Seems like as soon as we are back to class, we start with the sniffles. I hate busting out cold medicine every time one of the kiddos had a drippy nose. And with a little one in the house, a lot of those medication aren't aged for him anyway. So here is my go-to plan for colds. Of course, if you child shows prolonged symptoms or needs medical attention, seek it immediately.
Homemade cough syrup
One handful fresh thyme (I just grab the prepackaged pack in my produce section)
Water
Sugar or Honey (depends on age of child, read below)
Put the thyme in a saucepan and just barely cover with water. Low boil the thyme for 12-15 minutes. Strain the thyme out and reserve the liquid, which should be brownish/green in color. Bring back to a boil and slowly stir in sugar to make a syrup as it's cooking and let cool. I use enough sugar to begin to notice it getting a little thicker while hot (about 3/4 to 1 cup depending on how much liquid you have). It will thicken more once cool. Keeps in the fridge for several weeks - just dole out a spoonful (for a little one, use a medicine plunger) as needed
For a child over 1 year, start the same, but instead of adding sugar, stir honey into the warm liquid until dissolved and store.
Tea
As a kid, my mom always made us tea for a cold. Lemon is a natural antiseptic and honey has many benefits. A nice cup of warm, decaf tea with lemon and honey can be very soothing.
Chest Balm
Vicks or Vicks Baby are both good options, but I prefer Badger Balm Winter Balm. It's much more mellow but does just as good a job. It's all natural and I feel better using on my baby.
Humidifiers
I've heard so much debate over cool mist and warm mist. But my kids have the cute Crane animals in their rooms and they make a huge difference. Vicks humidifiers (with the vapor liquid) for bigger kids can really help through the night too.
Snot Removal
Kleenex are great and all, but the raw nose seems like a given after a few days. I admit that I thought they were overkill when I first saw them, but Boogie Wipes are great. They are gentle and soothing to the nose and have saline to help keep the nose really clean. And what about a little one who can't blow? Nose bulbs are gross, no getting around it. But the Graco automatic aspirator is worth every penny of it's $20 price tag. It really works, plays music to distract baby and is easy to clean. The collection area is clear so that you can see what comes out. Icky? Yes, but snot color is key when a bub is sick.
Good luck with your little one and their noses!
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Bad Wife Confession
It's shameful. Downright shameful.
But I'm going to throw it out there. Ready. Okay.
(deep breath)
I don't know what my husband does for work.
Obviously, I know what his title is and where he works. But what that actually means and what he actually does, I have very little clue. I'm not a techie person and I married a very, very techie guy. He's built a pretty impressive career in software and other than knowing he's good at what he does, I have no idea what that means.
He works in other languages like Java, Agile and Kanban. Even when he's speaking English, most of it just doesn't connect. I must look like a monkey doing a math problem when he's explaining work stuff to me.
So after years of reciting off his current title and praying that no one asked any more questions to clarify what that means, I have come up with an awesome explanation of exactly what he does for work.
My husband is a super geek, who teaches other geeks how to be better, more productive geeks.
Like that? Yeah, I'm guessing he's not going to. Oh well, it's not like he can relate to what I do all day either, eating bon-bons on the couch and all.
But I'm going to throw it out there. Ready. Okay.
(deep breath)
I don't know what my husband does for work.
Obviously, I know what his title is and where he works. But what that actually means and what he actually does, I have very little clue. I'm not a techie person and I married a very, very techie guy. He's built a pretty impressive career in software and other than knowing he's good at what he does, I have no idea what that means.
He works in other languages like Java, Agile and Kanban. Even when he's speaking English, most of it just doesn't connect. I must look like a monkey doing a math problem when he's explaining work stuff to me.
So after years of reciting off his current title and praying that no one asked any more questions to clarify what that means, I have come up with an awesome explanation of exactly what he does for work.
My husband is a super geek, who teaches other geeks how to be better, more productive geeks.
Like that? Yeah, I'm guessing he's not going to. Oh well, it's not like he can relate to what I do all day either, eating bon-bons on the couch and all.
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
The 24 hour bug
There are few things that strike fear into a mothers' heart more than the unmistakeable sound of a child vomiting. Yesterday was scary. Very scary.
K started just before lunch, and the poor bub is still too little to understand what is going on. Of course, my dear, sweet husband is out of town. And God love him, he is a great dad, but bodily function desensitization didn't kick in with him like it has with me. A mom will make a bowl with her hands to grab vomit before it hits the floor. Dad is usually gagging with his back turned. But a gopher for paper towels would have been handy.
So here are a few of my suggestions for getting through the day (and night) with a sickey.
First-Do your best to occupy other children with an activity that can keep them seperated. Chances are if one goes down, they all will. But keeping them seperated can also be keeping them out of the line of fire.
Second- As if you won't be doing enough cleaning, clean more. Make sure sheets, washclothes and handtowels get a good hot water or sanitizing wash. If your sickey is little, make sure you give all pacifiers, teethers, bottles or sippies a hot, soapy wash. Same goes for toothbrushes. You can vainly hope at heading it off by getting real serious with some extra hand washing, sanitizer and some house cleaning.
