Category Archives: math

July 6, 2012 · 11:08 am

NSABD

It’s National Share A Blog Day (NSABD)!  Okay, I made that up, but I’ve been thinking a lot about how to broaden my reach.  In other words, I want more readers, more Facebook “Likes,” more Twitter followers, a book deal, a talk show, and a boat!  (One with a bathroom on board, thank you very much.)

I like to dream big, but I’m also humble and have a hard time taking a compliment (go ahead and try) and asking for things, so I’d be over the moon happy with just a few new blog subscribers.  I figured since I’ve been entertaining you for almost two years with tales from the crypt Mama-hood (my blog-iversary, blog birthday or whatever you want to call it is just a few days away!), it’s about time you did something for me (said The Runaway Mama very, very nicely).

This is where NSABD comes in.  All I want you to do is share my blog with two people (or 10…that would be cool) (or 100…wow!) in your life.  And because I’m such a good Mama, I’ve made it easy.  Below you’ll see a recap of some of my most recent posts, as well as a few “oldie but goodie” acronym-themed posts – AOC and PVSD – in honor of this one.  And at the very bottom of this page is a new “sharing” button so you can easily share this very post (or any post at all) with every single person on the planet.  Just like that.  See, I did all the hard work for you.  All you have to do is share it.  Because sharing is nice.  And not sharing is crappy.  Here goes…

  • Wonky Mama (n.):  A Mama who has too much time on her hands and takes a dozen pictures of her son mailing his first letter at the post office.  Read “Postal” here.
  • Sometimes good parenting feels bad.  It’s that simple (except it’s not simple at all).  Read about it here.
  • Considering a postnuptial agreement?  Read “Testimony” here.
  • To have or not to have another baby named after a Star Wars character?  Read “Luke Skywalker” here.
  • Planning a trip to Legoland?  For an expert (I use that term very loosely) review, read “Legoland: The Good, The Great, and The Well…” here.
  • Do you like math?  Check out some Runaway Mama Word Problems here and here.
  • Acute Onset Chaos (AOC).  A must read, especially during the summer when play dates are plentiful.  Read about it here.
  • Post Vacation Stress Disorder (PVSD).  Required reading before your next kid-free vacation!  Read “PVSD” here.

Okay, that should do it.  Thanks for helping a Mama out on (fake) National Share A Blog Day.  From one Mama to another, “Abracadabra, please, and thank you” (that’s what Riley would say).  In other words, thanks for reading and sharing!

p.s. Have you signed up to receive email alerts when I publish a new post?  Have you “Liked” my Runaway Mama Facebook page yet?  Are you following me on Twitter?  You can do all of these things by clicking on the links to the right.  Over here ——–>

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Filed under Acute Onset Chaos (AOC), Legoland, math, motherhood, parenting, vacation

June 13, 2012 · 11:38 am

Word Problems VI

About a year ago, the Runaway Mama organized all of the baby supplies, toys, and clothing collecting dust in her house and brought them to a local consignment store. Consignment Mama!  She was (not surprisingly) lazy about checking in with the consignment store to see if her stuff sold.  She remembered calling the store once and was told she had about $40 on her account.  That was a long time ago so there must have been a lot more money by now, maybe even enough to afford a shirt at Anthropologie!  (Shopaholic Mama!)

A few weeks ago, when the Runaway Mama finally remembered to call the consignment store to ask for her check, they told her she had zero dollars in her account.  “How could that be?” asked the Runaway Mama.  Then the woman on the phone explained to her that it was their policy to clear accounts after one year.  Oh.  After hanging up the phone, for how long did the Runaway Mama want to bang her head against a wall?

It’s been more than two weeks and the feeling hasn’t gone away.

For how many minutes does the Runaway Mama need to be alone with a not-quite-house-trained puppy, her own dog, and her two kids before realizing she’s – as Riley would say – so not ready to get a puppy no matter how much fun it would be to finally name a girl?

Ten minutes.  My sister-in-law left with me with her new puppy, Jake, while she ran a quick errand.  He was perfect the whole time, but the energy it took to keep track of his every move and sniff and to make sure he didn’t mistake Dylan’s Star Wars figures for chew toys all the while serving at the pleasure of my adorable but demanding children was exhausting.  No, I’m so not ready for a puppy.  My little Gertie will have to wait.

What’s the probability – regardless of the time of day, the weather outside, or the ruling political party in Congress – that each and every time you ask Riley, “What’s the magic word?” his answer will be, “Abracadabra, please and thank you.”  

100%.

Grandma Irene sent the boys $25 Toys R Us gift cards to celebrate graduation. That meant the boys could buy new toys and the Runaway Mama didn’t have to contribute anything.  Not a single penny.  Yah!  Not so fast.  The Runaway Mama left Toys R Us with the following: a BeyBlade Extreme Top System Stadium ($12.99), a BeyBlade Extreme Top ($12.99), a Marvel Super Hero Adventure Playset ($34.99), and a LeapPad Carrying Case ($12.99).  Including the $50 in gift cards, how much did the free trip to Toys R Us cost The Runaway Mama?

$23.96 plus tax.  However, getting out of the toy store in less than an hour with no crying, fighting, pee and/or poop accidents, whining about riding the creepy Elmo car near the exit (50 cents per ride), or begging for candy and crap from the candy and crap machines near the exit (25 cents for each piece of candy and crap) was PRICELESS. 

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Filed under math, Shopaholic Mama, toys