tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5171231185889728512024-02-18T19:11:20.564-08:00FormerGeekGirl's Life with ToddlerThis is the rantings and observations of a thirty something who is now back at work (ish), and dealing with raising an almost kindergartner.Geek2Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14333989063010159691noreply@blogger.comBlogger78125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517123118588972851.post-88057219823385225122020-11-09T17:08:00.002-08:002020-11-09T17:08:43.913-08:00Oh 2020, you are more horrible each day than the last.So 2020 has been just a giant shitshow. I hope people looking back on this time in history are past this pandemic and learning from the lessons the U.S. Government failed to learn until Saturday, November 7th, 2020, when an adult was voted back into the President's chair and the Nation breathed a collective sigh of relief. I know I'm feeling much less stress. Of course, this is now the week M starts back to school in person, so we've been doing virtual school for the first nine weeks and then some, and it is ROUGH. I want teachers to get ALL THE RAISES. GIVE THEM ALL THE MONIES!!! They make miracles happen! And my kid doesn't hate me when I am not in charge of homework! Make me just Mom again, I hate being the taskmaster as well. I LOVE YOU TEACHERS, YOU ARE THE BEST!!!<br><br>
So here's how the year really went. January, Coronavirus out of Wuhan (people are already coming back into the US) Fuck That Guy, also known as the current POTUS, closes the border to China. So we're shutting the barn door after the horse is in the house sitting and having tea with the family. It spread. NY got hit hard, no PPE anywhere for doctors, and no toilet paper anywhere for laypeople, and the delivery for groceries (YAY!), but suckage everywhere. School cancelled until the end of the year,nothing is getting graded, so M didn't go. Work had us stay home starting on March 17th. Fourteen weeks later, I was back in the office every other week, and on the opposite weeks as BigM, so that worked out nicely. We are all using masks, and I'm using a face shield, because I don't care if I look stupid, I DO care if I get COVID, because that might kill me.<br><br>
BigM's cousin died of COVID. She was in Nevada. I have seen my sister exactly twice. Through the car door, and for like 2 minutes socially distanced and masked. I haven't seen Mom since February. I hope I can depend on the people I am working with the stay safe and stay away from groups of people. They closed the building suddenly at 4:30pm today with just over two hours notice, for "preventional cleaning". Which means that someome is waiting on a test result, to see if they may have exposed those of us at work. I am annoyed at all of it. <br><br>
I just want some normalcy! It's very demoralizing.Geek2Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14333989063010159691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517123118588972851.post-12861801758501445732014-07-17T08:00:00.001-07:002014-07-17T08:00:34.423-07:00Lyme disease is pretty sucky. (Warning, long and rambling)So here I am, bored at home with numb arms and legs, feet, and sometimes hands. It's been a few weeks, and I think they are starting to worry about me at work, but I keep checking in, and they keep saying, "You need to rest and take care of your health", so I'm trying to do just that.<br><br>
We're at the point where Little M's memory is coming into question. Or maybe it's an attention span problem. He's just so psyched about whatever he's trying to tell me (the names and special abilities of EACH Angry Bird, for example) that he totally forgets that just 10 seconds ago I asked him to put on his shoes. I usually do the repeat tactic, "Tell me what I JUST said." But when he's into something, it's like we're carrying on two different conversations at the same time, and he can't focus on mine until he gets all of his out.<br><br>
He had us fooled for a long time about needing help in the bathroom. One day I asked him what he did at school, and when he said he did it himself (!) that was the end of getting help at home. Although occasionally he'll still yell, "MOM! I need help going to the potty!" Me: "Uh, I can't help you with that part, just push slowly!" Still, it's better than it has been.<br><br>
He's so excited to be going to Kindergarten in the fall. Well, like a month from now. But I don't think he's considered that he won't see his friends from preschool unless they come to the B&As (that's before and after school care at his preschool). I know he'll make new friends and be fine, but this is the first time he's having to say goodbye.<br><br>
He still makes a new BFF every time we go somewhere. At Chick-fil-A on Wednesday there were brothers around his age and the younger one checked to see that we were parked on the same side of the restaurant because he wanted to hold hands on the way to the cars. I told him we were staying a few more minutes, and we'll have to do that next time. So stinkin' cute.<br><br>
Little M usually finds someone to run around with and on the way home he'll ask, "Did you get my friend's phone number so we can have a playdate?" And I'LL ask, "What's your friend's name?" Him: "I don't know." Well, my psychic powers only extend to what HE does behind our backs, and even then, sometimes it can be days before I find the stash of mentos in the pillowcase. Crazy child. <br><br>
I'm pretty sure he's unaware that I have at least an hour between when I get home and when I pick him up to go through his room. The other day he noticed that I moved things around when doing his laundry and asked who was in his room, so maybe he'll catch on...<br><br>
He's come so far since the last time I wrote. He's reading, out loud and to himself. He dresses himself, and is actually starting to help out around the house, which REALLY is great since this Lyme disease has me WIPED OUT. I wish I had more energy to play and take him places, but I just don't. Which sucks for both of us. And since Big M is wiped out too because of medications he's taking, we're pretty lame on the family activities. <br><br>
We did make it to the July 4th parade, THANK GOD it's only about 15 minutes long. But we had fun and saw some friends, so we'll call that a win. I'm on my second course of antibiotics, and I'm hoping I'll get the numbness at bay so I can actually drive more than 2 or 3 miles before my nerves conk out on my. It's very frustrating. I've been out of control of my body before, but never so unexpectedly. I knew what my weaknesses were with dermatomyositis, but Lyme has me flustered with it's feeling fine one minute, and needing to crawl into bed the next. <br><br>
Here's hoping I can get it together before the big carnival in the next county, so we can both actually get there, and have some fun once we do. Sorry in advance if we can't make it this year, kiddo.Geek2Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14333989063010159691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517123118588972851.post-14122128705531950362012-05-20T17:01:00.001-07:002012-05-20T17:01:53.066-07:00The Bitch From Hell<p>So tonight I may not have exercised my best judgement, but how was I to know I would be running into the bride of Satan at an IHOP in a rural county of VA?</p>
<p>I took Little M to dinner, and we were having a pretty pleasant time, except for the slightly loud remarks we were hearing from the next table. The mother was griping and criticizing each of the four girls she had brought with her about one behavior after another, and they seemed like they were out of control, from the way she kept telling them to straighten up. Finally, I'd had enough, and here is where I probably should have turned off my desire to be AT ALL helpful in the situation, and just sat there and listened to the bitching and criticizing of those girls.</p>
<p>But NO, I am not that kind of person. Besides, she's a mom, I'm a mom, I thought that MAYBE if they heard what she was saying from someone else, they'd actually listen. So I turned around and mentioned to the girls that my son was watching them and copying everything they did, so could they please behave for their mom? Then I looked at the mom to see if we were on the same page, and she was just blank-faced.</p>