Third- BRATT diet. I know that when your kid is relocating all their lunch, feeding them more is not always on the list. And they may well not be interested at all. But if they do want to eat, stick to a BRATT diet. Banana, Rice, Applesauce, Toast and Tea. Simple, bland, easy to digest. Make sure your tea is decaf. I also opt for fitness waters over the kid forumlated electrolye drinks. They are much cheaper and taste better. I spent the extra dollars once on the kid ones and found out that my kids' won't drink them, money wasted. I'm not a fan of the sugar substitutes, but I'm willing to make an exception to keep them hydrated.
Fourth-Nightime sheet changing prevention. My daughter is 5 and has been potty trained for years. But if she has the flu, she is still sleeping in a pull up with a plastic bowl on her nightstand. I have had one pack of pull-ups that have lasted 3 years and we may never use them all, hope we don't. Kids have a hard enough time getting to the bathroom in the night, so make it easy on them and you. And be ready with backup. Make sure you have a mattress pad on the bed and opt for washable bedding, rehome any super sentimental keepsakes for the night. I often lay a towel on the floor next to the bed as well. Lay out a change of bedding and a change pj's before bedtime. And have a clean towel or two ready to go on the bathroom counter. For a baby, all you can do is be ready with lots of extra bedding and pjs. If you can move to be closer to baby, might be a good idea.
Five-Thanks to the wonder that is Murphy's Mom Law, chances are your child started showing signs of being sick a few minutes after your pediatricians office closed. So keep an eye on fevers and any unusual behavior and be smart when using any OTC meds. Before stores close, make sure you have some ibuprofen, Immodium (for an older child), something they like to drink, and diaper cream (even for an older kid, raw bums are no fun at any age). Keep kiddo as comfortable as possible. Know who to call in an after-hours emergency and call your ped first thing in the morning.
Good luck and feel better soon.
K started just before lunch, and the poor bub is still too little to understand what is going on. Of course, my dear, sweet husband is out of town. And God love him, he is a great dad, but bodily function desensitization didn't kick in with him like it has with me. A mom will make a bowl with her hands to grab vomit before it hits the floor. Dad is usually gagging with his back turned. But a gopher for paper towels would have been handy.
So here are a few of my suggestions for getting through the day (and night) with a sickey.
First-Do your best to occupy other children with an activity that can keep them seperated. Chances are if one goes down, they all will. But keeping them seperated can also be keeping them out of the line of fire.
Second- As if you won't be doing enough cleaning, clean more. Make sure sheets, washclothes and handtowels get a good hot water or sanitizing wash. If your sickey is little, make sure you give all pacifiers, teethers, bottles or sippies a hot, soapy wash. Same goes for toothbrushes. You can vainly hope at heading it off by getting real serious with some extra hand washing, sanitizer and some house cleaning.
Third- BRATT diet. I know that when your kid is relocating all their lunch, feeding them more is not always on the list. And they may well not be interested at all. But if they do want to eat, stick to a BRATT diet. Banana, Rice, Applesauce, Toast and Tea. Simple, bland, easy to digest. Make sure your tea is decaf. I also opt for fitness waters over the kid forumlated electrolye drinks. They are much cheaper and taste better. I spent the extra dollars once on the kid ones and found out that my kids' won't drink them, money wasted. I'm not a fan of the sugar substitutes, but I'm willing to make an exception to keep them hydrated.
Fourth-Nightime sheet changing prevention. My daughter is 5 and has been potty trained for years. But if she has the flu, she is still sleeping in a pull up with a plastic bowl on her nightstand. I have had one pack of pull-ups that have lasted 3 years and we may never use them all, hope we don't. Kids have a hard enough time getting to the bathroom in the night, so make it easy on them and you. And be ready with backup. Make sure you have a mattress pad on the bed and opt for washable bedding, rehome any super sentimental keepsakes for the night. I often lay a towel on the floor next to the bed as well. Lay out a change of bedding and a change pj's before bedtime. And have a clean towel or two ready to go on the bathroom counter. For a baby, all you can do is be ready with lots of extra bedding and pjs. If you can move to be closer to baby, might be a good idea.
Five-Thanks to the wonder that is Murphy's Mom Law, chances are your child started showing signs of being sick a few minutes after your pediatricians office closed. So keep an eye on fevers and any unusual behavior and be smart when using any OTC meds. Before stores close, make sure you have some ibuprofen, Immodium (for an older child), something they like to drink, and diaper cream (even for an older kid, raw bums are no fun at any age). Keep kiddo as comfortable as possible. Know who to call in an after-hours emergency and call your ped first thing in the morning.
Good luck and feel better soon.
Monday, August 29, 2011
Call it what you want
The last couple of weeks have found me doing a lot of soul searching. You could call it Yuppie Guilt, Mommy Guilt, or called to do more. I'm going with the latter. I've already got guilt in spades.
You see, I am one of the blessed. And it's pretty likely that if you are reading this, you are too. Even if you aren't happy in your job right now, having a fight with a friend or wondering what do with your life, you are probably still clothed, fed and sheltered beyond your basic needs. Just the fact that part of my day included stressing out about how organize the massive amount of toys and clothes my kids have is a sign that we not only have enough, we live in excess. I do my best to teach my children gratitude, teach them how to give to others and not ask for themselves. But it is difficult and something we, and I'm sure many others, struggle with.
