I reached this lovely point yesterday evening. I had been approaching it little by little all week as my children had one fit after another, and I continued to calmly but firmly give out consequences. But yesterday they gave me a shove into the red. I won’t go into all of the long details, but they were riding bikes and decided they didn’t like the boundaries I had given them. They were mean, disrespectful, disobedient, and throwing epic tantrums. I calmly but firmly (are you seeing a theme here?) told them this was not how I expect them to behave … Read the rest
Category Archives: Parenting
Of Course
OF COURSE. Two days after writing a post about how I set the tone in my home, if I’M calm then THEY’RE calm, all hell breaks loose today.
Ada got in my car at approximately 3:23 today after school. At 3:25 she had a fit that I wouldn’t roll up the windows. We were in Grace and Eli’s carpool line, so I had the car off and the windows down – she didn’t approve. CLEARLY. She wanted the windows up. She didn’t like the song that was on. She wanted to pick the song we listened to. She NEVER gets … Read the rest
You Set the Tone
Since reading the book Boundaries With Kids, I’ve been working on staying calm while disciplining my kids or giving the threat of discipline (which I always follow through on if they follow through with their behavior). It’s not easy. It takes a conscious effort and lots of deep breathing. But the more I work on it, the less effort it takes. Lately I’ve noticed it comes more naturally, and I couldn’t be more excited.
Then last week I noticed Eli was staying calmer as well. Not completely calm, he is still a 7-year-old boy after all. When it’s time … Read the rest
Eight Years in the Making
- I had three babies in 29 months.
- I was pregnant 27 out of 38 months.
- I had three children in diapers for eight months.
- In my basement I have or had three cribs, three reversible car seats, three umbrella strollers and more…
- Between my mom and I we had four pack-n-plays.
- I currently have 6 booster seats, a set in each car.
- Side note: this is why I was very diligent about getting them to sleep through the night (which to me means 12 hours between feedings). If not I would have completely lost it long ago!
I tell you
… Read the rest Bedroom Time
We have that fairly regularly around here. If the kids are fighting a lot, or pushing the boundaries a lot, or the noise level is rising drastically…. I declare “Bedroom Time”. They all have to go to their own rooms for an undecided amount of time with their doors shut. They can be loud if they want, they can listen to music if they want, whatever. They just have to have their door shut. After a while, if they ask to play together, they can, but doors still have to be shut. This accomplishes a few things.
1. It gives … Read the rest
Adventures in School Supply Shopping
I don’t know what your experience is with this, but here was mine this year:
Ada had a massive fit (which for Ada looks like shutting down and no longer speaking except for the occasional “I DON’T LIKE SHARING!” at random times) because she learned all of her school supplies are shared whereas Grace and Eli’s are theirs, with their names on them. This did not go over well and lasted all morning even though I told her we were done talking about it.
I took Grace and Eli shopping for new gym shoes, and realized that I really hate … Read the rest
My TV & Movie Soapbox
Disclaimer: This is not written with a heart of judgment, but rather defending the choices in our family. I’m feeling the need to stand up for the parents’ right and responsibility to choose what their children watch.
I’ve gotten comments before from acquaintances and even people I don’t really know about the fact that my kids are easily scared of movies, and refuse to go to the theater. In fact, when they saw a preview for Kung Fu Panda 2, Eli said, “I can’t wait til that comes out on DVD!” They just can’t handle a giant black room … Read the rest
I Lost My Little Girl
We went to Pine Lake Saturday afternoon for about three hours and had a lot of fun. Well, the ten or so minutes where we couldn’t find Ada weren’t so fun. In the shallow part of the lake there are two kids’ slides. Chad and I were in the water watching the kids go down the slides over and over again. Then Chad said, “Where’s Ada?” I looked around, not worried, this happens all the time when you’re out-numbered. But as the seconds passed my worry grew. Chad got out of the water and looked around the slides. He looked … Read the rest
Stop Bickering!
Yes, we have reached the tipping point of summer vacation where my children bicker non-stop. It truly drives me insane. Yesterday they were whining that it was “rest day” (um…. it’s Biblical!!!), which also means no Wii, and they would not stop. So I gave them an activity to do – clean their rooms. I thought it was a great idea, they disagreed. Nobody’s room is any cleaner, but it got them away from each other for about 45 minutes.
I try to have one outing a day in the summer so we get out but aren’t crazy busy. This … Read the rest
My Balancing Act
Grace is at camp this week. All week. Five nights. I sort of thought this would make our home life a breeze. She and Eli are the two that fight the most, so if she is removed from the equation things will be easier, right? I’m not sure anymore. Today we need to get groceries. I’m already thinking this won’t be so bad, I only have TWO kids to take with me instead of THREE! Already less work. I’m ready to get on it. But the TWO at home are slow and whiny and don’t want to get dressed. Really? … Read the rest