It's always nice to hear from someone who has been where you're going, so to speak. I haven't been reminding you guys weekly, but the 4 Moms Thursday panel is still going on! 4 different moms, with a combined total of 35 children share their experiences and advice on Large Family Mothering. Definitely a must-read for those of us raising several children, homeschooling, etc!
This week, they are answering readers' questions and there are some neat ones. I tend to start reading here, with Kim C. and move on through the list, but you can do whatever floats your boat!
Connie @Smockity Frocks
Raising Olives
The Common Room
About Me
- MamaJ
- SINNER. Saved by GRACE. Living out life as a Mom, Wife, Daughter, Sister, and Friend. I love Jesus, my husband, my children, books, homeschooling and large quantities of coffee.
Showing posts with label Children. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Children. Show all posts
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
11 Step Program to Complete Before Having Children
(This is too cute. It was passed in an email and I thought I'd share. Even though it's pretty accurate, it's all still worth it!)
Lesson 1
1. Go to the grocery store.
2. Arrange to have your salary paid directly to their head office.
3. Go home.
4. Pick up the paper.
5. Read it for the last time.
Lesson 2
Before you finally go ahead and have children, find a couple who already are parents and berate them about their...
1. Methods of discipline.
2. Lack of patience.
3. Appallingly low tolerance levels.
4. Allowing their children to run wild.
5. Suggest ways in which they might improve their child's breastfeeding, sleep habits, toilet training, table manners, and overall behavior.
Enjoy it because it will be the last time in your life you will have all the answers.
Lesson 3
A really good way to discover how the nights might feel...
1. Get home from work and immediately begin walking around the living room from 5PM to 10PM carrying a wet bag weighing approximately 8-12 pounds, with a radio turned to static (or some other obnoxious sound) playing loudly. (Eat cold food with one hand for dinner)
2. At 10PM, put the bag gently down, set the alarm for midnight, and go to sleep.
3. Get up at 12 and walk around the living room again, with the bag, until 1AM.
4. Set the alarm for 3AM.
5. As you can't get back to sleep, get up at 2AM and make a drink and watch an infomercial.
6. Go to bed at 2:45AM.
7. Get up at 3AM when the alarm goes off.
8. Sing songs quietly in the dark until 4AM.
9. Get up. Make breakfast. Get ready for work and go to work (work hard and be productive)
Repeat steps 1-9 each night. Keep this up for 3-5 years. Look cheerful and together.
Lesson 4
Can you stand the mess children make? T o find out...
1. Smear peanut butter onto the sofa and jam onto the curtains.
2. Hide a piece of raw chicken behind the stereo and leave it there all summer.
3. Stick your fingers in the flower bed.
4. Then rub them on the clean walls.
5. Take your favorite book, photo album, etc. Wreck it.
6. Spill milk on your new pillows. Cover the stains with crayons. How does that look?
Lesson 5
Dressing small children is not as easy as it seems.
1. Buy an octopus and a small bag made out of loose mesh.
2. Attempt to put the octopus into the bag so that none of the arms hang out.
Time allowed for this - all morning.
Lesson 6
Forget the BMW and buy a mini-van. And don't think that you can leave it out in the driveway spotless and shining. Family cars don't look like that.
1. Buy a chocolate ice cream cone and put it in the glove compartment.
Leave it there.
2. Get a dime. Stick it in the CD player.
3. Take a family size package of chocolate cookies. Mash them into the back seat. Sprinkle cheerios all over the floor, then smash them with your foot.
4. Run a garden rake along both sides of the car.
Lesson 7
Go to the local grocery store. Take with you the closest thing you can find to a pre-school child. (A full-grown goat is an excellent choice). If you intend to have more than one child, then definitely take more than one goat. Buy your week's groceries without letting the goats out of your sight. Pay for everything the goat eats or destroys. Until you can easily accomplish this, do not even contemplate having children.
Lesson 8
1. Hollow out a melon.
2. Make a small hole in the side.
3. Suspend it from the ceiling and swing it from side to side.
4. Now get a bowl of soggy Cheerios and attempt to spoon them into the swaying melon by pretending to be an airplane.
5. Continue until half the Cheerios are gone.
6. Tip half into your lap. The other half, just throw up in the air.
You are now ready to feed a nine- month-old baby.
