Taming the 3 Year-old Beast
Posted by: mariak1 on: April 25, 2012
- In: 3 year-old | adjustment | behavioral issues | childrearing | children | kids | lessons | Little sister | Mommyhood | Moms | parenthood | parenting | parenting humor | Women
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Bebs turned 3 more than a month ago, and boy, she’s really giving us a run for the money.
I remember vaguely that Boo had some issues too when she first turned 3.
After a couple of months, she just kinda mellowed out.
I recall asking her teacher about it.
I said something like, “I thought 2s were supposed to be terrible. They haven’t seen 3s!”
She agreed. She did have some advice. But I can’t remember.
I don’t think it has anything to do with the brain cells I lost during chemo.
Or the lingering mommy brain, that I’m told you never quite recover from.
It’s Selective Memory.
I believe that when it comes to our kids, God gives us selective memory, so we forget a lot of the bad stuff.
If we remembered all that awful stuff, we probably wouldn’t have any more kids.
And we’d share all the horror stories with others, causing them to skip procreating.
It’s about survival of the species.
Our lovely Ms. LaRoux has turned into a beast – a beast in frilly dresses, of course.
I joke when I call her a beast, but let me tell you, these tantrums are about to kill me.
There was the 30-minute one (no exaggeration) the other day, when I told her to put her shoes on herself.
One day, she had a 15-minute tantrum, because the panties she wanted to wear were in the laundry hamper.
A few nights ago, she carried on for about 20 minutes because her blanket didn’t cover the ENTIRE bed.
On my last nerve, I reached out to my Facebook and Twitter friends, and asked for suggestions on how to tame our 3 year-old beast—and save my sanity.
Overwhelmingly, the responses were to share the info when I got it.
Well, I never got any suggestions.
Unfortunately, none of us knows how to tame the 3 year-old beast.
So I guess we just ride it out.
Get some earplugs.
Maybe I can learn selective hearing to go with my selective memory.
Sgt. Mom
Posted by: mariak1 on: March 13, 2012
You’ve heard of Mr. Mom.
Dr. Mom.
Then there’s Sgt. Mom.
You know about Sgt. Mom.
You’ve been there.
It’s when you have to go into full drill sergeant mode to get anything accomplished in your home.
I can see you shaking your head right now.
One day I realized that I totally felt like a drill sergeant, especially in the mornings, trying to get out the door for school.
I have this thing about being late—I’m Greek, but don’t subscribe to Greek time.
If you don’t know about Greek time, it’s that the appointed time is merely a suggestion and you show up whenever.
I say, be on time—even a bit early. People have things to do and you need to respect their time as well.
Anyway.
So just to get out of the house in the morning can entail some military-style maneuvers.
There’s the Getting out of Bed in the Morning Problem.
Some days it’s not an issue. Other days, you want to pull your hair out.
We aren’t talking to ourselves!
One of these days I’m going to get a bugle and start playing Reveille!
It’s not like I wake them at the crack of dawn.
I wake them between 7:15-7:30 am.
Well, if they’d go to sleep when I put them to bed, they’d be able to wake up without issue!
I know, I know, we all pushed the envelope as kids.
Then there’s the 10 minute waffling on What to Eat for Breakfast.
Decisions, decisions!
There have been times when it was like pulling teeth to accomplish either of these things, and due to time constraints, I’ve sent them to get dressed and gave them a breakfast bar, a banana or a bowl of dry cereal to eat in the car.
They have to learn!
Then it’s on to getting dressed.
My girls are very particular about their clothing.
So to make things easier, I ask them what they want to wear.
Boo, now 5, is easier going on this topic.
Only problem is, without Sgt. Mom, she will goof around and take 30 minutes to get dressed.
Just to make me crazy, she’ll run around naked and tell me that she is getting dressed.
So we go a few rounds on that.
Meanwhile, Bebs, now 3, is still mulling her decision on the day’s ensemble.
This preschool fashionista is quite particular.
She won’t wear pants, because “princesses don’t wear pants.”
For a while I got her to wear leggings—easier than tights for the newly-potty trained—but now she will only wear tights because “she’s a big 3 year-old.”
Some days she will call out a selection.
Other days, she will choose one, but then when she’s dressed, she will have the mother-of-all-meltdowns because she doesn’t like the way it looks or she’s changed her mind.
Sorry. We don’t have time. You selected your outfit, you’re going to wear it!
So she has her tirade, screaming and carrying on about how she wants to wear something else.
To give in would add an additional 30 minutes, as she would continually change because nothing was right.
I shudder to think how this will go when she’s a teenager!
Eventually she gets over it and she doesn’t mention her outfit again.
Now, to get these girls to brush their teeth and comb their hair is a whole other story.
There must be about 5 reminders.
Now, after all of this, Mom is usually left with about 10 minutes to get ready.
While I race to get ready, the girls get to playing.
Now they are so into their playing, it’s an ordeal to get them to stop and go downstairs.
Sometimes they get distracted along the way.
Then it’s down to the mudroom for coats.
Bebs will take up to 10 minutes to walk down the back stairs.
Not sure why.
I guess she has to make a grand exit 
Coats on, then we go outside.
Occasionally, they get distracted by something in the garden or by the weather.
I have to corral them to the car.
Then sometimes we have the debate about “I can buckle myself” and then after 5 minutes and cries of frustration, they announce that they can’t do it.
Whew.
I’m thoroughly exhausted at this point.
Off to school, where we squeak in about 5 minutes early, but I’ll take it!
I’ve tried to be nice.
