I was so fortunate to have been visiting with my cousin a couple of weeks ago where we had an interesting conversation over lunch (in the Magic Kingdom of course).  We were discussing the challenges of raising kids and what you can do to look at things from a different perspective.  I was telling her how when I am really frustrated I try to apply something I learned in yoga of removing my dislike from an unpleasant situation.   She had a much more eloquent phrase for it “What you resist persists”.  YES.  That is exactly what I was trying to say.  If you are pushing against something like “Ahhh why are you whining when you could just ask me in a perfectly normal voice for whatever it is you want!”  It will just make the whining worse and possibly, well most likely, result in a full blown crying fit.  However, if you tell yourself that the whining doesn’t really bother you and go about your day full of happiness and love you could either ignore the whining until your child finally just asks you for that cup of water or you can sweetly ever so sweetly, (because you are not irritated at all remember?), suggest to your child that they ask you in a normal voice “Mommy can I have a glass of water please?”

My then very wise loving mother of a cousin said that she always tells herself in a situation such as the one above “What would be the alternative to this?”  As in if my child were not whining annoyingly or throwing an evil tantrum what would that mean?  That my child would cease to exist?  Which scenario would I rather have.  By a billion times over I would choose the whining, tantruming toddler then to have no Evangeline at all. 

Today I am reminded that too many parents have faced that devastating scenario.  Who am I to be frustrated with my sweet sweet girl who just needs a little patience sometimes?

If you are in need of some of this perspective please read this mothers blog who is, at this very moment, sitting beside her toddlers hospital bed after a tragic car accident.

You are your child's first and most important teacher.  Never underestimate the impact you have on your child.  He/She looks up to you more than anyone else and models your behavior.  He also looks to you for your approval.  When she can look in your eyes and see that you believe in her it gives her the confidence to move forward and venture out on her own.  So don’t ever doubt for a second how important you are!

Links:

http://www.parentsasteachers.org

http://nextgenparenting.com/blog/?p=658

http://betterkidcare.psu.edu/TIPS/TIPS303.pdf

http://www.parenthood.com/index.php

http://www.nationalcac.org/families/early_learning/parents/

Have a picnic!

It’s springtime and the weather here in Arizona is perfect.  I am extremely lucky to live right across the street from a big park.  I literally walk out my front door cross the street and find myself in the middle of a large sports field with a small playground a short walk away.

Yesterday DD and I packed up some snacks, a blanket, bubbles, a spray bottle of water, a bucket of water, and some paint brushes.  We had a delightful time sitting on our blanket eating strawberries and cheese and afterward we had even more bonding time while we played.  Nature really is the best classroom.  I talked to her about the world around us, she worked on her hand/eye coordination by blowing bubbles, and using the spray bottle to “clean the tree”, we did math by counting our fingers and toes, and she learned the names of new body parts like ankles and elbows.  The best part was we were steps away from our front door so we could get as messy as we wanted and not worry about having to drive or walk home.
I wish I had brought my camera because it was really a special day.  (This picture was taken last November.)

I haven’t done one of these in a while and the reason for that is well because I have been completely overwhelmed with this new stage DD is going through. I’m guessing it’s normal two year old behavior.  It’s funny because I have always been determined never to call it the “terrible twos” because it seems like such a negative term but man no matter how many times I have heard that term and I still wasn’t prepared for this. Anyway she has definitely been challenging me and leaving me feeling like the worlds most incompetent mom so I just haven’t really had the heart to come on here and tell you all how I have it all figured out. Sarcasm? Yes! I have never thought that I’ve had it all figured out but lately I have been feeling like a fish out of water. Like I have no idea what I’m doing.
Soooo…my tip of the day is….Have a sense of humor!!! When your last button has been pushed and you feel like your gonna snap find the HUMOR in the situation! I’m not advising that you break out hysterically laughing at your toddling two year old who has just figured out a way to climb on top of the refrigerator. But when she is refusing to brush her teeth for the umpteenth time and it is getting on your last nerve just try to find the humor in it. Having a good laugh with your child will likely lighten the situation and if nothing else you will turn that frown upside down.

A great way to promote speech development is to teach your baby animal sounds. This will help them to say words later on. There is no age too young to start this and actually they can still benefit from animal sounds well into their two’s. It’s not even just animal sounds that are helpful. Any kind of sound like the one a car makes, an airplane, or the beep beep of a horn.