Lesson 9
Watch nothing else on TV but PBS, the Disney channel or Noggin for at least five years. (I know, you're thinking What's 'Noggin'?) Exactly the point.
Lesson 10
Make a recording of Fran Drescher saying 'mommy' repeatedly. (Important: no more than a four second delay between each 'mommy'; occasional crescendo to the level of a supersonic jet is required). Play this tape in your car everywhere you go for the next four years. You are now ready to take a long trip with a toddler.
Lesson 11
Start talking to an adult of your choice. Have someone else continually tug on your skirt hem, shirt- sleeve, or elbow while playing the 'mommy' tape made from Lesson 10 above. You are now ready to have a conversation with an adult while there is a child in the room.
Lesson 1
1. Go to the grocery store.
2. Arrange to have your salary paid directly to their head office.
3. Go home.
4. Pick up the paper.
5. Read it for the last time.
Lesson 2
Before you finally go ahead and have children, find a couple who already are parents and berate them about their...
1. Methods of discipline.
2. Lack of patience.
3. Appallingly low tolerance levels.
4. Allowing their children to run wild.
5. Suggest ways in which they might improve their child's breastfeeding, sleep habits, toilet training, table manners, and overall behavior.
Enjoy it because it will be the last time in your life you will have all the answers.
Lesson 3
A really good way to discover how the nights might feel...
1. Get home from work and immediately begin walking around the living room from 5PM to 10PM carrying a wet bag weighing approximately 8-12 pounds, with a radio turned to static (or some other obnoxious sound) playing loudly. (Eat cold food with one hand for dinner)
2. At 10PM, put the bag gently down, set the alarm for midnight, and go to sleep.
3. Get up at 12 and walk around the living room again, with the bag, until 1AM.
4. Set the alarm for 3AM.
5. As you can't get back to sleep, get up at 2AM and make a drink and watch an infomercial.
6. Go to bed at 2:45AM.
7. Get up at 3AM when the alarm goes off.
8. Sing songs quietly in the dark until 4AM.
9. Get up. Make breakfast. Get ready for work and go to work (work hard and be productive)
Repeat steps 1-9 each night. Keep this up for 3-5 years. Look cheerful and together.
Lesson 4
Can you stand the mess children make? T o find out...
1. Smear peanut butter onto the sofa and jam onto the curtains.
2. Hide a piece of raw chicken behind the stereo and leave it there all summer.
3. Stick your fingers in the flower bed.
4. Then rub them on the clean walls.
5. Take your favorite book, photo album, etc. Wreck it.
6. Spill milk on your new pillows. Cover the stains with crayons. How does that look?
Lesson 5
Dressing small children is not as easy as it seems.
1. Buy an octopus and a small bag made out of loose mesh.
2. Attempt to put the octopus into the bag so that none of the arms hang out.
Time allowed for this - all morning.
Lesson 6
Forget the BMW and buy a mini-van. And don't think that you can leave it out in the driveway spotless and shining. Family cars don't look like that.
1. Buy a chocolate ice cream cone and put it in the glove compartment.
Leave it there.
2. Get a dime. Stick it in the CD player.
3. Take a family size package of chocolate cookies. Mash them into the back seat. Sprinkle cheerios all over the floor, then smash them with your foot.
4. Run a garden rake along both sides of the car.
Lesson 7
Go to the local grocery store. Take with you the closest thing you can find to a pre-school child. (A full-grown goat is an excellent choice). If you intend to have more than one child, then definitely take more than one goat. Buy your week's groceries without letting the goats out of your sight. Pay for everything the goat eats or destroys. Until you can easily accomplish this, do not even contemplate having children.
Lesson 8
1. Hollow out a melon.
2. Make a small hole in the side.
3. Suspend it from the ceiling and swing it from side to side.
4. Now get a bowl of soggy Cheerios and attempt to spoon them into the swaying melon by pretending to be an airplane.
5. Continue until half the Cheerios are gone.
6. Tip half into your lap. The other half, just throw up in the air.
You are now ready to feed a nine- month-old baby.
Lesson 9
Watch nothing else on TV but PBS, the Disney channel or Noggin for at least five years. (I know, you're thinking What's 'Noggin'?) Exactly the point.