Knowing all that, I can't help but think about the kids and families in this world that don't have enough. Kids without toys, shoes, even a toothbrush. A mother who can't give her child the basic things they need, let alone have the joy of giving her child a gift and seeing them smile. It just brings a sadness to my heart that I cannot even explain.
So I try. I try to give my time. I try to give my gifts. I try to teach my children. And will my trying make a difference? I need to think so. For the sake of my kids and the world they will grow up in, I need to think so. I would rather be a drop in a bucket than an empty bucket.
So I will keep trying. And I hope you will to. Find a project, find a first step and take it. Take it with your kids. You'll never regret the path and you'll never turn back.
You see, I am one of the blessed. And it's pretty likely that if you are reading this, you are too. Even if you aren't happy in your job right now, having a fight with a friend or wondering what do with your life, you are probably still clothed, fed and sheltered beyond your basic needs. Just the fact that part of my day included stressing out about how organize the massive amount of toys and clothes my kids have is a sign that we not only have enough, we live in excess. I do my best to teach my children gratitude, teach them how to give to others and not ask for themselves. But it is difficult and something we, and I'm sure many others, struggle with.
Knowing all that, I can't help but think about the kids and families in this world that don't have enough. Kids without toys, shoes, even a toothbrush. A mother who can't give her child the basic things they need, let alone have the joy of giving her child a gift and seeing them smile. It just brings a sadness to my heart that I cannot even explain.
So I try. I try to give my time. I try to give my gifts. I try to teach my children. And will my trying make a difference? I need to think so. For the sake of my kids and the world they will grow up in, I need to think so. I would rather be a drop in a bucket than an empty bucket.
So I will keep trying. And I hope you will to. Find a project, find a first step and take it. Take it with your kids. You'll never regret the path and you'll never turn back.
Friday, August 26, 2011
Alone
It's a Friday night and I'm as alone as I get in my own house. It's just me, a pay-per-view chick flick and my three dogs. This time of the night, the dogs are basically area rugs. They are mastiffs and pretty much refrain from lifting their own body weight after 7 pm. So I sit, well protected, to spend a little time by myself. And breathe.
My day started with a 4:30 am wake up call from my 3 year old. In an attempt to get a bit more sleep, we opted to let him climb into our bed. This is always tempting in the middle of the night, but do not be fooled, NO ONE is going to feel rested come sun up. And we did not. The rest of the day was a blur of movies, administering antibiotics to my entire family after a diagnosis of strep throat and my vain attempts at clutter busting.
I used to savor nap time as my own. But recently my husband has started working from home and I'm still adjusting to it. During the day this means that someone is here to roll their eyes at my trashy TV and toss judgemental "are you really still on the couch" glances my way. Yes, I'm still on the couch watching Project Runway. If you had the morning I had and was still able to orchestrate the most beautiful of all motherly acheivements, The Trifecta Nap, then you would reap your much deserved couch time too.
So tonight, when I mentioned a movie that I wanted to watch and hubby decided he'd rather read than be subjected to Kate Hudson for even a minute, I did not protest. Didn't suggest an alternative movie. Just decided that tonight, I'd be alone.
Alone with my computer, alone with my movie, alone with myself. It feels nice. It feels soothing. Like I'm taking care of myself in a way I rarely do.
Tomorrow is a whole new day. A full one at that. And even if it starts at 4 am with a knee in my ribs, as it just might, I will feel a bit better for just having taken a bit of time alone and enjoying it. And enjoying breathing.
My day started with a 4:30 am wake up call from my 3 year old. In an attempt to get a bit more sleep, we opted to let him climb into our bed. This is always tempting in the middle of the night, but do not be fooled, NO ONE is going to feel rested come sun up. And we did not. The rest of the day was a blur of movies, administering antibiotics to my entire family after a diagnosis of strep throat and my vain attempts at clutter busting.
I used to savor nap time as my own. But recently my husband has started working from home and I'm still adjusting to it. During the day this means that someone is here to roll their eyes at my trashy TV and toss judgemental "are you really still on the couch" glances my way. Yes, I'm still on the couch watching Project Runway. If you had the morning I had and was still able to orchestrate the most beautiful of all motherly acheivements, The Trifecta Nap, then you would reap your much deserved couch time too.
So tonight, when I mentioned a movie that I wanted to watch and hubby decided he'd rather read than be subjected to Kate Hudson for even a minute, I did not protest. Didn't suggest an alternative movie. Just decided that tonight, I'd be alone.
Alone with my computer, alone with my movie, alone with myself. It feels nice. It feels soothing. Like I'm taking care of myself in a way I rarely do.
Tomorrow is a whole new day. A full one at that. And even if it starts at 4 am with a knee in my ribs, as it just might, I will feel a bit better for just having taken a bit of time alone and enjoying it. And enjoying breathing.
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Crusts
I refuse to cut the crusts off of a sandwich. I let them stay on the plate, but I am not going to help with process.
She used to like crusts.
She used to like cheese. We are going through an "I don't like cheese" phase. She still like pizza and cheese roll ups and tacos. I guess because they aren't straight up cheese. I know she still likes cheese, but sometimes being difficult gets more attention.
She hates eggs. Loves quiche. If anyone tells her that quiche is eggs, I'll kick them in the shins.
