So my experiment with getting Monkey to school without the stroller continues.
This is all preparation for when:
1) I'm too fat (ok fine, pregnant) to waddle 1.76 miles (thank you, www.mapmyrun.com - now I know precisely how far I walk!)
2) It is raining, and walking isn't an option
3) I'm back in the grind post-birth by hacksaw (i.e., c-section) and trying to get TWO kids to school....
And again, I have to say that Monkey was EXCEPTIONAL! She walked, without fussing or complaints, happily holding my hand. She was cheerful and cooperative.
The bus, however, has NOT been cooperative.
My week thus far:
On Tuesday I waited a total of 60 minutes for my bus to arrive. 35 minutes in the morning, and 25 at night. With an insane toddler, bored out of her skull, a few feet away from a busy Manhattan street. Nice.
On Wednesday I got on our bus to head home and, well, I had made the mistake of trying to use the stroller. So I got on the bus with a stroller, my lunch bag, Monkey's lunch bag, Monkey's bag of clothing to come home from school, my purse, my insane toddler, AND my 5 months pregnant bump and lack of balance. And fell on my arse when the bus lurched. It was so pathetic that a little old lady gave me HER seat. Now that's embarrasing, when a 80 year old is in better shape than you. And I'm on the maximum dosage of tylenol today, because I wrenched the muscles in my groin, up around my side and into my back. Nice.
Today? No real problems, per se. Just Monkey decided to get into my purse and before I could say boo had dropped my makeup on the floor. I'm down one set of eye drops, one tube of lipbalm, and one tube of MAC lipstick (Del Rio, best shade on earth). Dammit!
I have bad bus karma. I just do. Wonder what I did in a prior life?
Showing posts with label karma. Show all posts
Showing posts with label karma. Show all posts
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
On Language (apologies to William Safire)
I had a nightmare moment yesterday afternoon. The phone rang at work and I immediately recognized the number as Monkey's daycare; I answered thinking it was the worst and Monkey needed to go to the hospital or doctor or something....it is quite amazing, how many vivid (and awful) scenarios your mind can produce in the 3 seconds it takes to reach out, grab the receiver, and say hello.
It wasn't anything like that, just that her main teacher wanted to talk to me one-on-one about Monkey's language. Needless to say that very short conversation gave me a heart attack, and I was convinced we'd have to put Monkey into an early intervention class starting today.
After a much longer conversation when I picked Monkey up at school, I learned that Monkey is lagging a bit in language skills, at least compared to what she comprehends and the kids she is in class with. However, after talking with Monkey's godmom (the pediatrician), I am satisfied that Monkey is well within the normal range of language developement - although admittedly at the less developed end of the spectrum.
Turns out she uses a lot more words with us than she does at school, and a lot of that is personality driven. She is stubborn and if someone else answers the question or says the word first (like in response to flash cards) she won't answer. Period. I imagine her internal dialogue runs something like this: "what, are you deaf? that kid ALREADY said doggy. let's get a move on, folks..."
She also gets stubborn (and I do mean mulish) and will use some words with some teachers but not with others. Manipulative little bugger! So, we do need to work with her on language, and make her (um, hello temper tantrums) use her words instead of asking her a series of yes/no questions and letting her communicate that way. In other words, stop making it easy on her.
On the way home I bought some flash cards at a childrens book store, thinking we'd "try" it....and lo and behold, she really liked it! Huzzah! Best 3 dollars I ever spent. Turns out she even knows words I've never even tried to teach her - like fish. Cool. And so interesting to realize how much she knows that I don't even know she knows. (And if that isn't an awkward sentence I don't know what it.)
I called one of my closest friends to tell her this story, and she asked if my parents laugh when I tell them stories about how pig-headed stubborn Monkey can be. I said yes, they think it is hilarious. So apparently it's my karma, to have a stubborn kid.
Everyone that knows me? All together now, nod your head and laugh.