Lesson 10
Make a recording of Fran Drescher saying 'mommy' repeatedly. (Important: no more than a four second delay between each 'mommy'; occasional crescendo to the level of a supersonic jet is required). Play this tape in your car everywhere you go for the next four years. You are now ready to take a long trip with a toddler.
Lesson 11
Start talking to an adult of your choice. Have someone else continually tug on your skirt hem, shirt- sleeve, or elbow while playing the 'mommy' tape made from Lesson 10 above. You are now ready to have a conversation with an adult while there is a child in the room.
Monday, June 28, 2010
So many in need, so few who are willing....
We are so blessed to be at a church where families are celebrated, supported and encouraged in their walk with Christ. We are also blessed to be in a place that loves children, not just everyone's biological children, but adoptive and foster children as well. Several families in our church have been able to bring home, through adoption, precious little ones who desperately needed a real family to belong to. What an amazing opportunity they have been given, to grow up in a loving environment, with parents who truly desire the best for their lives. Not just the "world's best" either, but God's best.
Yet, this isn't always the case. There are homes all over our affluent country (yes, even despite a "recession" we're still one of the richest countries in the world!) that have empty rooms, empty chairs at the barely used tables, and people who are unwilling to see the need they could fill. In other parts of the world, children are going to sleep at night who haven't been held, haven't been smiled at, haven't been loved. Even in our own country, there are children who need to be rescued from the loneliness of growing up in the social services system. Every night, just wishing they had a Mommy and Daddy....
That's why stories like this one are so heart-breaking to me. So many people in this country take child-bearing for granted. They cut off God's blessing of children with birth control, they run to abort precious lives because they deem it an inconvenience. It must break God's heart to look down on these little ones and see their pain. I wish I could hop on a jet and bring one of them home with me. But, what I can do is pray, so pray I will.
"I left my heart there."
Yet, this isn't always the case. There are homes all over our affluent country (yes, even despite a "recession" we're still one of the richest countries in the world!) that have empty rooms, empty chairs at the barely used tables, and people who are unwilling to see the need they could fill. In other parts of the world, children are going to sleep at night who haven't been held, haven't been smiled at, haven't been loved. Even in our own country, there are children who need to be rescued from the loneliness of growing up in the social services system. Every night, just wishing they had a Mommy and Daddy....
That's why stories like this one are so heart-breaking to me. So many people in this country take child-bearing for granted. They cut off God's blessing of children with birth control, they run to abort precious lives because they deem it an inconvenience. It must break God's heart to look down on these little ones and see their pain. I wish I could hop on a jet and bring one of them home with me. But, what I can do is pray, so pray I will.
"I left my heart there."
Friday, February 26, 2010
"A Year of YES"
When I saw this post by Ann Voskamp, my eyes just filled with tears. I know how often I tell my children, "no". No, we can't make that project. No, we can't go outside yet. No, you can't get muddy, I am tired of washing muddy clothes. Rarely ever a "Yes!" Sigh.
If you have a moment, I promise it will be a worthwhile read. Here's a taste...
"Mama... today... could I..." she turns and those eyelashes, gold whispers, brush my cheek. Her hands embrace my face and her breath falls warm, desperate.
"Oh, I just know..." Her eyes, dark stars, entreat. "I just know you are going to say No."
In her eyes, I can see mine and I am known for no.
No, you can't and no, that's not a good idea and no, put that away. For no, we aren't going and no, let's not and no, not now. (Oh, sweet child... and to think when they first laid you in my arms, you were all my yeses!)
She can't know of the all the other ones I only speak to myself, about myself, for myself. No, you can't be that -- no, you can't do that -- no good, no chance, no hope. (Oh, to be gentle with self. Grace always embraces...)
Or the ones I try to veil, the ones I shamefully stomp at God? No, I don't want this! No, I'm not doing that! No, don't change this, no, leave that alone, no, don't muck this up, no, no, no! (Oh, but You said yes to me before time began, yes to me in Christ with the arms nailed wide...)
What we speak to others, is what we speak to ourselves, is what we speak to God...."
If you have a moment, I promise it will be a worthwhile read. Here's a taste...
"Mama... today... could I..." she turns and those eyelashes, gold whispers, brush my cheek. Her hands embrace my face and her breath falls warm, desperate.
"Oh, I just know..." Her eyes, dark stars, entreat. "I just know you are going to say No."
In her eyes, I can see mine and I am known for no.
