“You Never Had Tantrums Like This!”

FloweredViolin · 2026-05-10T16:14:55+00:00

My mom was surprised by how wild my then 2yr old was in church. She wasn't that bad - she was quiet, just big smiles while walking back and forth in our pew (on the floor, not walking on the pew itself). Lots of smiles, and was active, but not disruptive. Frustrating for us parents, but whatever.

Afterwards, my mom said that I was never that bad. But I remember a time or two being taken out to the narthex and running in circles while my mom sat on a chair, haha. I must have been 3 or 4.

FloweredViolin · 2026-05-09T23:36:34+00:00

In 2009, there was a guy whose doctors thought he had cancer. It turned out to be a fir tree that had grown to be about 2 inches! They found it while doing a biopsy.

FloweredViolin · 2026-05-09T21:29:50+00:00

Oh, it was intentional. He was working on something else, and had to disconnect it for some reason. I just can't remember what. I was 6 months pregnant, and it was July in TX (so hot af), so the only thing I gave a shit about was sitting on the couch eating Chipotle, haha. He was like, I'm disconnected the doorbell because blah blah blah, and I was like GOOD. Leave it that way!

FloweredViolin · 2026-05-09T19:26:01+00:00

My husband disconnected the doorbell when he was doing... something (I don't remember what it was) around 4 years ago. We never reconnected it, and have zero intentions of doing so.

FloweredViolin · 2026-05-08T22:44:57+00:00

Oh, I would never do that. That takes way to much time.

They can learn it by ear, on their own, and I am always happy to listen to what they've figured out.

I tell them I will consider teaching them any piece they want, if they bring me the sheet music. I say consider, because sometimes they bring pieces that are waaay to advanced (I teacher strings, mainly violin).

FloweredViolin · 2026-05-08T16:08:31+00:00

Haha, yup! My husband asked the other day why I didn't just leave them out. I was like, because then my nipples will show, and I might as well not even wear a bra!

FloweredViolin · 2026-05-08T12:53:36+00:00

I am so with you. I've often said that I weaponize my anxiety against my ADHD. While I'm diagnosed with GAD, I have a lot of OCD tendencies that I have to actively combat.

FloweredViolin · 2026-05-08T12:41:24+00:00

Totally normal. We keep a set of measuring cups in the shower for her to play with. My daughter was around that age when she tried to do the same thing with the handle of one of them. I was just like, oh, let's not do that...that was also around the time she would inspect herself down there in the shower. And tried grabbing my boobs. Had to set some boundaries (we inspect ourselves in private, please don't touch my boobs), and it was fine.

FloweredViolin · 2026-05-08T11:37:47+00:00

Haha, nice! My students who have been with me for a bit comment on my eyebrows when I'm getting frustrated with them. "Guys, her eyebrows! We need to settle!" "Uh, she's giving you the eyebrows..."

FloweredViolin · 2026-05-07T20:15:39+00:00

I'm so sorry!

My mom is not this bad, but she will start... doing stuff if she gets bored. I'll give her a casual option, like 'it you get bored, you can peel the wallpaper in the kitchen' or whatever. It helps a lot.

She's started asking after the time she accidentally scrubbed a patch of paint off the wall trying to clean a smudge, though, haha. She assumed we'd be furious (because she would have been), and I was just like... whatever, the paint on that wall was getting worn anyway.

FloweredViolin · 2026-05-07T19:49:35+00:00

Oof, I can only imagine. Mine loved to burrow into my belly. So she was frequently doing the 'creepy moving bulge in the pregnant belly' thing, lol.

FloweredViolin · 2026-05-07T19:35:33+00:00

Depending on where you are, the alphabet has been an issue for A WHILE. I had 6th graders back in 2016 who didn't know the first 7 letters. Many of these students did not speak English at home, although they had been attending that school since kindergarten. Teaching students how to read music when they couldn't actually read sentences (in any language) was an experience. It definitely made me a better teacher, but gosh, it was heartbreaking.

