Article - Discipline Mistakes

Oh, I love when I run across articles like these. They sure do help keep me humble. I'm pretty sure I've covered the whole list, multiple times over. What can you do but laugh at yourself and just try harder next time?

Which are you guilty of (and willing to admit)?

More Food Favorites

Being at the tail end of my pregnancy (at least I hope the end is somewhere near!), I am trying to enjoy eating before I have to start working on shedding the weight. I thought perhaps I should add a couple more favorite things to my list:

If you saw my previous post touting the virtues of etsy (a wonderful website where individual artists sell jewelry, art, clothing, etc.) and also fell in love with that little site, than you might like foodzie, which is a site for people to sell their homemade goodies. Both sites are great places to find unique gifts.

My other favorite for today is chocolate infused with hot peppers. I know, I know, it doesn't sound particularly appetizing, but you must give it a try before you judge. My favorite so far is the Hachez chili mango bar

Lindt also has a chili cherry bar, though I haven't tried this one yet.

Anyone else a fan?

Strollers and Reward Charts

I recently went out on a limb and purchased a "sounds too good to be true" used version of the phil and ted's e3 stroller with a double kit for $50 on eBay. If you aren't in the know yet about these inventive double strollers, you have to check them out. The cheapest version (now called the classic) retails for a whopping grand total of $430 if you get it with the double kit. So I really believed it was too good to be true when I won this one for $50. I was becoming quite cynical about it when, fifteen days after purchase, I still hadn't received the item or a tracking number. But it arrived today and is in great condition. I am as excited about this as I am about my new pair of shoes (which are also pretty cool)! Wow, am I a mom or what?

My other recent success story comes from finally succumbing to using a silly looking reward chart a la Supernanny for my daughter. I have to say, I have been humbled more lately by the increasing awareness that much of her behavior is driven by my behavior. How I react to the tantrums and negativity certainly makes a big difference. I am working very hard on keeping my cool, rewarding and reinforcing positive behavior, and trying my darndest to ignore the behavior I want to extinguish. Simple, well-known tactics, but so hard to execute in the heat of the moment! Nevertheless, it seems to be working and we are making progress. Hallelujah for small miracles!

The Power of "I'm Sorry"

No, I'm not talking about having my child learn to say "I'm sorry" - I'm talking about me remembering the power of those two little words. It is surprisingly hard to utter that phrase to your child. You feel as though you are the one who should be in control, the one who should be setting the example. Yet, as a parent part of the humility you learn comes from screwing up, time and again. What is the most amazing thing to see is how forgiving these little beings are. No matter how bad of a day you have, or how poorly you handle a difficult parenting moment, they are always willing to envelope you in a tight, genuine hug and accept your apology.

This weekend, I had to tell my daughter: "I'm sorry I yelled. Mommy didn't talk nice, and that is not okay." She said: "That's right Mommy, but it's okay. I love you." What a gift, what a lesson in true forgiveness!

Saturday Morning Snuggles

There is nothing like having a little warm body crawl quietly into bed at 5:30 a.m., snuggle up and doze off silently next to you. Especially when that little warm body stays asleep until 7 a.m.! This morning has been all snuggles and sweetness, so the meltdowns are a distant memory today.

After breakfast this morning, my daughter took the liberty of doing my makeup and hair for me. I have about seven layers of different colored lipsticks, lots of cover-up, and four small ponytails at the front of my head.

Just in case the meltdowns reappear (I keep my optimism that one day they will be gone for good), I found an interesting article on five tantrums stoppers that "work." Hmm. We'll have to try them out and see what "work" means. If any of you try them, let me know how it "works" for you.

Monkeys and Meltdowns

I was so happy to see that shiny little face last night, after four days of quiet time and silence during meals. She was an absolute doll all the way home from the airport, and just so sweet after we got home.

*Insert suspenseful music*

...until bedtime.

OH MY GOODNESS.

Wow, I didn't know 28 pounds of girl could release such intensity. We have had such a long, pleasant break since the end of the last meltdown phase, that I had optimistically assumed maybe we were past it.

Well, we're talkin' knock over the fan, kick the door, throw your shoes, scream like Linda Blair meltdown.

I am trying to see the humor now, but I had trouble sleeping last night thinking about what I am doing wrong as a parent, why we are failing, why I've read every parenting book out there and nothing works, etc. So, in an effort for self-preservation, I want to hear from you all - what is the worst meltdown you've seen from your children, and how do you handle them?

In the meantime, I guess I can find solace with the monkey moms, who apparently are also at a loss as to how to handle meltdowns.

Pedicures, Pecan Pie and Peace

Before I start on my monologue touting the wonders of pedicures and pecan pie, let me first note that I respond to your comments by posting a comment of my own after yours. I think you probably have to go back and select the "read comments" link to see my response. Hope this works okay for you all.

Ahh..now back to our regularly scheduled programming. Pedicures and pecan pie.

I am in the middle of what is likely to be my last carefree weekend for quite some time. I am kid-free and have been living it up. Like Wayne Newton, as my husband would say. At first, I hated it. I hated not having her adorable little face (although not so adorable during a series of very intense Exorcist-like fits this past week) and hearing her sweet voice. A couple of "you idiot, enjoy yourself" comments from my honest husband helped kick me into gear.

Friday I spent the afternoon lounging at the nail salon, having a lovely woman massage my swollen legs with hot stones. She painted the toenails on what are barely recognizable as toes (they look more like little Jimmy Dean sausages) a lovely color of orange. If only she would have just kept quiet during the whole thing, it would have been perfect.

Then, a couple of wonderful friends took pity on me last night and allowed me to tag along to a charity event featuring food by the best local chefs. Maybe they knew a woman near her due date would get the most out of those tickets, or maybe they were just feeling a bit charitable themselves. Poor souls had to put up with a chattering beast of a woman who couldn't stop herself from having as many helpings as she could fit into her cramped stomach. But the best food I had all night was PECAN PIE! I had three pieces and didn't feel an ounce of guilt about it. I wanted to cry it was so good. I figured I had to walk up a curved flight of stairs to get to it, so I needed the calories.

I had breakfast this morning in peace. No one asked for the last of my milk. Then, I took a long nap without that nagging feeling that I would be awoken any minute.

Ahhhh....