I knew it was going to be one of those days when I woke up this morning. My body ached, my head hurt, my eyes did not want to open. And no, it was not a hangover. I had no alcohol the night before. This is just the trend and I should be used to it by now. I feel really weak and sick for a long time, then I start feeling good, then BAM! :(
Well I have my cup of coffee and a nice warm shower, neither of which helped much except with the eye opening part. I think to myself, "this is going to be a good day". I look at the kids and know they are just itching to get some energy out. Well the weather seemed nice so I bundled my babies and out the door we went, headed for the park. And cue rain. Poor babies were so excited. So we decided on the IMAX. We always make stops at mimi's for hugs and kisses, so we headed there first. By the time we got there Marhi was pretty much asleep so mimi offered to keep her there to avoid the inevitable disastrous trip that awaited us with a tired, cranky toddler. So off Briar and I went, stopping at Chipotle first (he LOVES the rice there).
Well Briar didn't make it through the IMAX movie because he was talking too much...but how could I be upset with him since the only thing he was saying was "I love you mom". Still I don't think the people around us thought it was as cute as I did. We then went to the Desert Dome inside the zoo, which is Briar's favorite place there, and possibly his favorite place in the whole world. And he was perfect.
Sounds like a great day right? Well it was (minus the pain and exhaustion). Then we went to get sissy. She woke up from her nap cranky, and because Briar didn't have a nap, they decided they were going to act up. Oh had I been feeling perfect, I'm betting they would have been angels. After they littered food around mimi's den, tried feeding the dogs, and threw a few tantrums, I decided we had to go. Too bad our next stop was the grocery store.
grocery store + cranky kids = cranky mom
What they need to have is a daycare inside the grocery store. How awesome would that be? Well by the end of the trip, Briar was running down the aisle so I grabbed his hand and walked him back to the cart. Upon grabbing his hand, I clawed him with one of my nails. On accident! Oh, you would have thought I stabbed him in the gut with his dramatic scene..."Mommmmmm you HURT me! Owwww!" And wouldn't you know it was probably the busiest aisle in the store at the time? I had one woman looking at me like I was a child abuser. Thanks Briar for screaming that I "hurt" you. Super awesome.
While we were at the store, my friend Cheryl had called me so I stopped by her house on the way home to see what she needed. And what an awesome friend! Briar was asleep so she took Marhi in and told me to leave her there so I could put things away in peace and she actually told me to go home and take a nap! See, awesome right? I got stuff put away and the place straightened up, and Briar kept sleeping. Thanks, Cheryl!
Well the rest of the night wasn't too bad, but I have felt like crap since I woke up. So hopefully a nice, long night of sleep will allow me to have a better day tomorrow. The babies probably have other plans for my "long night of sleep". :/
On days like this I remember this little boy and I think God for my babies (even on their worst days):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ye39mgcHC3E
Please excuse any errors, as this was written speedy so I could get to bed quicker :)
Saturday, November 19, 2011
Friday, November 18, 2011
Let them be little
I want to start off by saying that I KNOW I am nowhere near being a perfect parent. I do my best and some days my kids probably think I am a wicked witch. But anyone who thinks they are a perfect parent or thinks they know a perfect parent, sorry but you are wrong. We all do our best. We all have been or will be frustrated more than once and we will have bad days. Though I make mistakes and I get impatient, I love my babies with all my heart and would do absolutely anything for them. <3
You are going to make mistakes. Parenting is like a trial and error kind of thing. But trust yourself. You aren't going to knowingly do something that will harm your child. YOU are the parent and no one else, so do what you think is best.
What my instincts tell me:
#1 Spend as much time with them as possible
Sixteen years from now, when they are heading off to college, this will NOT be one of my thoughts as they are packing up: "Well I wish I would have slept in that one day in November of 2011 instead of waking up, reading books to my kids, eating oatmeal together, and then going to the Amazing Pizza Machine. That sleep really would have made more of a difference than spending the day with my children." It is so important to give them my time and show them how much they mean to me. If you are telling yourself, well they are little, they won't remember if I spent a lot of time with them or not...not true. A majority of their personality develops in the first five years. I know I will never regret spending "too much" time with my children.
