Losing our Nanny, Finding my Pancake Mojo

Now what do pancakes have to do with losing our nanny? Everything. And, nothing.  See, we have always been blessed to have help.  Live-in help, for all but one nanny.  For ten plus years.  Completely spoiled, I know.

But you see, there is a back story to this. In Nigeria, where I was raised, this is normal. Regular people have nannies, house keepers, house maids, cleaners, chauffeurs, cooks and gardeners. It is so common place, that most of 'the help' has their own 'help'. Besides, I work crazy hours and I have quite the commute. This fabulousness was not happening without a nanny. Grin.

One of our previous nannies before this one started making pancakes for dinner and then 'Pancake Thursday' became a thing in our house. Fortunately, our most recent nanny made a mean pancake - well, more like crepes- she is of Francophone origin and that's what she knew how to make, so we rolled with it. So for six years, pancake Thursday was a thing. It worked for me, one less meal to plan; and for her, one less thing to learn to make. Also, for the kids, because, who doesn't love breakfast for dinner? Much less pancakes, right?

But along the way, we lost something. The thrill dissipated, more pancakes were left uneaten. Principessa even declared one day that she hated pancakes. She didn't, but we were all just a little sick of them, with good reason

Nanny leaves after six, yes, SIX years with us.  There were tears and feelings of misgiving and real fear.  Could I do this? My home had run like a well oiled machine for six years and now I was going to have to take control again. Then again, where was the time???

The first thing I got rid of was 'Pancake Thursdays'. No one missed it, to be honest. I make up the menu as I go, my husband packs them fun, nutritious lunches, the night before. Numero Uno had taken PBJ to school for lunch for years, because, he told the Nanny that was ALL he liked. Of course, she obliged - it was one less thing to think about right? Well, homeboy is eating chicken, cheese and arugula melts on naan bread and LOVING it. I firmly believe that most kids don't really know what they don't like - they just want the familiar.

      My point is, I've had to take charge and I'm loving it! Some days it's still cereal and toast, but some days, like today - it was pancakes. Chocolate chip pancakes*!  I've never seen the kids get dressed so fast to make it to the breakfast table!

Change is good. If I can do it, YOU can do this. I see your nanny and I raise you some pancakes.

*Recipe for Chocolate Chip Pancakes

1. Drive to Giant/grocery store of choice
2. Pick up Krusteaz Pancake mix
3. Drive home
4.Add water to mix
5.Make on griddle

TGIF, pp

I'm baaaaaack!

After a one year hiatus. Well, a little over a year, if you want to get all technical with it. What happened to me? Well, let's just say that life conspired against my blog. First computer issues, then camera issues, then monkey-boy and Numero uno son issues (remember them?). Yeah, well just life. But I am back. For real. And to start things off on an upbeat note, I will give myself an award. Cause it's all about moi. The award for 'the crappiest mom' goes to... yours truly! Why? Read on, please.
I am always impeccably dressed. Always. As in my hubby has been known to tease me about it. 'in life there are two certainties, death and Prada Principal having the perfect outfit to wear.' And I extend the same ferocious attention to detail to my boys dressing as well. But like I intimated, life had been 'happening' and I delegated this to Nanny dearest since she seemed to know how to throw things together. Seemed to. Uh huh. Why do I get to Numero Uno's school last week Friday and see him rocking this G.I Joe pajama top, blue jeans and sneakers? I mean, I just about died. As if it wasn't bad enough, the top was slightly snug from being left in the dryer too long, you know what I mean. Just. Not. Right.
Suffice it to say we were out of there in a flash, and I am not sure I can ever show my face there again. Make me feel better, share your 'bad mommy' moments. Pleeeeaaaasssseee!
Yours in 'fashion faux pasdom'

Paris.

view of Eiffel from hotel room

Yes, we are back from the fabulous city. Food in Paris was a bust. I just had to get that off my chest. The one meal I enjoyed cost an ungodly amount of money that I just don't feel comfortable 'fessing up to spending. Ye gods! I have honestly never, ever, had food that bad. And it's not like I don't like French food. Au Contraire, I actually adore it. Well, when it's seasoned and cooked right. So I deducted mucho points from Paris, as everyone that knows me has to know that I take my 'manger', tres serious. I had never been so happy to see a McDonalds in my entire life (we came across one near the hotel) I was this close to kissing the floor. For real.