Usually I'm so happy that someone is eating that I'll let the little things slide. But I'm not cutting the crusts off.
She used to like crusts.
She used to like cheese. We are going through an "I don't like cheese" phase. She still like pizza and cheese roll ups and tacos. I guess because they aren't straight up cheese. I know she still likes cheese, but sometimes being difficult gets more attention.
She hates eggs. Loves quiche. If anyone tells her that quiche is eggs, I'll kick them in the shins.
Usually I'm so happy that someone is eating that I'll let the little things slide. But I'm not cutting the crusts off.
What is Real?
Real Housewives my butt. I will admit that I watch the shows. Call them a guilty pleasure, call it escapism. And now that I’ve written about it, I can call it research. Either way, I watch the shows, and undoubtedly end up feeling uber-frumpy by comparison. I consider myself a housewife. I know Stay at Home Mom might be more PC, but really mom is only part of my job. Mom is more important, but I can’t be a good mom without a house that is in order and being a good wife makes me a better mom. So Housewife isn’t demeaning to me, it’s encompassing.
Regardless, these women and I have absolutely nothing in common. I am astonished at how little we see them with their kids. They don’t “work” but they have nannies. Plural. I have me. Singular. None of them do any actual cleaning for themselves and I'm guessing they don't have to fold laundry. Laundry is the bane of my existence. They have assistants. After the nanny, housekeeper, cook and landscaper, you still need an assistant? I'm just happy we aren't living on assistance.
Not to mention that their lives are full of drama. Knock-down, drag-out fights with their “friends” and family feuds that rival the Montagues and Capulets seem to the norm. I’m happy to report that at the ripe old age of 33, my life is fairly drama free. Any toxic friends are long gone or relegated to acquaintances that I can hide on Facebook. My family drama is still there, but we are at a non-confrontational standstill, so the only drama left is me venting to my poor husband about it. I'm happy when I have time to shower in a day, so time to devote to drama is something I gave up back in college.
Here are the rest of my observations about these “Real” women that I hold issue with:
They wear white clothing. And it stays white.
They wear lots of jewelry and never seem to be missing as much as an earring.
They get their hair done, nails done and go to the spa, in the same week. And it's a normal week.
They wear clothes that need dry cleaning or ironing.
Their purse collections are worth more than my mortgage. Jeans that cost more than my monthly grocery budget.
Their cars don’t seem to be full of sippy cups, dried French fries and there are no visible crayon scribbles or stickers on the windows.
They throw childrens’ birthday parties that cost more than my wedding. Much, much more.
They go on dates with their husbands. Elaborate and often.
They all have plenty of time to workout and maintain a perfect figure. And if they don’t, they take a trip to their personal plastic surgeon for a fix up.
Their houses are spotless showrooms. Perfectly decorated and clean. And clean. Did I say clean?
And while sometimes those things seem like THE dream. I know how hollow they are. A mommy without stains is one who isn’t playing on the floor. A car without mess is one that isn’t driving the kids to fun activities. A party without personal touches and a face covered in cake is sterile. And a house without some messes, toys on the floor and happy noises is not a Home.
So I think I’ll stick with my version of Real. The one where I throw my hair in a ponytail and put on my uniform of clean (mostly) and cheap (very) tank top and jeans. Where the kids and I spend a good chunk of our day on the move and the car takes a beating. Where my canvas purse/diaper bag is filled with 3,926 things for the kids(diapers, wipes, snacks, juice, crayons, sunscreen, toys etc)and 3 things for me (wallet, phone and chapstick). Planning playdates, presents and parties that are joyously homemade. And a house that is spilling over with toys, to-do’s, messes, laundry, life and love. Real indeed.
Regardless, these women and I have absolutely nothing in common. I am astonished at how little we see them with their kids. They don’t “work” but they have nannies. Plural. I have me. Singular. None of them do any actual cleaning for themselves and I'm guessing they don't have to fold laundry. Laundry is the bane of my existence. They have assistants. After the nanny, housekeeper, cook and landscaper, you still need an assistant? I'm just happy we aren't living on assistance.
Not to mention that their lives are full of drama. Knock-down, drag-out fights with their “friends” and family feuds that rival the Montagues and Capulets seem to the norm. I’m happy to report that at the ripe old age of 33, my life is fairly drama free. Any toxic friends are long gone or relegated to acquaintances that I can hide on Facebook. My family drama is still there, but we are at a non-confrontational standstill, so the only drama left is me venting to my poor husband about it. I'm happy when I have time to shower in a day, so time to devote to drama is something I gave up back in college.
Here are the rest of my observations about these “Real” women that I hold issue with:
They wear white clothing. And it stays white.
They wear lots of jewelry and never seem to be missing as much as an earring.
They get their hair done, nails done and go to the spa, in the same week. And it's a normal week.
They wear clothes that need dry cleaning or ironing.
Their purse collections are worth more than my mortgage. Jeans that cost more than my monthly grocery budget.
Their cars don’t seem to be full of sippy cups, dried French fries and there are no visible crayon scribbles or stickers on the windows.
They throw childrens’ birthday parties that cost more than my wedding. Much, much more.
They go on dates with their husbands. Elaborate and often.
