Toddlers (& babies)
Monday, June 16, 2008, by Sherra
He has always been a nice dad.
Since he’s not my dad, I didn’t get him a Father’s Day present. Or a card.
Nice Dad always gets me something nice for Mother’s Day. Even though I’m not his mother.
You would think I would reciprocate by getting him something nice.
I’m pretty sure I have in years past. I just forgot this year.
So here’s my attempt to make up for my thoughtlessness.
Lucky for me I have this blog. 
Here’s a photo tribute to what a Nice Dad he is…
I love to look back at the pictures and see how
he lit up being a dad, starting with The Grunter.
He didn’t even seem to mind when I dressed
my two handsome guys alike in pink shirts.
It only took him about eight weeks after the twin girls were born…
and a strong threat that he might find himself living in his car…
to jump in and actively participate in parenting two more babies.
Side note: We never call parenting “babysitting.”
BIG issue for me when moms say dad is “babysitting.”
As if I was babysitting while he was working? UGH!
He actually rose to the challenge and put many of the
other dads to shame taking care of his children while my home business grew and he always recognized that I needed time to myself.
That 4th baby just made his heart grow bigger.
Side note: Did anyone notice that in addition to being N-I-C-E,
he doesn’t take a bad picture?
Some day I know our kids will look back and realize what an amazing and involved Nice Dad that they had!
Until then, he’ll just have to take my word for it…
Each day of our lives we make deposits in the memory banks of our children. –Charles Swindoll
Take a moment to leave a comment and share a great memory about your own dad or the dad of your kids.
I hope you all had a wonderful weekend celebrating the fathers in your family. For those of you whose fathers have passed away, I know you fully understand when I say that I miss my dad every day and not just on Father’s Day.
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Categories: Raves, Teens, Toddlers (& babies), Tweens
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Monday, April 21, 2008, by Sherra
She turns nine tomorrow.
That last baby we actually planned.
The one that we waited so long to have because having one + two more in less than three years was daunting.
We strategically planned to have that last baby so that the first three would be old enough to babysit. That plan has served us well.
We also knew that we wanted an even number…um, why? I have no idea why except the first three so close together just threw me off balance.
I was sure #4 would round out our family.
I love, love, love babies.
I did know I wanted to rock and hold and nurse and love just one baby.
Side note: I confess that I did pray that there would only be one baby.
I didn’t know I would have to fight Roger Leroy (a.k.a. Mama Jr.) to get a turn to hold her.
I did know that that last baby would be adored by all of us and she would always be “The Queen.”
I didn’t know how hard it would be for her to have five pseudo parents instead of two. You have to have a lot of personality and a good sense of humor to keep up in our house. Obviously, she can hang with us.
I did know we would see the world through her eyes and she would make us slow down and see beauty in the simple things.
I didn’t know she would be my only girly-girl. But still love dirt and bugs and
caterpillars.
I did know that her daddy had more than enough love for another daughter.
He lights up in her presence.
I didn’t know she would test my patience in ways I never dreamed before the teen years even hit. Big sigh…
I did know that our family would be blessed beyond measure to have her in our world. And having an even number isn’t so odd.
Happy Birthday Baby Girl! You are beautiful and smart and funny.
We all love you to the moon…
xoxo
Mama
P.S. For the observant few, oh yes, that is a giant tattoo on her hand.
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Categories: Milestones, Moments, Raves, Toddlers (& babies), Tweens
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Wednesday, April 2, 2008, by Sherra
Here’s a little wardrobe management tip for those of you with kids young enough to instill some positive, early habits that will serve you all well through high school (hopefully).
With all four of my kids, I have found much success with starting them young on appropriate clothing selection. I’m sure another mother gave me this sage advice but with old age comes a fleeting memory.
Early, before our kids’ school went to uniforms (amen - I’m a huge uniform advocate - I would lobby for them in any school at any age!) we selected school clothes and after school/weekend clothes. Initially, we had separate drawers but then I found this marvelous invention.
Don’t ask me why there is a teddy bear in the Monday cube. I guess you can use it to sort toys?
There were several reasons this system worked great for us:
- It eliminated any early morning battles because mama doesn’t function well in the morning.
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It established a night time routine where they always needed to have their outfit ready for the next day including shoes and socks.
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It was visual so dad could handle the system when mom wasn’t home.
- It set clear expectations for what they could and couldn’t wear to school.
- It was non-negotiable.
We did allow them to have a few of the character or shirts with writing that were not deemed appropriate for school. Nothing mean or nasty, mind you. Rather, the humorous or smartie pants shirts that I’m sure you’ve all seen.
They could wear these on the weekends or they could be sleep shirts.
Side note: The Grunter might just have a shirt that says “I love my wie#%r” with a graphic of a wiener dog. Ann’s son might have received the same shirt as a birthday gift from our family. I’m just saying they might…
I’ve had lively discussions with other mothers about their strong belief in letting their children pick out there own clothes and express their individuality.
Lucky for all of us, we all live in the land of the free and are entitled to our opinion.