#2 Take every opportunity to teach them
Young children are sponges, soaking up everything. This is why many people have problems with their children cursing. I find that the best time to teach children as young as mine is in the car. Of course I can't turn around and hold flash cards up for them or use many other materials. I turn off the radio and just talk. Briar learned what an octagon was because I stopped at a stop sign, and because no one was behind me, took the opportunity to teach him that a stop sign is a red octagon and that means it has eight sides. Since that time, he has learned all his shapes, but I started him on his journey. Today on the way to pick up mimi, I taught them about Martin Luther King Jr., they learned about continents and oceans, and they said the Pledge of Allegiance. They may have also heard Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech in it's entirety...yes, I have it memorized and they got a kick out of my deep voice :) Sure, their teachers may despise me when they get into school and already know the stuff they are supposed to be learning, but I would rather them be over-prepared than under-prepared.
#3 Remember they haven't been here long
I'm going to make mistakes. I am going to get impatient. But I have to keep in mind that they are lacking in life experience. They can't understand when I am stressed, sick, or busy. The only thing Briar gets stressed about is bedtime, and Marhi gets stressed when she knows it's dinner time but mommy got a late start and it's not quite done (she‘s my little piglet). They don't care about my homework that I need to do, the work that I have to get to on time, or the house that I need to clean. Yep, they just don't care. On their ‘to do’ list: play, eat, pee, poop, maybe a nap if I can fit it in, read, love, play. They just haven't been there so I try to be patient. That doesn't always happen. Everything is easier said than done, right? But I do my best.
#4 Watch the road
What is more important than my precious cargo? Is that facebook status more important? What about that text? Do I have to respond right away? I'll just pull over or just wait until the car is parked. Two seconds with my eyes off the road and it can be devastating. A car could cross the center line, a deer could come out of nowhere, anything. I won't be distracted. (I used to have a problem with this when they weren’t in the car because I thought I wasn’t endangering them. Putting my life in danger affects them, so I’ve stopped.)
#5 Some mantras have good points but don't live by them entirely
One that I was given on facebook that I love: The cleaning and dusting can wait for tomorrow, for babies grow up we have learned to our sorrow; so quiet down cobwebs and dust go to sleep, I'm rocking my baby 'cause babies don't keep! Thank you, Kay Grosshans :) Yes, I love this but I am trying to teach my kids to be somewhat tidy and organized. If I leave things until they go to bed, what is that saying to them? Make the messes and I will just clean them up later? It doesn't have to be spotless, and it won't ever be spotless with kids in the house, but asking them to help me clean up gives them responsibility and shows them they have to be accountable. They decide to get all the books out, well they can help pick them up. I'm a mother not a maid. My responsibility is to instill in them traits that will last a lifetime. I don't want them to be lazy, irresponsible, and messy.
Since before my Briar and Marhi were even born, I have been given so much advice about parenting. Some I chose to politely ignore while some stuck with me. A couple pieces of advice that I heard a lot and that I continue to pass on: trust your instincts and choose your battles. (Thanks, mom!)
#1 Choose your battles.
This is so important. You will go insane if you get on their case for every little thing they do wrong. Of course you want them to be model citizens but at one and three, good luck getting them to behave all of the time. Instead, let them act their age. They will push your buttons, but I'm pretty sure that is their job. When you are at the post office and they are running around in circles in the middle of the lobby, not hurting themselves or anyone else, smile at the old women staring at you like you're naked and let them play. Because in the end, it is not about what people you don't know think of you. It's about giving your children freedom and well, letting them be little.
#2 Trust your instincts
This is so important. You will go insane if you get on their case for every little thing they do wrong. Of course you want them to be model citizens but at one and three, good luck getting them to behave all of the time. Instead, let them act their age. They will push your buttons, but I'm pretty sure that is their job. When you are at the post office and they are running around in circles in the middle of the lobby, not hurting themselves or anyone else, smile at the old women staring at you like you're naked and let them play. Because in the end, it is not about what people you don't know think of you. It's about giving your children freedom and well, letting them be little.
