It's A Mad, Mad World.

Is it just me or is all that's going on in the world overwhelming right now?
Between earthquakes, nuclear disaster, war and civil unrest - there is just a lot to take in.

As a parent, I am conflicted. I could just ignore it all and cocoon my children.
It's not happening on my door step - so it wouldn't be hard to do.
They are still young so it seems really appropriate to keep all of this from them.
We do not watch TV so they have not seen any of the shocking images but still they hear adults talk - so will cocooning really work?

If I do choose to cocoon, we miss out on the opportunity to see the people of the world as neighbors.
We miss a chance to learn about helping those in need.
It's never too early to learn that right?

Then there's the thought that they are affected anyway.
They feel the uncertainty and the fear and are anxious about it.

I can't say for sure the cause but I do know that the eight year old is experiencing some anxiety right now. She isn't able to settle down to sleep easily. She is clingy and needy.
The two year old is also perhaps picking up on the unrest and wants to only be with me.

I remember as a child that some people came to our school and taught us survival techniques.
They told us there could be a nuclear war and we would have to learn how to survive post apocalypse.
They tried to make it fun but I remember how scary and confusing it was.

The class was not offered to our parents so I remember thinking that nuclear bombs must only kill adults and that there were only going to be children left. Is it just my imagination that we were also reading 'Lord Of The Flies' at the time?!

I think what I have decided (well, at least for today) is that it's hard to get this stuff right for children.
A little bit of information goes a long way in a child's mind.

So, I am going to shield them from as much as I possibly can.
We are involved in a project to help the people of Japan. I gave a very simple and very played down explanation of the earthquake. That will be enough for now.

We will avoid TV screens, newspapers and adult conversation as much as we possibly can.
I will let them have their childhood, knowing that the full weight of adulthood will press down on them soon enough.

Tinkle Tinkle Little Star.

I forgot.
I forgot that ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING you do as a parent comes back to bite you.
Even the good stuff.

The two year old is doing a fabulous job of potty training herself. It's great - I really have had very little to do with it.
She tells me when she needs to go. Often she just takes herself off and goes independently.
She has had ZERO accidents. Bliss.

She only has one requirement. I must visit the potty post use, inspect and then make a fuss of her.
We are talking Mardi Gras level of entertainment.
She wants song, dance and general hoopla. If she knew what fireworks were, I'm sure she'd demand those too.

No problem. I am good at hoopla.
If the kid is willing to toilet train herself I am willing to sing, tap dance and cheer with poms poms.

Here's where the forgetting come in.
Yesterday we were at the store.

"Mama - I need to go."

"Let's go," I say "actually, I need to go too."

So there I am in a very busy and public bathroom and guess who whoops and starts singing the potty song as I, you know, tinkle.

At least two people laugh out loud.
We stayed in that cubicle for ten minutes to ensure a complete turn over of bathroom occupants.

I'm pretty sure my 'tinkle' was the topic of conversation around many dinner tables last night.

Viewpoint.

The earthquake and tsunami in Japan are a tragedy of overwhelming proportions.
The images are heartbreaking to watch.
The human suffering is unthinkable.

As a fellow human I feel overwhelmed.
How can I possibly help?
I can write a check but I also want to DO something.

As a mother I am undone.
I keep thinking about what if it where happening to my children?
I live in an area prone to earthquakes, it is impossible not to imagine that it might happen here.
My fear is based in no science whatsoever but the earth seems to be moving a lot with the recent earthquakes in Haiti, Mexico, New Zealand and now Japan. To my mind it seems possible that there may be some knock on effect to the tectonic plates under the ground that I live on.

Then there's the nuclear plant instability and the potential of radiation contamination.
Trying to get reliable information feels next to impossible.
You can read multiple different opinions online.
What I consider to be reputable news sources are changing their view daily.

So I'm going with my gut. To my mind there is a possibility that radiation has entered the atmosphere. There is also the possibility that it will reach California.
In the same way that I wear a life jacket on a yacht - I am going to take precautions.