No, you can't and no, that's not a good idea and no, put that away. For no, we aren't going and no, let's not and no, not now. (Oh, sweet child... and to think when they first laid you in my arms, you were all my yeses!)
She can't know of the all the other ones I only speak to myself, about myself, for myself. No, you can't be that -- no, you can't do that -- no good, no chance, no hope. (Oh, to be gentle with self. Grace always embraces...)
Or the ones I try to veil, the ones I shamefully stomp at God? No, I don't want this! No, I'm not doing that! No, don't change this, no, leave that alone, no, don't muck this up, no, no, no! (Oh, but You said yes to me before time began, yes to me in Christ with the arms nailed wide...)
What we speak to others, is what we speak to ourselves, is what we speak to God...."
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Can't think of a name for this post.
We got this bouncy seat when Little Man was a baby. He quickly learned how to escape, or at least get out from under the bar on it! A few times, he actually put his hands on the ground and tried to wiggle out of it. Without being taught, Baby Girl was doing the same thing! (On second thought, look at Little Man in that picture, maybe he did tell her how to do it...)
Friday, August 22, 2008
To Immunize or Not to Immunize?
Stumbled across this article this morning, and it got my wheels turning. Since the day I stood in line (in the Marines) with 100 other young women and men, getting stabbed with needle after needle, I have been wary of vaccinations and their supposed prevention techniques. When we weren't even told what the exact immunization was, or given a chance to refuse -which would have meant immediate discharge from the military- you start to resent the government's heavy handedness. Just a little. Or when you have to be vaccinated for the anthrax virus, and the injection site on your arm swells up the size of a softball, hmmmm, you start to question the safety of all these vaccines! So, this particular article bothered me.
"Vaccine-wary parents spark public health worry"
The parent in the article has chosen not to have her children immunized for everything under the sun, and it has concerned other parents whose children attend the same school. Her reasons are sound and they should have most parents concerned.
“If you read the list of ingredients about what you’re putting intramuscularly into your child, it’s scary,” said Margulis. “They’re not just giving you a little dose of dead bacteria.”
To further spark some interest into the issue, take a look at the way they use they stem cells from aborted babies to make some of the vaccines we pump into our children.
Fetal Vaccines
So, let me know, where do you guys stand on vaccines? As home-schoolers, it isn't mandatory to get the vaccines for school purposes. Do some of you get them anyway? Has anybody gotten some immunizations, and refused others? I think parents deserve the right to choose what is best for their children, whether that be schooling, vaccinations, what clothing is appropriate, etc. With the rising links between some vaccines and Autism, I don't think I can afford to just take what the government says at face value. Don't think it's just the crazy, right-wing, Conservatives who share this concern. Even Hollywood actress Jenny McCarthy believes vaccines played a big role in her son developing Autism.
Tell me what you think.
"Vaccine-wary parents spark public health worry"
The parent in the article has chosen not to have her children immunized for everything under the sun, and it has concerned other parents whose children attend the same school. Her reasons are sound and they should have most parents concerned.
“If you read the list of ingredients about what you’re putting intramuscularly into your child, it’s scary,” said Margulis. “They’re not just giving you a little dose of dead bacteria.”
To further spark some interest into the issue, take a look at the way they use they stem cells from aborted babies to make some of the vaccines we pump into our children.
Fetal Vaccines
So, let me know, where do you guys stand on vaccines? As home-schoolers, it isn't mandatory to get the vaccines for school purposes. Do some of you get them anyway? Has anybody gotten some immunizations, and refused others? I think parents deserve the right to choose what is best for their children, whether that be schooling, vaccinations, what clothing is appropriate, etc. With the rising links between some vaccines and Autism, I don't think I can afford to just take what the government says at face value. Don't think it's just the crazy, right-wing, Conservatives who share this concern. Even Hollywood actress Jenny McCarthy believes vaccines played a big role in her son developing Autism.
Tell me what you think.
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Fat Brain Toys
If you have a spare hour or two minute, you have to go check out this cool website! My Mom has ordered several things for the boys from this store, and they love every single toy! You can even choose the manufacturing country you would like to buy toys from, i.e. Made in America, etc. There are tons of great toys for under $20 as well, so no need to break the piggy bank.
What are you still doing here? Go, browse!
What are you still doing here? Go, browse!
