Sunday Sound Out

From Chicago, where our rivers are green, people dress like leprechauns, and beer is the official sustenance, it's your host, the woman who just turned thirty-eleven, Dawn Meehan!

I don't really have any questions to answer this week. You guys have learned everything about me and no longer have anything to ask, I guess. :) So, instead, I'll tell you about my weekend.

On Friday, I realized that I'd lived in Chicagoland my entire life, but I'd never been to the St. Patrick's Day parade or the dyeing of the river, so I decided that the kids and I should take a field trip in the morning.

My alarm went off at 7:00. I looked at it, thought to myself, I don't really need to see the river dyed greened. I mean, it's pretty greenish year round, then I went back to sleep because I'm just that awesome and responsible. Half an hour later, Jackson woke me up and the lure of getting some cool pictures made me drag my butt out of bed.

We hopped on the L and began our trek downtown. I asked Clay if he thought we'd see any leprechauns. He looked at me deadpan, slowly blinked once, then responded as if explaining to a small, dim-witted child, "We might see some people dressed up like leprechauns, but we won't see any actual leprechauns because they're not real, Mom." I have got to remember to think twice before speaking to my kids. This is the reason kids think they know everything. This is the reason kids think adults are stupid. It's because we stay stupid things!

We got off the train and walked toward the river, following the sea of green shirts, green tights, green hats, green hair, green socks, green ties, green pants, and most importantly, green beer. We did meet a leprechaun (or a guy dressed up like a leprechaun). He didn't have a pot of gold, but he did have a glass of something gold, and judging by his staggering gait, it wasn't his first.

We made it to the water and fought our way through the crowd to see the boats speeding around the river, a beautiful, bright green in their wake.

Pretty cool, huh?

This is the point where the kids decided that although the green river looked awesome for the first five minutes we were there, it was too cold to hang around and admire it any longer.

We started walking back to the L when we spotted someone's toupee on the ground. Granted, it was really windy on Saturday, but how do you not notice your hair flying off?

We passed a cab with five air fresheners hanging from the rear view mirror. I was really thankful we were walking and didn't need a cab. (Don't mind me, Mr. Cab Driver. I'm just taking a picture of your collection of pine freshener freshness.)

We made our way back through the crowd of people who were well into celebration mode despite the fact it was 11:00 a.m., and we hopped on a train headed toward home. Two seconds into our return trip, the kids commented, "It smells like pee on here!" Yep, the kids not only got to see the river dyed green, but they also learned that St. Patrick's Day is a drinking holiday.

*********************************************

I'll be doing most of my blogging over at Babble.com now, but don't worry, I'll post here and link to it every time I update over there. You can check out my blog on Babble here! I'm so excited to be blogging over there. If you aren't familiar with Babble, check it out; it's a great, informative, entertaining website! And Lisa Belkin who writes the Motherlode blog for the New York Times was instrumental in getting me hooked up with the folks at Babble, so my heartfelt thanks go to her! Right now, Lisa is laid up with not one, but TWO badly broken ankles. I know! Can you imagine not being able to even hobble around on crutches? I don't know what I'd do if that happened to me! So, head on over to Motherlode and offer her up some well-wishes.

Sunday Sound Out

From Chicago, the city with two seasons: frozen tundra, and construction, it's your host, the woman who single-handedly smooshed a spider before it could eat off her face the other night, Dawn Meehan! And now, answers to your questions...

I'm wondering if, or what blogs do you read on a regular or semi regular basis? Do you even have the time?? :)
I seldom find the time to read other blogs as much as I'd like to. Between my own blog, review blog, writing articles, working on books, cleaning house, cooking, shopping, helping with homework, driving to hockey, baseball, and gymnastics, taking care of six kids 24/7, doctor's appointments, teacher conferences, paying bills, laundry, well, you get the idea. After all that stuff, I have like 4 hours left and I usually like to sleep now and then.