<p>I have never before felt the hair stand up on the back of my neck so much, but It was like I could feel the venom start to spew in my direction. First she started off with how rude I was, and how some people just ruin things for other people. Then I got to hear about how they were just out to have a nice time and how if "SHE" wanted to provide that kind of example for "HER" child (who, by the way, was just playing a game on my phone and was completely oblivious to everything going on), then that was just fine with them. She then complained about me to the waiter, who sent another waitress over to ask her what the problem was, she didn't give any details, just pointed at me, I said I didn't have a problem.</p>
<p>They offered each of us a chance to change tables, and I guess I was second guessing what I said, the fact that I said anything at all, and the whole situation, but I figured if it was so rude of me to say anything, then I deserved to pay my penance by having to listen to whatever she dished out. </p>
<p>The entire rest of the meal was punctuated by little jabs and remarks from her about me and my parenting. I even turned around and offered her table the ketchup bottle from ours when they had asked for it TWICE and her answer was "We'll wait. You shouldn't have been rude to us in the first place." Then she got up and went to get another (apparently uncontaminated with my rudeness) bottle.</p>
<p>Maybe I WAS the bitch for saying anything to her, but then, consider this:</p>
<p>Before I said anything, those girls were acting up, and the mother was bitching at them like there was no tomorrow.</p>
<p>After I said something, they were all behaving, and they had a common enemy to bitch about, ME. Nevermind that the things she was saying to a bunch of 10-year-olds were entirely inappropriate, that's on her. But I saved those girls from a meal of being the emotional punching bags for that woman. And if for no other reason than that, I'm glad I said something. Even if it WAS uncalled for, or RUDE. Those kids still had a meal without her venom, even if it ALL landed on me.</p>
<p>(Her waiter, by the way, was on his first day BACK, after having been gone from the restaurant for awhile, I felt SO bad for him, he was not at ALL attentive to their table, I think he was just scared of her! Plus, I explained the entire situation to the manager, who frankly thought I did the right thing, and gave us coupons for free stuff.)</p>Geek2Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14333989063010159691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517123118588972851.post-13226684455188738022012-04-20T10:11:00.000-07:002012-04-20T10:11:51.805-07:00Finally back from vacation...just kidding!Phew, it has been awhile (since my last post was in September, when we were just going on vacation)! But it looked like I'd better get back here when I found myself in the IHOP bathroom wondering how my life had gotten to this point...<br />
<br />
So we are getting somewhere now with potty training after having hit a wall for awhile there. Once Little M went to preschool, he started getting VERY interested in doing things more for himself, and wanting to wear big boy underpants.<br />
<br />
He's mastered #2, but still needs help with the cleanup. <br />
<br />
When I say mastered, I mean he yells, "DON'T COME IN WITH ME!!!!" Then as soon as he's on the potty yells, "ARE YOU COMING IN, MOMMY???" Then I get, "DON'T LOOK AT MY POOPY!" It's fun times in the bathroom at our house.<br />
<br />
Number 1 has taken some more work. When it's been overnight, and he's been able to hold it, we have a fire hose situation. And it's just been the last day or so that he's even been AWARE that he could actually touch the hose to direct the flow, so it was like a wash down of the potty and trash every time we were in the bathroom in the early morning. But he'd be trying to make it in the bowl, by leaning over and bending his knees. And I'd be laughing so hard while trying NOT to laugh that I couldn't get myself to tell him HOW to direct the flow. It was BAD parenting. But SO entertaining. I have gotten over this, and we're making progress.<br />
<br />
Most of the problem is that he is still vertically challenged. Little M still needs to use a step stool to clear most toilet bowl rims, and usually this puts him up too high for accuracy, but it also means that if we are out in public, say, at IHOP, for instance, and I have FORGOTTEN this fact...then we are screwed.<br />
<br />
OK, just me, because he's not going to go until he is GOOD and ready, which is why I found myself standing in front of the toilet yelling, "Please just stand on my feet, and PEE-PEE IN THE POTTY!" And wondered how this is what became of my life.<br />
<br />
With apologies to Dr. Suess, may he not be turning in his grave:<br />
<br />
He would not pee-pee sitting down, <br />
He could not pee-pee from the ground.<br />
He would not pee-pee standing on the seat, <br />
I could not hold him on MY feet.<br />
He would not, could not go, go, go, <br />
Until on the ground, my purse I'd throw.<br />
Then on my phone, he stomped his feet, <br />
But pee and water, finally did meet.<br />
<br />
The phone lived, by the way. Those things are surprisingly resilient! And we finally, FINALLY got to go home. And his pull-up stayed dry once again. Go, Little M.Geek2Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14333989063010159691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517123118588972851.post-40579598621414883922011-09-24T21:53:00.001-07:002011-09-24T21:53:39.747-07:00on Vacay...We are on vacation and the scrolling on my phone really bites, so I will be back in October. You can always let me know you missed me! Love me! Please, for God's sake, LOVE ME!Geek2Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14333989063010159691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517123118588972851.post-83649262991837343892011-09-22T17:02:00.000-07:002011-09-22T17:02:23.501-07:00Trick Questions???First of all, as we were getting out of the bathtub tonight I checked on Little M's forehead, which he bumped against the soapdish earlier when we were getting our first bath of the day to wash out the vomit of the second throwing up of the day (it was a rough morning, and by the way, I love how they conveniently place those at the forehead level of toddlers). He's fine, a little bruise, but it brought the episode to his attention and as I'm carrying him to the bedroom he says in a sad voice, "Poor little boy. Poor little boy Matthew." And I can't stop myself from giggling. He's just so overly dramatic! It was cute. Maybe you had to be there. Maybe I am a terrible person. Anyway...<br />
<br />
We're reading The Runaway Bunny, like we do every night, with questions about the pictures and counting and colors, etc. And Little M decides he's going to test me, too! Fun! So we get to the end of my questions and have this conversation:<br />
<br />
Him: What color are the red flowers?<br />
<br />
Me: Um, Red? Is this a trick question? What color are the blue flowers?<br />
<br />
Him: Blue.<br />
<br />
Me: And what color are the yellow flowers?<br />
<br />
Him: Red.<br />
<br />
Me: What color are the YELLOW flowers?<br />
<br />
Him: Yellow.<br />
<br />
Me: Good job. Next page.<br />
<br />
Silly boy! But I did learn today that if I tell him that he'll get a cookie later for eating all of something else, and then eat all the cookies I've brought over with me, he notices. ("Hey! Where's my orange cookie!" "I'll get you another one when you've finished your dinner.") So I'd better make sure it's not the very LAST cookie! Cause he's pretty observant these days...except for the trick questions...we'll have to work on those.Geek2Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14333989063010159691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517123118588972851.post-44052687368787665992011-09-18T18:27:00.000-07:002011-09-18T18:27:57.155-07:00Road TripFirst hour into a three hour road trip and we've got the iPod shuffle on, listening to the set of 10 copies of "Life is a Highway" per toddler request until he goes to sleep.<br />