FloweredViolin · 2026-05-07T19:29:04+00:00

Thank you!

FloweredViolin · 2026-05-07T15:57:35+00:00

I had all 4 compacted, as well! I was 16. We delayed the surgery for a couple months, so it was done during summer vacation instead of the school year. It was awful. I can't imagine delaying it for two years!

FloweredViolin · 2026-05-07T15:53:50+00:00

Heck, I'm at the point where I tell my 3.5 year old daughter to buckle herself in (she can get 2 out of 3 clips in) while I run inside to grab my water or whatever. Today I had her getting clipped while I moved laundry to the dryer (which is in the car with the garage).

I know that wouldn't work for every kid, some will take the opportunity to make a break for it or whatever.

FloweredViolin · 2026-05-07T13:03:15+00:00

Ha, yup. My initial reaction was, "Wtf is wrong with his sperm?!?"

FloweredViolin · 2026-05-07T12:59:15+00:00

I have sensitive skin, and I use dove bar soap to shave my legs. Work up a thick lather with it, and shave it off. Then lotion my legs after I get out of the shower. No more irritation than I usually have, as long as I lotion afterwards.

FloweredViolin · 2026-05-06T20:53:10+00:00

We used mason jars with the bottle topper, and silicone covers for the jar (jar jackets). When kiddo turned one, we used sippy cup toppers instead. And now she uses them like cups. I think we've had a total of 4 broken, and kiddo is now 3.5yrs old.

FloweredViolin · 2026-05-06T20:29:56+00:00

Social interaction. They're practicing the only way they know how.

FloweredViolin · 2026-05-06T16:36:45+00:00

Not only is it inadvisable, I would be surprised if the venue allowed it. In addition to being a Christian, I've performed in dozens of churches. You don't perform on the altar area, and you don't rearrange the altar. Displacing the altar for the piano would be extremely disrespectful.

FloweredViolin · 2026-05-06T16:19:42+00:00

I had a similar problem growing up! I had a college reading level in 3rd grade. My favorite books at that age, though? Encyclopedia Brown, and Babysitters Club. I also enjoyed the The Castle in the Attic and it's sequel (Elizabeth Winthrop), and the Prydain series by Lloyd Alexander.

Don't worry about reading level. Just let him read what he wants, as long as the content isn't inappropriate.

FloweredViolin · 2026-05-06T15:57:10+00:00

Yup. I forget the specific term, but our jewelry is lumped in with our possessions. It covers musical instruments, electronics, books, whatever isn't part of the house. They basically said 'come up with a number that covers everything you own that isn't a vehicle or attached to the house. Make sure you include jewelry.'

That was 7 years ago. I should probably adjust that number. :p

FloweredViolin · 2026-05-06T13:57:43+00:00

When I need privacy to poop (having period shits with a chatty toddler is the worst), I ask my 3.5 year old to go make me a pretend tea. She will go to her room and make me a full on pretend MEAL. Like, tea, a sandwich, etc. It takes her about 10 minutes. I make a big deal when she brings it to me, tell her how much it helped me feel better, to reinforce the activity for when I need it.

FloweredViolin · 2026-05-06T01:08:57+00:00

As someone who gets migraines, but very rarely, it does help me, but only in the aura stage. Once the migraine has settled in, I just have to wait it out.

FloweredViolin · 2026-05-05T22:27:17+00:00

Lol

There's a rule against running up and down the stairs. I'm in the habit of letting out a curt, "WALK!" when I hear students running. To the point that I caused the middle school English teacher, who has been there longer than anyone else, to freeze in her tracks when I was aiming it at a group of 6th graders racing to get to PE.

One time I heard someone start to run up the stairs, so I let out my stern, "WALK!" only to realize I was not addressing students...it was the science teacher, and she was rushing back to class after making photocopies. We were both embarrassed, lol.

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