First Night Away

There are many "firsts" in a child's life--first steps, first words, first tooth, and so on. One such first is the first night away from Mommy and Daddy. Only, I think the achievement and status that comes with accomplishing a "first" belongs to the parents, not the kid. When you leave your child for the first time, you agonize for weeks about how to prepare him for your night away, you make lists for the caregiver, you battle the guilt welling up inside because you know that he will just be traumatized and not be able to survive one night without you! Then, when the big day comes, you hug him and kiss him and he pushes you away or ignores you completely! You should be glad that he didn't freak out--that would have made leaving very difficult, but you have to admit--you feel a little disappointed that he didn't even cry. While away, you call several times (too many) and he is fine. Yes, he ate his food; yes, he behaved himself, yes, he went to sleep okay; no, he didn't have a nervous breakdown in your absence! You've done it, Mom, you've earned the "First Night Away" badge! Doesn't it feel good? Almost as good as when you come home and your child yells "Mommy" or "Mama" and falls into your arms...and you think, hey, I oughta go away more often!

Parenting Through the Period

Sometimes, I think back on my C-section 18 mos. ago and regret not telling the doctor to just take my uterus out with the baby! I don't need it anymore--I've had my tubes tied, I'm done having kids. So, why on why do I have to go through the pain and agony of periods every month?! Let me tell you, my husband and my kids would probably be much happier not to have to tiptoe around me for a few days every month! Parenting is hard every day, but crampy, bloated, headachey days--it is really hard! How can I explain to my 18 month old son that I don't want him to sit on my lap because I'm cramping and his sitting on my lap is excruciating? I can't! So, like a lot of things in motherhood, I just grin and bear it. How do I tell my four year old that I'm too tired to push her on the tire swing or take her to the park? I can't; I'll just pray for rain and blame lounging around the house on the weather...

A Marvelous Sight

I spent the good part of an hour while my little one napped cleaning and scrubbing the bathroom--toilet and all. It isn't the most fun, but a clean bathroom is indeed a marvelous sight! If only, I could get my kids' rooms to sparkle light that!!

Baby Bullies

This week's article is all about baby bullies--that is, toddlers who hit, kick, bite, and so on. I must confess that this topic was chosen because I, myself, have a baby bully! My 17 mos. old son is the bully of the house! He pulls his big sister's hair relentlessly! Hit hits, he flails, he kicks! After reaching out to other moms with similar issues, it seems that the best solution for curbing bullying behavior in toddlers is time-outs. Obviously, toddlers are just beginning to explore their worlds and learn right from wrong, so time-out makes sense because removing them from the situation will eventually help them to see that hitting, biting, etc. will end in being removed from fun. I am utilizing a firm "No" in combination with time-outs, as I suggest to my readers. So far, so good...