<br />
Me: OK, these cars need to get with the program. This is "Kassie's Lane". When I come up on you at speed, that means you are going too slow. GET OUT OF MY WAY. Thank you.<br />
<br />
My loving hubby: Obviously they did not get the memo.<br />
<br />
Me: Well, that's no excuse.<br />
<br />
Him: So is Kassie's Lane a moving hundred yard area or does it just stretch out in front of you ad infinitum?<br />
<br />
Me: Stretches out. And if I wanted to I could just flick them out of my lane like this (*mimes flicking bugs off windshield*), but I choose not to use my powers for evil.<br />
<br />
Him: I see.<br />
<br />
<br />
Sometime later...<br />
<br />
Me: Oooh, a yard sale at that elementary school! Let's stop!<br />
<br />
Him: Uh, no.<br />
<br />
Me: Why not?<br />
<br />
Him: Because no, and it's not till next weekend anyway.<br />
<br />
Me: But that car is going now.<br />
<br />
Him: Not unless they want to get a REALLY good parking place. Because it doesn't start until NEXT Saturday.<br />
<br />
<br />
And later still...<br />
<br />
Me: Oh. My. God. Get your camera out!!!!!<br />
<br />
Him: Why?<br />
<br />
Me: Because there's a GIANT METAL CHICKEN over there! Take a picture as we go past!<br />
<br />
Him: No.<br />
<br />
Me: OK, then I will just have to come back and buy it.<br />
<br />
Him: Uh, no you won't.<br />
<br />
Me: Um, yeah, I will. I can put it in the backyard. It will be fantastic.<br />
<br />
Him: Not with our HOA.<br />
<br />
Me: They can't tell us what to put in our BACK yard.<br />
<br />
Him: I don't want to start anything with the neighbors. Please do not buy a chicken.<br />
<br />
Me: But it's full of whimsy!<br />
<br />
Him: They start fights with people. Over leaves!<br />
<br />
Me: Fine, then I'm buying new bath towels.<br />
<br />
Him: What?<br />
<br />
Me: Exactly.<br />
<br />
<br />
See why I love him so? You rock, honey.Geek2Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14333989063010159691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517123118588972851.post-63599539380931207212011-09-14T16:31:00.000-07:002011-09-14T16:31:23.911-07:00Good Night (Abbreviated)We were running behind, so tonight's good night routine was a bit hectic. But the kid knows his routine, I will say that for him. I tried to speed things up in the book department, but he knows that he usually gets to look at the pages in The Runaway Bunny and talk about what is going on in the pictures, so there was NO skimping on those pages. And there was no skipping them either, he was not having any of that, even if it WAS accidental. The first time, anyway. <br />
<br />
And we did do Lullaby, two times, as usual, with his newly chosen wording. Every since we watched the HBO special, Goodnight Moon and Other Stories (or something like that), with Aaron Neville singing Lullaby with some NOT Old English lyrics, Little M wants THOSE in his nightly routine. And since we've been singing the only lyrics I could find on the internet for as long as he's be alive it's hard to switch over, so we do it a verse at a time. We're up to one verse switched so far... <br />
<br />
Then the good night. I told him, "Good Night, little man." <br />
<br />
He says, "I'm not a little man." (*sniff*) <br />
<br />
I said, "Are you still my sweet pea?" <br />
<br />
He says, "Yes, I'm a sweet pea." (*phew*) <br />
<br />
Me: "OK, then, Good Night, sweet pea. I love you." <br />
Him: "Love you too, Mommy." <br />
<br />
It's the highlight of my day.Geek2Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14333989063010159691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517123118588972851.post-21635932266755668322011-09-13T21:23:00.000-07:002011-09-13T21:25:24.978-07:00The Story of SandyThis is the text I sent to the SPCA where we adopted the greatest dog ever. If you can open your heart and home to a dog from a rescue organization, the rewards are endless.<br />
<br />
My name is K****, and I was 10 in the summer of 1983 when my mother brought me and my 7-year-old sister to the SPCA to look for a dog to adopt. She had been researching breeds and we had decided on a cocker spaniel, but all the dogs we looked at kept barking at us, and didn't really seem very friendly. As we were about to leave a woman at the desk told us there was one dog that they had to put all by herself because she was too scared to be around all the other dogs, but that we might want to see if she was the dog for our family. <br />
<br />
She took us in another room with some couches and brought in a small light brown mixed terrier who was just shaking from fright. When the woman put the dog on the floor, the dog went straight under the couch, crouched in the back, and we spent the rest of the time there trying to get her to come out. We finally managed to get her out, and Mom decided we would go home and talk to Dad about this dog, then come back the next day.<br />
My sister and I were in LOVE. This dog needed us! So we came back the next day and picked up Sandy, named after the dog in the movie "Annie", even though she bore a resemblance only in color. I got to hold Sandy on my lap on the way home, and she shivered the entire ride from Salinas to Monterey. <br />
<br />
We were told that she had been found on the highway by someone, and there were marks on her tummy that suggested that she'd been beaten. Even at 10 I knew that was a horrible thing to have to go through, and wanted to protect her from ever having to be hurt again.<br />
There were some psychological scars as well. For the first two years Sandy would not go anywhere near Dad. She was afraid of all men for about that long, too. And we had to get a new leash for her after seeing that she was afraid of the chain one we tried to use to walk her, so we surmised that someone may have used one of those to punish her at one point.<br />
<br />
After a couple of weeks with us, though, Sandy had learned her name, and was responding to it by wagging her tail with such force that we were afraid she'd hurt herself on the furniture. But we knew where she was! We'd just call her name, then look to see where the tail wagging thump was coming from.<br />
<br />
We took her back to the SPCA Open House about then, and she was a little more comfortable being around other dogs at that point too. We even entered her in a contest, the Waggiest Tail contest. I got to be her human for that event, and while other contestants were being fed treats, I just stood with her and called her name and pet her, and she wagged like she was the happiest dog in the world. And she won first place. I truly think she was the happiest dog in the world at that point. She had a new home with a Mom, Dad, and two little girls that loved her unconditionally.<br />
<br />
Over the years Sandy would sleep on my jacket, no matter where I'd put it, teaching me the only safe place was hanging in the closet where it belonged. She'd also put up with the indignities of little girls dressing her up and parading her around the neighborhood, but I think she may have secretly loved it. My Uncle T somehow found out that if you meowed at her she'd howl back at you, we're not sure if she thought you were singing and she wanted to sing too, but he made it seem like he was giving her pet therapy. He'd meow and get her going and then go, "There, there, let it all out. We know how your mom treated you like a cat!" It was a little bizarre, but we thought it was pretty funny, too. <br />
<br />
Most of all, she liked to sleep touching me. In the chair on my lap, or in bed with me at night, it didn't matter, but she had to be touching me. <br />
Sandy lived to be about 17, having to be put down in 1997 when her organs starting failing, but she went through a lot with our family. Lots of moves with the Navy, a divorce, college with me, and my first apartment. She was a loving and wonderful companion and growing up with her love meant so much to me.<br />
<br />
