children, humor, mommyhood, potty training

I Tink I Goofed

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I know most moms are all about sharing advice. What works for them, what doesn’t and what is the complete undoing of one’s sanity. From the content of this blog, it is obvious that I am clearly no parenting expert. I will save you the hassle. If you ever feel the need to ask me potty-training advice simply don’t. I care about your mental health too much.

Oh, I know little T.Puzzle is mastering this potty thing and I also know it has hardly anything to do with my assistance. He was just ready. When he was ready things started to fall into place (like in the toilet and not all over my floor).

Here is an example of my questionable parenting skills. I decided that every time little T.Puzzle poops on the potty he gets a Tinker Bell fruit snack (my boys are in a huge Tink phase; I’m guessing it’s her teeny, tiny skirt and not her magical abilities). Now this poor kid is trying to poop like 20 times a day to get more fruit snacks. I’m worried for him. He looks like he might pop a blood vessel in his forehead while attempting to gain his reward.

For potty training advice, clearly I’m not your gal. And frankly anything else I have to say that is mommy-related is a real crapshoot.

children, gratitude, happiness, mommyhood, potty training

A Diaperless Life

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These are going to be some of my good memories of the summer of 2010:

When Full Speed woke up this morning he put his hand over his chest and said, “Mom, I can feel my heart beeping!” He was so cute he made my heart skip a ‘beep’.

Little T.Puzzle has pooped on the potty three days in a row. He may actually be fully potty-trained some day. What will a diaperless existence be like? Even though I’ve never been, I’m guessing it will be like nirvana.

These things may seem insignificant. In my world they are everything. I’m glad you are sharing the ride. Thanks for reading.

children, gratitude, happiness, mommyhood, tantrums

Summertime

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The several transitions of this week are going, dare I say it…, good. I am seeing the first true glimpses of emotional growth in little T.Puzzle and this has made all the difference. The same development pattern happened with Full Speed, too. Both my boys started with the tantrums at around 18 mos. and carried them well through their third year (I’m pretty sure this isn’t common; I just hit the ‘jack-pot’ with two extra feisty kids).  Full Speed’s  tantrums had some carry over into the fourth year so I know I’m not completely out of the woods with little T.Puzzle.  However,  I’m beginning to see the light of hope peak through the trees. After surviving almost four solid years of tantrums and extreme power struggles, you don’t know how good this feels. And, believe me, I know forest fires of feistiness can pop up any moment, I’m just trying to savor what little victories I can.

Moving to a new class this week is a big deal for little T.Puzzle and he has done really well. Of course the first day started with a lot of ‘nos!’ and crying but he rallied. When I picked him up his new teacher told me that he listened well, cleaned up after himself and she couldn’t ask for more from a new student. Little T.Puzzle is so proud to be in the new ‘big boy’ class that by the second drop-off he politely hugged me and went on his way. I had to double-check to make sure that I hadn’t accidentally grabbed another kid on the way in. I couldn’t believe this was MY little T.Puzzle. See I told you, there is that light again.

The changes of summer have been many and I am thankful my family is weathering them with calm determination. This is so much more preferable than our usual crazy, sobbing-tantrum mode of operation.

I may just survive the boys’ summer after all.

children, life in pictures, mommyhood

100 Degrees of Love

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I discovered the holy grail of sports for spirited children: soccer.

The soccer field is the one place where it is socially acceptable to run all over the place like a crazy person. Full Speed has yet to master some of the basics but what he lacked in execution he made up for in commitment. He had the most energy of anyone out there.

That is until the third game. These poor kids were running around in 100+ heat and had lost their swagger by then. One mom shouted out an ice cream bribe to get the offense moving again. By this time all three of our players wanted to guard the goal and forget about chasing the ball down to the opposing side to score. Too hot and too far.

I won’t say if we won or lost, that’s not part of this league unfortunately. As Full Speed’s  coach, Mad Dog’s competitive streak does not appreciate this aspect very much. I will say our team dominated (as much as you can at the 4-6 year level) making it very fun to watch.

Mad Dog supervises as Full Speed gets ready to attack from the right

This is my first real taste of watching Full Speed play competitive sports. I’m guessing it will be the first of many seasons of many varieties of sports. For a mom who knows little to none about soccer, makes me think it must be the love of my kid that I’m there. He is awfully cute.

Believe me it certainly wasn’t because of the weather.

Go Full Speed, Go!

children, mommyhood

Changes

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I’m having another one of those days where the world is moving too fast.  Full Speed started his summer camp and will have his first ever soccer game this evening. As for little T.Puzzle, he moved up to a ‘big boy’ class and he wasn’t too pleased.

I am all for my boys growing and maturing, I am just not a huge fan of change. I think part of it is that my boys like routine and anything out of the ordinary can cause a lot of extra stress.

Who am I kidding? I also like routine and anything out of the ordinary causes ME lots of stress. Have you met my kids (or read this blog)? Do you know what I’m up against on a GOOD day?

You change things around and the whole house of cards is about ready to tumble.