Weeeeeeekend!

[kim22]

Good morning. I went to bed at 8:45 last night. I’m glad we passed on the Christmas party we usually go to last night. I had no babysitter so we didn’t go but I was so exhausted I needed the sleep.

Today is C’s first birthday party. It was our only weekend day with a free afternoon the whole month. Of course on Friday our 10 am hockey game changed to a 4:30 pm game. Party is at 2. They really need DS because the team is small already so I said he can go because it’s local but he’s not showing up 45 minutes early and staying after, he will show up dressed and just throw on his skates then he’s leaving right from the ice. We will do dinner before and cake after. It’s only my sisters and their families, my parents, DH’s dad and his brother. I ordered a few trays from our favorite Italian restaurant and I’m baking cupcakes this morning. I did buy cute Mickey first birthday decorations, one is a banner you clip a picture of him from each month to.

[tallb]

I'm having the worst trouble with popups through the mobile site, it keeps redirecting me and it's driving me nuts

[nam2013]

And now ds has a low fever to, I should have know not to state that our kids really haven’t been ill since September... I’m still taking them outside to get some fresh air, just not too long.

[flamingo]

Hahaha yep nope wineallthetime, no snakes.

I hope the party goes well kim22!

[guster]

Dec 2, 2018 5:20:18 GMT -6 wineallthetime said:

guster, you know I'm right there with you with the no sleeping in!

I naturally wake up at 430ish every morning and then go back to bed til 515 or 530. I think i might try getting up so I have some time for myself, but I am always worried that if I do they’ll hear me and get up that early, too!

[guster]

Dec 2, 2018 6:51:20 GMT -6 wineallthetime said:

C has been begging me for a pet snake all morning. Helllllll no.

Josie asks for a ferret on the daily. Big old nope!

[guster]

Dec 2, 2018 6:29:15 GMT -6 flamingo said:

Morning!

Whoever said yesterday that the later kids go to bed, the earlier they wake up...spot on.

DH’s day to sleep late so the children and I are up and eating English muffins. Not sure what is on our agenda today; I do need to run out and get one thing for B’s birthday on Tuesday.

🙋🏻‍♀️ sorry if I jinxed it!

[guster]

I have to run to Aldi for a few things (again) this morning, but then we’re home for the day. I gave the kids the Mrs Claus box this morning, so they’ve been busy with the contents since they woke up.
Josie’s been off lately. Pushing boundaries and being generally a little rude. I think we’ve been go go go for too long and she’s not a kid who can handle that easily (she is so MH). I’m hoping the downtime resets her.

[tgrimes]

Dec 1, 2018 13:07:36 GMT -6 klong11 said:

tgrimes you did the Ball, right? Does Cadence need anything for it? Anything I should avoid?

Sorry, I just saw this. You don’t need to bring anything or avoid anything. Most kids were in princess costumes. It would be amazing if she dresses up as maleficent or something though. Lol!

[chrisy01]

Morning! I think E is doing better. E was up twice last night so I had to pump before letting her comfort. I’m low on PJs for her and didn’t want more vomit. She seemed fine with it. I let her eat a fullish meal right now and she hasn’t puked. I can hear LO playing in his room. I’m going to try and go back to sleep and maybe get another 45 minutes before he demands breakfast

[chrisy01]

Thanks for all the get wells. LO didn’t get sick to his stomach until much later. So it was scary.

[vino]

I’m glad she is better chrisy01, vomiting is scary. And same thing in my house, B never did and Julia has had a couple episodes so far and i feel like such a rookie with it.

[chrisy01]

Dec 2, 2018 8:11:59 GMT -6 vino said:

I’m glad she is better chrisy01, vomiting is scary. And same thing in my house, B never did and Julia has had a coiple episodes so far and i feel like such a rookie with it.

I definitely felt like a FTM.

[vino]

Morning!

It’s indoor Christmas decorating day! We’ll set up everything just after breakfast and I’ll clean the house after, I’m excited!