#2 Trust your instincts
You are going to make mistakes. Parenting is like a trial and error kind of thing. But trust yourself. You aren't going to knowingly do something that will harm your child. YOU are the parent and no one else, so do what you think is best.
What my instincts tell me:
#1 Spend as much time with them as possible
Sixteen years from now, when they are heading off to college, this will NOT be one of my thoughts as they are packing up: "Well I wish I would have slept in that one day in November of 2011 instead of waking up, reading books to my kids, eating oatmeal together, and then going to the Amazing Pizza Machine. That sleep really would have made more of a difference than spending the day with my children." It is so important to give them my time and show them how much they mean to me. If you are telling yourself, well they are little, they won't remember if I spent a lot of time with them or not...not true. A majority of their personality develops in the first five years. I know I will never regret spending "too much" time with my children.
#2 Take every opportunity to teach them
Young children are sponges, soaking up everything. This is why many people have problems with their children cursing. I find that the best time to teach children as young as mine is in the car. Of course I can't turn around and hold flash cards up for them or use many other materials. I turn off the radio and just talk. Briar learned what an octagon was because I stopped at a stop sign, and because no one was behind me, took the opportunity to teach him that a stop sign is a red octagon and that means it has eight sides. Since that time, he has learned all his shapes, but I started him on his journey. Today on the way to pick up mimi, I taught them about Martin Luther King Jr., they learned about continents and oceans, and they said the Pledge of Allegiance. They may have also heard Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech in it's entirety...yes, I have it memorized and they got a kick out of my deep voice :) Sure, their teachers may despise me when they get into school and already know the stuff they are supposed to be learning, but I would rather them be over-prepared than under-prepared.
#3 Remember they haven't been here long
I'm going to make mistakes. I am going to get impatient. But I have to keep in mind that they are lacking in life experience. They can't understand when I am stressed, sick, or busy. The only thing Briar gets stressed about is bedtime, and Marhi gets stressed when she knows it's dinner time but mommy got a late start and it's not quite done (she‘s my little piglet). They don't care about my homework that I need to do, the work that I have to get to on time, or the house that I need to clean. Yep, they just don't care. On their ‘to do’ list: play, eat, pee, poop, maybe a nap if I can fit it in, read, love, play. They just haven't been there so I try to be patient. That doesn't always happen. Everything is easier said than done, right? But I do my best.
#4 Watch the road
What is more important than my precious cargo? Is that facebook status more important? What about that text? Do I have to respond right away? I'll just pull over or just wait until the car is parked. Two seconds with my eyes off the road and it can be devastating. A car could cross the center line, a deer could come out of nowhere, anything. I won't be distracted. (I used to have a problem with this when they weren’t in the car because I thought I wasn’t endangering them. Putting my life in danger affects them, so I’ve stopped.)
#5 Some mantras have good points but don't live by them entirely
One that I was given on facebook that I love: The cleaning and dusting can wait for tomorrow, for babies grow up we have learned to our sorrow; so quiet down cobwebs and dust go to sleep, I'm rocking my baby 'cause babies don't keep! Thank you, Kay Grosshans :) Yes, I love this but I am trying to teach my kids to be somewhat tidy and organized. If I leave things until they go to bed, what is that saying to them? Make the messes and I will just clean them up later? It doesn't have to be spotless, and it won't ever be spotless with kids in the house, but asking them to help me clean up gives them responsibility and shows them they have to be accountable. They decide to get all the books out, well they can help pick them up. I'm a mother not a maid. My responsibility is to instill in them traits that will last a lifetime. I don't want them to be lazy, irresponsible, and messy.
Welcome
Hi everyone :) This is my first blog and my attempt to keep everyone updated on things happening in our life with more than just a status update. It will also be a place to jot my thoughts down. Thanks for reading :)
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