What is it that causes a tired child to become a wild child? When Delaney is overly tired she becomes insane. We recently went to Dutch Wonderland and she was awake the entire hour trip up, 7 hours of park time and hour trip home. When we got home the theme of the night was "chill out". She was so tired, but fighting sleep every step of the way. By 7:30 she was literally running in circles around our kitchen island bumping into cabinets and laughing a slightly psychotic laugh. We have seen this second wind before and it usually ends in disaster (i.e. boo-boos, tears, broken toys and general destruction.
Operation Get In Bed begins....
After a bath and a story and the requests of 700 unnecessary items in her bed (a bucket, a tiara and a firetruck to name a few), I turned out the light, turned on Laurie Berkener (our savior) and said "Goodnight!". Then the screams began. Big, giant sobs destined to break any mother's heart. When I return to the room Delaney tells me she can't sleep without me. Now, I have gotten in the toddler bed but the noises it makes when I do so are kind of scary so I lay on the floor next to the bed. This seemed to make her happy for a few minutes. Then, she asked me to hold her hand. So for the next 40 minutes I laid on the floor (using a stuffed animal for a pillow), reaching my arm up over the side of the bed and held my little girls hand. I tried to sneak out a few times, but each time her sweaty, little hand grabbed on a little tighter and she said "Please don't leave, Mommy!". And I wouldn't. There was no way I was letting go of my sweet little girls hand until she was ready. At that moment, I realized just how much I love my little monkey and what an amazing bond we have. While I am not religious, I do know that I am blessed.....and thankful!
Monday, August 15, 2011
Monday, August 1, 2011
Giving Eleanor, Rosa and Eva a run for their money
Okay, name me some headstrong women in history....Susan B. Anthony, Cleopatra, Joan of Arc, Eleanor Roosevelt, Rosa Parks, Eva Peron... Guess what ladies? You have nothing on my monkey. I promise you she can run circles around your willful ways. Here are some examples:
1. Me: "Delaney, you have to wear your shoes to walk on the sand at the beach because its hot."
Delaney: "It's not hot!" as she kicks off her shoes and walks towards the dunes with no shoes on.
5 steps later she turns around and says "Mommy, get your shoes on because this sand is really hot!" and puts her shoes on.
2. On a playdate today Delaney announces she is going upstairs to get chips. I tell her that her friend will have to go home if she goes upstairs as we are playing downstairs. She walks over to the corner of the room for a minute to think. A few minutes later she comes back and says to me like I am incredibly silly "Mommy, we don't need chips we have our imaginations!".
3. After 15 minutes of begging, pleading and bribery I decided it wasn't that important for Delaney to wear clothing. It just wasn't worth the struggle. When I give up she looks at me and says "Mommy, you gotta get me dressed I can't just be naked in here!".
4. Delaney recently made a decision to stop saying the "y" or "ie" sound at the end of all words.
To name a few: Mommy= Mom
Daddy= Dad
Mimi= Mim (pronounced "meem")
potty= pot
Chloe - Chlo (rhymes with glow)
When I correct her (i.e. "It's potteee"), she says "Yeah, Mom! Pot." Fine, I give up!
The official definition of headstrong is: determined to have one's own way; willful; stubborn; obstinate. While it may be a trait in my 2 1/2 yr. old which makes me crazy, at times, I guarantee no one is going to get one over on her later in life and that makes me proud :)
Teacher friends, can't you just see her report card comments now?
1. Me: "Delaney, you have to wear your shoes to walk on the sand at the beach because its hot."
Delaney: "It's not hot!" as she kicks off her shoes and walks towards the dunes with no shoes on.
5 steps later she turns around and says "Mommy, get your shoes on because this sand is really hot!" and puts her shoes on.
2. On a playdate today Delaney announces she is going upstairs to get chips. I tell her that her friend will have to go home if she goes upstairs as we are playing downstairs. She walks over to the corner of the room for a minute to think. A few minutes later she comes back and says to me like I am incredibly silly "Mommy, we don't need chips we have our imaginations!".