I’ve been obsessing over getting a desk for B’s room and *think* I’ve finally settled on one. His room is small so I need something with some storage and a place for his books and some trinkets since I’ll be removing his bookshelf. It has great reviews and isn’t too large but I think it can grow with him.

www.wayfair.ca/furniture/pdp/south-shore-axess-computer-desk-th4887.html

[trtlcrzy]

Morning! No real plans for today. DH mentioned taking the girls to wreck it Ralph breaks the internet but I’m not sure if that’ll happen or not. It did snow a little more overnight.

chrisy01 I’m glad E is feeling better.

[guster]

I was supposed to leave an hour ago, but mh is still writing so I’m doing my bills for the month.
Here a question. It’s a long one:

Josie’s gymnastics instructor is the business’s owner and not a warm woman. She’s really light on praise. I do not know why, but I tell myself it’s because gymnastics is a serious sport, and if the students don’t listen to instructions and do things exactly right, they could get hurt.
I was talking to the receptionist last week about the next season (January 1 through April 1) when the owner walked in and heard me say that I would be using my credit card for their online registration.
The owner stopped the conversation and told the receptionist and me that she’s asking everyone to use cash or check because the credit card fees are astronomical (I am sure this is true).
I like to use my card for the rewards points and it’s not a small transaction (375), but I worry if I do she’ll be even less warm to me or with Josie in class. Would you use a check (points be damned) or use the card?

[chrisy01]

PSA it’s 10% off target gift card day.

[chrisy01]

guster that’s tough. I like using card for the protection it offers. If she closed up shop after 1 day the credit card company will help get the money back. I’m sure that won’t happen but it’s the one thing that always freaks me out.

I would pay by check. But I’m also that person who would also tell the owner to remove credit card as an option if she doesn’t want people using it.

[guster]

Dec 2, 2018 8:54:31 GMT -6 chrisy01 said:

I would pay by check. But I’m also that person who would also tell the owner to remove credit card as an option if she doesn’t want people using it.

I would be fine with this option. I’m happy to use a check if we need to or even get cash out of the atm, but I love the ease of an online payment and the reward that comes along with it.

[kim22]

guster I would use the credit card. For all she knows, maybe you don’t have that kind of cash to shell out for gymnastics because I’m sure there are people who wouldn’t be able to send their kid if they couldn’t use a credit card (which she also knows and that is why she accepts the cards). She may also be hiding some profits by taking cash payments.

Also, she can be stern and warm at the same time. I was a gymnastics coach and my daughter competes now, and her coach is amazing. Her owners have 2 gyms though and she can only stay at her gym for one more level then we have to move to the other location. It’s kinda far from us so most people go elsewhere but the next closest is a place owned by 2 former Russian Olympians and I know that’s not for us so I stress everyday over how I’m going to make this work.

[flamingo]

guster that's annoying. I'd continue to pay the way you want to. If she holds that against J, then she's unprofessional. But sounds like if she's a more stern personality to begin with, I doubt there will be much of a change. And I had the same thought as kim22 , maybe she is simply trying to hide $ for tax purposes, etc. To me, credit card charges are a cost of doing business nowadays, but there are ways to offset them if need be. 

I guess I just don't understand business owners who make it difficult on their customers. My dad will accept money any way a client wants to pay...check, credit card, Venmo, PayPal, you name it, lol. Whatever enables him to get paid on time.

[guster]

Dec 2, 2018 9:39:57 GMT -6 kim22 said:

Also, she can be stern and warm at the same time. I was a gymnastics coach and my daughter competes now, and her coach is amazing.

Thank you! I tend to agree with this. The kids don’t notice, and Josie loves going so I don’t want to move her from it. If she continues, the owner doesn’t teach any of the upper level classes, so hopefully the tenor will change.

[guster]

Dec 2, 2018 9:49:01 GMT -6 flamingo said:

I guess I just don't understand business owners who make it difficult on their customers. My dad will accept money any way a client wants to pay...check, credit card, Venmo, PayPal, you name it, lol. Whatever enables him to get paid on time.

