Bodies, Rest and Motion

At the pool the other day, I discussed with a neighbor the merits of different swimsuit styles. My neighbor noted that she prefers stylish one-pieces to the skort tankini she usually wears to chase after her non-swimming yet fearless tyke.

Interesting point: some styles (i.e., bikinis, low- and high-cut tanks) look better on a person who is standing or sitting, but NOT moving. However, if the person wants to be active, a stable garment with more coverage is needed. Lounging in a poolside chair calls for a different kind of swimsuit than one worn while chasing kids, swimming, bending over, squatting ... you get the picture.

Actually, you may not want to get the picture. Our sartorial discussion reminded me of the Seinfeld episode "The Apology," when Jerry's girlfriend walked around in the nude. Instead of enjoying the clothes-free situation, Jerry realized that when she coughed, crouched down or tried to unscrew a jar, her body was not so attractive. He told George, “There's good naked and bad
 naked."

Likewise, my neighbor and I concluded that there are good swimsuits (sturdy tops, skirted bottoms) and bad swimsuits (string bikinis, skimpy one-pieces) when bodies are not at rest, but in motion.

Spare a Square or Two?

I'm a dad. I'm a dad of two great girls. So, I thought I have some daddy things down pat. In the summer. when I'm not working, I have daddy duty while Wifey works. I got things under control. In the morning, the girls eat their breakfast. They go downstairs and play together, maybe watch a little TV, snack, and then I have them work on their summer math packets. By then, it's lunch time and then off to the pool. They get their swimsuits on, the sunblock, even help me pack towels and such. We usually go for a couple swim sessions maybe two and a half. If the little one has to go potty, big sister accompanies her. Yep, things are under control. They take their showers there and we come home. I make dinner for my hard working woman. Of course, I call her to get ideas of what to make- any leftovers I can heat up?
So this time the first born daughter has to go the bathroom. Don't forget to wear to wear your flip flops in there, I tell her. She leaves and I'm poolside with the little one who's begging me for ice cream. I have to say no today and tell her that yesterday, once again they finagled ice cream at the pool and at Rita's. The girls are getting so good at that that we parents are forgetting or not noticing the ice cream content. Where is that child? I wonder. She's been in there for so long. Fifteen, twenty minutes? Then it hits me. She's closer to that age where a little girl starts "the process" of becoming a woman. When's the last time her mother had that talk with her? Please don't let it start now. Not at a pool. I can't help her. I can't go in there. What can I do? Might have to call her mother right now. I ask the little one to go in and check on her sister. Ask her if she's OK. She dutifully goes in and comes right back out. She's OK because I can see her flip flops under the stall. But did you talk with her? I ask. No. Go back in and ask her if she's OK. Little one does. A minute or two passes. I'm cringing. She comes out and reports. She's OK. She just ran out of toilet paper. She was just sitting there and so I gave her some. Well, what a relief. What a great big relief. More so for me. First born comes out. What happened? I ran out and was trying to reach some from the other stall but people kept coming. Wow, sorry to hear that. Reminds me of a Seinfeld episode where Elaine had that happen to her. Next time, ask someone if they could spare a square or two. Yep, I'm a dad. I'm in control.

The Good Mother

Hmmm, what could she possibly be writing about....Well, today's it's about Honey Nut Cheerios versus Lucky Charms. Also known as "Be Careful What You Teach Your Children."

You see, when I had my children, I was determined that I would be a Good Mother and not poison them with high sugar (and delicious!) cereals that I grew up on - Captain Crunch, Lucky Charms, and Sugar Pops (it's got the word sugar in it!) to name a few. So at first I fed my girls plain Cheerios. They not like that very much and we put sugar on it anyway. Then we discovered Honey Nut Cheerios (we tried Multigrain but they liked Honey Nut better - I wonder why..) I can't tell you how much Honey Nut Cheerios we've eaten at $4 a box!!

So I take my HN Cheerios-addicted daughter with me to the grocery store the other day. We get to the cereal aisle.
Daughter: "Mom, why can't we get fun cereals?"
The Good Mother: "Because they're not good for you and have too much sugar."
Daughter: "Oh yeah! Let's compare." And she proceeds to compare the calories, fat, sugar, and carbs. "See mom, Lucky Charms is actually lower in all of them than HN Cheerios."
The Good Mother: Now I'm starting to shake. "That can't be. There must be some category HN Cheerios is better in." But we can't find one. Then I decided to go to my old stand-by.
The Good Mother: "Well, surely it's more expensive. Let's look at the unit cost. (another Good Mother lesson to her daughter) Oh, it's 26 cents compared to 24 cents. Hmm. Not much of a difference."

So, alas, I have no choice but to let her get Lucky Charms (secretly, I couldn't wait to sneak down at midnight and dig into the box myself).

At least this Good Mother can be proud that she taught her children how to read the nutrition labels. I hope she doesn't ask me for Captain Crunch next time.