Beauty on the Backroads

Stories of grace for life's unexpected turns

Archives for August 2010

Lisa’s believe it or not

I can’t believe some parents let their kids eat Happy Meals and French fries and hot dogs.

I can’t believe some parents let their kids run around a restaurant when they’re finished eating. Or climb all over the booth during dinner. Or sit in windows and put their feet on the table while others are still eating.

I can’t believe some parents let their kids ride in the basket portion of the cart, or hang off the end of the cart, instead of making them walk or securing them in a seat.

I can’t believe some parents bribe their children with ice cream, cookies, candy or popsicles to elicit good behavior.

I can’t believe some parents allow and even encourage their children to watch more than an hour of television/movies, just to have a break.

I can’t believe some parents entertain their children with movies while riding in the car.

I can’t believe some parents succumb to brand marketing, buying their children everything they can find with the child’s favorite character on it.

I can’t believe some parents say “yes” when they really mean “no” just to avoid a public tantrum.

Above all, I can’t believe I am guilty on all counts of this list of parental crimes.

What acts of parenting in your life surprise even you?

So long, farewell, auf wiedersehen, goodbye

Today was our last day in Illinois before heading back to Pennsylvania. No matter how short or long our visit, it always seems to go by quick. We packed a lot into this visit, which means we’re tired, worn out, off schedule and sleep-deprived but also full of memories and experiences we wouldn’t exchange for sleep or rest.

Our last day was spent, I bet you can’t guess, eating with family and friends. Phil requested his birthday meal (a week and a half early) from his mom for today, so we celebrated his German heritage with bratwurst and sauerkraut, sweet and sour cabbage, potato pancakes and a frosted cookie cake. I will add that I am not a big fan of sauerkraut, but in keeping with my recent streak of eating foods I’m not that fond of, I ate a little with my brat and I survived. Even though the smell in the kitchen almost knocked me over when I walked through the door. For us, love means never having to cook sauerkraut in our kitchen even if it is something my husband enjoys. Hmm … maybe I should cook it anyway, then.

We did some packing during nap time, then headed to Rock Falls to meet friends for dinner at the newer Candlelight Inn, where we once again ate Chicken George. I can’t not get Chicken George at Candlelight. Now that I’ve had it twice in a week, I think I’m good for a while. It was a great visit, even though Isabelle was practicing her parkour in the booth and putting her naked feet on the tabletop. I’m beginning to think we may have to suspend our visits to classy joints while the children are young. Or go without them.

Now, the van is mostly loaded and we’re  headed to bed soon for a bright and early wakeup call tomorrow. Off to stay a night with friends in western PA and then on to home the next day. I hope to carry the momentum of the last 10 days with us and make more memories once we get home. I feel like it’s been hard to do anything but sit inside and watch TV and I’ve used the kids’ ages and the intense temperatures as excuses for not doing more. That’s probably some unnecessary Mommy guilt, but I feel it nonetheless.

More memories, here we come!