I want to thank the wonderful people at the SPCA, and especially that woman behind the desk, who cared about a scared little dog that someone had discarded on the highway, who went on to be a great set of paw prints on my heart.Geek2Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14333989063010159691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517123118588972851.post-38378141258003024312011-09-12T20:58:00.001-07:002011-09-12T20:58:29.230-07:00Drinking and Assault!!!! It's a crime wave.This day was crazy. After a quick breakfast we headed out the door to the local recreation facility where I volunteer in the daycare center to get a free membership. Today is one of the days where I can actually USE the membership and the free childcare I get by volunteering for four hours instead of just two, and so I do a class while Little M plays in the daycare with the other kids. He loves it, and is a little angel for the other women who work there, so it all works out pretty well.<br />
<br />
We leave there and go to my doctors appointment. It's the pain doctor, and they do random drug testing since they give out the good stuff, so it's my turn to pee in a cup. I have to take Little M with me to the bathroom because he will FREAK OUT if I try to leave him in the exam room alone. So I grab the diaper bag and figure I'll at least get him a clean diaper, if not get him to sit and go on the potty while we're in there.<br />
<br />
As I am walking to the bathroom it occurs to me that at some point he will be old enough that they won't let him come with me to the bathroom, lest he actually be able to do the peeing in the cup that they are assuming I am doing for the test. At the age he is now, he'd pipe right up and let them know EXACTLY whose pee was in the cup, so the jig would be up immediately, but they might not know that. I decide it's probably best not to mention any of this to the nurse.<br />
<br />
We get to the bathroom and I try to convince him to go on the potty, but after a few minutes it is obvious that the conversation is going nowhere, so I go ahead and change him into a new pull-up, and get on with my test. <br />
<br />
"Mommy, what you doing?" <br />
*sigh* "Mommy is going pee-pee in the cup."<br />
"Can I drink da pee-pee?"<br />
"No, you cannot drink the pee-pee." (Another sentence I never thought I'd EVER have to say.)<br />
<br />
The rest of the appointment goes just fine, and at lunch Little M reports to Daddy, "Mommy went pee-pee in da cup!" "Oh, she did?" "Yeah, and you can't drink da pee-pee." I have taught him well. My job here is done.<br />
<br />
Later in the evening, after his bath, Little M throws this gem into the conversation, "M got hurt on da forehead!"<br />
"What?!?!?"<br />
"M got hurt on da forehead!!!"<br />
"Did you hurt your forehead? Your forehead looks fine. What are you talking about?"<br />
"M hurt da forehead!"<br />
"OK, was there another boy named M at the <daycare> today?"<br />
"Yes, and he hurt on da forehead!"<br />
"OK, did someone hurt him?"<br />
"Yes!"<br />
"Did you hurt him? Because if you hurt someone you're supposed to say I'm sorry."<br />
"I'm sorry."<br />
"Did you hit him with something? A toy?"<br />
"Yes."<br />
"Or did someone else hit him."<br />
"Someone else."<br />
"OK, I think I have the story now, sweetie."<br />
<br />
I don't think I have laughed this hard in awhile. Poor M, whoever he is, I hope the kids' forehead is OK. But I don't think it was my child who hit him, or I would have been told when I picked him up. And I don't recall anyone crying. What a day.Geek2Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14333989063010159691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517123118588972851.post-31988128976700024962011-09-05T18:15:00.000-07:002011-09-05T18:15:43.943-07:00I'm Naked!I feel for those of you who have a child who refuses to wear clothes. Or one who takes OFF the clothes you have wrestled them into. I know not your pain.<br />
<br />
My pain is that he likes to shout out "I'm NAKED!" and it's driving me up the wall!<br />
<br />
Now, I actually have to nag my child into undressing himself every time we go into the bathroom for potty time, then help him back into his pants, and then nag him again every night before bath time. It usually goes something like this:<br />
<br />
Me: OK, Little M, time to get undressed for the bath, can you take off your shirt?<br />
Him: NO! You help me!<br />
Me: I think you can do it, why don't you try?<br />
Him: *grunting* Can you help me? (pulling one arm out of his shirt)<br />
Me: You're doing it! Now do the other arm!<br />
Him: *more grunting, shirt now wrapped around head* I'm a pirate!<br />
Me: OK, take off your pants!<br />
Him: *more grunting, takes shirt off head* I'm NAKED!<br />
<br />
My problem is not that he spouts, "I'm NAKED!" at the drop of a hat, my problem is that it's not an accurate statement. I'd be fine with him saying that, any time, any place, IF IT WERE TRUE. (No, I really don't know WHY this bothers me so much, it just does.)<br />
<br />
He still has his pants, diaper, and socks on at this point, so clearly he is not naked by any stretch of the imagination. He could even show up at some outdoor eating establishments, order food and be served so-attired. So not even in the ballpark, big guy!<br />
<br />
So after my latest attempt at explaining this to him, I decided that I would attack it from another angle. I told him that he could say that he was "scantily clad". Then we practiced it. "I'm scantily clad! I'm scantily clad!" "Yes, you are."<br />
<br />
I honestly can't wait till he busts that one out in public, and am currently thinking of more ways I can increase his vocabulary, and get rid of my own pet peeves in the process.Geek2Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14333989063010159691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517123118588972851.post-26332324269495837352011-09-04T20:35:00.000-07:002011-09-04T20:35:42.342-07:00Update!!!!He's learning! And since I last wrote I also put my cell number on the insole of each of his shoes and told him what it is.<br />
<br />
Now we are at this conversation:<br />
<br />
Me: What's your name?<br />
Him: I don't know.<br />
Me: You know your name, what's your name?<br />
Him: M McFarland.<br />
Me; And what's Mommy's name?<br />
Him: Cindy McFarland.<br />
Me: And what's Daddy's name?<br />
Him: Will McFarland.<br />
Me: Good job!<br />
Him: And you're Mommy McFarland.<br />
Me: OK, and where is Mommy's phone number?<br />
Him: On da shoe.<br />
<br />
Good boy. <br />
<br />
Now never get lost. Ever.<br />
Geek2Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14333989063010159691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517123118588972851.post-5099835213401575682011-08-14T19:59:00.000-07:002011-08-14T19:59:48.715-07:00Teaching My Child About Not Getting Kidnapped...OK, I don't want to scare him or anything, but I do want him to know what to do if he gets separated from me in a crowd, and screaming, "MOMMY!" at the top of his lungs is probably what he will do, but if I am not RIGHT THERE, he might need a better plan.<br />
<br />
SO...I started off with just trying to teach him my name and his father's name. Since this is supposed to be more anonymous, I'll just call us: Will and Cindy McFarland.<br />
<br />
A little bit of back story here: whenever Little M demonstrates his pretty impressive vocabulary, someone inevitably asks how old he is, and I answer, "He's two-and-a-half". So he's taken to doing the name. I'll ask how old he is, and he says, "He's two-and-half". He does sometimes know his full name, but sometimes that gets the two-and-half response, too.<br />
<br />
So I'm trying for the second time to get him to practice his response to the What is your Mommy's name? etc., line of questioning, and this is how things went:<br />
<br />
Me: "<Little M>, What's Mommy's name?"<br />
Him: "He's two-and-half"<br />
Me: "No, what's MOMMY'S NAME?"<br />
Him: "Mommy McFarland."<br />
Me: ...<br />
<br />
