Two parts bitter and sweet caroline

Us: Sweet

Truth: I can be a bitter old lady. I try to be optimistic, cheerful, positive. Really. But sometimes, it's an epic fail. I listen to the token sound bytes via radio, and I wonder exactly just how hard that reporter worked to find an objective source. A typical pull-at-the-heartstrings TV story finds me lobbing semi-sarcastic softballs at the subjects, and declaring them victim to first-world, rich-people problems. And, in true bitter-old-lady form, I've just hijacked my three-year-old's seat at the blog-writing table, and am declaring my bitterness to the world.
Still reading? Thanks.

Georgia: 8m

On a slightly similar note, Georgia doesn't like bananas. What baby doesn't like bananas? Every child likes bananas. She'll eat peas, squash, sweet potatoes, apples and carrots - all as if they're going out of style. But, mix her a healthy dose of Gerber's Stage One banana puree, and she'll struggle through every single bite. Huh. The good news is that her sweetness often prevails, and she finishes the meal anyway. To which I say: If I have permission to be the occasional bitter old lady, so too does Georgia have permission to not adore a typical child's fruit haven. Be it mood or meal, it seems that an occasional bitter is warranted - if not for anything more than to ensure we're letting prevail that which is sweet.

And so, whether your mood at the moment be bitter or sweet, here are a few sweet snippets recently heard within the Corrigan Conrad abode. Enjoy!

Last night I declared to my toddlers the typical bedtime routine: Bath, books, bed. To which Sam replied, "But Mom, we went to bed yesterday." 

Last week, I walked past the bathroom as Ken exited -- proud to have finished his business and not miss out on the Go Fish game initiated by his kid brother. A quick peek into the WC showed the soap dispenser still resting in its original place, and the hand towel hanging in a mysteriously perfect position on the kid rack. 

Ken: Age 3

Me: "Hey, Ken. (Evenly, patiently.) Ken, did you wash your hands with soap after going to the bathroom?"
Ken: Silent. (Observing Sam's card playing.)
Me (Kneeling down next to Ken, eye-level): "Ken, did you use soap when you washed your hands just now?"
Ken (Looks at me. Leans his forehead onto my forehead, inches from my nose): "Mom. Don't ask me that."

A February 2013 posting to Facebook (compliments of my hubby):
Referring to the triangular objects in the coat closet, my 3yo asked me if I would "buy [him] a couple of hookers to play with." Sorry kid, I don't have that kind of cash.

A post-breakfast conversation last week:
Sam: (Referring to a bouquet of fresh tulips on the kitchen table): "Dad, those flowers for Mom are pretty."
Dad: "You're right, Sam."

Sam: Age 2

Sam: "Yeah, but Dad, flowers don't say cheese."

A wake-up call just this morning:
Ken: "Mom, my undies are wet."
Me: "Hm. Did you pee in your undies by accident?"
Ken: "No." (Hands the wet undies to me, holding dry undies in the other hand.)
Me: "Ken, is this pee?"
Ken: "No. It's just water. Water from the toilet."

A welcome as I returned from work last Thursday:
Ken (his nose to my cheek): "Mom, I want to give you a hug."

Whether it's a child's perspective, encounters with strangers, or a simple reflection on your routines, my hope for you this month is that you can find the sweet within the many flavors of life's moments.

Molly