Ho-ho-ho-hum

N had preschool as usual this a.m., and AC and I did some Christmas shopping until it was time for her to join her brother for "Lunch with Santa" in the preschool fellowship hall. I spent that glorious, childless time borrowing some DVDs and books from the library and then eating a sandwich at a coffee shop while reading chapter one of 10 Days to a Less Defiant Child by Jeffrey Bernstein. Yeah, N has a few problems with defiance.

Picked up the kids and took them home for the rest of the afternoon. They were both delighted with the toys Santa had given them at lunch: both received a stuffed dog, and N got a pirate sticker book while AC got a Disney babies bedtime book. The pirate sticker book was a lifesaver while I sifted through some piles on my desk. I have jury duty in January that I've already requested be postponed once. I don't think there's any getting out of it this time. I'd lost my card, though, and so wasn't sure of the date until this afternoon. I added lots of other things to my 2008 calendar as well--opera night (The Gondoliers), dentist, well-kid checkups, and the Frida Kahlo exhibit at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Get your tickets early, folks! We change health insurance in January, so I also had to get those papers in order. After January I will no longer be able to see my beloved physical therapist without paying --- gasp --- full price. Don't know yet how to swing it.

Ordered take-out pizza for dinner, D got home early, we chowed and threw the kids in the car for babysitting night at the Y!! Then D and I went, with some trepidation, to the mall. Yes, it was as bad as we had thought it would be. However, our claustrophobic trip into Kay-Bee Toys paid off when the cashier couldn't ring up the Power Ranger that N will be giving AC for Christmas, and he just GAVE IT TO US FREE. Merry Christmas to you, too, pal! Finished the shopping for my side of the family, still lack all of my father-in-law's gift, but will nonetheless box and send all gifts to their recipients tomorrow. And then I will pray that they arrive in time.

Fetched the kids from the Y about 9:00 and promptly sent them to bed. The caregivers had to nix the oatmeal raisin cookies I had sent in with my kids, due to possible "tree nut contents," and instead gave them some generic corn puff cereal for a snack. YUCK. No wonder N was a mental mess until he collapsed about 10:00. He had mainlined processed sugar and preservatives!

Since then I've done some reading about oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) in preschoolers to get some more parenting ideas. When your son's attitude to punitive discipline is BRING IT ON, MOM. HELL--WHY DON'T YOU EVEN BUMP IT UP A NOTCH??, then you know you need to change systems.

Time now to shower, then will wrap and box gifts.