The blessed wonderful device known as an air conditioner has ceased to be a part of my life. Before you ask, no, our air conditioner hasn't broken down, it's not the outlet, and it's not that I can't find the on switch; it is simply non-existent. We rent a home in Montreal which is old and not wired for it. Just two months ago, I remember complaining about the cold and snow - I ask, where is middle ground?
With my teeth hurting, being on my own, and my sweet girls bickering all day, I needed quality me time. Unfortunately, me time, is creeping into my sleep as it is now past one in the morning. With all this heat and lack of sleep, it's no wonder I have a headache too! I have been contemplating which is better:
1. Moving our furniture outside with 90 degree temperatures and a warm breeze, or
2. Stay inside with 80 degree temps and five fans circulating warm stuffy air throughout the house.
Not being one to sit on the lawn in my pajamas watching TV by means of a large orange extensions chord, I've opted for the stuffy and indoors.
Dresses from Old Navy, taken before Dentist. Wow they're cute!
Executive Mommy Decision:
My sweet, sweet girls are wearing my patience with all day bickering, bantering sessions between each other. Quite frankly, they're sick of the other! After reading about Jill's organizing and Michelle's redecorating, I came to the realization, that neither girl had a space all to herself. A space that has colors, motifs, toys that were hers and a space where she could go to have some little girl me time. With this realization had to come a decision, I like to call it an "Executive Mommy Decision!" - sounds more important! This is what I did:
1. Talked to them about their fighting and reasoned with them that they are always together and never have any time to themselves; and they don't have their own space. I wanted them to know that they weren't in trouble but maybe if they had their own room, they would get a long better.
2. Let them know that once they had their own space (room) they would be able to decorate it in the way they wanted, not what the other wanted. That if they needed time alone, they could go to their own room and have some quiet time to themselves. I suggested that they plan slumber party's in each of their rooms to make the separation easier.
2. Moved Nini from the very pink, princess centric bedroom into the smaller third bedroom upstairs (was a playroom). Reason: she doesn't want to be a princess!
3. Sat down with both of them individually and made a drawing of their room and furniture. I asked them what they wanted in their room, i.e. what colors, motif, photos, pictures and made a list of things we needed at the store.
4. Took them to the store and picked up the few things we needed, came home, and put the rooms together so that they could sleep in them tonight (Tuesday night).
5. We said our nightly prayers in Nini's room, and red a book in Cici's room, and both went to bed without a fuss.
2. Moved Nini from the very pink, princess centric bedroom into the smaller third bedroom upstairs (was a playroom). Reason: she doesn't want to be a princess!
3. Sat down with both of them individually and made a drawing of their room and furniture. I asked them what they wanted in their room, i.e. what colors, motif, photos, pictures and made a list of things we needed at the store.
4. Took them to the store and picked up the few things we needed, came home, and put the rooms together so that they could sleep in them tonight (Tuesday night).
5. We said our nightly prayers in Nini's room, and red a book in Cici's room, and both went to bed without a fuss.
Since day one, they've been together in one room and it's sort of bittersweet that they are now separated. However, I think it's important to try, it may work! I realize that tomorrows another day and things change - but perhaps this will help them enjoy each other more! I'm excited to see!
More Ramblings...
Of course, I chose the hottest day of the year so far, in our non air-conditioned home to move our furniture around and organize; smart-no, desperate for a moment of quiet - yes. While shopping for a few things at Ikea today, we headed upstairs to get some Swedish Meatballs. I bite into one, and my crown falls out again! I went in Thursday to have three crowns replaced. I received three temporary crowns while they ordered the real ones, and was sent on my way. While eating dinner, I bite down on my food only to discover that I was biting down on one of my crowns. Not one to starve myself, I simply started taking out the crown when I wanted to eat and putting it back in when I was done. This morning, Cici says to me "Mommy, can I hold your tooth?" Am I 90? Do I have dentures? Oh, so it seemed after her cute, yet honest question. (No I didn't let her hold my crown, if you were wondering!)