Friday, August 15, 2008
Thursday, July 3, 2008
The conclusion continuing saga...
Okay, here's an update to the "May I be excused?" battle. Well, the method I was using from this book, should have worked. It would have worked just fine on XMan, he does not enjoy any type of pain or discipline and would have "caved" a lot sooner. Little Man, on the other hand, just seemed to shut down emotionally. He would glaze over and look defeated, and yet he wouldn't SAY THE WORDS I was asking him to say!!! He cried when Daddy picked him up and tried to reason with him once again, that was the only form of emotion he offered. He quit saying, "No," and just looked at me so sad. But, basically, I spent hours upon hours yesterday after each meal trying to maintain some form of obedience with the child.
Last night, for dinner, I just let them eat in the living room with a video, I was so exhausted from the whole day's ordeal! I didn't even feel like going to our church picnic, because we'd had such a horrible day.... So, I copped out I guess!! There is just no way we could continue doing the same method with him, it wasn't working. We're gonna drop it today and pray about how to handle it. He has been really responsive to directions this morning, so we'll see, maybe it did spark something in his little mind. I am going to make a big deal about XMan's manners when we eat lunch and give him a reward for asking to be excused.
We'll see.....
Last night, for dinner, I just let them eat in the living room with a video, I was so exhausted from the whole day's ordeal! I didn't even feel like going to our church picnic, because we'd had such a horrible day.... So, I copped out I guess!! There is just no way we could continue doing the same method with him, it wasn't working. We're gonna drop it today and pray about how to handle it. He has been really responsive to directions this morning, so we'll see, maybe it did spark something in his little mind. I am going to make a big deal about XMan's manners when we eat lunch and give him a reward for asking to be excused.
We'll see.....
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
4 hours, 33 minutes, 26 seconds. Otherwise known as "The Interrogation"
4 hours, 33 minutes, 26 seconds. That's the amount of time Little Man sat stubbornly at the table, refusing to allow these four little words to pass his lips, "May I be excused?" We sat down to eat an early dinner at 5pm, hoping to go fishing for just a little while after we had eaten. That never happened, because we spent the rest of the evening watching the most astonishing display of self-will I have ever seen. This child is destined to be a CIA agent, I'm telling you.
We had an incident about a week ago, sitting at the table for 30 minutes until he finally repeated after Daddy, "May....I....be....scused?" Last night, however, he was NOT giving in so easily. He alternated between crying, defiantly exclaiming, "NO," staring into space, and trying to make me laugh. Each time I asked him to say, "May I be excused?" he would stick out his bottom lip and shout, "NO!"
No, don't misunderstand me here, this little boy KNOWS how to say it. He has repeated each word after us several times. He even laughs when his big brother asks politely to be excused. He just kept refusing to utter the request! So, when he was being so completely defiant and disobedient, we had no choice but to make him sit there until he could obey.
4 hours, 33 minutes, 26 seconds later........... Hubby and I both took turns being "Good Cop, Bad Cop." We administered the "Rod of Discipline." We tried to bargain. We washed the dishes, cleaned off the table, turned out the lights and let him sit there. He, of course, tried to get out of the chair several times. Each time we had to put his little tushie back in it and repeat our warnings. Bathtime and bedtime had both come and gone. He was actually begging me to go "night-night!" Finally, he passed out leaning against me as I tried reasoning with him once more. As I picked him up to go to bed, he came to a little bit, and there on his face was the slightest hint of victory! I couldn't believe it!!!!
This morning, I braced myself for the obvious confrontation that would be following breakfast. I was not to be disappointed, as we spent yet another hour trying to get that will to bend! I felt like I was trying to get a Mafia Boss to rat out an accomplice.
"C'mon, buddy. See this here Chewable Vitamin? You tell me what I need to hear, and this is all yours. All yous gotta do is open up!"
He stared longingly at the vitamin, and shook his head, "No." Big brother came in and laid a favorite toy on the table as bait.
"Look, I'll t'row in the toy too, you just say the four little words, a'ight?"
Tears in his eyes, again, shook the head "No."
Finally, I had had enough and I wasn't sitting at the table for four hours, I had things to do!! So, he got the "Rod" again and is in his bed until I figure out what to do!!!!
I can't believe this child's will-power!!! Now, tell me that children are not selfish by nature and they can always be lovingly reasoned with????? Because ain't even the Supernanny gonna get this kid to break!! It's all up to Jesus, now!
