Our Kids

[Jen, Lachlan, and Declan]

There's an ongoing conversation between myself and a friend/co-worker/teammate/office mate that never ceases to entertain the two of us and everyone else who stumbles into it. The topic is Our Kids. Hers is a two year old boy. Mine is a 7 month old Goldendoodle.

Y'see, we've worked together for over a decade now, so we've learned to laugh together at our differences. And WHAT differences! We're polar opposites in every imaginable way. The only thing we really share in common is our gender. I call her The Pretty Princess and she calls me The Hopeless Nerd. She tells me I should dress more like a girl and I reply that she should be glad I take a shower and get dressed every morning.

This blog post is in no way meant to make fun of her; we've learned to share in and delight in our differences and she's a wonderful friend. We've also been struck by how similar some of these "differences" are when they're related to Our Kids. (We finally have something in common!) Only yesterday we were giggling about some of these in our office. My poor intern was laughing so hard his forehead was on his keyboard and he had tears on his cheeks. I think we finally broke him!

Just a small selection:

Her son thinks his name is Joey Joey JOEY Joey Joey; Mine thinks his is Leave It.

She has an $80 designer diaper bag, thinks it's kinda cheap, and lusts after the $1800 one but can't justify the cost; I have an $80 pair of grooming shears, think it's kinda cheap, and lust after the $1800 but can't justify the cost.

She frequently treats herself to a pedicure and has started getting one for her kid too; I bought a Dremel and frequently treat my kid to a pedicure.

She has baby gates up all over the house so her kid can't get out of her sight and into trouble; I have baby gates up all over the house so my kid can't get out of my sight and into trouble

She takes her kid to play dates so he'll learn to interact with other kids; I take my kid to play dates so he'll learn to interact with other kids too.

She thinks nothing of getting out of the shower, toweling herself off, then toweling her kid off and hanging the towel back up to dry; I think nothing of getting out of the shower, toweling myself off, then toweling my kid off and hanging the towel back up to dry.

She bought a bathroom trash can with a tight lid on it so her kid doesn't rummage around in it for "toys"; I just routinely spray Bitter Apple over the contents of mine.

She has a $120 play pen and wishes sometimes that it has a top; mine has a top. She's a bit jealous.

She worries about what her son eats and spends a fortune on organic foods; She wishes hers came in a convenient 35 pound bag like mine. I wish mine came in more flavors.

She convinced me to buy a Spot Bot to clean up random messes; I convinced her to buy poop bags because they're just the right size for random diapers.

She brings her kid over to my house to expose him to friendly dogs; I bring my dog over to her house to expose him to friendly kids.

We've both recently thrown out furniture because it was easier than repairing the damage. We're both slowly getting rid of all the carpet in our houses. We actually talk about the best places to take our kids to expose them to new things and expand their horizons, and the best places to go for things like safe play and swimming areas. People who wander into our conversations often think we're either talking about two dogs or two kids. We let them wonder while we worry together, laugh together, and celebrate together for our kids.

[Mimi Linna, Lilly and Lolly]

this is so cute.. should send it to readers digest

[Lauria Orr]

I LOVE THIS!!!!!!

[Dori & Rua]

Awesome blog!  It is amazing how a Doodle can bring people together.  You brought a big smile to my face reading this.

[Carol and Banjo]

Great friendship!  Very fun blog - thanks for the laugh!

[Jennifer,Chloe & Myla]

Thanks for sharing this it was very funny and true-great relationship you guys have and great kids too!

[Jen, Lachlan, and Declan]

Yay, we need a Nerds With Doodles shirt! 

This is Lachlan's "diaper bag" (for extra leash, poo bags, water, treats, etc): http://www.thinkgeek.com/computing/bags/aaa5/

[Camilla and Darwin]

Loved this, and I think it's hilarious that she gets her 2 year old pedicures. As for you being a hopeless nerd? I just went shopping for star trek t-shirts. LOL

[Melissa & Porter]

LOL Nice comparison.  Having kids and a doodle, I often confuse everything: call the doodle by a kid's name, make the Cesar "eh!" sound to correct a kid.  Just today, since my husband is away, I told the kids we'd all take turns doing what we wanted.  1st we took Porter on an hour-long walk and meet-up in the park with his friends.  Then, it was my turn and I picked a gym class (yay gym daycare).  Now, finally, i am taking them to the movies.  They understand Porter is a member of the family who gets a turn.  When I hug one of my kids, he ALWAYS stands behind the kid and waits for a turn too.  No joke.

[Jen, Lachlan, and Declan]

@Sherrie, I'm laughing my head off here ... yep, I recognize those LACHLAN LEAVE IT! conversations!

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

This is awesome! I LOVE IT. I often have similar conversations with my friends with kids and we always remark on how similar our concerns, interests are, as well as the joys of parenthood. Before my doodle, I used to get annoyed when I was talking on the phone with a friend who was constantly distracted by what their kids were up to in the background. Now my own conversations go something like this: "So I saw walking down the street the other day and SOPHIE what do you have in your mouth? open your mouth! Sophie drop it. Good girl!, sorry, where was I? oh yea, so when I was walking down the street the other day I bumped into John, SOPHIE OFF! and he mentioned that ...".

 

When I had trouble finding a good dog walker or sitter, I turned to my friends with kids who sympathised completely over the same problems they had with their kids. It is remarkably similar. We also always arrange playdates together to make sure our "kids" are well socialized with each other.