But food aside, Paris was great. And everything was just a little bit nicer than I thought it would be. Parisians are less rude and snobbish than in the yesteryear, not everyone (in fact very few) were decked out in head to toe haute couture(lol) and everyone wears jeans now. It was a laid back, nice fab vacation. Well, not really laid back for us, obviously, with two little boys - one of whom had decided he was potty trained days before the trip and so would NOT under any circumstances pee in his 'pull ups' on the plane or anywhere else for that matter (even though I begged him to at one point) to this mothers' consternation and extreme annoyance. I mean, picture me- exhausted, bleary eyed at some ungodly hour, running down the narrow plane aisle to get Numero Uno to the stinky, cramped plane loo, while he's crying hysterically that "Poo-poo's coming, Mama!". Of course we get there, and nada. Just a few miserable drops of pee. All this after almost dislocating my arm to prevent him from falling down the cavernous, stinky toilet bowl. Now rewind and picture this twenty or so more times during the same flight. Exactement. I am grateful the boy is (finally) potty trained, don't get me wrong, but dear Lord, where is a nanny when you need one? I know, I'm a bad Momma. :-)

The boys (en Paris), having a laugh at our expense

But this picture of Numero Uno staring out his hotel room window, soaking up the culture, made all his hassling almost seem worth it. Almost.

Mom of the Year, pp

Butt Cream and Return of the Nanny

I was on here extolling the virtues of the crabtree and evelyn baby cream in my last post, right? So I have been slathering Monkeyboy in it, literally like from head to toe. and his rash just seemed to miraculously dry up and disappear. Well, I decided to actually read the packaging and I find to my dismay that the instructions say to apply as needed to help prevent' diaper rash'. Yes people. Yours truly has been smothering her baby in 'butt cream', fine and shishi poopoo as it may be. I find this hysterically funny and I'm like, no one wonder it worked so fabulously. MB's face had no clue what hit it! lol. Hey, whatever works right?

Houston, we have a nanny! Yah Man. She's from Jamaica, so excuse me if I lapse into 'patois' now and again. I have this annoying habit of absorbing new accents, mannerisms etc, that 'tickle my fancy'. It's just a thing that I do, but I get over it pretty quickly. Ms. Carmen and fabulous and cool and all good beans and gravy except for one minor detail. Numero Uno Son hates her guts. Now I know it's just a two year old acting out, cos he misses his "Aunt Wida", but he sure does say the meanest things. Like, "Go away!". "Don't touch me/it/my arm!". Just beastly, I tell you. My heart goes out to her and I pray every night that she's still there when I wake up, because I would have packed my bags and quit by now if I were her.

Well, gotta go do the nursing thing. We'll dialog later,
pp

Things I can't live without

I can live without chocolate, but I cannot live without our dear nanny - Aunty 'Wida'. And she leaves in about two weeks. What on earth will we do without her? I am barely making it through the day as it is. Even more important, what will I tell my son who thinks the sun rises and sets in her bosom? I truly, truly dread life 'post Rita' and our family will not be the same - at least for a while. Sigh. How do people cope without ANY help? Hats off to all of you. Truly Phenomenal Women that you are.

I can't live without my babysling. It is supercute in this funky camoflauge design and so user friendly - none of the bells, whistles and manuals that that come with the baby bjorn. IDon't get me wrong, I LOVED my baby bjorn, that is until I heard that it was bad for your back - both mom and baby's - unless ofcourse you buy the even more expensive one, which costs like a trillion dollars. So I invested in a sling from www.slinglings.com for baby number two and I'm happy to say ,he sleeps snug as a bug in there with not a peep out of the little guy.

My adorable crane humidifier. Well, it's monkeyboy's actually and since he's been battling the sniffles, it's become his new 'bff'. Moms out there can attest to this - when little babies have colds, it's torture for EVERYONE. But this cool mist humidifier works so well and is cute to boot. It also comes in almost every animal imaginable, but I am partial to the penguin. It has been vetted by both my boys and found to be awesome. Plus the customer reviews do say it works the best. Target ROCKS!

I also refuse to live without Fage (pronounced fah-yeh) 2% greek yogurt - Ijust add a teaspoon of honey to sweeten it. It is a dieting girls' best friend - so good for you yet it feels 'tres' decadent. And it's all about how something makes you feel, you know what I mean?

I'm outie, PP