Ticket to Ride September 22, 2009

 

With a brother who can’t talk yet, and a baby sister who still eats every 3 hours, Sam gets jipped around here pretty often .  When I saw how much she was waiting, and how little time I was spending doing fun things with her, I felt pretty bad.

It also makes me crazy that she is keenly aware of the fact that Mom is nursing, or in the middle of a diaper change, or putting someone down for nap…  You get the picture.  Like the status of one facebook friend, I was  “tired of saying ‘the first time I ask…”  Sam was pushing the limit big time. 

So I started making tickets.   A bike ride, a walk, singing songs, a treat, a puzzle, coloring, movie time, a cuddle, cooking project, play date, park date…

If I catch her doing something helpful, or following directions promptly, she chooses a ticket.  Every time I have to ask too many times, or the attitude gets in our way, I choose a ticket to take back. 

Now she’s motivated to act when Mom is busy, and I have a tangible reminder to make time for my first baby.

With the milk come the tears August 18, 2009

I remember my midwife gave me an article while I was pregnant that said something like this.  It was definitely true for me; while the baby blues have been gone a while now,  I know postpartum depression holds many of us in its clenches.  When I saw this article, I thought I’d share:

http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?hideNav=1&locale=0&sourceId=ac2f15e67b5b2210VgnVCM100000176f620a____&vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD

We talk to toys…and bedding…and writing utensils August 18, 2009

One strategy that has always worked well for our toddlers is to talk to the toys- toys at home, at church, at the store. 

“Levi- tell the bunny: thanks for letting me hold you.  Stay with your bunny family on the shelf.  See you next time we come to the store.”

“Tell blanket:  stay here, blanket.  I’ll come back for naptime.”  (I can’t believe he does this- blanket is very special).

“Put that baby to bed, Sam.  She’s too tired to go to the park- then we give her a few minutes to tuck baby in and hire a babysitter.” (She couldn’t possibly leave the baby alone!)

“Put those lids on the markers so they don’t dry out waiting for you.  Tell them:  Stay in the box, markers.  We’ll use you tomorrow.”

So we sound like morons, but it makes life easier.  Maybe it will work for your family.

Tabletime 1 August 12, 2009

This first method has been in use for quite a while since it works so well.  We have a “stoplight” picture on our wall near the kitchen table, along with a paperclip that moves to align with the green, yellow, or red circles.  To the side we’ve written three rules:  Be kind, Stay in your seat, Use an inside voice. 

When the children arrive at the table (just Sam, in this case), the paperclip is on green.  When a rule is broken, they are warned; if another rule is broken, the paperclip is moved to the yellow circle, and a child is asked to leave the table for a few minutes until he/she is invited to return. 

If the prodigal child offends again, the snack or meal is over for her/him(yes, even if they haven’t eaten much).  When we first started this, I found myself saying, “We’ll be sure to have a big breakfast in the morning.”  (Sam almost never gets sent away at any other meal, but she’s tired at dinner).

Anyway, this saved us a lot of frustration in our house from saying, “Sit down please; come back to the table please,” etc, etc.  She hasn’t been sent away in a while.

More Child Labor July 26, 2009

As evidenced by previous posts, I’m always trying to come up with new ways my small children can help out around here. 

Levi’s new responsibility is to take his diapers to the trash can (Eliza’s, too if he’s around for her changing).  I came up with this one when I broke my big toe last week- and realized after throwing many diapers toward the trash can- that I have minimal talent for what I’m now calling “trashketball.”  

Here he is in action:

 

Besties July 12, 2009

Did you hear this new word yet?  “Besties?”  How far behind am I that I just caught wind of it a couple weeks ago?  Anyway, this is the best description for a special bond I’m enjoying in my life.  Our connection may have been formed only recently, but I can assure you that this relationship definitely falls in the BFF category.  Who is this special person, you ask?  Who has me gushing so?  Well, person may not be the right term.  No, my heart has been captured by a new piece of hardware.  Take a look.  Here it is in all it’s glory:

 

It may look like just a simple gate to you, but this  sturdy contraption closes off my kitchen from my living room.  How did this result in such a mad love affair?  Well, just imagine- I can cook in relative peace (see the hooligans on the other side).