I found iodine in a well known brand of multi-vitamin for kids.
I found iodine in a once a day mineral supplement for adults.
We're taking them.
I am also going to add some kelp into our food.

In discussion with other parents I have encountered many reactions.
Some people are dismissive. Some have mocked me for my panic.
Some are unaware of the issue.
Some have been argumentative.
Some head to the shops to join me in feeding iodine to their family.

For me it feels good to do something.
So we'll take our iodine and we're organizing a benefit.
There's no panic, judgement or implied knowledge involved.

The Littlest Room.

The two year old has entered the joy filled world of toilet training.
As with the eight year old (yes eight - she had a birthday) I had been taking the wait and see approach.

I didn't want to do it before she was really ready. I think the accidents are just frustrating for everyone.
We have ignored the social pressure - you know the questioning comment, "Oh she's still in diapers?"
She's two not sixteen.

So yesterday she decided she didn't want to wear her diaper she wanted to wear panties.
Great!
Except we have four, thirty minutes car trips to take today.
Two hours strapped in the car seat without a diaper hmmmm.

I know from experience that I should take her lead. Making her wear a diaper today is not a smart move.
This is not my first time at the potty rodeo so I take the challenge.

I put a potty in the back of the car for emergency pit stops. I also add plastic bags and a pack of wipes.
Then I throw changes of clothes into the car and my bag. I mean business.

We make a potty stop just before we leave the house.
You can now picture me clapping and cheering whilst singing the potty song at the sight of 4 mls of pee.
Then we get in the car.

The two year old is a pro - she makes it through all four car trips and stays dry.
The problem is when we get near a toilet.
It seems she is attracted to spending as much time in as many bathrooms as possible.

We went to the bathroom at the eight year old's school four times.
We went to the bathroom at the store two times.
We went to the bathroom at the yogurt shop five times.

That's eleven toilet stops with no actual peeing or pooping.

Now I remember how this goes - this is the catch in toilet training.
They will ask to go constantly, especially at bed time, nap time, meal time and bath time.
You will take them each time 'just in case' they actually have to go.
They will never go. If you don't take them - they will pee their pants.

Ahh good times.

IQ Implied.

I am type A. Very organized. Precise. Punctual.
I pay attention to detail.
I am the family's central point. I manage the bills, organize our social lives and vacations.

If you are like me - then you know how extra hard losing your brain to parenthood is.
I keep expecting my brain to return from it's (now lengthy) sojourn.
It's not in sight.

I find it frustrating, embarrassing , disabling.
I was recently challenged on this self believe by a friend.
Her assertion was that I manage just fine. There is no obvious decline in my acuity.

Well that's great, re-assuring even but let me give you an example.

We went on a vacation. It involved flights, rental cars, hotels.
As we are driving to the airport the Husband asks me which lot we are parking in.
The question didn't actually make sense to me.

"Erm, the long term lot?"

Then I realize, I usually have researched the lots, found the best location, price and even printed a coupon.
Not this time.
I do have the passports - does that count?

We land at our destination.
"Which rental car agency honey?"

"Erm."
I have no idea.
I booked a package deal - I don't have the first idea who we get our car from.

Several phone calls later - we work it out and are on our way.
But where?
Usually I would print out maps, directions, hotel phone numbers and have it all in a handy location.
I know the name of the hotel and that's it.

I feel silly. How can I not have remembered to do any of this?
I have done it for every vacation for years.
I have every SPF of sunblock, snacks, medications and clothing for every eventuality - for the kids at least.
I am now praying that my swimsuit is actually in the case somewhere.

The Husband is re-assuring. We make it to our hotel and have a happy vacation.
The day we're leaving I check our flight info, we check out and head to the airport.
At the desk we are cheerfully informed that our flight left hours ago and has in fact landed back home.
Turns out I had read the landing time as our departure time.

The staff take pity on us, re-book us without fees and we wait for the red-eye which I had carefully planned to avoid.

This is parenthood.
This is focusing on the children and their needs.
This is my life. Brainless or not.