3. After 15 minutes of begging, pleading and bribery I decided it wasn't that important for Delaney to wear clothing. It just wasn't worth the struggle. When I give up she looks at me and says "Mommy, you gotta get me dressed I can't just be naked in here!".
4. Delaney recently made a decision to stop saying the "y" or "ie" sound at the end of all words.
To name a few: Mommy= Mom
Daddy= Dad
Mimi= Mim (pronounced "meem")
potty= pot
Chloe - Chlo (rhymes with glow)
When I correct her (i.e. "It's potteee"), she says "Yeah, Mom! Pot." Fine, I give up!
The official definition of headstrong is: determined to have one's own way; willful; stubborn; obstinate. While it may be a trait in my 2 1/2 yr. old which makes me crazy, at times, I guarantee no one is going to get one over on her later in life and that makes me proud :)
Teacher friends, can't you just see her report card comments now?
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Pee me a river
I have no complaints about potty training. It has been a smooth, easy process in our house. I mean of course I knew there would be some accidents but today there was an accident of epic proportions.
We are in Barnes and Nobles Children's section looking at books and having a great time. Delaney starts to play on the storytime stage with a few other children. She is having a great time singing and dancing and then I hear it- the gasp of the snooty mom in a scarf (seriously?!? the heat index was 102 today, lady!) pushing the $500 stroller. I slowly follow her evil eye to Delaney and AHHHH! Delaney is standing in the middle of the stage peeing a river. Uh oh! I run to her and try to convince her to stop- no luck (are you surprised? I mean really who stops in the middle of peeing?) . Then I just wait it out as "scarf and friends" stare at us whispering in dismay. No offer of help, no sympathetic looks. I mean really, could I get a tissue or something? Once she is done I scoop Delaney up and haul her off to the car before I get into a mom fight with "scarf and friends". On our way out I kindly stop at the information desk and let them know there was a "small potty accident on the storytime stage". I didn't tell them they would probably need a wet vac and scuba gear, but that's a minor detail. I trudge across the parking lot carrying my soaking wet child who is only more than happy to share the wealth with me and my entire side is pee-soaked by the time we get to the car. We drove home in in pee-covered silence making a pit stop to get Chik-Fil-A milkshakes before coming home to delouse. As I go to take D out of the car she looks at me sincerely and says "I'm your daughter and I love your soooooo much, Mommy!".
That's all she needed to say. The slate is clean my monkey, I will be eagerly awaiting tomorrow's embarrassment be it temper tantrum, slip of tongue or river of urine.
We are in Barnes and Nobles Children's section looking at books and having a great time. Delaney starts to play on the storytime stage with a few other children. She is having a great time singing and dancing and then I hear it- the gasp of the snooty mom in a scarf (seriously?!? the heat index was 102 today, lady!) pushing the $500 stroller. I slowly follow her evil eye to Delaney and AHHHH! Delaney is standing in the middle of the stage peeing a river. Uh oh! I run to her and try to convince her to stop- no luck (are you surprised? I mean really who stops in the middle of peeing?) . Then I just wait it out as "scarf and friends" stare at us whispering in dismay. No offer of help, no sympathetic looks. I mean really, could I get a tissue or something? Once she is done I scoop Delaney up and haul her off to the car before I get into a mom fight with "scarf and friends". On our way out I kindly stop at the information desk and let them know there was a "small potty accident on the storytime stage". I didn't tell them they would probably need a wet vac and scuba gear, but that's a minor detail. I trudge across the parking lot carrying my soaking wet child who is only more than happy to share the wealth with me and my entire side is pee-soaked by the time we get to the car. We drove home in in pee-covered silence making a pit stop to get Chik-Fil-A milkshakes before coming home to delouse. As I go to take D out of the car she looks at me sincerely and says "I'm your daughter and I love your soooooo much, Mommy!".
That's all she needed to say. The slate is clean my monkey, I will be eagerly awaiting tomorrow's embarrassment be it temper tantrum, slip of tongue or river of urine.
Saturday, July 16, 2011
Lessons Learned
A brief summary of the lessons learned on our 10 day vacation...
