what seems like forever where I didn’t really have anything to do. Well I do have things to do, but I’m not on a committee that meets the entire conference. Instead I’m meeting with my committee on Monday for a luncheon and awards ceremony to present the Odyssey Award!