I think my biggest problem with it was how it was done. I know that is her business, but it didn’t feel professional for her to jump into the conversation I was having with the receptionist to sort of make “demands” on payment choice.

[flamingo]

Dec 2, 2018 10:02:37 GMT -6 guster said:

Dec 2, 2018 9:49:01 GMT -6 flamingo said:

I guess I just don't understand business owners who make it difficult on their customers. My dad will accept money any way a client wants to pay...check, credit card, Venmo, PayPal, you name it, lol. Whatever enables him to get paid on time.

I think my biggest problem with it was how it was done. I know that is her business, but it didn’t feel professional for her to jump into the conversation I was having with the receptionist to sort of make “demands” on payment choice.

Right. A mass mailing or email to make a polite request would have been much better. Sounds like she just doesn't have great interpersonal skills. 

[tgrimes]

guster Could you offer to pay for the fee in order to use your credit card? That’s what our studio does. It’s usually a percentage of the total due. On my $200 donation I paid an extra $7.50 or something.

I doubt the owner will go through everyone’s accounts to see who paid by check vs cc, so I doubt she’ll use it against Josie.

Being a previous ballet teacher, I can also separate issues I’ve had with parents vs students. It happens a lot. Not that paying by cc would be an issue for me...but we have had issues with parents being jerks.

I have to mention that although you do need to be stern, positive feedback is just as important to get students to do well. You already know this being a school teacher. It applies here as well. I worked my ass off for teachers that were complimentary and encouraged me to do well. Not so much for teachers that were assholes.

[guster]

Walking through Aldi and I cannot stop humming the fancy Nancy theme song. I’m all alone and can’t shake it!!

[guster]

Dec 2, 2018 10:22:36 GMT -6 tgrimes said:

guster Could you offer to pay for the fee in order to use your credit card? That’s what our studio does. It’s usually a percentage of the total due. On my $200 donation I paid an extra $7.50 or something.

I doubt the owner will go through everyone’s accounts to see who paid by check vs cc, so I doubt she’ll use it against Josie.

Being a previous ballet teacher, I can also separate issues I’ve had with parents vs students. It happens a lot. Not that paying by cc would be an issue for me...but we have had issues with parents being jerks.

I have to mention that although you do need to be stern, positive feedback is just as important to get students to do well. You already know this being a school teacher. It applies here as well. I worked my ass off for teachers that were complimentary and encouraged me to do well. Not so much for teachers that were assholes.

Thanks for this perspective. I may just use a check this time and do a credit card for the spring (I just won’t mention how I’m paying and just do it).
She seems very good at her job, but there are only three little girls ( Josie and two newly 4 year olds) In the class. I would have assumed she’d have that warmer bubblier preschool persona if she insists on teaching the preschool classes.

[joelies]

Happy Sunday! DH was tired this morning so I took the boys to bounce and Chase peed on the potty 3 times, then again at the grocery store. We might just be making progress. They're both nuts though, Colin might need a nap. He also is not listening lately. It's not even that, he seems to intentionally doing what we tell him NOT to. Yay.

[guster]

Dec 2, 2018 12:17:48 GMT -6 joelies said:

He also is not listening lately. It's not even that, he seems to intentionally doing what we tell him NOT to. Yay.

Same here. It’s beyond frustrating.

[nam2013]

Dec 2, 2018 12:47:24 GMT -6 guster said:

Dec 2, 2018 12:17:48 GMT -6 joelies said:

He also is not listening lately. It's not even that, he seems to intentionally doing what we tell him NOT to. Yay.

Same here. It’s beyond frustrating.

Something I very often forget myself. But I’ve been told kids don’t register the word ‘no/not’. So you (general you) need phrase things differently. For example iso ‘don’t shout!’ - ‘I want you to talk softer’ / ‘don’t jump on the couch!’ - ‘I want you to sit down on the couch’ etc. Worth a try 🤷🏼‍♀️.