It wasn't anything like that, just that her main teacher wanted to talk to me one-on-one about Monkey's language. Needless to say that very short conversation gave me a heart attack, and I was convinced we'd have to put Monkey into an early intervention class starting today.
After a much longer conversation when I picked Monkey up at school, I learned that Monkey is lagging a bit in language skills, at least compared to what she comprehends and the kids she is in class with. However, after talking with Monkey's godmom (the pediatrician), I am satisfied that Monkey is well within the normal range of language developement - although admittedly at the less developed end of the spectrum.
Turns out she uses a lot more words with us than she does at school, and a lot of that is personality driven. She is stubborn and if someone else answers the question or says the word first (like in response to flash cards) she won't answer. Period. I imagine her internal dialogue runs something like this: "what, are you deaf? that kid ALREADY said doggy. let's get a move on, folks..."
She also gets stubborn (and I do mean mulish) and will use some words with some teachers but not with others. Manipulative little bugger! So, we do need to work with her on language, and make her (um, hello temper tantrums) use her words instead of asking her a series of yes/no questions and letting her communicate that way. In other words, stop making it easy on her.
On the way home I bought some flash cards at a childrens book store, thinking we'd "try" it....and lo and behold, she really liked it! Huzzah! Best 3 dollars I ever spent. Turns out she even knows words I've never even tried to teach her - like fish. Cool. And so interesting to realize how much she knows that I don't even know she knows. (And if that isn't an awkward sentence I don't know what it.)
I called one of my closest friends to tell her this story, and she asked if my parents laugh when I tell them stories about how pig-headed stubborn Monkey can be. I said yes, they think it is hilarious. So apparently it's my karma, to have a stubborn kid.
Everyone that knows me? All together now, nod your head and laugh.
Monday, November 26, 2007
Bad Bus Karma
I seriously hate the bus. My family laughs at me...but I seriously hate the bus.
And, I'm pretty sure the feeling is mutual.
This morning I waited for 12 minutes, in the rain, with a screaming toddler pitching a tantrum because she hates the rain shield, waiting for a bus that NEVER SHOWED UP.
Isn't there a pithy quote about how 90% of life is just showing up? Apparently MTA BusM104 missed that nugget of wisdom while bouncing on his grandpappy's axle.
I know, 12 minutes isn't the end of the world. But still, it is just the latest in a long list of crummy bus experiences.
There was the time the bus I was on got pulled out of service because an insane guy refused to let an obese woman sit next to him. When the bus driver (rightly) tried to intervene, it got physical, the cops got called.....and I ended up running 15 blocks to make it to my doctor's appointment on time.
There was the time I waited for a bus for 40 minutes. And it never came.
And there was also the time that the hydraulic lift got stuck - halfway up - with a woman in her wheelchair on the lift. That bus also was taken out of service.
If you are ever with me in New York city, and I suggest that we take the bus together? Just say no.....you never know if my bad bus karma is contagious.
And, I'm pretty sure the feeling is mutual.
This morning I waited for 12 minutes, in the rain, with a screaming toddler pitching a tantrum because she hates the rain shield, waiting for a bus that NEVER SHOWED UP.
Isn't there a pithy quote about how 90% of life is just showing up? Apparently MTA BusM104 missed that nugget of wisdom while bouncing on his grandpappy's axle.
I know, 12 minutes isn't the end of the world. But still, it is just the latest in a long list of crummy bus experiences.
There was the time the bus I was on got pulled out of service because an insane guy refused to let an obese woman sit next to him. When the bus driver (rightly) tried to intervene, it got physical, the cops got called.....and I ended up running 15 blocks to make it to my doctor's appointment on time.
There was the time I waited for a bus for 40 minutes. And it never came.
And there was also the time that the hydraulic lift got stuck - halfway up - with a woman in her wheelchair on the lift. That bus also was taken out of service.
If you are ever with me in New York city, and I suggest that we take the bus together? Just say no.....you never know if my bad bus karma is contagious.
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