Ringling Bros and Bartles & James Circus is in downtown L.A. this week and we're going tomorrow. The last time I went to see a circus was, I think, in 1980 (give or take.) and it wasn’t even a real one. It was in this place east of L.A. and I remember it had Mexican midget acrobats, Nacho Libre clowns, and scared animals. They sold Churro’s (tasty) and Horchita (probably made by the animals) instead of popcorn and cotton candy. We had gone because my dad was able to get some big discount on the tickets (he would go anywhere if there was a discount attached, even if it meant sitting near the smoking gorillas.)Anyhow, we thought it would be fun to take my daughter to a real circus. And maybe I wanted to go too.
An actual conversion with my daughter:
Me: Wanna go to the CIRCUS?
Daughter: O.K.
Me: There are animals at the Circus
Daughter: ANIM-MALS?
Me: Yup! Real animals, like… Elephants, Tigers, Bears, Clowns…
Daughter: …and MONKEYS?!! Yeah Monkeys!!! I wanna see monkeys, Dad-DEE... MONKEYS!!
Friday is going to be fun...
Potty Training: Part 2
Now that my daughter is 2, we’re kicking the potty training into high gear. We first tried at 18 months, which pretty much trained her to walk the diaper over to the throne, dump the goods (with help), flush, and then cheer. And then there were maybe those 100 instances where she sits on the throne, sings, flips through a book, gets down, diaper goes on…5 minutes later poops/pees. Then tells us she pooped/pee.Now I’m to the point of bribing. If she goes once on the potty - even a drop, I told here that I’d buy her a BIG pink pony - one that flys, and makes candy!
Mom's And MBA's
My wife was recently accepted into Pepperdine University’s MBA program and I couldn’t be happier for her. From her calculations she’ll graduate in about 3 years, which seems like a long time just knowing our daughter will be starting kindergarten by then. Have any parents out there juggled going back to school with family/work? Advice...stories
80’s Sitcom’s: On The InternetI have a new addiction - some genius decided to put 5-minute versions of the best 80’s TV shows on the Internet. Now I can watch “Facts of Life”, “Silver Spoons”, "Diff'Rent Strokes", "Fantasy Island", “What’s Happening” (did you know Rerun almost got married? I KNOW!) and one of my personal favorites – “Who’s The Boss.”
I have some requests for more that would be perfect 5-minute episodes - "Small Wonder", "Mama's Family", "Charles In Charge", "Brady Bunch", "Perfect Strangers", "Family Ties", "Growing Pains", "Golden Girls" and "Alf" (haaaaa!) Any other requests?
I just started on my masters. My advice is that she have a quiet, comfortable workspace that is off-limits to the rest of the family.
ReplyDeleteYou can help by proofing, research, making tea (or cocktails), listening. Get babe out of the house.
Good luck!
Oh, I loved "Charles in Charge" - loved it.
ReplyDeleteFor your wife, way to go!!! My mom went back to school for her master's when we were a little older and could take care of ourselves to give her ample study time, bit what I learned by her example is that a mom can do anything and should follow her dreams and be successful if that's what she wants. Kudos to her for being continuing her education, it will reap more rewards than she even knows!
And the circus, oh my! Haven't been since I was 3. I guess I rode an elephant, but I do not remember.
Carrie
I tried bribing my kids to potty train, and honestly the best thing for me was to just leave them alone and they did it on their own. I have 4 potty trained kids now. Give her time...she's still young!
ReplyDeleteCongrats to your wife. I wish her luck in juggling all of that. I know it can be done because I have a friend that did it with a toddler.
Charles in Charge was a great show. Have you seen Scott's new reality show? (look at me, like I know him calling him Scott...I can't spell his last name is all)
Oh, and I request "The Cosby Show" :)
ReplyDeleteI watched a lot of The Jefferson's and Hogan's Heroes.
ReplyDeletePotty training just has to run it's course. Make it fun along the way, but the kids will decide when.
Square Pegs.
ReplyDeleteA Bartles and James may just make that circus more fun for you, Dad! Good plan!
That last picture cracked me up so much I fell off the couch.
ReplyDeleteWe've been watching pre-80's shows. Like 60's shows. Adam 12.Emergency . But I loved Perfect Stranger. "Dunt be redicoluous." Have you seen the World Series of Pop Culture? Brings it allll back.
ReplyDeleteWe took the kids to the circus last year. Just not the same as it was.
ReplyDeleteHow about Alice and/or One Day at a Time? Ohh...and Good Times. Or are they all from the 70's? Crap. I'm so old.
ReplyDeleteThe circus is just fab! We go twice a year, no real animals over here though.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with the potty training. One thing that really works is go for the undies cold turkey. With diapers and pull ups - it absorbs too much. The undies they can feel the wetness and with a few accidents - get it under control. Just be prepared to wipe up puddles. Paper towels and Fantastic are your friend!
ReplyDeleteAs for school - not yet but I will be going back soon. Unfortunately, my classes will involve alot of higher level science classes -ugghhh!
Husband has classes every six weeks and has to do alot of studying - but it is only for a week at a time.
Can't do the circus. Or the zoo. I feel too bad for the anim-mals.
ReplyDeleteI used to work at a school similar to Pepperdine. I did the MBA program. It can be tough, but it's not as bad as you might think. It's just going to take a while for her to get used to the requirements and flow of things. The first two classes will seem like the worst but it gets better - - don't let her get discouraged :)
RE: Potty Training.
ReplyDeleteFor both my kids, 2.5 seemed like the magic number for them. My son got it within a week of turning 2.5 (go without pants for a couple of days) and my daughter got peeing down to a science within a couple of days with no diaper. I won't go into the other... she's totally freaked out about it.
I vote for reruns of "Alice" and "Family Ties" on the Net. I loved "Facts of Life" as a youngster, but when it was playing on TV Land or something a few years back I turned to my husband and said, "how did I love this show so much?"
The Mini-episodes are HILARIOUS!
ReplyDeleteL.A. Daddy -- I felt bad for them too. More on that later.
ReplyDeleteMaureen -- We've heard of the pantless methed. Not sure if my daughter would even care about that...
Whirlwind -- We're leaning for that method
InterstellarLass -- Ohhhh, Balky and cousin Larry...how could I FORGET??!
Mrs. Chicky -- I've been waiting for the right time to use that one. I just love the expression...!
What, no "A-Team"?
ReplyDeleteMy nanny is returning to school for her teaching degree. Nowadays with online courses, it's doable. She's working for us (about 30 hours a week), going to school (on I believe a full-time credit load) and still has time for her family (husband, son, 11 and daughter, 1). I know she's lost alot of sleep though.
My wife is finishing up her MBA this fall (also on the 3 year track) and is really looking forward to being done! We also had our 2nd child during this time. It's been a busy 3 years! If I wasn't working from home it would have been a lot crazier.
ReplyDeleteSomebody mentioned a quiet place to study and providing your drink mixing skills. Excellent advice!
QJ
Quirkee James -- you're scaring me!
ReplyDeleteThe quiet place is good advice by you and metro mama. We're definitely doing that...
junebee -- Can "The A-Team" really be condensed into 5-minutes? It would just be explosions and Face saying "I love it when a plan comes together..!"
Come to think of it, that might be cool.
Hey, hey, hey! I loved "What's Happening." Rog, Dwayne, and Rerun were like the cool older brothers I always wanted.
ReplyDeleteI don't dare look at the 5-min versions. It would be like too much joy crammed into too short of a time.