Are you not drying and straightening your hair now since so many people complimented you on it?
LOL! At a Chicago Moms blogger event last week, I was running late (shocking, I know) and I didn't have time to straighten my hair. OK, truth by told, I wasn't totally running late. I got downtown at a reasonable time. But then I wandered around block after block, walking in circles because I wasn't quite sure how to get to the Hard Rock Hotel despite directions from friends. I blame it on my phone which was telling me mixed up ways to go. If you've read this blog for any length of time, this shouldn't surprise you in the least.
Anyhoo.....
See, I actually have curly hair, but I use tons of Suave Sleek Styling Cream, and straighten it so I don't look like a crazy old witch with a squirrel's nest for hair. Actually, curly isn't quite right. It's not exactly curly. Nor is it straight. It's more "Roseanne Roseannadanna-ish" For some odd reason, a lot of people complimented me on it. Come to think of it, there was wine at this event. That's explains it. Anyway, to answer your question, Michelle, I'm not purposely keeping it curly because it looks stupid like that. However, these days, oftentimes I simply don't have time to straighten it. Those are the days I don a Cubs hat.

Question for you: what do you use to clean crayon "art" off the windows?? Our current art has been up for months and I'm hoping the artist will update his work if we clean the window.
We're supposed to clean it off?! I figure if I let the kids cover the windows with art, I won't have to look out and see the giant messes they've made in the yard. It's all good.

I'm sure this is very immature of me, but I want to see the farting train. lol
Ok, because of the popular demand, I'll scan a picture of his flatulant train when he gets it back from his teacher.

Loving the creativew solution [on my awesome shower-fixing abilities]. But why does the phrase "Tim the Toolman Taylor" spring to mind?
I know right! I may or may not have grunted a few times after my fun with duct tape.

Did I miss something? What the heck happened to your shower door? Or should I even ask?
Well, Savannah knocked Austin into it a while back. It broke off (and Savannah got a black eye from that encounter). Austin was able to get it back on, but I think that loosened things up because the kids managed to knock it off again a couple weeks later and this time the little thingys that go into the little places, broke off. That's the technical explanation. In plain terms: it broke.

The following picture may shock you. Some viewers may find it disturbing and disconcerting. It's not the usual kind of picture you find here at BecauseISaidSo.com. You're used to seeing pictures of messes and chaos created by my children. This is not that kind of picture. I found this when I sat down at my desk to work the other day. Brace yourselves and scroll down, if you dare.

*

*

*

*

*


And this, my friends, is why we moms never quit.

Sunday Sound Out

From Chicago, home of Garrett's (Chicago mix!) Popcorn, it's Sunday Sound Out starring your host, the woman who rode the L for the first time in her life, Dawn Meehan.

Parents of tweens, check out the new articles (including mine) on the Don't Fret the Sweat site! Parenting tweens today is hard. Get all the help you can with informative articles here, and join in the discussion! DON'T FRET THE SWEAT

Did any of your kids refuse to sleep in their own bed and throw a fit to sleep in yours? If so how did you deal with it?
Brooklyn did. I dealt with it by letting her sleep in my bed every night for 3 1/2 years being calm and consistent, sticking to my guns, putting my foot down, and insisting she sleep in her own bed. Honestly, there's some great bedtime help on the Goodnites site HERE. There's helpful information about bedwetting, and also tips on creating bedtime routines, helping your kids have the confidence to stay in their beds throughout the night, and enjoying bedtime rituals with your children. You can also download and/or listen to the Iggy Bedtime Theater stories with your kids. (You won't want to claw your ears off while listening to these with your kids either! I promise they're entertaining for adults as well!) And you can join me for the next bedtime chat on Gather.com April 14 from 8-9PM Central Time.

But is it just me, or is Brooklyn's the same picture as before?
It's just you.

Totally weird question I know... But I was wondering, could you post what colors each of your kids uses for the Easter Egg Hunt? Just out of curiosity, lol.
That really is a weird question. ;) Austin finds blue eggs, Savannah finds purple, Jackson finds the green ones, Lexi finds pink, Clay finds orange, and Brooklyn finds yellow eggs.

