Parenting: The battle between Bruce Banner and The Hulk

Just like Bruce Banner, my emotional reactions are almost impossible contain. When I experience any form of discomfort, anxiety or rage…I turn as green as Nickelodeon’s extinct slime!

My most recent episode came yesterday when I decided to check on my 11 year old’s grades and found out he had a D in mathematics. Now before you judge me, let me give you a little background information on our current school year situation.

I have raised my children to care about their grades. I have explained to them that grades are not a true measure of their intelligence. However, when it comes to our education system, they are extremely important because it is the way society measures intelligence, work ethic and effort.

I do not demand straight A’s. “Tiger mom” is not a title I hold. I am more of a Liger mom; the balance between hippie mindset and structured discipline. A’s and B’s are acceptable. I do not accept Mediocrity, which is what I refer to as C’s. This entire school year however has been a battle with getting C’s due to assignments not turned in or careless mistakes and not rechecking their work. This year I chose to give my 11 year old responsibility for his own grades.  I let go of checking everything piece of homework and every single assignment and product.

I checked grades 3 times a marking period and had a review on why they were slipping. When he told me it was because he didn’t understand the material I made sure I was available to go over anything he didn’t understand. In December, Santa bought Jayden a new special edition Xbox One. Santa wrote a note that unless grades improved, said Xbox could not be opened…. 5 months later… the Xbox is STILL in the unopened box.

Fast forward to yesterday. I go to check grades and find that he has a D in mathematics. The D was due to a 5 page assignment that was graded individually and he got a range of C’s-F’s on each one!

Enter the hulk. I yelled to the top of my lungs

 “WHAT THE HELL IS THIS JAYDEN!!!!” 

I lost any ounce of patience that I had left. I saw red and turned green. The exact things I said are a bit of a blur to me. I may have even used profanity. It was not my proudest moment but I lost all self-control. Emotions tend to do that to me. All forms of entertainment have been banned from now until the end of the school year. No TV, no playing with toys, no Electronics unless they are for educational purposes, no going over friends’ houses, NO FUN OF ANY KIND IS ALLOWED…Monday through Friday. He is to come home from school, redo failed assignments and complete I-ready.

This evening when I came home I was still fuming. But after guitar practice and homework review with Tristan I decided to watch some Ted Talks. I encountered a Colin Powell Ted Talk about children needing structure. My first instinct when my child fails is that somehow I am failing. I wanted to know if structure is somehow missing in Jayden’s life. I will always blame myself for my children failing. I once judged a close relative for stating “My children failing in life is not my fault, I did my part as a parent providing them with every opportunity.” Jayden was only in Kindergarten at that point so that statement seemed absurd to me. My first thought was, “no, you failed to provide structure for your children.”

My takeaway from the Colin Powell speech was that even when kids have structure they can still have mediocre grades in school. Apparently Colin Powell was a straight "C" student his entire life but somehow was extraordinary at following orders and eventually he became extraordinary at giving orders and managed to reach the highest rank in the military.

I decided to have Jayden watch the Ted talk with me. I had to summarize the speech for him to explain my analysis of it. I reiterated that it’s not the fact that he has a “D” that bothers me. Rather the fact that I know he is better than that. I told him it is ok to fail, but it is not ok to accept failure as an ultimate outcome. His teacher always tells her students: FAIL stand for First Attempt in Learning. It’s a wonderful message, but my first reaction to failing has always been to get overemotional and over react and release THE HULK. I usually need a day to return to my Bruce Banner alter ego. I return the same way as the comic book character always does, tattered, disoriented and filled with shame and guilt. But once I dust myself off, it is back to work to find the solution to my parenting hurdles: Which are just as complicated and difficult as physics and calculus.

Boys To Men Part 2

Three years ago I wrote a little post to accompany a graphic I worked on that contained the same exact Phillips Brooks quote. I first saw this quote when I dabbled in some scrap-booking.

The uncertainty of the future used to cause me some major anxiety. Imagining my boys' future, however gives me peace.

My ultimate favorite pastime with my boys is having conversation. Jayden, my eldest, hates it when I ask him about school. "Every day is the same thing." he tells me. Everyday we have the same conversation but every once in a while I hold a conversation with him that most adults would find hard to keep up with. Tonight we discussed an array of topics. It all started with him witnessing a phone call I made to the IRS. He was curious about what the IRS was and why they would owe me money. I began to explain taxes. I realized that I have to explain income. So I took out my last pay-stub and began my explanation. Pretty soon the conversation turned into an explanation on savings and the difference between credit and debit (not in accounting terms). We discussed the meaning of credit cards and loans. Something amazing happened. He tied in something he learned in school about what is is to buy something on credit. (Way to go Mrs. Puga on exposing her students to finance.)