Here is mine.
Forget about expressing their individuality. I always said they have PLENTY of time to do that when they get home and on the weekends. Make teachers’ lives easier. The clothing kids are wearing these days is ridiculous.
In addition, uniforms eliminate stress and the competition at school over labels and brands which I’ve always found ridiculous.
Did my kids love uniforms? No. Did I care? No.
They aren’t suppose to love everything. They don’t really love the uniforms they are required to wear for their part-time jobs. They aren’t really allowed to express their individuality at work either. Go figure.
This is the first year that I don’t have any kids in uniforms. I’m grateful that the clothing system was ingrained early in the big kids’ lives. The girls have their outfits out the night before and it is a huge timesaver since they leave the house at 6:30 a.m. (However, they have abandoned their cube organizer.)
Scary Baby has her organizer hanging in the corner where dad mounted it so we can all see that she has her outfit ready. It’s a great week if she actually picks her outfits for the whole week on Sunday night but that doesn’t always happen.
Many stores sell these great organizers. Try Target or Kohl’s.
If your school doesn’t require uniforms, you as the parent, can and should go over what clothing is appropriate for school and then stick to it.
Every school has a dress code and adhering to that dress code is the responsibility of all of us.
From elementary to high school, I continue to be shocked and appalled at some of the “get-ups” I see kids go to school in.
Our kids’ job is to go to school and be a student. Our job as parents is to make sure they are dressed appropriately and I don’t think that should be the subject of a big debate.
Common sense is the answer.
That’s my opinion…what’s yours?
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Categories: Little Lessons, Rants, Teens, Toddlers (& babies), Tweens
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Monday, February 18, 2008, by Sherra
This is a message of hope for moms with toddlers, tweens or teens who have some version of the strong-willed child. I know the pain of wondering if you are damaging their self-esteem, leaving permanent scars and ruining their childhood.
First a little more background on The Grunter…
He was born with a mild disposition and he slept through the night. He was an unexpected, unplanned joy in our life.
He was our pumpkin.
He became a big brother far sooner than we would have ever planned.
(If we had been planning.)
At 21 months, we brought home, not just one, but TWO baby sisters who invaded his world.
The days flew by and he spent his days letting his sisters touch all of his toys and protecting them from “choking people.” (You know those little Fisher Price® figures that went with the farm and various other toys.) He announced they had “choking people” at least seven times a day to which I would reply, “Thank you, Officer Humphreys.”
He endured being paraded around and photographed with those darn twin sisters. Here is just one of many, many photos he endured while dressed to match his little sisters.
Side parenting tip: It is much easier to count and corral your children in public if you have them dressed alike. I’m sure it also squelches their individuality but that’s a post for another day.
He even endured life when we had the nerve to bring home another sister the year of his 10th birthday. Weren’t two enough?
But he kind of liked this one who appeared to be his very own “twin.”
The above picture is Scary Baby at 6 months, framed picture of The Grunter at six months and The Grunter himself.
It has to be hard, still to this day, living with all these GIRLS! In spite of how he acts on the outside, we have witnessed his kindness and affection for them. On most days, he’s a pretty good big brother. I like to believe that he knows, deep down, that he would have been a lonely boy without his sisters to play with…
I shared all that with you first so you wouldn’t think I’m a bad mom for taking pictures of one of our many struggles. (Remember we’re all here to share not judge.)
I will be the first to admit that I think there is an extra challenge for mothers who are stubborn and strong-willed who are blessed with children who possess those same characteristics. Well, that and God has a sense of humor…
I am guilty of dreaming of having passive, quiet children who obey and never rock the boat. I have friends who have these strange nice children. Such a boring life these people have…sigh.
Instead, I have a boy who continues to challenge us in so many ways.
It seems like it was just yesterday but in fact, it was more than 10 years ago when our little pumpkin wouldn’t eat much of anything. (No comments from you vegetable-lovers please.)
I present you now with one of our favorite family memories. You know those fantastic one-liners your kids utter and you know right then and there that you’ll never forget them from that very moment.
On this day in September of 1997, that line was…
“WHEN WILL THIS NIGHTMARE BE OVER?”
The back story of this sad photo:
We were in a phase at our house where he was having a very hard time eating good meals. Yes, I am one of “those” mothers who often says, “You are NOT sick, you are FINE.” But when this eating problem persisted, I had a change of heart. I really did get worried.
Worried to the point of going to the doctor to make sure he was healthy. After many tests including urine, stool sample, blood work, x-rays and an upper G.I. - a clean bill of health was announced.
Dad made a special trip to the grocery and bought him this specific cereal because it “sounded good.” Unfortunately, the soggy texture of the milk and cereal combination (who knew?) coupled with our insistence that he eat the TINY bowl of cereal created a full-fledged meltdown ending with the now famous line, “When will this nightmare be over?”
For those readers who are concerned about the boy, his cereal and his life now…
Here is our delightful much-loved firstborn on his 18th birthday who never eats cereal and drumroll please…he is FINE!
