Orange Chicken

Warning! If you like this chicken, disregard this post.
Life as a stay at home mom most days dips into the mundane and the routine, all of which children crave. And really, I've started to see the blessings in the routine of the day because it means nothing disastrous has occurred. A disguised blessing, if you will. I pick up the same toys day after day, I do the same dishes day after day, I wipe the same butt day after day (yes, my 4 year old is still having me do this, and honestly I'd rather not wage that war right now), I help with the same homework, you see where I'm going with this. If you're like me, a "treat" every now and then does wonders for one's morale, especially when so much of what we do goes unappreciated. So today I was running around gathering birthday presents for the birthday parties that my girls are going to tomorrow. To give credit where credit is due, the boys were not all that bad today in Michaels. Knock on wood. I decided to take them to the library but when I got there it didn't open for a half hour. So we hung out. All is going well. Really! So I'm feeling pretty darn happy that the boys are being good and then I start thinking about lunch, because after we had finished with the library it was 12:30. My first thought was to pick up something, but we did that yesterday when we were out, and frankly it's just not that healthy. But I didn't want just a pb&j, I wanted something yummy! Here's how it works for me: I eat when I'm happy, I eat when I'm sad. And no, that does not mean that I'm sad more than I'm happy just cause I'm thin. I know some of you were adding that one up! Rest assured, I love food way to much to give it up. I credit genes and a fast metabolism. Anyway, I'm trying to plan out a lunch menu in my head while getting the boys buckled into the car and I realize that I bought this orange chicken from Costco last week. I love orange chicken! I decide that that's what I'll have for lunch! I'll get the boys a pb&j, cause they love those, and I'll enjoy my orange chicken and not have to share. Anytime I don't have to share puts me on cloud nine. I take the package out of the freezer and I notice that there's two packs! Well, great, I think, I'll be able to save it for another time! Double whammie- the day just keeps getting better!
As I'm putting the chicken on the cookie sheet I realize that it doesn't look as appetizing as I'd like, but whatever, I'm sure it will be good, and besides, I'm still thinking "I don't have to share!" I know that's rotten, but it is such a treat to not have to share EVERYTHING!
The timer goes off, I add the glaze and honestly, it's not looking too bad. It doesn't smell as good as I'd imagined it would smell, but I'm sure it will be good. The boys are tucked away with their sandwiches, juice boxes, and Cheetos (I know, the nutritional value is not real high here, and we probably could have eaten out and had the same amount of calories) and I sat down with my Orange chicken, and took the first bite.
It was not good....(sigh)not good at all. What a disappointment! I really am so sad about the orange chicken! Too much hype I suppose. So I ended up sharing with Teaghan and her friend because they're the only ones who would eat it.
Moral of the story, don't use food as an upper. It can damage ones psyche.


See, it doesn't even look appetizing from the picture, and that's not because I take bad pictures!

One of THOSE days!

Yesterday was one of those days when I would literally give my I-teeth to go back in time 10 years. Well, maybe just 5. Yep you guessesd it: the 5 year mark would be right before Andon and Zak were even thoughts. But even though I wish it today, my life would be empty without them tomorrow. At least the lessons I've learned from them about myself would've been forever missing without the dynamic duo.
Looking back at the mother that I was with the girls, and the mother I am now, I find two distinct differences. Number one, I actually thought I was a good mom, you know, one that had it all under control. And maybe back then I might have, but only because the girls were so much EASIER than the boys. Number two, and this one is hardest to admit because now I have to acknowledge the snob in me, is that since the girls were easier I often looked at other people with whiny kids or ones that threw temper tantrums the whole time in the store and thought, "why is that kid so whiny? Doesn't his mother know how to calm him?" You know the ones. You see the poor mother in the produce section and the kid is throwing a major fit, worthy of an Emmy. Next you see this poor woman in the pasta aisle, same kid, same Emmy fit. Next, the bread aisle.... you see where I'm going with this? Her whole shopping experience that takes at least an hour is filled with cranky child. That's the worst possible situation. But here's what I would think: First I would always have empathy, but the thought that would run a close second would be, "Someone needs to show her how to discipline so that child knows he can't get away with that. He needs to know that he can't talk to his mother that way." Now I know this sounds very pious and all, but in my defense I really did feel bad for her. During this period when my girls were little, they did throw the occasional tantrum in public, but they were easily controlled. Where am I going with this you ask? I'll tell you. Heavenly Father, in all his wonderful wisdom, saw fit to teach me about what compassion REALLY is. Not the kind where you feel sorry for someone but walk on by, but the kind where you stop and try to help out. My boys have taught me this. I am now the mother in the store with not only ONE screaming, whining child, but TWO! TWO!!! I am the one all the other shoppers are trying to avoid. During such times, (and it really is EVERY time I'm in the store with them!) I want to stash the shopping cart and run to Fiji. Yes, if it was possible, I would RUN. I would be running so fast that I would be able to run on top of the water. This is how desperately I want out of the situation. I have now turned into the mother that the other mother with the perfect toddler (which I used to have) is wondering if I'M in need of some parenting classes. At this juncture, a resounding, echoing, YES! would be in order.

Some good has come out of being humbled. I now have REAL LIFE empathy for mom's who battle children in the store, because they're just doing the best they know how to do. It's just a difficult child and some are just harder than others. I no longer walk on by, afraid to intervene. I at least will stop and try to give the child another focus. Usually it's a who's this crazy lady look. But it usually does the trick. But here's hoping that my boys mellow with age, because I don't think I could handle any more hard knock lessons coming my way. One day my kids may receive a postcard from Fiji!