"So you have learned something new in school! It's not really the 'same old-same old' is it!" I exclaimed. From there we discussed my goal of me saving to buy a house with a yard. I explained 401K and savings.

Eventually we discussed college. I told him that he should try his best to find what he truly loves to learn about so that he chooses the right field of study in college. I shared with him that I think he would be a good lawyer but he is not really comfortable defending people who are guilty. I explained to him he can work for the prosecution. This kid has a very high moral compass. He makes me proud everyday.

We discussed the importance of grades to get scholarships. I told him that regardless I would make sure his college is paid but to avoid private schools because I would never be able to afford that.
"So I can't go to Harvard?" he asked.
"Not unless you get a scholarship" I said. He pondered a bit.
"What's the best school for coding?" he asked.
"MIT" I said, "It's in Massachusetts."
"MASSACHUSETTS!!!! But I thought it was in California."

He makes me laugh. I wish I had recorded the conversation we had today. It was so complex and fascinating.

I ended the conversation by reiterating that the goal in life is to find something he loves to do and is good at. Find your passion. But then I ended on a joke after coming full circle and returning to wages and taxes and bills:

"Don't grow up Jayden, IT'S A TRAP!"

He laughed out loud  and referenced Star Wars. It was a perfect moment. It was a win for parenting and motherhood.

I swear I am not un-interested!

Yesterday I received a phone call from my 3rd grader's school counselor. Even though I knew in the back of my mind what the phone call was about, as a parent you can't but assume the worst! After what felt like the longest introduction she added "Jayden is fine."

I don't know if it's my introvert nature or the fact that I had a mini panic attack, I didn't manage to give her more than one to two word responses. So when I hung up, I couldn't help but redo the conversation in my head.

So here we go:

Counselor: "Hi this is Jayden's counselor Mrs Huertas here at Endeavor Elementary."
Pu**y Me: (in my freak out tone) "O.K."
Bad A** Me: "Is everything Ok?! Oh hi Mrs. Huertas is this about Jayden's gifted screening? I didnt expect to get a call from you. I figured you would send a letter."

Counselor: "Jayden is fine"
Pu**y Me: "oh o.k."
Bad A** Me: "Oh thank goodness, you should have lead with that. Parents freak out when they get phone calls from school you know."

Counselor:" I screened Jayden today for gifted as requested"
Pu**y Me: "ok"
Bad A** Me: That's great. What did this test consist of? Did he pass with flying colors or he just barely make it?

Counselor: He passed the screening
Pu**y Me: O.K. (or "good", can't recall.)
Bad A** me: I figured he would (sounds douchy right? Probably why I didn't say it out loud.)

Counselor: Jayden is here with me. The school psychologist will do the rest of the testing. She does testing twice a week. The time frame for her to conclude the testing is 4-5 weeks. But it can just as easily be 2-3 weeks. But it is protocol to tell you 4-5 weeks. The testing will be done randomly so you won't have any notice as to when he will be tested. But no matter the results the psychologist will go over the results with you.
Pu**y Me: (feeling a little overwhelmed with all this information and feeling like I really didn't have a chance to squeeze any comments in this soliloquy ) "o.k thank you for letting me know"
Bad A** Me: Oh can I talk to Jayden to say hi and good job? What does the psychological test consist of?? I know all about protocols. I know how crazy and annoying parents can get but don't worry I am a considerate non smothering parent. Why does the testing take so long? Is it more than one test? Why is it random? Are you guys afraid of parents prepping their kids for these tests?


She must have thought I was super uninterested in the whole situation but I assure you I was not! I bet that's how I seem to many people. Sometimes I think I am too polite for my own good. I always worry about how I sound to other people. To make up for it I redo conversation and situations  in my head. The funny part is that Jayden is the same way and I always tell him "Don't give one word answers". Do you think it's nature or nurture? This was fun. I think I'll start posting the conversations I wished I had redone.

Confessions of a girl: Beautification

I perceive myself as a girly girl still stuck in her chrysalis. A diamond in the rough per se. I love fashion, makeup, nail polishes, heels etc. etc. etc. but I wont buy a fabulous outfit if it's at an absurd and  extravagant price.  Sometimes I wonder if I associate this subject like a work of art. You know when you go to a museum and see an incredible work of art and think to yourself, "Man I wish I could do that!"? Well that's how I feel about all things girl related.

