Sunday, September 21, 2008

And it doesn't even require a prescription

Last week I wrote a post for parent bloggers. They asked for bloggers to tell how we teach our kids about money. With the winner receiving an i-phone. This week, parent bloggers along with Yoplait yogurt, ask for us to consider this question: “What modern convenience do you rely on to get you through each day of motherhood?”

While contemplating this question – and pouting about not winning last week – I am really not sure that I have found THE answer.

The disposable diaper really got me through those first three two years. Oh, but wait. Without a bouncy seat, I am not sure that I would have managed to get into the shower during those first few months. Girls of the nineties need their vibrators vibrating chairs to lull them to sleep. Or at least to stop screaming for 5 minutes. And if the cries got to be too much. Or the smell of the unwashed a little overwhelming. I can attest to the powers of a handful of peanut m&ms to make everything calm. And serene. During the pre-school years, I am not sure what I would have done without indoor playgrounds of McDonald’s…Chick-fil-a…Burger King. They were great places to go when our own four walls seemed to be closing in on us. They are great places to go so that the girls could play with other children. And I could sit. And read my book. Or sometimes, I’d get lucky. And have a playdate of my own. Blessed adult conversation. With a side of peanut m&ms.As the girls delve fully into their elementary and tween years, I thank the Lord every day for giving someone the wherewithal to invent Sponge Bob. Webkinz. Or the Nintendo DS. Because it can all be taken away. I hear the whines. The cries that it’s unfair. Or not their fault. But the simple threat of losing privileges creates the “desire” to tow the line. Or, I could always self-medicate with another handful of my m&ms and all would be right with the world.What do YOU rely on to get you through your days?

post signature

Theme song: Pink Floyd - comfortably Numb

39 comments:

Rhea said...

haha When you told me you had an idea for this post, I forgot to ask you what was the convenience you couldn't live without. Now I know.

I'm so with you!

And your photos make me crave chocolate.

Thanks a lot!

Rhea said...

Also, I hope you win AND I LOVE YOUR NEW FAVICON! or BLOGICON or whatever the heck you call that symbol up top!

AWESOME!

Jill said...

Cappuccinos... of any kind.... with a splash of caramel or hazelnut added to it.

Chocolate chip cookies - homemade of course!

My camera - I never leave home w/o it. You never know what you may see out there.

My husband's patient ear. I can rant, rave, witch, whine, and moan - and he always has the right answer for me. He keeps me grounded even during times I want to pull my hair out.

Tiffany said...

Kat,
You are TOO funny! Thanks for the *oh-so-out-loud* laugh! And your music choice? How appropriate it that! Okay, I'm going to have to think about my answer for this one. You sure have been making me think a lot lately! ha

Tiffany said...

Oh and what is that FAVICON or BLOGICON thing actually called anyway?

Brian and Staci said...

Oh...what a great question. I think most of all...I'd have to say my Hubby :) Ahhhh, I'm so sweet! Seriously, after being without him for 3 days, I realize just how much I love it when he comes home from work and scoops the boys up to go play....but mostly to get them "out of my hair" ----for me :) BUT...M&M's are always a good help too :)

Swirl Girl said...

chardonnay, sauvignon blanc and pinot noir

Shannon said...

Swirl Girl beat me to it... I was going to say what gets me through the day is...


BEER!

Heather said...

Caffeine. Ridiculous amounts of caffeine.

~Jenn ODonnell Danza~ said...

Mmmm..Did you say .Chick-fil-a? How I LOVE those! Had it only once in my life when visiting North Carolina and it was heaven in a bun. Truly!

Coffee gets me through my day.
Before the first sip: grrr
After the first sip till the last: aaahhh!

Jenn

Insane Mama said...

Peanut M&Ms have saved my life numerous times. I'm not kidding. I shoved them in my kids mouth during church to shuch them. And I have eaten them in huge amounts to ease my anxiety. M&M's are a god send.

Britt said...

lol now I have a big hankerin' for some peanut m&m's :o)

Without my computer, Bear in the Big Blue House, The Wiggles and Dr. Seuss, I could not get through my day. Without my hubs I couldn't make it through the night. I'm totally dependent :o)

sassy stephanie said...

Liquor and lots of it.

Unknown said...

Music and a little red wine. :-)

Nikki said...

hmmm... magazines and chocolate

Weeksie50 said...

I don't have children either.. but I have a big ole' class of them.. and a hand full of M&M's works wonders..

The Joye of Teaching said...

yeah, I am partial to M&M's the peanutbutter variety help me in desperate times :) Bu I also use Loud Rock and Roll i the car to get therapy when needed! hehehe

jennifersusan said...

