I always told my kids I was going for the title of "World's Meanest Mother" although I am sure I was much more lenient than my parents were. . .
You both can be proud of the kids' linguistic skills even when one of them puts his voice to work in a hollaring fit. I used to chant to myself to keep my sanity that God or Mother Nature or whomever was in charge that gave my kids their personality traits did so for a reason. . .reminding myself that every trait has both a positive and negative, i.e., the kid is tenacious, the kid is stubborn; the kid is talented in debate, the kid was born arguing with a sign post. . .the kid has a great linguistic skills, the kid chatters incessantly. . .the kid that asked why incessantly about everything turned out to be a doctor at Johns Hopkins. . .(fortunately I let her live long enough to get there). . .I haven't found a flip side for colic, though. Man, that was awful with nothing to redeem it! I fell asleep one night while the oldest was colicky and dropped her on the floor. And of course, I still have a tiny nagging corner of my mind where I harbor guilt for that!
My kids never threw a tantrum probably because they had seen me dump a pail of water on the cat for climbing on the screen door and they figured I might do the same to them if they misbehaved.
In re: Rita's trip through Florida
Glad the snack food, in whatever quantity, is in good order. I hope the cruise is a pleasant one, even if not the one planned. . .I have always secretly wanted to go on a cruise, but am afraid I might be hanging over the rail green about the gills the whole trip.