Well...it's definitely closer! I'll keep working on him. And I did put my cell number on the insole of all his shoes that that if someone cares enough to check, they can try to contact me. I'll try to point it out to him to tell someone that that's his mommy's phone number if he's lost to call her there. Hopefully he's old enough that it will work. Hopefully he'll never need to use it and this is all a "just in case exercise". <strike>Ma</strike>ybe I should talk to the police about what the best thing to do is.<br />
Geek2Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14333989063010159691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517123118588972851.post-62215166609620898432011-08-14T19:43:00.000-07:002011-08-14T19:43:46.091-07:00Oh, How Times Have Changed...I was recently chatting with my mom about keeping my son safe from all the crazies out there wanting to do him harm, and what I was planning on doing about it.<br />
<br />
Not that he goes anywhere or does anything without me at this point, he's not quite three, for goodness sake, and I'm not completely crazy. But I do let him play unteathered at the playground, and just keep an eye on him while I either chat with my mommy friends, or find a bench and stay out of the sun.<br />
<br />
But when my mom was a kid, she and her sisters would leave the house after breakfast, then go off and find whatever to do till they got hungry. If they were hungry for lunch, they'd come home and eat lunch, otherwise they'd come home at dinnertime and nobody sent out the national guard for them, it was just what people did. <br />
<br />
Even when I was a kid, I can remember going from my house to the houses across the street, then behind those houses, through the woods, across this stream, up the hill to the park and we'd play there till around dinnertime, or we'd go over to the rocks by my friend Bethany's* house, or we'd go over to my friend Lisa's house, several streets away, just whoever's house we felt like playing at that day. <br />
<br />
Even when I was getting to be a teenager, after my younger sister had been with a couple of friends and had been flashed by some guy that the cops eventually caught. My mom still let me go by myself after dark up the street to my friend Misty's house to spend the night. Those were the days when it seemed like every time you passed one particular street lamp it went out and freaked you out so much that you ran the rest of the way to your destination. When in reality it was either coincidence or a different one each time and you didn't notice because it added to the drama of the story. I can still remember my mom saying how she was glad it was my younger sister who had seen the flasher guy, because she remember lots of details about the car he was driving, what he looked like, the coat he was wearing, etc. She thought if it had been me and my friends we'd not have gotten such good intel since we'd just have been looking at his penis. Thanks for the vote of confidence, Mom! We were 12, not sex fiends. <br />
<br />
But we walked all over that neighborhood as well, to the different playgrounds they had, the convenience store, the elementary school my sister went to, my friends' houses. And we never called home to let Mom know we'd gotten there either. It was just assumed that we did, and that we'd be home later.<br />
<br />
There was even a guy who was a former cop who said he ran a youth group for teenagers who was taking them to the local amusement park and would I like to go and take a friend. My mom let me go with them without doing any sort of check into whether he was even who he said he was. A bus full of kids showed up, my friend Denise and I got on the bus and off we went. <br />
<br />
Today Big M and I have double and triple checked the daycare that we will be trusting to look after Little M, and have not even let anyone but family or other Mommies that we know personally watch him for any length of time. He's barely been out of sight of one of us his entire life so far, and when the time comes for him to be able to do some unsupervised play in the backyard, I expect to have the gate locked at that time. Right now we have a 5-foot-tall privacy fence back there. So someone would have to work hard to get in or to even see in and know what's going on back there.<br />
<br />
But if Mattie will be playing at other kids houses, I play to know the parents personally, and I plan to know if there is alcohol in the home, and whether it is locked up, same with firearms. And if there are firearms, I will suggest that the playdate take place in our home. <br />
<br />
It's just not the same world that my mom and her sisters pranced around the front yard in their "Liger's Club" dance. And my baby is too precious to risk. I know it won't make me very popular with him, this overprotective mama-bear stance I've chosen, but I'd rather him be angry at me, than me be explaining to the police that "he does this all the time and nothing's ever happened before..."<br />
<br />
*All names have been changed to protect the young and possibly stupid.Geek2Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14333989063010159691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517123118588972851.post-68269860555534302562011-08-03T17:55:00.000-07:002011-08-03T17:56:35.406-07:00Man's Best FriendI will just come right out with it - I am a dog person. I won't even deny it if you ask me in front of my three cats. We had a dog since I was 3 years old, not the same dog, but always a small dog. We had a beagle when I was 18 months old, apparently. I've seen the pictures but I don't remember him. We had to give him away because he kept knocking me down. I'm sure that would have stopped as I got bigger, but we got smaller dogs after that. Toy poodle, then a mixed terrier that we had until I went to college and brought her with me. She was even in my first apartment. <br />
<br />
When she had to be put down due to old age, I got a cat, and we've been masquerading as cat people ever since. But deep down inside, I am a dog person. So I have been teaching Little M the proper way to approach a greet dogs that we come across in public. <br />
<br />
Every time we hear a dog barking or see a dog when we're out riding the bike or walking, he asks if we can say hi. If it's in a house, the answer is usually no. But if we're walking, I'll tell him that we have to ask if we can pet the dog, then we hold out our hand to let the dog smell it, then we can pet the dog gently.<br />
<br />
It's been awhile since we've been out walking and had this conversation, but we're at our friend's house today with their black lab and the minute we walk in the door the dog comes bounding over to us and Little M panics. "Up! Up!" So I pick him up in my already full arms, and poor Ben gets relegated to the other side of the baby gate for the next hour or so.<br />
<br />
Then we're done with lunch, and Little M has warmed up to Ben, bringing over the xylophone to show off his mad skills. Then his friend E opens the door where Ben is being confined, and Little M says to E's Mommy, "May I pet Ben?" and waits for permission. <br />
<br />
E's Mommy makes Ben lie down. Then Little M holds out his hand and lets Ben smell it, at which point Ben licks it, making him giggle. Then I think Little M got enamored with something else and he abandoned the whole petting endeavor. <br />
<br />
But I felt SO completely validated as a parent. I taught him how to do something, he listened, remembered, and executed it flawlessly! It almost makes me want to teach him about drugs and the dangers of texting while driving while he's listening and doing what I tell him! But I do have to know my audience, and he was totally interested in the dogs topic. <br />
<br />
It was just freaking amazing to watch, though. And makes me feel better about the fact that it took him two months to forget that I also taught him to say, "God Damnit!"Geek2Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14333989063010159691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517123118588972851.post-28350171983570579452011-07-30T19:32:00.000-07:002011-07-30T19:32:39.009-07:00Toddlers are weird #15I will never be able to figure my child out. <br />