Let me tell you in advance that it is not because I am outnumbered by boys 3:1.
Both times I was told I was having a boy I was actually relieved! How am suppose to raise a girl if I don't know how to be a girl? I mean I have all the emotional elements down pact but I don't have the domestic gene and I don't know how to look the part! I have yet to evolve into mainstream glamour.

Maybe I have and I just find being a girly girl exhausting! I mean who actually has the time to blow dry their hair everyday! Wake up super early to wash the hair that needs to be blow dried daily, shave your legs, pits and  that place down there in between the legs and pits. ;) After washing your face you have the pore cleanser, the toner, then the moisturizer, the eye cream, the foundation,  the powder, the eye shadows (plural because you need 3 shades!), the liner,  the mascara, the bronzer, the blush, the lip liner, lipstick and GLOSS! Geesh

It is exhausting just LISTING IT ALL. And that's just your face. Lets not mention the outfit with all the layers and a million accessories which I also love but always cost more than the outfit itself! I can just hear Clinton and Stacy in my head go on and on about how I learned nothing from How Do I Look?... oh wait It's What Not to Wear? If they were dead they would turn in their graves!

Anyway, like every girl...I have the urge to feel pretty even if most days I look like I give three flying Frankensteins.

Pretty much every Friday is my Beautification Day. I glam it up for myself. Just to be able to say, "yeah I DO clean up nice I know". I also take self-ies and post them on Facebook even though I NEVER have any where to go. Life of a scanty mom!

Now this beautification ritual is extensively long. It takes me a minimum of 4 hours! My favorite part is doing my nail art. A single nail color is boring, I like to go for the whole shebang! I follow CutePolish for all the nail art ideas. My least favorite part? It's a toss up between blow drying my ridiculously long hair and waiting for my nails to dry after every step! Both segments are excruciating.

Tonight, as I was watching the season premier of the Walking Dead, I was thinking to myself: I don't moisturize nearly as enough as I should. So I opened up my dusty Beautification kit and took out a night cream I had bought like a year ago!

 I started thinking to myself why are there so many creams and lotions? Is a cream different from a lotion? Why can't I use the night cream in the day? Will I burn like a vampire if I walk outside while the sun is up, with my night cream on? Then I moved on to the anti aging eye cream. If the night cream has a warning to "stay away from the eyes" why do I feel safe putting the eye cream all around my eyes? 

Somewhere after the scene where Daryl is feeling totally awkward about his new found popularity I starting putting on my hand cream which in my opinion made my hands look greasy. Then I rubbed this really good smelling coconut foot cream on my less than perfect feet. I wonder if this lack of massive moisturizing will come back to haunt me when I am 50. I'll get back to you in 20 years with that!

This is me  as I was writing this blog with my freshly washed un-styled hair and no makeup. This is my good messy hair, you don't want to see this thing tomorrow morning. Now for some Beautification shots.

To motivate myself to be less frumpy I'll post about my beautification day and called it:

 FAIREST FRIDAYS!

Mirror Mirror On the Wall Who's the Fairest of them All...

at least for one day of the week which is usually a Friday?

I KNOW I will never be Keiko Lynn. She is like super fashion vixen. But a girl can be delusional...I mean dream.

Revelations of One Day

Quick updates:

I have postponed my 21 Days Straight Challange. I wish I can say it was due to the fact that I had emergency surgery on March 28 to remove my gall bladder, but I had already willfully failed by March 15 because my Minecraft craft (hehe the repetition always makes me laugh..like RomCom Con, Happy Endings reference) consumed me for 3 days and I didn't go to the gym although I did remain active. Walking for 5 hours at a convention is a workout!

You are probably still wondering about the surgery. Even if you are not I will explain further anyway!
My son's fun exciting spring break was a bit foiled by my hospitalization. My "contributor" (who STILL has YET to post ANYTHING) and I had many fun activities planned for the kiddos. An accumulation of many unfortunate events occurred.  Some even on her part; wouldn't it be awesome if she posted about her side of the events! HINT HINT, wink wink, nudge, Morris code, smoke signals. 

The rainbow during the rain: I got my parents and one out of two brother's come visit me with his whole family utilizing my second brother's car. Ergo, my other brother did his part too =)

Now that we are all caught up I can start with my true purpose of this post; my revelations.