Y'all pray for me, a'ight??
We had an incident about a week ago, sitting at the table for 30 minutes until he finally repeated after Daddy, "May....I....be....scused?" Last night, however, he was NOT giving in so easily. He alternated between crying, defiantly exclaiming, "NO," staring into space, and trying to make me laugh. Each time I asked him to say, "May I be excused?" he would stick out his bottom lip and shout, "NO!"
No, don't misunderstand me here, this little boy KNOWS how to say it. He has repeated each word after us several times. He even laughs when his big brother asks politely to be excused. He just kept refusing to utter the request! So, when he was being so completely defiant and disobedient, we had no choice but to make him sit there until he could obey.
4 hours, 33 minutes, 26 seconds later........... Hubby and I both took turns being "Good Cop, Bad Cop." We administered the "Rod of Discipline." We tried to bargain. We washed the dishes, cleaned off the table, turned out the lights and let him sit there. He, of course, tried to get out of the chair several times. Each time we had to put his little tushie back in it and repeat our warnings. Bathtime and bedtime had both come and gone. He was actually begging me to go "night-night!" Finally, he passed out leaning against me as I tried reasoning with him once more. As I picked him up to go to bed, he came to a little bit, and there on his face was the slightest hint of victory! I couldn't believe it!!!!
This morning, I braced myself for the obvious confrontation that would be following breakfast. I was not to be disappointed, as we spent yet another hour trying to get that will to bend! I felt like I was trying to get a Mafia Boss to rat out an accomplice.
"C'mon, buddy. See this here Chewable Vitamin? You tell me what I need to hear, and this is all yours. All yous gotta do is open up!"
He stared longingly at the vitamin, and shook his head, "No." Big brother came in and laid a favorite toy on the table as bait.
"Look, I'll t'row in the toy too, you just say the four little words, a'ight?"
Tears in his eyes, again, shook the head "No."
Finally, I had had enough and I wasn't sitting at the table for four hours, I had things to do!! So, he got the "Rod" again and is in his bed until I figure out what to do!!!!
I can't believe this child's will-power!!! Now, tell me that children are not selfish by nature and they can always be lovingly reasoned with????? Because ain't even the Supernanny gonna get this kid to break!! It's all up to Jesus, now!
Y'all pray for me, a'ight??
Saturday, May 17, 2008
I love these guys!
Congrats to the Duggars! #18 on the way!
Neat video from their Mother's Day appearance on the "Today" show.
Neat video from their Mother's Day appearance on the "Today" show.
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
This is what happens when your parents are crazy....
I bet you guys thought I wasted away after that last post, didn't ya? Well, no, I am alive and well. Besides, it would take quite a bit for me to waste away.
So...what was I talking about? Oh yeah, crazy parents! No, not my parents.
My chidren's parents. You know, ME and HUBBY???
I've told you before that our kids have little choice but to "adapt and overcome," around here. Yesterday was no different.
When Hubby is off work, we typically have at least one "Project Day". We're a family of builders at heart; so we like to hammer, paint, saw in half and demolish/rebuild anything we can get our hands on. We recently saw some awesome dvd/cd shelves at IKEA, and they were perfect for our needs. But the price/room-in-the-car combo didn't quite work out. Hehe.
"Hmmm, we could make those," Hubby thought. Ah, the magic words. They launch an onslaught of manual labor, creativecontainment entertainment ideas for the kids, and gathering of supplies.
"Oh, and while we're at it, why don't we redesign the big bookshelf and make it two smaller ones?" Sure, no problem, honey.....
Some wood, some paint, and a few days later the project was underway. Unfortunately, the chosen day was set to be a rainy one. No problem. We strung up a tarp, got everything under the carport, and began sawing away. Here's where the crazy part comes in.
The project was going to be an all-day affair, everyone knew that from the start. So, the boys tried to grin and bear it for quite a while. They had been happily playing in the yard, until the sprinkles started. Then they ran underneath the carport and started a new game. Even that was soon boring, so they needed another diversion.
It had to be outside, we were still busy building our shelves.
It had to be dry, because the rain was steadily picking up.
Solution: bring their tent ouside for them! It worked for a while... Finally, we had to give up and let them go back inside to play in their room. (We turned the monitor on, and put up the baby gate!) Don't tell OSHA about our super-organized work zone, k?