They all have plenty of time to workout and maintain a perfect figure. And if they don’t, they take a trip to their personal plastic surgeon for a fix up.
Their houses are spotless showrooms. Perfectly decorated and clean. And clean. Did I say clean?
And while sometimes those things seem like THE dream. I know how hollow they are. A mommy without stains is one who isn’t playing on the floor. A car without mess is one that isn’t driving the kids to fun activities. A party without personal touches and a face covered in cake is sterile. And a house without some messes, toys on the floor and happy noises is not a Home.
So I think I’ll stick with my version of Real. The one where I throw my hair in a ponytail and put on my uniform of clean (mostly) and cheap (very) tank top and jeans. Where the kids and I spend a good chunk of our day on the move and the car takes a beating. Where my canvas purse/diaper bag is filled with 3,926 things for the kids(diapers, wipes, snacks, juice, crayons, sunscreen, toys etc)and 3 things for me (wallet, phone and chapstick). Planning playdates, presents and parties that are joyously homemade. And a house that is spilling over with toys, to-do’s, messes, laundry, life and love. Real indeed.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Up! Unfortunately.
It's now 6:39 A.M. A perfectly respectable time to get up in the morning. That would have been awesome if that is when I actually got up. I've been up since 4. Ugh.
Now to give you the full perspective on this, you have to know that I am a nursing mother. With a baby who doesn't understand the concept of sleeping through the night. K is almost a year old. He's had about 4 long stretches.....in his life. A typical night has me awake 2-4 times, his average stretch being 3 hours.
I'm tired.
All.
The.
Time.
And I have two more kids under 5 to take care of. I will readily admit that sometimes "taking care of" means a day of movies and snacks while mama lays on the couch trying to recover.
Normally my goal is for the baby to get through the night without screaming and waking the rest of the house up. To that end, I nurse him when he wakes up. I know that he doesn't need to eat, but it's easier and I'm tired. And I also know that this has created a habit that I'm going to have to break. Got it, thanks.
The secondary concern for being up that many times is getting sleep inbetween wakings. I leave all the lights off and navigate my house like I have radar. I manage to stay in a bit of a stupor and return to my bed often unable to remember how many times I was up during the night.
But today was one of the frustrating days where I returned to my bed completely unable to fall back asleep. I tossed and turned. Jotted down notes that I will be unable to comprehend because I can't manage to write well in the dark. Contemplated getting in a workout and finally stumbled out to my computer.
I figure if I can't sleep I may as well get something done.
Facebook-check
(I'm on PST so at least I have plenty of friends 3 hours ahead of me)
Email-check
Window shop new Gymboree line-check
Upload new pictures-check
And finally...
Blog-check.
It's now 6:51 and my family will wake soon. The lights will come on. The cartoons and whining will start. The dogs will beg for breakfast and my husband will rush around frantically looking for clean laundry. But for now, it's quiet, save for a snoring dog. The snow is falling and I am alone. And while I'd still rather be sleeping, I'm trying to appreciate the gift of a bit of time to myself. The lull before the storm. A beautiful storm.
Now to give you the full perspective on this, you have to know that I am a nursing mother. With a baby who doesn't understand the concept of sleeping through the night. K is almost a year old. He's had about 4 long stretches.....in his life. A typical night has me awake 2-4 times, his average stretch being 3 hours.
I'm tired.
All.
The.
Time.
And I have two more kids under 5 to take care of. I will readily admit that sometimes "taking care of" means a day of movies and snacks while mama lays on the couch trying to recover.
Normally my goal is for the baby to get through the night without screaming and waking the rest of the house up. To that end, I nurse him when he wakes up. I know that he doesn't need to eat, but it's easier and I'm tired. And I also know that this has created a habit that I'm going to have to break. Got it, thanks.
The secondary concern for being up that many times is getting sleep inbetween wakings. I leave all the lights off and navigate my house like I have radar. I manage to stay in a bit of a stupor and return to my bed often unable to remember how many times I was up during the night.
But today was one of the frustrating days where I returned to my bed completely unable to fall back asleep. I tossed and turned. Jotted down notes that I will be unable to comprehend because I can't manage to write well in the dark. Contemplated getting in a workout and finally stumbled out to my computer.
I figure if I can't sleep I may as well get something done.
Facebook-check
(I'm on PST so at least I have plenty of friends 3 hours ahead of me)
Email-check
Window shop new Gymboree line-check
Upload new pictures-check
And finally...
Blog-check.
It's now 6:51 and my family will wake soon. The lights will come on. The cartoons and whining will start. The dogs will beg for breakfast and my husband will rush around frantically looking for clean laundry. But for now, it's quiet, save for a snoring dog. The snow is falling and I am alone. And while I'd still rather be sleeping, I'm trying to appreciate the gift of a bit of time to myself. The lull before the storm. A beautiful storm.
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Two posts in one day, imagine that!
This one is inspired by a friend's status on Facebook about her Houdini baby and the inevitable diaper removal. Sounds funny, when it's not your baby. And not your job to clean up the mess that usually results from a commando baby.
All these tips can be used seperately, together or in succession. Some of them work, some of them may just slow baby down a bit.
Put the diaper on backwards. This only works with certain brands, but worth a try.
Put regular underware on over the diaper. You will need them sooner or later, so might as well try it out.
