I was looking through the various search phrases people have used to find my humble blog and thought “Today is the day I am going to answer those questions.”
Normally on Mondays I have been trying to be a little serious and tackle political issues. Recently at church I have been identified as a politically interested person and (gasp) a feminist. Considering that I believe a woman should be able to work to support her family in case her husband: a. dies; b. runs off; or c. is no-good drunken laggard, yes I am a feminist. I also believe that a woman who want to work because of the joy they get from using their talents and the money they can make from those talents should be able to work.
Shocking, I know.
However, we are not going down that road today. Recent events in Japan call for humor instead of pontificating.
Today, we are giving real answers to the pressing questions of the time.
1) Can I drink chocolate milk if I have given up chocolate for Lent.
Picture by Caropro
We all know the answer to this question which is never give up chocolate in the first place. But then Lent wouldn’t be so much fun, would it?
However, the truth lies in counting the weeks and doing some quick multiplication and addition. The equation would look like such:
6 x 7 + 4 = 46
But Lent is for 40 days, you are saying to yourself. And we know that is to symbolize the 40 days and 40 night Jesus spent in the desert fasting.
However, during the season of Lent you have 5 Sundays plus Easter. These are considered a ”free day” in which you can take a break from your lental sacrifice.
Picture by Dzz
If you gave up meat or sweets or swearing for lent, you can do these activities to your heart’s content. Rasher of bacon for breakfast, Italian beef for lunch followed by roast pork for supper could be done. The same idea for sweets. However, I do not think you might want to swear on God’s day. I guess you could refrain from the big one and do little swears. I would keep an eye out for lightning strikes, just in case.
Personally, I would just keep on going in order to make that new habit really stick. Or, I guess, on those Sundays you could indulge in your sacrifice a little. Have a repass from the sacrifice. So the ultimate answer would be “Yes you can have chocolate milk if you gave up chocolate for Lent but only on Sundays.”
2) How to explain to husband it is time to get the kids out of the marital bed.
I think you are going to have to use the phrase “Happy Wife = Happy Life.” If you are not sleeping well because those toddlers are kicking off the covers, kicking you in the kidneys and deterring the sex life, it is time to gently explain all of this to the hubby.
A child sleeping, picture by Side Show Mom
Explain that you would be happier if you could get more sleep and that there could be more “couple time” if the wee ones were out of the bed. But not one mother would blame you if you had to resort to cutting him off until said child was out of the bed on a regular basis.
Judy Arnall gave some excellent advice on how to get the child used to another bed and it may be rough going for a while. She is more tactful than I am. Speaking from experience, you are going to be happy you made the effort.
All right, those problems solved. What’s next?
Disclaimer: While I am an annoying know-it-all, these answers should not be taken in complete seriousness. Add your own grain of salt as needed.
I’ll have to check out the link on kids and sleeping habits. My 8 year old son co-slept with us for years and it took forever to finally get him out of our bed. Now, our 4 year old still climbs into bed with us halfway through the night. Some nights I manage to take her back to her bed in her room but most times I am just too lazy and tired. Bad mom! I have to keep working on it though before it becomes an almost impossible habit to break.
It is a terrible habit, especially if it is your last child doing it. And that was the case in my life. Judy really helped me out. Now the papasson chair is filled with clothing that no longer fit the original child it was bought for.
fun post…
be well, and blessings…
I am considered somewhat of a feminist at my church, too…
sheesh
we need more of us.
blessings
jane
I’ll never understand why being a feminist is a bad thing.
I like the way you think! Both questions apply to me. I miss the sweets, but as much as I want to reclaim my side of the bed, I’d miss my kiddos.
Our youngest climbed into bed with us last night, first time in months. I now remember acutely why he was banished.
Great post !
http://womensintellect.wordpress.com/2011/03/15/twas-ever-thus/
First off I’m not so much considered a feminist at my church but a liberal. Or is that the same thing in some minds? And I am really surprised its you wanting the kids out of the bed before your hubby. I figured the guy would be the one wanting more “together” time first.
In my “search Terms” was someone looking to convince the husband. In our case, I might have been more reluctant because the guy is our ‘baby.’ But that ended when he was constantly kicking off blankets and I got cold.
Oh, I am considered a liberal as well at our church. Plus, I am one of the younger members always trying to change things. Gets me in trouble.
Part of the problem with kids climbing into bed with parents is that there’s no way to explain the goal in logical terms. When you tell your son that he’s a big boy and needs to sleep alone in his own bed, how does he reconcile that with the fact that the two real adults want to sleep together in theirs? It must be confusing. Our son was almost eight before I stopped waking up with his elbow in my eye. He’d fall asleep in his room and then, sometime during the night, he’d get up and wander into ours.
I don’t think being a feminist is a bad thing. What’s bad is that there’s a need for being a feminist in the first place. Once our society finishes fixing itself in that area, the need will vanish.
It is very difficult to explain that what mom wants is to have covers and not get kicked in the middle of the night and to not feel squooshed while allegedly in a relaxing sleep. However, this weekend the husband is at a Men’s Weekend and the kids get to sleep with me, special treat. I anticipate no sleep.
Would that there would be no need for feminists or civil rights activists in this country.
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