Click Clack Mom » Parenting

Haaaaalp!!!

Amy — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 02:34:47 +0000

Just a quick plea for help:) Suddenly Jackson has a tremendous interest in potty training. Oh goodness! I am not sure I’m ready for all this! Today he screamed (loudly!) when I tried to put a diaper on him. He wanted THOMAS (underpants). So I took him to the potty seriously 15 times in hour. Poor Hannah was just sitting in her high chair waiting patiently for dinner.

Technically–I guess–I’ve started potty training. And I’ve heard you can’t really go back. So does that mean he starts tomorrow sans diaper??

And here’s my bigger problem!

While we’re visiting family during John’s deployment, Jackson and Hannah are sharing a room and they’re both sleeping in pack and plays. Reserve your judgement (Ha! Ha!) for someone who didn’t spend a week of her life trying to get Jackson to sleep in a big boy bed, while I was sharing a room with a baby.

So here are my problems:

1. Is it potty training–full-speed ahead–starting NOW??! Or do I need to plan more for this? HELP!!!

2. Can you think of any way to have a 2.5 year old boy in a bed, with a 1 year old in the pack in play in the same room?? Think: flying toys that might hit her head. Or him knocking over the pack and play to get to SISSY:)

I’m lost and trying to stay unbitter about doing all this without my husband:) (Just kidding!)

Any ideas, friends?!

Week in Pictures

Amy — Wed, 25 May 2011 03:43:57 +0000

What a wonderful week it has been!! I guess it should be said, though, that the weather in New England in MAY (!!!) has been a little shocking! Wow–it’s been drizzly, cold, overcast, damp for so many days that I can’t even keep count anymore. It’s so bad, there was a little bit of blue sky the other day, and I thought, “Oh yeah, that’s what that looks like!!” Ha!

Since we have so much to do, and so much to choose from, I’m really trying to jump in with both feet! Yours truly even compiled a list of things to do with the kids so that I’ve always got a menu of options at my fingertips. With bookstores, museums, restaurants, and so much natural scenery, and terrific family–it’s been a total joy to be here!

Here are some of the highlights:

Jackson with the train table at Barnes and Noble

Hannah looking all grown up.

Hannah and Jackson holding hands at mealtime.

Our “Day Out with Thomas” which ROCKED JACKSON’S WORLD!!! (Yay!!!)

A scenery around here is awesome!

I braved a restaurant alone with the two kids. They were perfect. Whew!!

Jackson’s TOTAL OBSESSION this summer is a swan family that has a nest on my father-in-law’s property. Morning, noon and night, he demands to see “Mama Swan” who is warming four eggs. He is pointing at daddy swan, but if you look closely, you can see mama’s head in the bottom, right corner.

My little princess just melting my heart.

Finally–three cheers for the kids starting pre/nursery school next week! For a couple days a week, I will now have the chance to be by myself. I am TOO excited! Yes, my hair is a hot mess, so that’s my first order of business, then signing up with a Crossfit gym. But mainly, it’s just exciting to be “off duty” for a little while.

What kinds of things do you guys do in the summer to keep your kids happy and entertained? I’d love more ideas!!

Peek into my window

Amy — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 03:05:00 +0000

I’m baking cookies tonight. Right now, actually. One eye cast towards the oven, just waiting for the timer to DING! I enjoy baking, although what comes out of the oven usually isn’t terribly healthy, so I try not to do it too often.

Tonight, though, my mind feels cluttered; my emotions feel a little too accessible; so I’m baking to busy my hands and calm my head.

Last weekend my husband returned from a month-long trip. As soon as he returned, the PLAGUE descended on our home. Both Jackson and Hannah ended up having a double ear infection, and pink eye, and I was also sick.

A week’s worth of plans were dashed. We went further into survival mode as the sick took care of the sick. I’ll be honest, it’s affected my sunny deposition. I hate being in a “funk” and finally think I know what’s wrong. Being a stay-at-home-mom (in our society) in inherently isolating. That being said, there are PLENTY of things you can do to fight it–like play dates, get togethers, etc., but all of these things disappear when you have sick babies to tend to. Or when your husband’s gone for weeks or months.

I love being a mom. And I really love the ability to stay home with my kids. But the tendency to feel alone most of the day, to feel like you’re living in your head, is a hard concept for me to grasp. Cause I like to talk, and connect, and love on other people.

So I wonder if this is something you’ve thought of or experienced? How do you stay connected when your environment isn’t as conducive as it used to be? I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Night, lovelies. I’ve got some cookies to eat!!

Zero Impact Activity

Amy — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 02:26:10 +0000

My world fits inside my mind just so. When I receive new information, it is immediately processed into bite-sized pieces to fit into my pre-existing world. There is a need to be met by a friend or fellow church member? There are two open spots on my schedule this week between feeding Hannah and giving Jackson a nap in the middle of the day.

Phone calls? After 7 p.m. please.

Play dates or get togethers? Daytime is best right now.

Coffee? After Jackson has milk, the dog has gone outside and the blinds are open.

Dinner? Just after Jackson has gone to bed, the dog has been fed and my blinds are shut.

Efficiency is the order of the day. My day.

The needs of a new baby, though, expand throughout the compartments in my mind. One block bleeding into another, then suddenly I feel confused and less efficient.

Until I am reminded that having a child is not a zero-impact activity. Not now or ever. Life will not ever be as it once was, and these compartments will probably look more like amoeba than a perfect, four-sided square.

And for people like me, this could be the biggest blessing of all.

Rocking My World

Amy — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 04:01:07 +0000

It’s been almost a week since “the incident report” (cue dramatic voice over and a bold title) and almost 6 days since I began implementing the Parenting with Love and Logic techniques.

In short: it’s changed my life.

Aaaaaaaand…it’s rocking my world.

Pity the friends and family members who called me this week to chat about anything besides parenting. It has been on my mind and out of my mouth all week. Their website does a great job of explaining their strategy, so I’ll just tell you why I’ve loved it so much.

1. I have only gotten upset with Jackson one time in six days. (This is because he was taking another child’s toys.) You learn how to take the negative emotion out of correcting your child. No “I’m really mad” face or stern eyes…just quick implementation, then moving on!

2. Since I am allowing him to have a little control (choices), he is more compliant with the things he can’t control.

3. He’s no longer driving this truck. (Hey, if Obama can use this metaphor for weeks, then so can I!) I’ve taken the keys back! With a set of strategies to deal with problems, I don’t fear new situations because at least I have a philosophy that guides my response.

4. Their parenting philosophy guides parents from infancy to the teenage years. This appeals to me immensely because I won’t have to find a new “plan” every few years.

It is a program I can’t recommend highly enough! If you are interested in this for your toddler, I recommend the age-specific book (“Love and Logic Magic for Early Childhood”) over the book “Parenting with Love and Logic,” but we bought the Early Childhood package.

I will certainly keep you posted on our progress. For now, few things could make me happier than this peace in my home!

Have you heard of Love and Logic? What parenting strategies have been successful for your family?