1. Public restrooms should be renamed "Please Touch Museum" for newly potty trained two year olds.
2. My monkey is easier to potty train than my dog. 6 years later and my dog still pees in the house, yet Delaney is more than willing to pee outside after having to once (there was nowhere else to go!!). Case in point- she eagerly pulled down her pants and peed in our backyard while playing outside today.
3. Sleeping in a strange place leads to bedtime temper tantrums for children and sleeping on the floor for parents.
4. The sound of someone chewing on sand is worse than nails on a chalkboard.
5. The songs in Disney movies are no longer cute when you cannot escape the confines of the car in which they are being played.
6. It is possible for a human to become a pack mule in order to minimize the number of trips from car to beach.
7. Children under the age of 10 should only ever be taken to restaurants with characters... thanks Mako Mike's!
8. Bribery is not all wrong. Particularly if you want to eat, sleep and/or maintain sanity.
1. Public restrooms should be renamed "Please Touch Museum" for newly potty trained two year olds.
2. My monkey is easier to potty train than my dog. 6 years later and my dog still pees in the house, yet Delaney is more than willing to pee outside after having to once (there was nowhere else to go!!). Case in point- she eagerly pulled down her pants and peed in our backyard while playing outside today.
3. Sleeping in a strange place leads to bedtime temper tantrums for children and sleeping on the floor for parents.
4. The sound of someone chewing on sand is worse than nails on a chalkboard.
5. The songs in Disney movies are no longer cute when you cannot escape the confines of the car in which they are being played.
6. It is possible for a human to become a pack mule in order to minimize the number of trips from car to beach.
7. Children under the age of 10 should only ever be taken to restaurants with characters... thanks Mako Mike's!
8. Bribery is not all wrong. Particularly if you want to eat, sleep and/or maintain sanity.
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Round 2
I was one of those people who swore I would never use the term "terrible two's". What loving parent uses the word terrible to describe anything regarding their children, right? WRONG! The term is real and applies to my two year old. It is not D who is terrible (she is my wonderful, amazing child) but the behavior of the age two is TERRIBLE!
We encountered the crying, tantrums and headstrong behavior of the two's early on right before D turned two and for about two months afterwards. Since then, its been pretty smooth sailing....well besides the dime swallowing..... No parenting book tells you there is a lull in the terrible two's- this beautiful stage where you think it's safe to take your child out to eat and where if you ask them to pick up their toys their head won't spin around in an exorcist-type of rage.
Then 2 3/4's rears its ugly head and what returns is the terrible two's in a child with a better vocabulary skills, improved negotiation techniques and an understanding of manipulation. And she has a list of demands....At last count, she started 4 out of 5 sentences with "I want...."
For your amusement, here are a few examples....
While dealing with a tantrum I stop and count to 10 in my head. There is a pause in the tantruming and Delaney asks "Mommy what are you doing?" Me: "Counting to 10.". Delaney: "I can count to 10 too!" Me: "I know honey, but we do it for different reasons."
Delaney at 8 PM: "I WANT JUICE!"
Me: "I would be happy to give you a drink of milk before bed when you can use your manners!"
Delaney: "I WANT JUICE NOW!"
Me: "Try again!"
Delaney (in her sweetest voice): "Please may I have a drink of milk, Mommy!"
Me: "Sure!"
As I pull the milk out of the fridge, what happens?? Delaney throws herself to the floor and screams: "NO! NO! NO! I WANT JUICE!".
Back to square 1.
Delaney in Negotiation Mode: "Can I have a milkshake?" (Yup! Mom of the Year over here let her have a milkshake one time and has yet to live it down.)
Me: "No, milkshakes are just for sometimes we don't have them everyday."
Delaney: "Can I have a milkshake now."
Me: "No, you may not."
Delaney: "Can I have a milkshake now?"
Me: "No, dinner is in a few minutes and we will all eat then."
Delaney: "I want a milkshake for dinner!"
Me: "Yes, honey we all do."
Fortunately, the glimpses of my bright, sweet little girl are becoming more frequent and for that I am thankful.
We encountered the crying, tantrums and headstrong behavior of the two's early on right before D turned two and for about two months afterwards. Since then, its been pretty smooth sailing....well besides the dime swallowing..... No parenting book tells you there is a lull in the terrible two's- this beautiful stage where you think it's safe to take your child out to eat and where if you ask them to pick up their toys their head won't spin around in an exorcist-type of rage.