1) I only seem to dream when I am sleep deprived and extremely exhausted when I knock out.
2) I seem to be at my most productive, creative and ambitious when I dream
3) I just realized that there may be a confounding variable in my previous assumption: I may just very be having another manic episode. Are vivid realistic dreams a symptom of mania? Note to self: Google that.
4) Studying in a group may not be efficient (time management wise) but it sure is effective and mostly rewarding.
5) Being in my study group will always yield a proportion of half the time studying and half the time A.D.D.ing (yes, I use a noun as a present participle, I even like using it as a verb. After-after thought: I had to Google "present participle" too) with a standard deviation of .10
6) I have a hypothesis that states neediness and independence are not on the same spectrum but in fact are on two different spectrums. Meaning, I don't believe that becoming more independent will make you less needy. One factor will either make you more independent but not necessarily less needy.
7) 5 hour energy drinks are not ALWAYS effective.
8) You accept stranger's flaws but you should adore your true friends/soul mate's flaws. Ted Mosby knows a lot about the latter; then again he has spent over 8 years trying to find his children's mother.
9) Life is all about perspective and my change irradically sporadically (I seriously thought the opposite of radically was the former).
10) I lose my patience with my kids more than I like and I always regret it but in the heat of the moment my reaction is ALWAYS faster than my thought process.
11) I am almost positive my children will grow up never doubting if they're loved , if I support them, if they're awesome, if they're important, if they're appreciated.
12) I do however think that what they think makes me awesome will then be interpreted as "crazy" when they get older and develop their cognitive abilities.
13) Opposites may attract but they also create too much friction (Insert Sheldon Cooper's correction here).
14) For a person that is not really a Big Bang Theory fan I always find myself thinking "how would Sheldon Cooper respond to that?"
15) Telling my hubby he's not affectionate enough does not yield the results I desire.
16) I compensate for my hubby's lack of affection toward me by being overly affectionate towards him.
17) I will graduate with my A.S. with enough credits to have obtained a B.S/B.A.
18) My bumpy start with college 10 years ago have developed me to be a better learner.
19) I truly believe things happen for a reason but not necessarily are predestined.
20) These were too many revelations for one day.

The last one may or may not have been a revelation as much as an after though. I really wanted to end on an even number.

The Joys (or Pains) of Motherhood: Minecraft

"That's not gold mom..it's BUTTER!" If you have heard your child running around talking about "butter" then you are the mom to a minecraft fanatic.

www.moddb.com

Minecraft  is like a Lego set without the horrible mess and horrible foot pain. It's a virtual Lego set. It has all the kids going  crazy. Even some adults. My Jayden can spend hours on YouTube watching videos about Minecraft.

We are a family who LOVE conventions. We have been to Mega-con and Star Wars Celebration (twice). For each convention my boys (including my hubby) have gone in costume. 

                                                                      Exhibit A B & C:

Our first year at Megacon we saw a bunch of people walking around with these pixelated heads and I had no idea what they were. It thought it was an ode to some 1990 video game character. It turns out to be a Minecraft character. 

So this year for Mega con I thought it would be cool if I made the kiddos a costume of Minecraft but Star Wars theme. I started working on a sketch today before Jayden got home from school. When Jayden got home he took a look at my sketch and immediately started to criticize it and like a true artist he took over.

We will be working on it this weekend. I'll make sure to reveal the end result.

Check out the progress so far here! I will end up making the whole body little by little so that by October he has his Halloween costume.

Boys to Men

Getting all pumped up for the first day of school got me all motherly. Once again I can't just live in the moment. I started thinking about the kind of men my boys will grow up to be: More specifically their occupations.

Do you think that Barrack Obama's mom looked at him when he was baby and said "I just know you will be president some day"?

I know that certain children are born into affluentual families and are destined to continue in the family business. Some take their place willingly others go in fighting and screaming. Then there are the few that want to make their own mark in the world unobstructed by nepotism. When I become a rich entrepreneur (took me a while to figure out how to spell that: Don't judge me!) I would hope my sons would carry on the family business but I would not force them into it. I guess that choice becomes harder with 3rd generation family corporations. 

I try to tell my sons everyday that it doesn't matter what they chose as a career as long as they are happy with their choice. I can't wait to see the type of men they will become. The opportunities are endless. 

