Luke-isms

Brantley and Luke (3 1/2 yrs) were playing a solar system game on the Android tablet. When Luke would point out a planet, Brantley would tell him its name.
"What's dat one, Dad?"
"That's Uranus."
"Mine? Wow! Hey Mom, dat's my anus!"

Brantley-isms

We were discussing the early start to my day when Brantley asked, "Why did you get up at 3:30 this morning?"
"I don't know," I said. "I just woke up and couldn't turn off my brain, I guess."
"Hmm, I never knew you turned it on."

Humor vs. Religion: Does it have to be that way?

Religion is a topic I usually avoid when blogging. However, even when I'm feeling brave I still stick to the cardinal rule (pun intended) that you can only make fun of your own religion. Don't worry. I'm not even doing that today. This is a video that I found to be pretty interesting regarding humor in religion. It discusses Jesus' sense of humor.

 

(If you're having trouble viewing this video on your mobile device, here is the link.)

http://cnn.com/video/?/video/living/2012/01/24/orig-jtb-comedy-father-martin.cnn

Winners of Album Giveaway!!

I had planned on giving away five CDs to some lucky readers, but that would have left one lonely person without one. So I've decided to be generous and give one to everyone who entered to win.

Congratulations to
Maggie
Carrie
Mary Beth
Dash
Heather
the Lejseks

Please email me your mailing addresses and I will put them in the mail this week.
(loriwescott@comcast.net)

Thanks for playing!!!

Modern Family and a Four Letter Luke-ism

Last night’s episode of Modern Family was great for a lot of reasons. If you’ve never watched this show, I highly recommend you start. In this episode, one of the preschool aged characters picks up a four-letter word and wears it out.

This is something every parent can relate to. At one point or another, every child will say something its parents don’t approve of. My ability to relate developed on Monday when I picked Luke up from preschool. I had just buckled him into his car seat and pulled away when he asked, “Mom, is shut-up a bad word?”

“Yes, it is,” I told him.

“Well, shit!”

I wasn’t sure if I had heard him correctly so I didn’t say anything at all. However, when he used the same four-letter word several more times I was no longer able to ignore it.  Reprimanding and reprogramming commenced, which is why I now carry a bar of soap in my purse, and in my car.

Now, I’m not going to point fingers and say where I think he heard that word (Brantley L. Wescott) because it doesn’t matter. What does matter is what we do about it. Sometimes it’s hard to know whether to correct the behavior, or ignore it and lead by example. Arguments could be made for both sides, and there’s no right or wrong answer. (Don’t email me and tell me there is.)

I guess my point is this, though every family and circumstance is different, we all go through similar struggles. I couldn’t see the humor in my own situation this week, but it was pretty funny when it was happening to someone else on TV. I had to share.

You can still enter to win Trainwrecks and Pink Clouds. Click here for details.

The Devil Wears Osh-Kosh

I was so excited when Luke (3 yrs old) learned to talk. I remember thinking, "When, oh when will it happen?" but gone are those days. In their place I have been left with Mr. Comeback. This snarky little fella always has to have the last word. If there is a button to be pushed, rest assured he will find it and mash it until it's broken. I can't blame myself for everything he's learned. After all, what kind of wife would I be if I didn't blame my husband for 99% of my son's bad behavior?
My dear husband, Brantley, introduced Luke to Looney Tunes. It seemed harmless enough at the time, until Luke discovered Fog Horn Leg Horn, and I say, I say that chicken has one smart mouth on him. Luke usually has a hard time interpreting exactly what this character is saying, but the sentiment is the same. Case in point, I was told yesterday to" keep your big mouse shot." I gave him exactly two warnings before introducing him to a bar of lemon glycerin soap. Now, before you go calling me a child abuser, let me say that it's organic, and therefore healthier than a Happy Meal (which by the way, I would NEVER let my son eat), AND it's not like he's belching bubbles. I guess you could say that my method worked because he hasn't repeated the phrase since. He did, however, ask me to go snipe hunting last night. I'm pretty sure he's plotting revenge.

Trainwrecks and Pink Clouds- Album Giveaway!!

She has been called, "Country Music's first painted lady." Mitzi Dawn is a well-known songwriter in the country music industry, and is soon to be releasing her first solo album on Valentine's Day. The album, Trainwrecks and Pink Clouds is labeled as Americana, but if that doesn't ring a bell for you, think folk-ternative.

Loripalooza is going to be giving away her album BEFORE it's available for purchase. All you have to do is leave a comment on the blog (email replies don't count, sorry) with the words,
"I want Mitzi Dawn's album, Trainwrecks and Pink Clouds."

Easy enough. Five lucky winners will be chosen at random and receive the album in the mail.
The contest ends January 22, 2012.

After watching the video, my sister asked, "Is that really her boyfriend?" The answer is no. Mitzi is actually engaged to someone much better looking, who is also an AMAZING, classically trained violinist. 

If you'd like to know more about her, and her journey toward this album, click HERE to read the article I wrote for the Murfreesboro News Press. Did you click it? I'll know if you didn't.

Motherhood and The White Powder

I like to talk a big game. I try to portray myself as a super Mom who doesn't take any flack from her three and a half year old, but it's time for me to come clean. It is with great disappointment that I admit to you today that I'm not as awesome as you thought. I'll pause briefly while you catch your breath.
The truth is I'm as imperfect as my son. While I don't necessarily flood the house, or ride our dog, I certainly have ugly moments. One such moment came two days ago when Luke was being reprimanded. He looked right at my face, and with his sweet little duck lips said, "I don't wike you." Normal Lori would've ignored him, and walked away, but I wasn't normal Lori that day. I was sleep deprived Lori, and sleep deprived Lori said, "Backatcha, punk." He thought it was funny, but still, not my best moment.

However, yesterday I may have redeemed myself in all aspects of motherhood with a little help from my friends. The past few weeks Luke has been experiencing nightmares. He wakes up screaming several times a night, usually four or five times hence sleep-deprived Lori, requiring me to comfort and sit with him until he goes back to sleep. When the sun came up yesterday morning I was finished. I knew I couldn't do this another night. I decided to make a few calls, and put into play what some would call a big, fat white lie.

I made two calls. The first was to Elizabeth, the nurse at his pediatrician's office, and the second was to Cheryl, the pharmacy technician at CVS. Because they are awesome, they were both on board with my plan. I walked Luke into his doctor's office, and he immediately began spilling his guts to Candi, the receptionist. "Miss Candi, I got some bad dweams about the scary bear, and the wolf. They locked-ed me in a cage and I got wost." I know, right? I'd be scared too.

Elizabeth called us back and explained to Luke that she was writing a prescription for some Magical Dream Dust that would keep away all bad dreams. Luke listened intently as she explained how to use it. "You shake it at bedtime, and sprinkle it around your bed."

Our next step was to go to CVS and get our "prescription" filled.  On the way there I prayed a little prayer, "Please God, don't let me get pulled over with a zip lock baggy of baby powder in my front seat." Cheryl met us at the drive through window where I passed her the Rx along with the bag of goods. She returned a minute or so later, and explained how it would keep the scary bear and wolf away. Luke bought it hook, line and sinker.

When bed time came around last night he helped me sprinkle magic dust all around his bed. I still had to sit in the room with him, but he finally went to sleep on his own, without crying a bucket of tears. Awesomeness. Many thanks to all who were involved.

(Photo by Keith Glines)