How to be a good mom, part 1

Some of the best times I have with my children are in the car.  We usually have the most awesome conversations.  And they sit far from each other, so I don't have to worry about  them touching each other and stuff like that.

So, we drove past some cows this evening, and of course I got all excited.  You can take the city girl out of the ghetto, but you can't take the city out of the girl?  What?  Or something like that?  Okay, I didn't grow up in the city, or the ghetto (though, it's getting there), but we didn't have any cows.  We had, like, birds, and dogs, and cats and squirrels and mosquitoes and stuff.  Anyway, so I was all, "omg guys, look there are cows!  Look at them all!"  Claire was excited, because everything I do or say is gold to her.  The boys?  Nonplussed.  They don't get excited about livestock like their mom.  I guess they're just used to it since they've witnessed it the past two point five years of their young lives.  Hicks.

So, seeing the cows made me think of something I forgot to tell them.  Or anyone.  Something really important, actually.  I had this job interview Tuesday (which, I think, went really well and I should hear whether they loved me or not early next week!) and on my way home, guess what I saw?  With my own two eyes?

A man, working on his car (in his front yard, natch), with a rooster on his back.  

I'll say it again:  A man, working on his car, with a rooster on his back.   

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I know, right?  So, I told the kids this story, and they don't believe me.  They still think I'm kidding - that I'm making it up.  I even swore to them that I hadn't been drinking and hadn't consumed any mushrooms.  They still weren't buying it.  Luke rolled his four-year-old eyes and said, "Well, I saw something even better than that.  I....saw....a.....BIG HAIRY MONSTER!"  I asked him where he saw the hairy monster and he said, "I was taking a walk...on the wild side." 

I don't believe him about the monster, but I really truly saw the rooster deal.  Realz.

Also, I am working to erase the Very Momish Phrases I've caught myself saying lately by replacing them with more authentic utterances.  For instance, tonight Luke (again, it's always The Luke!) asked if I would remove all the beans from his chili.  I replied with "no."  When he asked "why?" - because there's always a "why?" - I told him, "Because that's just not the kind of mom I am.  Beans are a part of life.  Eat around them."  Yay!  Go me!