So...what was I talking about? Oh yeah, crazy parents! No, not my parents.
My chidren's parents. You know, ME and HUBBY???
I've told you before that our kids have little choice but to "adapt and overcome," around here. Yesterday was no different.
When Hubby is off work, we typically have at least one "Project Day". We're a family of builders at heart; so we like to hammer, paint, saw in half and demolish/rebuild anything we can get our hands on. We recently saw some awesome dvd/cd shelves at IKEA, and they were perfect for our needs. But the price/room-in-the-car combo didn't quite work out. Hehe.
"Hmmm, we could make those," Hubby thought. Ah, the magic words. They launch an onslaught of manual labor, creative
"Oh, and while we're at it, why don't we redesign the big bookshelf and make it two smaller ones?" Sure, no problem, honey.....
Some wood, some paint, and a few days later the project was underway. Unfortunately, the chosen day was set to be a rainy one. No problem. We strung up a tarp, got everything under the carport, and began sawing away. Here's where the crazy part comes in.
The project was going to be an all-day affair, everyone knew that from the start. So, the boys tried to grin and bear it for quite a while. They had been happily playing in the yard, until the sprinkles started. Then they ran underneath the carport and started a new game. Even that was soon boring, so they needed another diversion.
It had to be outside, we were still busy building our shelves.
It had to be dry, because the rain was steadily picking up.
Solution: bring their tent ouside for them! It worked for a while... Finally, we had to give up and let them go back inside to play in their room. (We turned the monitor on, and put up the baby gate!) Don't tell OSHA about our super-organized work zone, k?
Saturday, December 1, 2007
And so it begins...
Well, I knew the day would come eventually, and today was that day. The day all mothers know will come, and yet hope they might be able to avoid.
Little Man said THE WORD. You know, the WORD that starts a whole new level of child training. The WORD that makes things change in an instant. It takes the smoking out of a restaurant, the fat out of cookies, and the parking out of a really good space. That WORD.
It all started when...
A friend and I had to go get some things for our MOPS group. We were so over shopping with three very bored little children and stopped to grab a bite to eat. X-Man went to play in the playarea and we finished up with the two littles. Little Man was tired, cranky and not happy about being left behind at the table. He started a World Class Tantrum in about 6.0 seconds. As I am trying to correct him and make him calm down, he screams and babbles his defiance. He isn't quite fluent yet, he only has a few words in his vocabulary. Mommy, Daddy, bruddah, dog, shoe, and hewwo? are the ones we have distinguished.
But, today, hidden in his protest was a very clear, very audible, "NO!!"
My jaw hit the ground! I could not believe my baby was already saying NO!!
I looked at my friend in amazement. "Did he just say No???"
"I think so!!!" she answered, equally amazed.
Then the lady across the aisle pipes up, "Yeah, he did, I heard him!"
Great, even a stranger heard him!
Well, now we have to be more diligent than ever. Time to re-read "To Train Up a Child," I suppose! Anyone have any other good child training books they want to share?
Little Man said THE WORD. You know, the WORD that starts a whole new level of child training. The WORD that makes things change in an instant. It takes the smoking out of a restaurant, the fat out of cookies, and the parking out of a really good space. That WORD.
It all started when...
A friend and I had to go get some things for our MOPS group. We were so over shopping with three very bored little children and stopped to grab a bite to eat. X-Man went to play in the playarea and we finished up with the two littles. Little Man was tired, cranky and not happy about being left behind at the table. He started a World Class Tantrum in about 6.0 seconds. As I am trying to correct him and make him calm down, he screams and babbles his defiance. He isn't quite fluent yet, he only has a few words in his vocabulary. Mommy, Daddy, bruddah, dog, shoe, and hewwo? are the ones we have distinguished.
But, today, hidden in his protest was a very clear, very audible, "NO!!"
My jaw hit the ground! I could not believe my baby was already saying NO!!
I looked at my friend in amazement. "Did he just say No???"
"I think so!!!" she answered, equally amazed.
Then the lady across the aisle pipes up, "Yeah, he did, I heard him!"
Great, even a stranger heard him!
Well, now we have to be more diligent than ever. Time to re-read "To Train Up a Child," I suppose! Anyone have any other good child training books they want to share?
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