<br />
Tonight we met up with friends at a carnival run by a fire department in the next county while Daddy played board games with some friends. We tried to get Little M to ride a horse on the merry-go-round, but ended up standing next to the horse and petting it while trying not to be dragged down by the horse next to me. Later we tried to have Little M ride the cars that went in a circle, but one weepy circle later, he was back in my arms.<br />
<br />
The bouncy house went over well, since we've done that before, and he loves to bounce! And he was lukewarm about the giant slide. It was very stop-start since it was kind of hot and humid, so it wasn't like we raced down the hill.<br />
<br />
I could not get him to go in the fun house that was just for kids, even when 'Miss Debbie' offered to walk through it with him. And the fun house that Mommy could go in was only about 5 feet more successful. <br />
<br />
So you could say I was surprised when he said he wanted to go on the Dragon Roller Coaster. It's the kid-sized coaster, but this carnival let parents ride with very little ones, so I sat sideways in the car next to Little M in the seat behind his friend, Princess C, and her dad. After Little M tried to get me to move my foot and knee, I told him that they were going to stay there or Mommy was not going to be able to ride, and that calmed him right down. With him buckled in and basicalled pinned by me to the seat back, we were off! Round and round and up and down we went, jerked around the curves in ways my chiropractor can hopefully fix on Monday. But Little M was thrilled! He was laughing and smiling, giggling and chatting and just having a ball! In fact, we went on it FOUR more times!<br />
<br />
Still won't go on the merry-go-round horses, but give him Mommy and a Dragon, and he is good to go.Geek2Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14333989063010159691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517123118588972851.post-85292574050981314862011-07-29T21:48:00.000-07:002011-07-29T21:48:26.616-07:00Our fun weekIt just occurred to me as I was dealing with trying to get my crying child to go back to sleep that he is really one happy kid almost all the time. I am pretty lucky that way.<br />
<br />
And overall we've had a great week, too. We went to class at Toddlin' Time, the local toddler gym on Tuesday. I actually had him on my bike and rode from the house to class with him in the heat, which was not oppressive, but took us 30 minutes instead of 5 minutes in the air-conditioned car. But he was a trooper! And so adorable on the way there, just being his normal curious self, wanting to know about everything he heard. "What sound, Mommy?" And there I am, gasping for breath on the way up a hill, trying to hold up my end of the conversation.<br />
<br />
That class had some ups and downs for him, since there was playtime AFTER class time, which is normally before, so that was different. And Miss Melissa was not there to give out stickers after class, which he missed. He did get his Teddy stamps on his hand, which he really likes, so that was great. But he had a little issue when Mommy tried to get him to share one of the play cushions, and a bit of a timeout was needed, so there were tears, and apologies. But he was right back to running, laughing and giggling. And saying, "Thank you, Honey." to me. This was also the night that he was up crying and wanting me to change his socks. That's all, just new socks, then he went right back to sleep. Bizarre.<br />
<br />
Wednesday was awesome! We went to see Gigi and Papa, and when we got there and started unpacking the car, Aunt K, Uncle S, and Cousin E were there to play too! We didn't know till the car ride over that we were going to get to play with them, so that was a really fun surprise. I brought Little M's new water table with us, so Aunt K and I set that up outside and we got the kids decked out in swimsuits for water fun, and the giggling began! Much fun and splashing later, and about half the water was on the kids and the ground. But lunch was ready, so we dried of the little ones and went to eat. Little M and E made their cute little noises and mimicked each other, hugging and dancing and playing, just having a blast before each going down for a nap. Little M didn't sleep as long as normal, being not at home, but we just hopped on our bike with Cousin G, who came back with Aunt K, and went to the playground. Gigi and Aunt K met us there in the car and Little M got to play, play, play and get dirty, dirty, dirty! It was just what he loved to do, much laughing there! A quick bike ride back, and some more playtime with E before dinner. At one point Little M kept running from Mommy to Gigi saying, "I love you Mommy!", "I love you Gigi!" for whichever one he ran too. After a late dinner and some finally goodbyes, a sleepy happy kid was packed into the car for the trip back home. He slept very well that night. And somehow over the course of the day he picked up the phrase, "I love you more!" His Daddy blames me.<br />
<br />
Thursday brought another trip to Toddlin' Time, this time as a drop-in to class. He had just as much fun as on Tuesday, but Mommy had more because we went in the car this time and I wasn't exhausted! Little M loved the binoculars for exploring the "campsite" just as much as on Tuesday. And this time he didn't touch the fire or the snake, even though they are pretend. And he didn't bean anyone in the head with a plastic ball either, so there was no timeout or apology. And he did great at using the potty! So Mommy was happy too! Afterwards, we went to IHOP for brunch, and while we were waiting for our meal Little M decided to sing "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star". He was singing pretty quietly, not bothering anyone, so I just let him go, and after he finished the few tables around us all applauded. It was really cute! Then he kept going...and going...and going. And getting louder! I finally had to tell him to use his inside voice, and then the food came. And the tables that had clapped each came over when they were leaving to thank him for the singing, which was really sweet. <br />
<br />
Then today we had a pool playdate with our Mommy friends. It's our Mommy Friday outing. We used to do them every week, but lately we've all been busy. One friend has an aunt who has a place in the mountains with a fantastic view and a pool. The kids got to go swimming and we brought their lunch up with us so we could go in a little after we ate too. Little M had to be convinced that he wanted to go in AT ALL. But he warmed up and was really enjoying himself. By the end he was laughing and having a really great time with his friends. On the way home he was chattering about all the fun things they did. Then he conked out, and I drove around for two hours so he could get a nap. When he finally woke up, I headed home so he could tell Daddy about all his adventures for the day. I asked him if he could help carry in some things from the car and he says, "Of course I will!" <br />
<br />
Ah the sweet days of agreeability. Oh, toddlerhood, you have some moody, cranky, fickle ways we must put up with, but the rewards, they are worth it.Geek2Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14333989063010159691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517123118588972851.post-36385010517412798742011-02-02T16:57:00.000-08:002011-02-02T16:57:34.779-08:00Potty Training, For Real, This TimeOK, We have really started doing Potty Training Boot Camp, and you can too, right <a href="http://www.thepottybootcamp.com/">here</a>.<br />
<br />
Day 1, Hour 0<br />
Salty snacks are available, milk and caffeine-free soda are ready, and 10 pairs of Sesame Street underwear are downstairs and ready for duty.<br />
<br />
Hour 1<br />
Subject appears rested, but woke crying, this does not bode well for the coming day. <br />
<br />
I explained the plan for the day, Subject appears to be interested in the prospect of getting to watch Dinosaur Train, but not so much in the requirement to be seated on the potty while doing so. Will have to work on the association.<br />