So basically what you are saying is that Austin is just like you?[ the bad comments on my report cards]
Except that I had a little higher aspirations than he does. Ask him what he wants to be when he grows up. Go ahead! Ask him! I'll tell you his answer! He wants to be a hobo! Yep, a hobo. He doesn't even know what a hobo is!

What about first grade? You must have been an angel in first grade, right? A good teacher that could see your real potential?
I was a total angel in first grade and I had the best teacher ever! I still remember her - Miss Heater. She had Duso the Dolphin. Anyone remember him? "Hey Duso, come on out!" You gotta love friendly dolphin puppets and the slightly creepy songs that accompanied them back in the 70s, right? Please tell me that at least one person knows what I'm talking about here. I tend to wander off-topic now and then, by the way. Did any of my report cards mention that little tidbit?

completely unrelated, although i know my report cards looked like that too - with a lot of 'doesn't complete work on time' and 'spends too much time daydreaming'... but i have to say that my daughter is very disappointed that you changed your pictures. she loved austin's old picture and anytime she saw that i was on your blog, she immediately said, 'i want to see the boy with the blue tongue!' haha! AND smooth on the absence of the 30 something (and lack of replacement mentioning of age)! ;)
I was going to put that picture here for you, but then you had to go and mention my advanced age! Grrrr! OK, I'll be nice anyway. Here ya go...

I started following your blog about 7 months ago. Right after I read 'Because I said so!' (Loved it by the way!) Can't wait for your new one..SSO? When is it supposed to be coming out? I am dying to read it.
Good question. I'm not exactly sure, but it's supposed to be coming out this fall. I'll get back to you with an exact date when I have one. And THANK YOU for reading my book and taking the time to tell me you liked it. :D

Nothing to do with this post (sorry - SSO?)but are you still using the neti-pot thing you mentioned ages ago? I too find the idea of pouring salt water up my nose revolting/terrifying but I have yet another cold & would like to rediscover breathing...
Yes, breathing is one of my favorite pastimes. I don't use the neti pot regularly, but I do use it if I have a cold. Don't worry, I promise to never make a video of me using it.

Did you share these [my report cards] with Austin? He might have a better outlook about the whole school thing if he sees that you had your moments, too. Plus, being able to laugh at mom is always fun.
Oh, he doesn't need any more reasons to laugh at me! And showing him my report cards will only make him say, "See? Why should I try harder? You didn't and you're doing pretty well for yourself, don't you think?"

Might sound like a really dumb question, but is the address sufficient if i was to send a get well card from Australia??? I know a dumb vegemite eating Aussie question!
Not a dumb question at all! Just use:
Savannah Meehan
836 S. Arlington Heights Rd.
#230
Elk Grove Village, IL 60007
USA
if you want to send a card to Savannah. She's scheduled for surgery next week.

Dawn, do you sometimes wonder what this year is meant to be about? Is it meant to teach us out here in voyeur land something? You something? Is it just crap because crap eventually comes around to everyone eventually? Although you are getting an extremely unfair amount of crap lately.Do you ever ask "WHY? After everything else WHY??" Cause if I was you I sure would.Thinking of you all and hoping that whatever the reason for the crap it has decided enough is enough and leaves your lives.
Hmmm, I actually don't wonder or think that at all. In fact, I think I have it pretty good. I've never (knock on wood) had anything really bad happen. I figure God's got it under control, so why should I worry about silly little things.

SSO; I would love to know what kind of laundry detergent you use? With 6 kids I bet you do a ton of laundry! I only have 4 and I do about 3-4 loads a day. I can't keep up!
OK, honestly, I used to use Target brand detergent, but I recently did a review of Arm & Hammer with Oxi Clean. I was paid to try it out and write about my experiences. I figured when that bottle was gone, I'd go back to my Target detergent. But that Arm & Hammer stuff is really good! It has a fresh, clean smell and it really gets out those nastified stains, so I've recently switched to Arm & Hammer with Oxi Clean. But don't worry, I buy it at Target. (Don't want to hurt Target's feelings.)