Then 2 3/4's rears its ugly head and what returns is the terrible two's in a child with a better vocabulary skills, improved negotiation techniques and an understanding of manipulation. And she has a list of demands....At last count, she started 4 out of 5 sentences with "I want...."
For your amusement, here are a few examples....
While dealing with a tantrum I stop and count to 10 in my head. There is a pause in the tantruming and Delaney asks "Mommy what are you doing?" Me: "Counting to 10.". Delaney: "I can count to 10 too!" Me: "I know honey, but we do it for different reasons."
Delaney at 8 PM: "I WANT JUICE!"
Me: "I would be happy to give you a drink of milk before bed when you can use your manners!"
Delaney: "I WANT JUICE NOW!"
Me: "Try again!"
Delaney (in her sweetest voice): "Please may I have a drink of milk, Mommy!"
Me: "Sure!"
As I pull the milk out of the fridge, what happens?? Delaney throws herself to the floor and screams: "NO! NO! NO! I WANT JUICE!".
Back to square 1.
Delaney in Negotiation Mode: "Can I have a milkshake?" (Yup! Mom of the Year over here let her have a milkshake one time and has yet to live it down.)
Me: "No, milkshakes are just for sometimes we don't have them everyday."
Delaney: "Can I have a milkshake now."
Me: "No, you may not."
Delaney: "Can I have a milkshake now?"
Me: "No, dinner is in a few minutes and we will all eat then."
Delaney: "I want a milkshake for dinner!"
Me: "Yes, honey we all do."
Fortunately, the glimpses of my bright, sweet little girl are becoming more frequent and for that I am thankful.
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Things I Never Expected to Hear (or Answer) #932
1. "Mommy, is their poop in my dime?" Unfortunately, the answer was no. Still no dime, 2 nickels or 10 pennies. The human piggy bank refuses to give them up.
2. D: "Mommy, why is Daddy naked? Why is that guy naked? Why is you naked?"
Me: "None of those people or naked. Daddy and the other man have their shirts off. Mommy is wearing a bathing suit (and its a mom suit so it covers everything) and that is what people wear on the beach."
3. "AHHH! Chloe is turning brown!" Uh, no. The dog has brown spots.
4. "What does the pink light mean?" In reference to the stop light. She wasn't taking there is no such thing as an answer so I responded "It means beep the horn." Unfortunately that led to horn beeping (for imaginary pink lights).
5. "The bird pooped in the bathroom!!" Nice guess, but that is just toothpaste in the sink.
6. Me: "What shoes do you want to wear today?"
D: "Hmm... I think I'll rock my crocs."
7. My 2 1/2 yr. old BELTING out Katy Perry "Firework" from the backseat and then asking "Can we listen to Bob Marley next?".
2. D: "Mommy, why is Daddy naked? Why is that guy naked? Why is you naked?"
Me: "None of those people or naked. Daddy and the other man have their shirts off. Mommy is wearing a bathing suit (and its a mom suit so it covers everything) and that is what people wear on the beach."
3. "AHHH! Chloe is turning brown!" Uh, no. The dog has brown spots.
4. "What does the pink light mean?" In reference to the stop light. She wasn't taking there is no such thing as an answer so I responded "It means beep the horn." Unfortunately that led to horn beeping (for imaginary pink lights).
5. "The bird pooped in the bathroom!!" Nice guess, but that is just toothpaste in the sink.
6. Me: "What shoes do you want to wear today?"
D: "Hmm... I think I'll rock my crocs."
7. My 2 1/2 yr. old BELTING out Katy Perry "Firework" from the backseat and then asking "Can we listen to Bob Marley next?".
Sunday, May 29, 2011
Blame it on Daddy
As I go to take Delaney out of her car seat this morning, I find her thoroughly inspecting her hands palm-side up. Pointing to the lines on her hands, she innocently looks at me and says "Oh no! Daddy wrote on my hands while I was sleeping!".
I didn't tell her any different....
I didn't tell her any different....
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