If baby is big enough, try a Pull up. The closures are different and they may confuse them.
Find a sleeper or outfit without feet and put it on backwards. The snaps or zipper in the back should slow baby down quite a bit.
Duct tape on the diaper flaps. This one is really hit or miss because some baby's will figure out to tear the paper instead.
Good luck!
This one is inspired by a friend's status on Facebook about her Houdini baby and the inevitable diaper removal. Sounds funny, when it's not your baby. And not your job to clean up the mess that usually results from a commando baby.
All these tips can be used seperately, together or in succession. Some of them work, some of them may just slow baby down a bit.
Put the diaper on backwards. This only works with certain brands, but worth a try.
Put regular underware on over the diaper. You will need them sooner or later, so might as well try it out.
If baby is big enough, try a Pull up. The closures are different and they may confuse them.
Find a sleeper or outfit without feet and put it on backwards. The snaps or zipper in the back should slow baby down quite a bit.
Duct tape on the diaper flaps. This one is really hit or miss because some baby's will figure out to tear the paper instead.
Good luck!
Don't start what you don't want to finish.
Parenting advice is something that I try not to give unless asked for. *Note: by coming to my blog, you asked for it. Aren't you lucky?
But if someone does ask, or has me jot something down on a piece of paper for some lame baby shower game, this is the nugget of wisdom they get.
Don't start what you don't want to finish.
Kid's are creatures of habit. And while some experts will tell you that you need to do something X number of times for it to become a habit, kids often think otherwise. And it's never good things that they cling to after one time, it's stuff you wish you could go back and never introduce.
So to save you the pain, let me share a few of these scenarios that I can't, but wish, I could undo.
Ranch Dressing- In an attempt to get my daughter to eat veggies, I gave her Ranch dressing. She ate her veggies, and anything else she could dip. I've seen my daughter eat a brownie with Ranch. God forbid we run out, the poor child would starve. I've tried to wean her and she is back down to just veggies, fries and chicken. But that was a battle, one I wish I'd never had to wage.
Quarters for the dumb ride outside a store-Not all re-dos are mommy's fault. I have never given my kids money for the rides or games that we find at stores and restaurants. But Thank You Grandma! My announcement of "Mommy doesn't have quarters for that ride." was instantly met with her digging in her purse. All fine and dandy for them to have a little fun, but now every.single.time. we go into that store they campaign for a ride. They beg, they protest and I lose a bit more of my already dwindling mind. I have now come up with a solution though. Since my kids love me taking their picture, they climb in the ride and I snap a photo with my phone and show it to them. They are happy and we move on.
Riding in the big part of the shopping cart-Again, not my fault. I blame Daddy.
Can they "un-watch" a show?- Plenty of these. My current least favorite is Fish Hooks.
Driving Woes-Also known as "Mommy, what's an Idiot?". I do much better now that we don't live in a major city, but I get grumpy at people when I drive. To this day if you ask my daughter what an idiot is, she will tell you it's someone who can't drive. I'm glad she went with my explanation, but I'd just as soon never yelled it in front of her.
Honey Nut Cheerios-This one covers lots of food choices. But in simplest terms, if the original is good......don't offer up the next option. I rue the day I passed over the big yellow box. Now my kids have to be tricked into eating them. The trick? Well, it also helps with the cereal aisle melt down should I have to suffer the trauma of taking kids groccery shopping. They are allowed to pick any kind of Cheerios they want (not totally true, we don't do the yogurt, chocolate or banana ones) and I get a box of regular ones. At home, I pour both boxes into a Tupper cereal box. They get half the good stuff and half the healthy. So I guess it's only half a solution, but it's working.
I'm sure there are dozens more examples. As moms we have a lot of talents, too bad seeing into the future isn't one of them. Do your best to think down the road and you may save yourself a struggle or two. Or four.
But if someone does ask, or has me jot something down on a piece of paper for some lame baby shower game, this is the nugget of wisdom they get.
Don't start what you don't want to finish.
Kid's are creatures of habit. And while some experts will tell you that you need to do something X number of times for it to become a habit, kids often think otherwise. And it's never good things that they cling to after one time, it's stuff you wish you could go back and never introduce.
So to save you the pain, let me share a few of these scenarios that I can't, but wish, I could undo.
Ranch Dressing- In an attempt to get my daughter to eat veggies, I gave her Ranch dressing. She ate her veggies, and anything else she could dip. I've seen my daughter eat a brownie with Ranch. God forbid we run out, the poor child would starve. I've tried to wean her and she is back down to just veggies, fries and chicken. But that was a battle, one I wish I'd never had to wage.
Quarters for the dumb ride outside a store-Not all re-dos are mommy's fault. I have never given my kids money for the rides or games that we find at stores and restaurants. But Thank You Grandma! My announcement of "Mommy doesn't have quarters for that ride." was instantly met with her digging in her purse. All fine and dandy for them to have a little fun, but now every.single.time. we go into that store they campaign for a ride. They beg, they protest and I lose a bit more of my already dwindling mind. I have now come up with a solution though. Since my kids love me taking their picture, they climb in the ride and I snap a photo with my phone and show it to them. They are happy and we move on.
Riding in the big part of the shopping cart-Again, not my fault. I blame Daddy.