Family Outing: Car Masters

Last weekend we went to Downtown Disney's Car Masters. Tristan loves Cars 2 so I figured he would enjoy it. Jayden loves downtown disney period. The hubby decided to partake in the activities so he gets some brownie points. Remember this? Not only did he agree to go he even got up early (without me having to assist) because I told him the event started at 9:30 a.m. If anyone cares to know it takes 3 hours to get a family of 4 ready. In three hours everyone was fed, bathed, dressed (in pressed clothing might I add) & in the car. We left the house at 10:30 a.m. I have been to car shows before but this was by far the best. Despite the 90 degree weather, the day was very enjoyable. A successful family outing includes the hubby not being crabby. This was a wonderful memory for the books.

Smiles of happy children make me smile.

There were many antique mustangs there. It is still on my bucket list to own a '69 mustang. Our favorite car however was the red wagon car! I was excited because Tristan's 3rd birthday is going to be red wagon theme.

The one & only picture of mom.

I am always busy documenting our family's memories. I guess being stuck behind the lens goes with the territory of being a mom, but would it kill the hubby to say "here honey let me take a picture of you and the kids." I had to tell my hubby to take this picture. I shouldn't need to ask him to take a picture! I felt like I needed to rant a little about that. 

One of the highlights of the trip was seeing Chip Foose in person! We love watching Overhaulin'! 

Jayden loved seating in a camaro. However he is like his mother. He wants his first car to be a mustang. He does not want a vintage one. He wants a new one. He will get whatever mustang I can afford when he turns 16! That seems so far away but I know that I will blink and he will be sixteen. 

Tristan turning 16 seems even further away. I can't even imagine him starting kindergarten yet, much less driving a car!

They did have Lightning Mcqueen, Mater, and that Missile guy from Cars 2. However the line was way too long. Making long lines with a 2 year old is unbearable. But they did have awesome topiaries.

Jayden has a new obsession with hula hoops. He can hula hoop all day.

No trip to Downtown Disney would be complete without stopping by the Lego store. Legoland is on our to do list. Hopefully we can go with some of his friends or cousins.

We ended the day by watching MIB3. Great movie. Once again successful family outing. I am looking forward to some more happy memories. I will make sure there is more evidence that I too was there. 

Last Minute Brownie Points for Mother's Day

In the last week I have felt like a little kid right before Christmas. You know, when you act extra nice those few days before Christmas to make sure Santa Claus gets you everything you want. What would be the equivalent to Santa Claus for Mother's day?  

Dear Mother Goose I have been a really good little mom this year. Or maybe I am trying to make you forget my bad moments when "scream-free parenting" goes out the window.

I wanted to surprise Jayden after school on Friday. He always gets home starving. He always has to eat his "lunner" (The meal between Lunch & Dinner). It is a full blown meal that he has. Since Mother's Day is coming up I wanted to make it extra special. So I personalized his "lunner". This wasn't all he ate. He had a yogurt & a whole bowl filled with other fruit. Tristan was taking a nap so there was no personalized fruit salad for him.

Today I was determined to make the chocolate covered kiwi Popsicles I found on Pinterest. They should really have a "completed" button on there. =) The CCKP reminded me of Choco-Bananas I use to have in Jamaica, Queens. So I decided to to make those as well. I spoiled my hubby by making him chili last week (and again this week). 

My recipe called for one teaspoon of cocoa powder. It pained me to buy a whole container of cocoa powder just for one freaking teaspoon. Instead of melting chocolate bars I decided to make my own milk chocolate. Let me  take advantage of that left over cocoa. I used hershey's recipe for chocolate fondue, I used less sugar to make it only semi sweet. I love dark chocolate & so do my kids!

 After I dipped the already frozen kiwis & bananas I didn't know what to do. The chocolate needed time to harden. I quickly came up with an idea to get little mini curtain holders & hang them upside down in the freezer! I felt so ingenious! This was all my own idea. Pinterest had no part in this! I never think that fast on my feet. I had to make room in the freezer for this to work. The chocolate never hardened like I had hoped. But the popsicles were still awesome. Don't take my word for it. Just ask my critics. Rather yet see them devour their midday snacks. 

How about them apples? Or should I say...bananas & kiwis. Mother Goose... may all my Mother Day wishes come true. 

Making Memories & Being Under appreciated.

So today I decided to experience my city. Growing up, my parents would take me to many street fairs & festivals. I grew up loving them. Growing up in NYC there were like 100 every weekend. 