<br />
Hour 2<br />
Subject had his first accident, the carpet in the family room took the hit. Subject "cleaned up" the mess, the carpet is still soaking wet. Subject cried and screamed through Potty Drills.<br />
<br />
Hour 3<br />
Subject was able to make it through several 10 minute intervals with dry underwear, but after many long intervals of sitting on the potty with no results, then getting up and immediately having an accident, I decided to call for reinforcements. E&O's Mom assures me this is normal, and is about control. I proceeded to try to catch Subject after one such event, and put him on the potty, where we got our very first success of Peeing on the Potty.<br />
<br />
Intermission<br />
Blessed Naptime<br />
<br />
Hour 4 through bedtime.<br />
Subject spent the rest of the day staying dry enough to get some sugary rewards, while also having two more accidents, and two more successes. Final data collection:<br />
<br />
8 pairs of underwear<br />
5 accidents<br />
3 successes in the potty (one needing some direction...)<br />
3 Potty Drills<br />
1 sleeping toddler<br />
1 exhausted mom<br />
1 more day to do it all again to make sure we really have the concept down and he'll do it himself!<br />
<br />
Oh, I forgot to add that I did use the bath as an incentive to get ONE more pee-pee in the potty out of him, since he was prone to going in the bath just as the water was draining out, and although he did not think I was serious until the bathwater was draining out and he still had not been allowed in the tub, he finally did sit down on his own and go in the potty upstairs. Yay me, for sticking to my guns!Geek2Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14333989063010159691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517123118588972851.post-88629212583242984342010-12-20T17:41:00.000-08:002010-12-20T17:41:57.124-08:00Who's on First?So I'm trying to take an example from my childhood, where my grandmother used to make us say, "Please, beautiful Gramma?" whenever we wanted a cookie, and put it into practice with my 2-year-old.<br />
<br />
But the conversations to remind him to say "Please, beautiful Mommy" instead of just "Please" go more like this:<br />
<br />
Him: "Milk! Milk! Milk!"<br />
Me: "What do you say?"<br />
Him: "Please?"<br />
Me: "Please what?"<br />
Him: "Please what."<br />
Me: "No, Please beautiful...."<br />
Him: "Beautiful mommy, beautiful Mommy, BEAUTIFUL MOMMY!!!!!"<br />
Me: "OK! Uh, what did you want?"<br />
<br />
It's just like Abbott and Costello live right in my house. Only I'm, wait, which one is the fat one? Hey, I shouldn't be so hard on myself, I have lost 20 pounds since we saw the fertility docs again. So I'm doing good.<br />
<br />
Anyway...it's slow going, but he's sort of getting it. And I don't care what anyone says, it's completely adorable, and if I'm not getting that kind of support from Matt, I should at least be getting it from my boy.<br />
<br />
Such a sweetie.Geek2Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14333989063010159691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517123118588972851.post-40697318123564654482010-10-26T16:33:00.000-07:002010-10-26T16:33:19.022-07:00Potty Training, At Last!I was beginning to think we were the last ones getting on board with the potty training, and I did figure out that the diaper aisle eventually does run out of sizes, so we would have to do this eventually...someday...when he was ready...<br />
<br />
That day has come! OK, I really have no idea if that day has really come, but he's getting interested, and I'm definitely interested, so we took steps to start.<br />
<br />
<b><u>Day 1</u></b><br />
Went to Walmart and bought big-boy underwear! We have three pairs of Thomas the Train and 5 pairs like Daddy's (different colors). I tell him what they are and why we are buying them and make a big deal of it, letting him hold them until he got tired of it. <br />
<br />
5:30pm: After the big poopy diaper of the evening, I put him in the big-boy underwear for the last hour of being up (so from 5:30 to 6:30). I make a big deal of it. I then ask him about every five minutes if he needs to go potty, or needs to pee-pee. Always got a no answer.<br />
<br />
6:30pm: We go upstairs to do bath time, etc. After asking him one more time if he needed to go potty, I let him help undress himself, then put all his clothes, including the underwear, into the dirty clothes hamper. My now naked child runs around a bit, I ask him if he needs to pee-pee. No. I go into the bathroom and start running the water, he comes to the edge of the bathroom door and pees on the floor between the carpeted hallway and the bathmat. I do have to admire the aim, it's only really about an 8 inch gap, but I make him clean it up anyway. <br />
<br />
After I make him throw the toilet paper full of pee into the toilet and flush, he's into the bath and we're done with potty training for today. We'll try again tomorrow. *sigh*Geek2Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14333989063010159691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517123118588972851.post-39112769957683542682010-09-08T19:07:00.000-07:002010-09-08T19:07:24.641-07:00Public ExhibitionWhen I was at the grocery store, or a movie, or in a restaurant before I had a child, I was the perfect parent. I'd never let my kid throw a temper tantrum like that in the middle of the bread aisle. I'd never let my child run all over the restaurant (I still would never do this, but that's because someone could snatch him and be out the door in 5 seconds). <br />
<br />
Once you actually have to deal with a real, live, toddler, though, all those "I'd never"'s go right out the window. Because you really have no choice. You're dealing with a completely separate human being, with his own likes, dislikes, moods, etc. You have to try to make things work for a little person who doesn't always know why he's upset about something, just that he's upset!<br />
<br />
So I'm getting used to the idea of being OK being "that" mom. I see "that" mom now and want to tell her I get it now, and I'm sorry I judged her in the past. I had no idea what she was up against, and we're all "that" mom at some points. And how you deal with your kid acting up is totally your business, nobody else's. <br />
<br />
Just like how I deal with mine is my business. I've learned that letting my child just do something after I've told him not to repeatedly only leads to more of doing what I don't want him to do. So if I have to hold him on my lap and let him cry until he's settled down, then if you happen to be in earshot, just know that I'm doing my best to teach my child that he needs to have control of himself, then we'll talk about what he did/didn't do, and he'll stop crying. <br />
<br />
I have 22 months of experience with this child, and you have 5 minutes of observation, so quite frankly, Scarlet...<br />
<br />
My child now says, "Thank you very much", and "Please" when he wants something, so I'm doing something right with him. And so is his very patient Daddy (who gets all the credit for the "very much"). We're trying to teach our child to be careful, but not scared of things that are new. To ask for help when you need it, but do the things you know how to do yourself, and to keep trying to do those things you've needed help with in the past.<br />
<br />
I find it hard to believe that (if you're the one criticizing my parenting) you've raised perfect children by putting them down when they cried and letting them run wild in waiting rooms. Yes, it's cute now at almost 2, but at 4 it will just be annoying, to me and everyone else in the room. So why on earth would I want to make things harder for myself in public later, by taking what seems like the easy way out now?<br />
<br />
I am doing my job of teaching my child what behavior is acceptable and what is not. Yes, it's not always a glamorous job, and I have to be the bad guy, the mean mommy, sometimes, but I still get the running hugs, and a kiss goodnight, so I know I'm doing something right.<br />
<br />
