Irrational Fears

Danger Boy is your typical boy. He likes to get dirty, has to be constantly reminded about personal hygiene, doesn't really care for showers and he plays with bugs. Ladybugs, rolie polie's, beetles, butterflies - he has always seemed to like them all. Until today.

This hot, dry time of year always drives a few cockroaches into the house. I'm sure they are seeking water. I hate them as much as the next gal, but they don't scare me. Annoy me, YES! But they don't scare me.

So today, as Danger Boy was getting his gear ready for Karate, he starts screaming and runs down the hall because he saw a roach in his room. I was annoyed by his behavior and told him to get back in his room and get his gear so we could go. He absolutely refused, which made me even madder. So good mom that I am, I forced him down the hall and into his room and he proceeded to have the biggest near panic attack, crying episode I have ever seen. I thought I was going to have to call the psychiatric hospital to come get him. It was absolutely insane. And it was just ticking me off. I guess I should have felt compassion for him, and if it had been a spider or a hornet or a snake, I probably would have. Hell, I might have joined him. But as it was, a harmless (though disgusting) cockroach, it annoyed me to no end.

Phone Guy found the creature and disposed of it. I finally got him to calm down and get his gear and we headed to class. We no sooner than got started down the road when his headband brushed against his neck and he freaked out in the car....and I mean FREAKED OUT! I went on to Karate and he was fine there but as soon as we got home, I asked him to take a shower and he was walking on tiptoes through the house because he was afraid one would get on his feet. He didn't want to go in the bathroom because he was afraid there was one in there. He was completely looney toons about it. Even at bedtime he was still talking about them and looking nervously around the room at the walls and ceiling.

I guess I'm wrong to be annoyed and I should comfort him and coddle him but it just makes no sense to me. Do your kids have irrational fears like that? Did they come on suddenly? Am I a loser mom for being annoyed? (Wait, don't answer that last one...)

My Poor, Neglected Blog

Here I am again, after 3 months of neglecting my poor blog. It's starting to think I don't love it anymore, and that's completely not the case. So what's been happening for the last 3 months that caused my poor baby to feel so left out?

In neatly bulleted form, here we go...

• In May of every year, I am in charge of putting together (at the last minute of course) the yearbook for Danger Boy's school. It is the mother of all jobs. Don't get me wrong...I love doing it. It's just a very big undertaking for one person and unfortunately I am very bad about asking for help.
• May also brings the end of school. Something going on every day for weeks. Field trips, awards ceremonies, parties, etc. So there's that.
• By the way, I need to mention that Danger Boy won Most Improved Student for the ENTIRE YEAR and he also made 100% on his standardized state math test. Thankyouverymuch! He has come a long way baby!!
• And since I'm bragging, here's another bullet for The Pleaser. He was selected for the Honor Band at the Middle School he will be attending next year. They don't take many 7th graders so it's a big honor (guess that's why they call it Honor Band).
• I have great kids. (It just needed it's own bullet point I think)
• So after May, June came and summer vacation for the kids. That means they go to work with me every day. And when I say every day, I mean 5 days a week and several Saturdays. We are short-handed and I can sure use the money since Phone Guy's business has been so slow lately, so it's off to work I go. (Hi Ho, Hi Ho)
• June also brought Karate. Yes, the boys are learning some Kung Fu Fighting so they can kick the crap out of each other defend themselves and gain self-confidence. I think it will be good for Danger Boys motor skills and The Pleaser's self-esteem. And it won't hurt him to learn some Bruce Lee moves since he'll probably be riding the bus to school next year.
• I closed my ebay store and started my own website for my toy store. It was quite an undertaking. It took me about 3 days to type up all the listings and get them in the new store. And I have to spend quite a lot of time advertising things myself, since I don't have the advantage of ebay's marketing. Then again, I don't have the fees and BS to put up with either. If you care to take a gander at the new site, it's at www. pastimesandplaythings.com
  
• Oh, I almost forgot the most important thing. The Pleaser has started to eat. I mean, he always ate. Only peanut butter and chicken nuggets and maybe a piece of cheese pizza or a taco with no meat for 12 whole years, but he ate. It started with pepperoni pizza. Then he asked for meat on his taco. Two days ago he asked for a salami and cheese sandwich. Then he ate a bacon, egg and cheese toaster from Sonic. I guess I always knew he would start eating eventually, I just didn't think it would all happen in the same week.
  

So here we are more than halfway through July. I'm not going to promise I'll update more often because I don't like being a liar. I'll just say that I hope to stop in now and again and chat some more.