Besides soccer 3 times a week, the kids and I are usually stuck in the house (the disadvantage of having just one usable car). The hubby has been working 6-7 days a week and today was his first Sunday off in 2 weeks. Since he decided to play on his X-Box until 6:00 a.m.; it was just me and the kiddos at the Arts & Music Festival. Sometimes I wonder what's worst, having the hubby not bother to partake in family activities or seeing him with a sour-puss face because the activity is not his cup of tea. I decided it's better he doesn't come. That way I only need to focus to keeping 2 children happy instead of 3.  He'll still get the cold shoulder. "I don't want you to do the dishes! I want you to want to do the dishes!" Name that movie!

Let me introduce you to my lovely children. First there is my first born Jayden, age  7  8.  Jayden loves Lego Ninjago (which mommy has to build & then step on them when she gets out of bed) star wars (God forbid I delete any of the movies from the DVR) & having the TV on regardless on whether he is watching or not. He says he uses it as background music while he plays with his action figures. He is, what you can call...a smart-ass. He is the funniest kid I know. Lately he has enter the stage in which he cannot shut up!!! I cannot get 2 minutes of peace & quiet with this kid. He is lucky that most of the things he says are pretty hilarious. I actually have started keeping a record of the things he says. My favorite insult: "The only true Americans are Tristan and I because we were born here." He's apparently favoring republicans. He does say that he watches Fox News. Can anyone say positive correlation? He wants to be an artist. When you ask him what type he'll answer, "The type with talent". His favorite group is LMFAO & he thinks F.U.N. sounds like the Beatles.

Then we have Tristan, my two three year old. Tristan is my wild child. He is the Yang to Jayden's Yin. He doesn't seem to understand "No" when I say it but expects me to accept his "No". He is very clever. When he does something he was not suppose to do he'll tell you in his sweet voice, "I love you mommy". He'll also throw in some kisses and hugs in his repertoire. In short he's manipulative. Tristan loves everything Jayden loves. He'll hum you the Star Wars theme song  and Darth Vader's March. He loves to pretend everything is a hat. He'll wear pants as hats, baskets as hats , boxes as hats and breakfast bowls as hats. I bought him real hats...he hates those. I had to bribe him to wear the one in this picture. Discipline is very difficult with this little one. "Tristan back up from the T.V. sweety",  I say in my sweet mommy voice.  He ignores me. "Tristan... back up from the T.V!" I say in my stern voice. He ignores me again. "TRISTAN BACK UP FROM THE TV RIGHT NOW OR YOU ARE GOING ON TIME OUT!" I say in my evil exorcist voice. He backs up...for 2.5 seconds...and repeat.

My children are my life. I wanted to grow up to be a mommy. Check that off my bucket list. I am grateful I had them young because I do not know how much patience I would've had if I started a family at 30. 

So we go to the festival. Since the hubby showed no interest I figured it would be fun to go with my BFF. No luck there. Just me and the kiddos. I'll try to not have a panic attack. We were participating in the last activity of the festival, The Kids Fishing Competition. Mind you the minute we got there it was:

"When are we going to do the fishing?" 
"Are we going to do the fishing now?" 
"Don't forget the fishing competition." 

As I was sitting there telling Jayden that fishing is about being patient, I hear the mom next to me telling one of her three kids "I can't make you happy! You complain about everything, why should I try to make you happy?!" I said to myself, "Amen sister!" 

As parents we try keep our kids happy and busy with loads of activities and no matter how amazing we think it is,  they always have something to complain about! After all the hype of the fishing competition, Jayden gave up. He thought fishing meant drop the line and the fish will bite the bait immediately. Patience is a virtue he does not possess. Needless to say he didn't catch a fish. I decided to let Tristan give it a go. He just wanted to reel in the line. I started to get frustrated with him. I wanted to catch that fish for Jayden (yes that would be cheating! But was it really since Tristan was holding the rod?) Instead of focusing on catching a fish I let Tristan have his fun. I would release every time he finished reeling in the line. He had a blast. 

See the dad next to Jayden  helping his son fish?  ;)

I was devastated on the ride home from Jayden's disillusion of fishing. Since he was so looking forward to the fishing and it didn't work out,  I imagined Jayden didn't enjoy himself. I am obsessed with making sure my children enjoy themselves in my activities. Who has two thumbs and is as neurotic as can be? ...THIS GAL! 

On the drive home I asked Jayden if he truly enjoyed himself. He said yes, because he got to see storm troopers! Tristan on the other hand I was not worried about. Just getting in the car is an awesome trip to him. Ergo...successful family day...minus the hubby. Just to make sure they were happy we stopped for snow cones. I like to over impress. 

Tune the Fresh Beat Band....We had a Great Day!