crazedparent

Why picking up Lego pieces is now an okay thing...

I complain an awful lot at the crazedparent house about cleaning up Lego pieces. It's a ritual I despise because no matter what, every time the boys want to play with their Legos, every freaking piece -- all 5,000+ -- manages to land on the floor. The microscopic ones are the worst. You know the ones I'm talking about; they jab your bare feet at 2 a.m. when you hear your kid talking in his sleep or crying and go to check on him. And then you have to muffle your cursing as you hobble to bed. The stereotypical parenting scene and hell yes, it really happens.

I hate picking up Legos so much that I've even come up with product ideas to make it easier, including the one to create a...wait, I'll keep that to myself. I still think it's a marketable idea for suckers like me.

Last week we had one of our Lego explosions. I asked Nol to help me clean them up, to which he replied, "Sure - where's the dustpan?"

I was first shell shocked because he said "sure" instead of his usual non-response to parental white noise. And then, of course, I asked why he wanted a dustpan.

"Because Mom, you use a dustpan to clean up Legos, of course.* You scoop all the Legos into a big dustpan and then drop them in their box."

So simple and yet, so brilliant. I wish it were his idea because then we could pitch it to Lego and they could market Lego dustpans for easier clean up (but I still have my grandiose plan that I will not reveal). The dustpan idea comes from one of his truly brilliant preschool teachers. Thanks, M!

*If you think I'm making up the "of course" part, I'm not. He says it the way you'd say, "silly" in responding to a dorky question. So basically, my son just told me I was a dolt in his sweet way.

An even better key holder...

I love getting mail (except on Mondays when I know our mail slot will be subjected to five pounds of ads from places like McWhorters Stationers and Sleeptrain.) I hit the mail jackpot over the weekend. On Sunday we returned from an extended weekend at Lake Almanor - for those of you outside of California, Lake Almanor is a six-hour drive from San Francisco (another post entirely).

I recently wrote about how much I dig using carbineer clips as keychains, especially for visits to the park. Usually I just buy a colored clip and add a key loop to it. But did I know that something more sophisticated even existed? Nope. Not until a friend (who happens to read this blog - hi!) sent me this:

 

A thing of beauty, no? She found it at a hardware store and immediately thought of me. It's a floral carbineer with key loops already attached. I showed my new key chain to the hubs and instead of calling me a butch park ranger, he said: "Awww, now you look like a pretty park ranger." Not only have I now simplified my key situation, I've improved my appearance. Que allegria!

Now for the stink of it. I can't find these online so that you, too, can own one. If you've spotted these on the web let me know and I'll update this post with a link.

Is it just me? Two tips in case it's not...

Two new things to add to your list of essentials (because you need more shit, right? It's okay...these two things are small and like I said, essential. Well, unless you feel otherwise.) I'd love to take credit but alas, I spied these ideas from two other moms.

Key clip: I hate hauling a bag or purse for a quick trip to the park. If I happen to drive, I usually leave my wallet in the car and bring my keys with me. I was never really hip on leaving my keys in a stroller but they're a pain to hold. Too bulky for my jean pocket, since pockets in women's jeans have about thismuchroom. And too much of a pain to weave through shoelaces -- on the rare occasion I'm wearing shoes with laces. One day I spied a mom at the park who had her keys hooked to her belt loop with a Carbiner clip (otherwise known as "those things that mountain climbers use.") Hallelujah! I went to my closest sport shop and picked up the smallest Carbiner clip I could find. My husband says I look like a butch park ranger when I have my keys attached to my jeans. I quickly correct him by asking, "You meant a bootylicious park ranger, right?"  I digress.  I only commit this lifesaving fashion faux pax at the park. And it's worth it when your hands are free to catch a toddler as he prepares to hurdle himself off a playground structure.

Second tip...

I always have a Sharpie pen in my bag. I use it at the park or whenever I need to mark sand toys, sippy cups, clothing labels, blank walls with my mamasita gang tag - you name it. On those days when I leave my purse in the car or at home (see above), I don't have the pen on me. But feast your eyes on this my friends, spied on the keychain of my good friend, Kikirikee.

The Sharpie Keychain:

Never again will I be unable to tag to my heart's content, leaving a proprietary mark on all of my son's belongings.

Is this just me or do other moms or dads do this? Please say you do. Even just to appease me. And rest assured, I am not the mom at the park who yells, "SEE! It's HIS TOY (flipping toy over to show initials). IT HAS HIS NAME ON IT (eye roll)."  But dude, it has happened to me.

Sippy cup dilemmas...

I received a few emails (you non-commenters are keepin' me busy) who've mentioned that they use regular masking tape to label sippy cups instead of getting swankety swank stickers and bands. Masking tape gets pretty gross after a few runs through the dishwasher.

I offer a very simple, cost-effective solution: colored vinyl electrical tape. We used this for Nol when he was in daycare. I took orange electrical tape and just stuck a ring of it around all of his bottles and sippy cups. No need to even write a name on it if you are just using the tape for ID purposes at the park. Just look for your color. I doubt you'll find many others employing this stealth labeling tactic.

On the washing issue: Electrical tape is meant to withstand water so there are no worries about it even sliding off after it gets washed. No sticky nastiness. This stuff stays on forever. Now, when you eventually decide to remove it, you are indeed left with a little stickiness on the sippy cup. But beggars can't be choosers now. And by that stage you're probably ready to toss the cup anyway, am I right?

Problem solved.

So find your nearest Home Depot and get thee some colored electrical tape. Hurry. Go. Now.