Can they "un-watch" a show?- Plenty of these. My current least favorite is Fish Hooks.
Driving Woes-Also known as "Mommy, what's an Idiot?". I do much better now that we don't live in a major city, but I get grumpy at people when I drive. To this day if you ask my daughter what an idiot is, she will tell you it's someone who can't drive. I'm glad she went with my explanation, but I'd just as soon never yelled it in front of her.
Honey Nut Cheerios-This one covers lots of food choices. But in simplest terms, if the original is good......don't offer up the next option. I rue the day I passed over the big yellow box. Now my kids have to be tricked into eating them. The trick? Well, it also helps with the cereal aisle melt down should I have to suffer the trauma of taking kids groccery shopping. They are allowed to pick any kind of Cheerios they want (not totally true, we don't do the yogurt, chocolate or banana ones) and I get a box of regular ones. At home, I pour both boxes into a Tupper cereal box. They get half the good stuff and half the healthy. So I guess it's only half a solution, but it's working.
I'm sure there are dozens more examples. As moms we have a lot of talents, too bad seeing into the future isn't one of them. Do your best to think down the road and you may save yourself a struggle or two. Or four.
Saturday, February 12, 2011
The Weekend
I used to be such a fan of weekends. Days off work, time to myself. Enough time to have fun and catch up. Both. Got things accomplished, met Sunday evening with an aire of productivity and the greeted the week with a solid mindset.
Not so much anymore.
Two days, 48 hours is much less time in my world now. I figure when you divide by 6 (5 members of the family and I'm counting the pets collectively as their own) and take out time for sleep (and naps) we are left with about 6 hours each day of usable time. Not nearly what it used to be, with so much more to work on.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not wishing to back to my world as a single girl with a cool apartment downtown. No....I never daydream about that at all......never. :)
I adore my kids, I love my husband and I live in my dream home. But every weekend rolls around and the upkeep on everything in my life becomes more obvious. The actual time needed to make those things work comes to light and I find myself over compensating and trying to make up for my week dominated by children to get it ALL done. All being, a house that is put together and presentable, kids who are happy and loaded down with family bonding time, relaxation seeping from every pore and possibly even some time for mommy and daddy to remember that they are, first and foremost, a couple in love. It's a tall order.
And the reason it never happens comes down to this....
Weekends are jumbled. Not defined. I know why, it's obvious, yet unsolvable in our house. Weekends are a mess because it's everyone's weekend, but that means different things in different roles. My husband, kids and I all have different ideas of what a weekend should be.
My husband works. He works very hard, long hours during the week. To him weekends are supposed to be relaxing. A break between the grind. Time to sleep a little more and take it easy.
For the kids, it's a day off school, everyone is home so we can pummel each other kind of approach. They are still to little for our weekends to be full of soccer games, dance recitals and sleepovers. But we do get an occasional crazy two days of birthday parties and family activities. Although the weekend rush will start soon enough as our 4 year old dives into the world of recreational soccer this spring.
For me, weekends aren't all that different than my normal week. I'm still responsible for the kids and the family schedule and for keeping the house from becoming an uninhabitable pit by Sunday night.
The big difference for me, and this is where our troubles start, is that I am happy to have another grown person around the house for a few days. My poor husband. In his attempt to take respite from his taxing job, I come in with a list of activities and chores that I need done. Not only that, I enjoy his company and probably talk his ear off more on weekends because he understands words that are longer than 3 syllables. It's nice. For me.
So out I trot the Honey-Do list of picture hanging, toy fixing, garage related anything and ultimately the time allotment for him to take the kids so I can get a project or two done. And before I even realize it, I have filled the weekend with tasky things that I normally assume should occupy our Saturday morning, but manage to dominate most of our two day stretch. That is, if we even get to them. Often we abandon our mission early due to boredom, sleep deprivation (that would be me) or the bickering we seem to employ as an obvious end to the work.
So here it is, Saturday morning. And as I try to figure out how to use these two days in a productive manor and he tries to figure out how to use them in a restful one, we sit at an empasse once again.
Not so much anymore.
Two days, 48 hours is much less time in my world now. I figure when you divide by 6 (5 members of the family and I'm counting the pets collectively as their own) and take out time for sleep (and naps) we are left with about 6 hours each day of usable time. Not nearly what it used to be, with so much more to work on.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not wishing to back to my world as a single girl with a cool apartment downtown. No....I never daydream about that at all......never. :)
I adore my kids, I love my husband and I live in my dream home. But every weekend rolls around and the upkeep on everything in my life becomes more obvious. The actual time needed to make those things work comes to light and I find myself over compensating and trying to make up for my week dominated by children to get it ALL done. All being, a house that is put together and presentable, kids who are happy and loaded down with family bonding time, relaxation seeping from every pore and possibly even some time for mommy and daddy to remember that they are, first and foremost, a couple in love. It's a tall order.
And the reason it never happens comes down to this....
Weekends are jumbled. Not defined. I know why, it's obvious, yet unsolvable in our house. Weekends are a mess because it's everyone's weekend, but that means different things in different roles. My husband, kids and I all have different ideas of what a weekend should be.
My husband works. He works very hard, long hours during the week. To him weekends are supposed to be relaxing. A break between the grind. Time to sleep a little more and take it easy.