SSO: Could you give us newly single moms some advice on how to make it work money wise? I would love to know how you do it now with 6 kids. I have 3 and its hard doing this alone. Are you a stay-at-home-mom still? Thanks for any advice.
Well, I'm newly single myself and trying to figure out how it's going to work. I think it's important to distinguish between wants and needs and teach your kids this lesson too. You may not have as much discretionary income as before so extras like going out to eat, buying things on a whim, vacations, going out to the movies, etc. may have to be cut back or done away with. That's not to say you can't have any fun. Instead of taking the family out to a movie which can be really costly, rent a movie at Red Box for $1 or check it out for free from your local library, for example.
Accept hand-me-downs (even seek them out!) and shop resale stores for your kids' clothes.
Do a clean-sweep of your house and have a garage sale or eBay those things that are just taking up space in your home. You'll clean and organize your house while making some money.
Cook at home. You can save a ton if you skip the restaurants and drive-thrus in favor of eating at home.
Call your utilities and see if you qualify for a discount based on your income.
Drop unnecessary things. Maybe it's cable tv, or magazine or newspaper delivery. Maybe it's your monthly manicure or your child's violin lessons that they hate and want to quit anyway.
Create a budget. You probably had to do this when filling out divorce paperwork anyway. It's good to see on paper just where your money is going.
Make mutually beneficial friendships! Maybe your friend can fix things around your house or drive your son to hockey practice. In return, maybe you can fix their computer or mow their lawn. Don't be afraid to ask for help, but return the favor when you can.
Hmmm, I guess I had more ideas than I thought I did. Anyone who has other ideas, feel free to chime in and share your wisdom!

I just googled something ridiculous (looking for an exact Bill Cosby quote) and your blog was the first thing on the list. It made me laugh really hard! So when you see "so i went upstairs to my bed which is where i wanted to be in the first place" I have explained myself and deserve credit. ;) And for future reference, the exact quote I was looking for is "And my wife sent me to me room... which is where I wanted to go in the first place." (I was pretty close.)
I did see that search phrase in my stat counter! Although I didn't think twice about it since the one right after yours was, "Jesus woke up my mom to feed the baby".

Whew! What a relief it will be when Austin can drive!
Relief. Yeah, that's the word I was looking for. Not apprehension, fear, nightmare, horror. Nope. Relief.

Forgot to mention the other day. Happy one year anniversary on the release of your first book. What is the proposed release date of book two? Eagerly awaiting number two.
Thanks, Sandy! Wow, it has been a year! Time has FLOWN by!

Do the other set of grandparent's get to see the kids? And how was your Easter?
Easter was good. My parents see my kids. My inlaws never did see them much, so nothing's really changed there.

I also have a question about leaving a question for you for Sunday Sound Out. I tried last week sometime to write a brilliant and probably the most witty and inspiring question through your "Get in Touch" button and somehow it got lost in cyberspace. (I can compliment myself multiple times since it didn't go through you see! lol)So my question now is...is it a problem for others since you said you had a lack of new questions...or is it just techno-challenged me?
Ummm, ???

Does Lexi watch iCarly? Or Drake and Josh? Or does she just like Miranda Cosgrove?
Yes, yes, yes.

he [Joe]might have a terminal illness and that is why is doing what he is doing to save the kids greive
Sorry, but this is ludicrous. What Joe has is not terminal. And even if that was the case, a parent who abandons their kids before dying is not going to save them grief in any way, shape, or form.

I swear (but I try not to), some people must give their kids ice cream out of the container in order to have a peaceful conversation on the phone. If that were me, the ice cream would be all over the house and them! You are so down to earth and normal. Thank you for letting me know that I am not alone in my parenting adventure.
Oh, don't get me wrong. There are plenty of times I let my kids have whatever they want to buy a couple quiet minutes on the phone. "You want a fruit snack? Sure, take the whole box! You want a giant candy bar ten minutes before dinner? No problem, have two! You want a pony? You got it!"

Don't forget to check out my Arm & Hammer review HERE and leave a comment to be entered in the drawing for a $200 Visa gift card.

And check out the Pop-Tarts post HERE to be entered for a chance to win a $100 Visa gift card.