 

 Eliza’s swing (now in the kitchen) can actually serve it’s purpose.

 

And best of all, I don’t have to stand new the table while nursing to try and prevent Levi’s acrobatics (see our previos post, “Levi’s New Trick”) from resulting in stickifying my newly mopped floor, or worse, producing a concussion. 

Yes, the passion I feel for my new gate makes me want to shout from the rooftops- Everyone needs a “Besty!!!” (Can I use “Besties that way, or am I just showing my age now?)

Loved This Article about Mothering July 7, 2009

I discovered magazine articles when I noticed somewhere after child #2 that I was finishing fewer and fewer novels.  An article can be finished in a nursing session; it can inform me, provoke thought, and maybe even entertain.  When youre a reader who spends your day with three people under the age of 4, the article is the way to go. 

 

Anyway, the first article I thought I’d share is one that offers tips to mothers that may help them feel more fulfilled when they’re bogged down in the every-day tasks of mothering.  Here was the tip I most identified with:

“Don’t run faster than you have strength

It’s hard for me to feel happy when I’m tired and overscheduled….One thing that helps me is to limit my to-do list to three or four of the most important tasks….I also try not to do too much multitasking. In our family, I’ve found that spilled milk is a tragedy only if I have planned a million activities for the day and am trying to serve breakfast while also checking my e-mail and getting laundry started. Families with young children need space in the day to wiggle. Parents of young children need space in the day to breathe. Emptiness, anger, and exhaustion are not what Heavenly Father expects from or desires for us.”

 

I love those last few lines.  If you think you might be interested in the rest of the article, here’s a link (the magazine I subscribe to offers their articles free online):

http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?hideNav=1&locale=265&sourceId=6445ceb47f381210VgnVCM100000176f620a____&vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD

Child Labor Cont’d April 25, 2009

So I’ve mentioned before my affinity for putting my oldest to work, but 8 months pregnant, I gotta tell ya- I don’t know what we’d do without her.  Last Sunday, both of us feeling those Sunday lazies, we naturally turned to rock, paper, scissors to determine who would be getting off the couch to feed our hungry little guy when Sam declares, “I got it, guys!  I’ll do it.  No problem”  Pretty soon, both our kids were sitting on the kitchen floor sharing a carton of blackberries.

As if that wasn’t cool enough, the other day I tried to grab a quick shower during Levi’s unreliable morning nap (I don’t know why I thought that would work- the boy has serious radar).  Sam comes running in seconds after I step in telling me he’s crying.  So I wash up as fast as I can, and get out, but as I’m drying off, I don’t hear my screaming baby.  I wasn’t sure whether to run in without bothering with clothes, or to enjoy an unrushed moment getting dressed.  Turns out, I could have given myself a pedicure.  I found her in his crib, reading him a story.  When I walked in, neither one of them wanted out, so I snapped a picture.

Children in this photo not available for rent or sale.

Child Labor October 16, 2008

I decided to put Sam to work.  (Really, she asked for it, and I thought:  Of course!  That sounds like a lot less work for me, and I don’t have to pay anyone!)  Here’s what it looked like:

 

 

She got the hang of it pretty quick, even demonstrating the proper technique. 

 

Then I discovered something employers have been complaining about:  these kids nowadays just have no work ethic.  I caught her consuming company supplies:

 

 

The customer was not pleased.

 

 

Oh, well.  At least I got to finish my breakfast in peace.  That’s worth something.

Toothless Wonder Sleeps in Closet… and Loves It! October 16, 2008

So Kasey’s post a while back inspired me.  She mentioned that her little Isaiah’s sleeping quarters and the closet were, in fact, one and the same.  I had thought of the idea many times, but could never bring myself to say it out loud.  My fear left me,  and now- thanks to Kasey… Levi sleeps!  Can I get a hallelujah?  Well, it sounds like angels singing here, anyway. 

p.s.  The kid still doesn’t have any teeth, Kasey.  So if you have any brilliant ideas for nudging nature along…