For the kids, it's a day off school, everyone is home so we can pummel each other kind of approach. They are still to little for our weekends to be full of soccer games, dance recitals and sleepovers. But we do get an occasional crazy two days of birthday parties and family activities. Although the weekend rush will start soon enough as our 4 year old dives into the world of recreational soccer this spring.
For me, weekends aren't all that different than my normal week. I'm still responsible for the kids and the family schedule and for keeping the house from becoming an uninhabitable pit by Sunday night.
The big difference for me, and this is where our troubles start, is that I am happy to have another grown person around the house for a few days. My poor husband. In his attempt to take respite from his taxing job, I come in with a list of activities and chores that I need done. Not only that, I enjoy his company and probably talk his ear off more on weekends because he understands words that are longer than 3 syllables. It's nice. For me.
So out I trot the Honey-Do list of picture hanging, toy fixing, garage related anything and ultimately the time allotment for him to take the kids so I can get a project or two done. And before I even realize it, I have filled the weekend with tasky things that I normally assume should occupy our Saturday morning, but manage to dominate most of our two day stretch. That is, if we even get to them. Often we abandon our mission early due to boredom, sleep deprivation (that would be me) or the bickering we seem to employ as an obvious end to the work.
So here it is, Saturday morning. And as I try to figure out how to use these two days in a productive manor and he tries to figure out how to use them in a restful one, we sit at an empasse once again.
Monday, January 10, 2011
Review: Baby Food
Not that I think I'm an expert in parenting. Not in the least.
But I do think that my extensive experience in purchasing and using kid/baby items give me plenty of room to rant or rave about merchandise.
So here if my first rave. I'm in love. In awe, if you will.
Baby Food Pouches!
Basically, it's pureed baby food that you are familiar with. But in much better flavor combos and in far better packaging.
So, how do you make baby food more appealling to baby? Simple. Make it taste better and make it easier to eat yourself.
As far as flavor, the brands I like are organic. And while I'm not super gung-ho on having every last little item in my house be organic (and nor can afford it, they call it Whole Paycheck for a reason), I do think there is a lot to be said for organic veggies and be able to taste the freshness. But on top of that, they combine fruits and veggies together.
Now, I've never had much issue getting my kids to eat fruit. Really, who does? But green beans, peas and spinach. Not so much.
But tonight, my son ate an entire pouch of sweet potato, corn and apples. His favorite has spinach and pears. Brilliant!
Then dilema #2 for baby food has always been the mess. In our case, the mess is caused by the interest from the earliest of spoon feeding to want to do himself. I've tried it all, from giving him one spoon to play with while I try to feed him and even letting him do it himself. All attempts have ended up with baby covered in food and getting a bath in the kitchen sink. Don't even get me started on the state of the highchair.
But a pouch, a gloriously easy pouch, lets me feed him so quickly and cleanly, it's astounding. All I have to do is guide it and spot him to make sure he doesn't remove it and squeeze it all over. He thinks he's doing it all himself and I get to feed a baby without massive cleanup after.
I do realize that my kid might be 5 before he figures out how to work a spoon for himself. But as long as it's this easy, I'm just gonna pretend I'm preparing him for the space program and life as an astronaut. He'll figure it all out sooner or later.
And not to forget the helpful part. Favorite brands include Ellas Kitchen, Plum Organics and for bigger kids Revolution Foods.
Big Thumbs up from this house!
But I do think that my extensive experience in purchasing and using kid/baby items give me plenty of room to rant or rave about merchandise.
So here if my first rave. I'm in love. In awe, if you will.
Baby Food Pouches!
Basically, it's pureed baby food that you are familiar with. But in much better flavor combos and in far better packaging.
So, how do you make baby food more appealling to baby? Simple. Make it taste better and make it easier to eat yourself.
As far as flavor, the brands I like are organic. And while I'm not super gung-ho on having every last little item in my house be organic (and nor can afford it, they call it Whole Paycheck for a reason), I do think there is a lot to be said for organic veggies and be able to taste the freshness. But on top of that, they combine fruits and veggies together.
Now, I've never had much issue getting my kids to eat fruit. Really, who does? But green beans, peas and spinach. Not so much.
But tonight, my son ate an entire pouch of sweet potato, corn and apples. His favorite has spinach and pears. Brilliant!
Then dilema #2 for baby food has always been the mess. In our case, the mess is caused by the interest from the earliest of spoon feeding to want to do himself. I've tried it all, from giving him one spoon to play with while I try to feed him and even letting him do it himself. All attempts have ended up with baby covered in food and getting a bath in the kitchen sink. Don't even get me started on the state of the highchair.
But a pouch, a gloriously easy pouch, lets me feed him so quickly and cleanly, it's astounding. All I have to do is guide it and spot him to make sure he doesn't remove it and squeeze it all over. He thinks he's doing it all himself and I get to feed a baby without massive cleanup after.
I do realize that my kid might be 5 before he figures out how to work a spoon for himself. But as long as it's this easy, I'm just gonna pretend I'm preparing him for the space program and life as an astronaut. He'll figure it all out sooner or later.
And not to forget the helpful part. Favorite brands include Ellas Kitchen, Plum Organics and for bigger kids Revolution Foods.
Big Thumbs up from this house!
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