I called 10 people to watch my girls so that I could go downtown to the dentist, but everyone was busy. There was no other choice, they had to come with me. They did a great job while my crown was glued back in. Fast forward to tonight, sitting at Ikea, I munch on a meatball only to crunch on my tooth - it fell out again! Heaven's Sakes! My rambling is done, and I better get myself some sleep!
How's the heat where you live?
What do you do to stay cool?
PS - Hope to post pictures of the girls rooms soon!
9 comments:
Wow, big change for your girls. My oldest two are sharing a room until we get the basement done and it is going much better than anticipated. I was afraid of them waking each other up, but it hasn't been too bad. Phewf!
I think you made an excellent Mommy Executive Decision. They will like having something just for them individually. Everyone does.
As for the weather, that is just Canada. Short Spring and Fall, long Winter and Summer. You'll get used to it. How long are you here before you go back State-side?
bummer about your tooth.. hope the permanent ones get done quickly for you!
It isn't too hot here yet.. we had about a week of hot hot weather in May... it has been a bit rainy and overcast lately..(big surprise) we don't have ac here either.. we had it put in our first home in Kelso we had to put all the duct work in it cost 10000.. yep ten thousand.. then we sold a few months later.. it was a total loss for us.. bummer, but we want to get it again.. it seems the summers are hotter... and this time we have all the duct work ready in this house.. I hate being hot.. it really makes me not want to do anything.. cooking is the worst when your hot... it makes the house hotter!
good luck.. soak your feet in ice water...
good idea with the girls bedrooms.. I think that would help my girls who have always shared a room.. we'll see!
Sounds like kind of a rough day! Sorry to hear about your tooth. that is so frustrating.
Will your windows accommodate a window air conditioning unit? We use those in Connecticut and they SAVE me during the summer. I have one in the family room and one in our bedroom. I usually try to close off the family room and just cool the one room so I don't really run up the electricity bill. If they'll work in your house, you should run to target/costco/walmart/home depot and pick one up. They are slightly pricy but will save your sanity!
Marie: We should be returning in August of 2009. However, things could change - stay longer, shorter, moving to Austrailia - It's crazy!
Kristy: Our Landlord hasn't wired us for it - Maybe someday! Good to hear from you btw!
Donna: I told myself if the girls put up a fuss, I would try something else. But they really liked the idea - that's what drove me. Being twins, it's been easy to put them together - same clothes, same colors, same activities. They really want to be different and have their own identity - it would be a bad mommy executive decision to ignore that! When our adoption goes through, they'll have to share a room again - not sure how to handle that decorating decision! Thanks for asking - You are so great :-)
The dentist and no a/c all in one day? You need a milkshake!
Your executive decision is a goodie. My boys shared a room from the beginning and were super excited to get their own when we moved. Then they wanted to move back together again only to have the oldest gripe that the younger turned pages too loud when he read! Argh! Kids these days!
Good luck with the heat. I'm melting just reading about it.
Cute girls and cute dresses! It's hot here (and humid too!). We have been going through an entire box of 100% fruit popscicles per day.
When it rains it pours? I had a temporary cap on my front tooth no less and when I spoke and my tongue would hit is just right it would fly across the room, not only embarrassingly, but rather traumatic to see my stump of a tooth below.
I think the girl's will love their own space. I've never had my own room and would have been scared to have it, but would have loved the privacy. Good luck decorating! I wish I had tips for staying cool. The pool? Ice cubes? Lots of cold showers? I just don't have that many.
You are very fun to read, Michelle. You have a serious gift for writing.
Congratulations on getting a home study. Good luck with the next steps.
You sound like you were very well thought out in your executive decision, which is a major accomplishment as a state of mind in that heat! Wow!
I'll think about the pirate/cowboy themed room. We have more cowboys around here than pirate in Calgary. Thinking, thinking . . .
Score on the mom executive decision! What a huge project, but how satisfying. It will be interesting to see how the girls take to their solitude and how it affects things.
I'm sorry about your crown and not having air conditioning!
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