Life Lesson (LL): Cereal and milk become soggy when not eaten quickly and the trauma of eating the said soggy cereal may cause you to seek out therapy later.
Share a Life Lesson (SALL): What awful things did you make your kids sit at the table and eat? Or better yet, what did your horrible, mean parents make you finish and you are still sharing those memories in therapy with a chosen few? Come on now, don’t be shy - this is a safe place to share!
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Categories: Finding the Funny, Food, Life Lessons, Moments, Teens, Toddlers (& babies), Tweens
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Monday, February 4, 2008, by Sherra
Wow, my plan to have lighthearted and funny posts on Monday has already been derailed.
Finding the funny becomes difficult when your children display poor judgment and make bad decisions.
When the assistant principal calls you on Friday afternoon to discuss discipline problems about two of your four children, the Superbowl party weekend takes on a different tone.
I’ll save the details of the school problems for later. Perhaps later will be when they are married with teenagers. I’m not making any promises though. I can only say that I will respect their privacy for now.
Here’s the thing about teenage problems vs. toddler problems. The timeout chair doesn’t work anymore. The consequences are much longer lasting. The impact of their poor judgment can affect more than just your immediate family.
It is also a time when you, as the parent, question all that you have tried to teach and wonder if they’re going to make it in the world.
Then you have to dig deep to find the consequences to match the actions. And follow through.
Because in the end, following through with the discipline with your kids means more than a minor inconvenience for the parents.
Because putting them on restrictions puts the whole family on restrictions.
For those of you who are still in the toddler or tween stage and haven’t made it to the teen years, it’s like staying home to potty train but oh, so much worse. Because they’re not so cute and funny anymore.
But you know that this really is about teaching them life lessons.
And those monotonous days you wanted to change are the days you wish you could bring back.
“Sure, I’ll read Green Eggs & Ham again.”
I bow to those of you who have made it through this stage.
I wish I had some great tips for those of you approaching this stage.
But in the words of my good friend Ann, “I got nothing.”
And this weekend revealed the answer to the burning question on our Happy New Year card:
Why do we take more pictures of
our two wiener dogs than of our kids?
Because right now, they are cuter and they don’t talk back.
Life Lesson (LL): Just when you relax and think things are going well, teenagers will remind you that they were just lulling you into a false sense of security to see if you’re still paying attention. Especially when you thought you were already paying attention!
Share a Life Lesson (SALL): I am open to (and openly begging for) any constructive suggestions on making it through these teen years without becoming a bitter old woman with a substance abuse problem. Give yourself and your kids code names if necessary just share, please share…
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Categories: Finding the Funny, Life Lessons, Rants, Teens, Toddlers (& babies), Tweens
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Monday, January 28, 2008, by Sherra
Scary Baby has always been good at finding ways to occupy herself. On this day two years ago, we were all inside when we heard an ear-piercing scream in the backyard. By the time Roger Leroy had flung the deck door open to see what was happening, Scary Baby had made it around to the front porch. She was banging on the front door screaming, “I’M BLIND, I’M BLIND.” We opened the door to see this (except she had clothes on and her eyes were shut)…
This is what happens when you beat a can of spray paint with a rake.
PhilBillPaul yelled at Wizzy to go to the basement and get PAINT THINNER.
Sometimes our loved ones do not think clearly when faced with an emergency. PAINT THINNER???
I scooped up Scary Baby and ran upstairs with her and put in her in the bathtub while trying to calm her screaming and saying, “Keep your eyes closed tight and I’m going to rinse them with water. It’s going to be okay…”
Meanwhile, Roger Leroy had gone to the backyard and recovered the evidence–one very dented can of spray paint and a garden rake.
I’m not bragging here but I would be remiss if I didn’t tell you that…poison control said flushing with water was the right move and did not recommend using PAINT THINNER on her skin or hair.
Paint residue remained in her hair for several weeks.
I’m very happy to report her eyesight was not damaged.
Life Lesson (LL):Cans of spray paint, rakes and unsupervised children don’t mix well.
Share a Life Lesson (SALL):Any good stories you can share about leaving a child unsupervised so I can feel better about my slacker mom skills?
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Categories: Finding the Funny, Life Lessons, Moments, Toddlers (& babies), Tweens
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Sunday, January 13, 2008, by Sherra
BIG LIE #2
“It will get better.”
LIE LIE LIE
That’s what countless moms tell each other. I know–they’ve told me. I can promise you that I have never, ever said that to anyone!
Truth:
It will get DIFFERENT.
You may or may not enjoy different parts of parenting and when we compare stories we will surely disagree on what part was “easiest.”
For me, I love, love, love the zero to 12 month stage. I truly love the sweet baby stage.
Favorite part: I like that when you put them somewhere, you come back and they’re still there and they don’t talk back. For me, after they became mobile it was all over.
Still to this very day, I find myself chanting, “I’m not qualified for this job.”
So what stage are you at? What stage have you liked best so far?
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Categories: Myths, Toddlers (& babies)
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