The Cuter my Kids Look, The Uglier Their Behavior Has Been

If You See Boutique Bows in My Kids' Hair, Beware.
They Have Probably Been Unholy Terrors That Day.

Just a short and simple post to get your Monday started, hopefully, with a smile. If that doesn't work, go grab a brush and a hairbow.

See, my girls are angels. They are sweet, smart, loving, and pretty. Some days, however, all Hell breaks loose and it is one tantrum after another. These days there is enough back talk, and hitting of the siblings, and screaming going on to make me want to lose my mind.

It gets very tempting to just start screaming back at them and find out how they like doors slammed in their faces for a change.

But I don't do that. Instead, when my girls are being their most challenging, I force them into cute, sweet looking outfits and brush their hair. I give them darling little hair styles and put large poofy boutique bows in their hair. Seem like an odd way to react to the little terrors?

See, I was listening to the radio one afternoon. The John Tesh for Your Life program was on. (Hey, now, don't judge! I normally listen to Black-Eyed Peas, remember??!) He was talking about how to trick your body into releasing feel-good endorphins so that you can control you anger easier and be happier. He said that something as simple as smiling can fool your body to release these endorphins. When you are sad or mad, you are supposed to remember to smile.

When your children are screaming at you or not being good listeners, it is hard to stop and count to ten, much less remember to smile.

Hence the fancy boutique bows and extra cuteness quotient in the outfits. So that every time I look at the girls that day, I can't help smiling a little at how lovely they look. When I smile, they sometimes smile in return. It makes for a better day.

Plus, it also makes it look totally ridiculous to see such an adorable creature spread out on their tummy on the ground, pounding their fists, kicking their legs, and screaming because they couldn't have a second lolly. Instead of getting really angry at their behavior, I stay mildly angry and mildly amused.

Now, my friends will come over and immediately say "Uh Oh. Is it one of those days? Your girls are just so darned cute today!"

*Somedays they get cuted up just because.
**Most days, they have their hair brushed, but down, and wear whatever mismatched outfits their little hearts desire. They have to honor their own inner-fashionistas, of course! (In other words, they are usually really good, sweet girls!)

Kinder-Music?

Kinder-Music?
The confession of a mom who is a closet Black-Eyed Peas enthusiast

Ok, so I have a confession: My kids know alternative music just as well as the standard E-I-E-I-O. I try really hard to balance my love of groups, such as the Black-Eyed Peas, with my responsibilities as a mother of young, children with tender ears. I listen to the radio with my kids in the car, and switch the station when they play the version with harsh language. I have sought out music that makes a decent enough compromise. We know the Snacktime Album by Barenaked Ladies by heart now. The Imagination Movers are often on our play list, too. But my kids are also well versed in standard radio fare such as Lady Gaga and Black-Eyed Peas. I naively thought that my kids in the backseat just like be-bopping around to the beat and weren't really paying close attention to the lyrics. Oh, I was wrong.

One afternoon my daughter was sitting by herself building with some blocks. She was quietly humming to herself. Wait.. was that.. surely not... Yep. I recognized that tune. I knew it the instant my two-year old burst out with a "Come here, Rude Boy Boy!!" in perfect Rhianna imitation. The next day, they sang along to the Black Eyed Pea's new remake of the Dirty Dancing Song. Well.. they hummed along with the tune as we were driving around town, and when it got to the point where they sing "Dirty Bit.. Dirty Bit," there was a full 3-girl background singer choir in my car. They really love to do the "Ppppppp Poker Face" Lady Gaga bit, too.

So, I have a problem. I must find a bunch of G-rated songs by my fave groups to play while I drive around. Because my girls love the pop stuff like I do. And they aren't just enjoying the beat. They are absorbing it!

I must note that they also love Mike Doughty, Rob Thomas, and even random groups like The Format. AND, when played the Anniversary Edition CD of sounds and songs from the past 25 years of Mario games, they can identify all the sound effects, and even tell you which game and level each song went with. It counts that they like the "my backpack's got jets, I'm Bobba the Fett".. right?? And bonus points for the Weird Al stuff, too.. right???

I am not the worst mother, right??? LOL. They get plenty of the E-I-E-I-O too, so simmer down! :) Wee Sing and Learn Dinosaurs is in their playroom CD player right now......

And their number one fave song of all times is the "We like to MOVE IT" song on the Madagascar soundtrack....

And they only listen to the Chicago the Musical soundtrack once every few months.....

Ok. Sigh. Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star it is for the next 10 years. That is the real reason God invented ear buds, right? So you can get your Black Eyed Peas groove on while you fold 10 loads of laundry.