And anyone who doesn't think so can just kiss my ...Geek2Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14333989063010159691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517123118588972851.post-74816741868407439562010-08-15T16:54:00.000-07:002010-08-15T16:54:45.696-07:00Little Mr. MannersSooooooo.....<br />
<br />
We are trying to teach (among other things) LittleM to say "Please" and "Thank you". For awhile now I've been having to prompt him, "What do you say?" and he'd say, "Tease!" and rub his chest to do the sign.<br />
<br />
But I think he has figured out that if I say no to something, he might have a chance if he says "Please". And for some things I do let him have it (if it's not something dangerous). I'm not sure if that sends the right message, but at least he's thinking of a tactic on his own, so it's some logical reasoning in there. <br />
<br />
His first demonstration of logical reasoning was when he was holding two plastic forks at Subway, and Daddy offered him a chip. He leaned forward to get the chip, but Daddy made him give up one of the forks in order to take it with his hand. He then looked at the other fork and offered it up to Daddy in exchange for another chip. Smart kid!<br />
<br />
As for "Thank you", he's been saying that almost constantly for the past few days. It sounds a lot like when he says, "There you go", so it's hard to know which response to give. He started saying "There you go" when I'd hand him something because that's what I'd say as I gave it to him. So if he's saying something that sounds like "Thank you", and he doesn't stop when we say, "You're welcome", then it's the other, and the correct response is "There you go."<br />
<br />
Today, though, he started saying "Thank you" whenever I'd hand him something, which was really nice. It can be a grind for parents too to have to be reminding them all the time to say it, so it's a nice change when they pick it up and you don't have to be forever going, "What do you say?" or "Did you say thank you?" So I'm hoping if we keep it up at home, it will translate to out in the world as well.<br />
<br />
Next on the list will probably be "Yes, Ma'am" (or Sir). But we'll have to get him saying "Yes" first. Right now it's, "N'kay." And that's "N'kay" with me.Geek2Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14333989063010159691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517123118588972851.post-958572545798597922010-08-12T08:08:00.000-07:002010-08-12T08:08:13.861-07:00FirstsSo we weren't planning on going to the park, I had just started a load of laundry with ALL my shorts in it, and was in pajama pants, but after hearing "outside" several hundred times, I was convinced we needed to go.<br />
<br />
I found some yoga pants in the laundry room and we headed for the park closest to the house where Ms A said she and Big E would be there with Baby O. No sign of them when we got there so I texted her. By the time she replied the Militant Mommies were on their march through the park. Why anyone would pay someone $15 to be able to go to a free park and exercise with other mommies just so they can do the same exercises at the same time is beyond me. <br />
<br />
So we get word that Ms A has taken the kiddies to the park on the other side of town. Uh-oh. Meltdown as I put LittleM BACK in the car to go across town. But once we get there all is right with the world.<br />
<br />
As we're exploring the park LittleM seems to be getting more interested in the other kids playing on the playground equipment, which is a definite first. He usually starts walking/running and just goes nonstop till he's bright red. <br />
<br />
And he asked to go on the swings, which he's never done before. It didn't last long, I got the all done sign before a minute was up, but we're communicating, so I'll take it.<br />
<br />
Another first was that LittleM wanted to put his hat back on after he'd taken it off. He usually ditches it and I carry it around. We've tried telling him he has to wear it or we'll be leaving, and that usually involves a tantrum, so we pick our battles.<br />
<br />
My favorite thing that happened at the park, though, was when we were walking back to Ms A, and LittleM looks up at me, puts his hand out and says, "Hand?". He's NEVER asked to hold my hand before! I reached for his hand and we walked. Just a few steps before he was over holding my hand, but it was really nice while it lasted.Geek2Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14333989063010159691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517123118588972851.post-9493238678468174412010-06-20T16:33:00.000-07:002010-06-20T16:40:48.603-07:00Choices, choices...OK, so I'll admit, I pad the questions I ask my toddler so I'll get the answers I want.<br /><br />If he is being punished for hitting, and I'm holding him with his arms down, I'll ask, "Are you going to stop hitting Mommy?" because he usually answers, "Nkay". And then I can let him down.<br /><br />And I just talked about the milk vs. bed choices I give him. But tonight he surprised me. After storytime he gave me a kiss, then was reaching for the crib, so I asked if he wanted to go to bed and he says, "Nkay".<br /><br />I just put him down, without nursing for the first time. Well, we tried it awhile ago, but it didn't take, so for the first time in a long time. He did take a late nap, and so dinner was late, and he was getting sleepy. <br /><br />But I was very sad to have to leave the room without our play/nurse/bonding time. It's one of the few times during the day when we have each other's undivided attention. And I usually review new words he's learned during the day.<br /><br />So it's like there's something in my routine that's missing. Maybe this is the beginning of the end of nursing, and maybe tomorrow he'll ask for milk again and I'll have my baby time back. I'll just have to see. <br /><br />My baby is growing up. If only there were a way to keep him little longer.Geek2Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14333989063010159691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517123118588972851.post-63816370984024998042010-06-13T22:28:00.001-07:002010-06-13T22:28:49.340-07:00First Complete Sentence!!!Well, Little M finally learned the word "No", and it wasn't the terrible, horrible, awful thing I'd thought it would be. When he does say it, it's usually in response to a question, and at least he now has another option to, "Nkay". So he gets to actually express an opinion and have choices. All good things for a toddler.<br /><br />This evening, after we'd done bath time and read the bedtime story, we moved on to the question and answer portion of the evening.<br /><br />"Do you want some milk?" - does he want to nurse before bed.<br />"No."<br />"OK, do you want to go to sleep?" - done with the sign for sleep.<br />"No."<br />"OK, then do you want some milk?"<br />"Nkay". - he has figured out that those are the options, milk or bed. He has always chosen milk so far.<br /><br />So I start nursing him, and we do some things that I only really do at bedtime, like "This little piggy went to market." Probably not the best for calming him down, since I get to tickle him a the end, but he enjoys it, and I do too.<br /><br />We also practice all of the signs he knows. So far the list includes: all done, more, go to sleep, please, thank you, cookie, milk, and a few other random ones. I asked him to do "all done", then "more". Then I asked him to do "cookie", and after he did cookie it looked like he was doing the sign for "milk" with one of his hands, so I said, "Oh, you're doing milk, I see that, good job."<br /><br />He breaks the seal and stops nursing to say to me, "No, it's cookie."<br /><br />I laughed for a good 5 minutes! It was so completely adorable, my little comedian. And of course, since I was laughing he was laughing, so I had to calm down before we could go back to nursing. How sweet that his first sentence was correcting Mommy on what sign he was practicing.<br /><br />I look forward to all the other funny and insightful things he'll say.Geek2Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14333989063010159691noreply@blogger.com0