Who says I actually make it through the day at all???? I'd say that I'm completely lost without my mocha frappucinno, but then I know I can make it without. I'd say a nice hot shower is the perfect thing, but my daughter figured out how to strip and jump in with me. Hmmmm... ahh! I know! Sleeping through the night without any one of the kids getting me up before the alarm goes off at 5:30am. :)

Lula! said...

The bag is sitting right here next to me. You know of my love for the peanut M&Ms. It will never wane...

Go read The Hunger Games...please...

Angie's Spot said...

Currently, I'm not far away from my bag of Brach's Candy Corn. At any given moment, substitute Reese's Cups, M&M's, Sweet Tarts, Hershey's Miniatures or any other of about 10 bagged candies. And I wonder why my rear is so wide?!

Elena said...

I'm right there with you on Spongebob and Webkinz. And also my vacuum. Can you imagine NOT having a vacuum with kids. Oh and fruit snacks and popsicles. Best inventions ever.

Anonymous said...

I was just about to join this blogfest and post about Glosette raisins. Damn, you're faster than me :)Seriously though...sometimes I cram as many as I can into my mouth to suffocate my nasty outbursts-"STOP WHINING FOR ONE MEASLY SECOND PLEASE!!!". Worked great when my MIL visited during the early days too. Though I think she did manage to comment that I wouldn;t lose any baby weight eating sweets like that. My response: "What?!?! They're raisins!".

Oh the sticky, gooey, chocalaty raisins. Go great with coffee too on extra hard days.
Cheers. I hope you win!
www.thingsinmyheadineversaid.blogspot.com

Firefly Mom said...

The internet. Definitely, the internet. I can pop on-line and find the answer to one of the zillion questions that Cody comes up with that I don't know the answer to (like, "How many Russian WWII vets are still alive?"), or peruse photos of the beautiful (yes, beautiful!) Gerard Butler. Yummm.

KimmyJ said...

The internet- good one -, french vanilla creamer, bubble bath, flip flops,lips balm, cell phone, gps device, and of course M&M goodness!

Brandy said...

Sadly, we keep peanut M&M's in our house 24/7 too.

Not for the kids though. :-]

I'm lost without my cell phone...it's become my 5th limb.

Ritch in Love said...

I'm a stepmom and have my kiddos home 75 days a year. But when they are home there are a few things I rely on. One: Books from the library! Two: The Beloved Snack drawer. Three: iPods!

Jennifer P. said...

the wii, the big backyard, little blogging breaks throughout the day, and maybe a little People's Court around lunchtime. and lots of hugs :)

Ah---Pink Floyd---I'm feeling so calm all of a sudden.....comfortably numb......

Susie said...

From birth to present day, I L-O-V-E Noggin!!! Love it!!

Gina said...

The dishwasher. I had to laugh when I was reading the energy star label. The rating was for 4 loads of dishes a week. If you are only doing 4 loads of dishes a week then you don't even DESERVE a dishwasher!
Little did I know that on some days I would run it 3 times!

Unknown said...

My MP3 player ... it's amazing what I can drown out..

My camera is starting to be a need as well. I blame joining the blogging world ...

Oh ... and I never thought of biscuits/cookies as Prozac, but you and Lori might have a point there :-) And you can always leave the raisins and chocolate out, but then you'd be missing the best part.... chocolaty raisins...MmmmMMmmm

Kim said...

This lovely compuer that takes the place of a rel person in times of crisis during our school days. If I have had enough, I can pull up a blog or do IM through facebook and find someone who is willling to speak to me in a quiet envrionment(well- they can't hear the screaming in the background--can they??)! Could not live without this machine. Keeps me connected to the real world ...however ironic tht sounds since it is not real.

Jen said...

I loved this post. We could not have lived without our bouncy seats. Love them. But today, I can't live with out my baby sitter. Love her!

Debbie said...

Lots of diet coke with fresh lemon wedges of course!

Unknown said...

Tequilla

Rhea said...

You know, the peanut part of the peanut M&Ms is good protein...for the mind. :o)

Rhea said...

I might be comment padding a little...darn Shannon!

Nissa said...

Yes, definitely chocolate. It's my stress reliever.

My mom was an M&M-Mars merchandiser when I was growing up & I was soo popular because we had cases & cases of candy bars... I need a job like that now.

John Deere Mom said...

I don't even love peanut M&Ms but I gotta tell you...those pictures have me craving them!!!!!!!!!!

Unknown said...

In the old days it used to be Hokey Pokey icecream and Chocolate Sultana Pasties (and no, they were not THOSE kind of pasties)...