I’ve tried to get them up very early.
Being Sgt. Mom is ONLY way I can get them out of the house in a timely manner.
It’s actually the least stressful of all methods.
I think I’ve earned a merit badge in morning maneuvers. LOL
There are other battles throughout the day, but you get the idea.
And of course, you pick which ones are really worth it.
The things we moms have to go through.
But we love them dearly, so we keep plugging along,
Hoping tomorrow morning is better.
Moms everywhere, I salute you!
DISMISSED!
Why are We So Breast-Obsessed?
Posted by: mariak1 on: January 19, 2012
- In: breastfeeding | Infant | jealousy | kid's activities | learning to walk | Little sister | miscarriage | music | new dad | nirsing | overscheduling kids | parenting | traditions | Uncategorized
- 1 Comment
I started thinking about this again recently, as I entered the bathroom at a restaurant where we were having lunch.
Would you want to have lunch in the loo?
Immediately, I was struck by the memory of once sitting in there for 40 minutes nursing my baby, while my stomach growled louder and louder, and the rest of my party waited for me at the table.
At issue?
People were staring at me while I was nursing.
Yes, I was nursing my baby.
I was a first-time mom, and not feeling like sending a message – and too exhausted to protest.
Just wanted to feed the baby, eat my lunch and get on with it.
I would typically get an out of the way booth and sit facing a wall, so no one would be the wiser.
But that day, it was so crowded, the only available table was in the middle of the dining room.
People were really uncomfortable and making it known.
I’ve often thought of this when I read stories about people being kicked-out of places for nursing, or asked to “take it to the restroom.”
Since my early mom days, I’ve gotten a bit bolder.
Now when I hear people say this stuff, I say, “You try to eat in a dirty, stinky bathroom!”
Let’s face it.
It is the restroom.
As much as many places try, it is dirty and stinky, by its very nature.
Think about this.
You go in there. There’s nowhere to sit except, well, the toilet.
So in your desperation to feed your hungry infant, you sit on the pot.
You get your clothes messed up.
It’s really uncomfortable.
Your child is very young, susceptible to all sorts of germs.
And he has to take his meal in the loo?
Come on people!
Think about it.
The next time I hear someone telling another person not to nurse in public, I’m going to stand up and tell them:
“You take your lunch and go sit in the bathroom for a few minutes and eat. Tell me how that goes.”
Now let’s take another look at this.
I have dined out many times in my life.
In fact, I grew up in a restaurant.
And I can tell you, I have never witnessed a woman whip out a boob for all to see.
I’ve seen women nurse in public, and they are quite discreet.
The idea isn’t to put on a show, and they aren’t flashers.
But everyone seems to be so breast-obsessed.
This is the most natural thing in the entire world – to nurse your child.
Why all the hoopla?
I’ve nursed in public, I‘ve seen others.
We get very skilled at the covert action, and very quickly.
We dress accordingly, we have blankets or breast feeding covers.
See this lady? She's all covered up! No flashing here.
We do cover ourselves, people.
Baby happily eats his meal in comfort.
Mom is comfortable, can eat her own meal, and not abandon her companions.
My daughter would zonk out every few minutes, and I’d have to keep waking her up.
So taking an hour to feed her was not unusual.
Was I to stay home until she stopped nursing?
Give me a break!
Think about it. Would you like to sit on the pot and eat a meal?
I didn’t think so.
There’s nothing pornographic about it.
Stop being so boob-obsessed!
Mother offers the best nourishment for her baby.
Baby lovingly eats – and thrives.
That’s a beautiful thing.
So let it be.
Don’t stare.
Don’t complain.
Just eat your lunch, and go about your business.
Bebs Steals the Show
Posted by: mariak1 on: January 3, 2012
- In: 2 year-old | 3 year-old | Big sister | childrearing | children | growing up | kids | Little sister | Mommyhood | Moms | parenthood | parenting | parenting humor | preschool | Women
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We’re talking about Bebs, so surely you aren’t surprised.
We were planning to transition Bebs to Boo’s school after the holidays, so the principal suggested placing her in the three year-old class a couple of times during that last week before Christmas.
The kids were practicing for the Christmas show, so Bebs went with them on stage to rehearse.
I stayed at school that day, “just in case,” so I peeked in from time to time to see how it was going.
The class began by holding hands and circling the Christmas tree.
She followed every direction, often better than kids in the class.
Then, each child went to the microphone to recite a poem.
Bebs asked the teacher, “Hey, when’s it my turn?”
So they gave her something to say.
She went to the mic, they brought it down to her and she said her line, “Irthe o Ai Vasilis!“ “Santa came!” (in Greek)
I happened to witness it and I couldn’t believe it.
Later, I snuck back to an area outside the gym so she couldn’t see me.
I heard the teacher say, “Ok, last song, guys.”
Bebs knew all the songs, as Boo had brought home a CD so she could practice the song.
I thought she’d sing along.
The song started and the teacher brought the mic to her, and held it in front of her.
Much to everyone’s surprise, she sang the entire song (O Come All Ye Faithful in Greek) and with feeling!
The tears began rolling down my cheeks.
I couldn’t believe how well she sang it.
Later, I asked the teacher how she did that day.
She reported that Bebs knew all the songs, took direction very well, and we should dress her in her Christmas best and bring her to the program.
Huh?
She was in the program.
Two days later, she came back for another trial day, mostly consisting of rehearsal.
“Be sure to bring her tomorrow,” the teacher said.
I asked Boo if it was OK if Bebs was in the program.
She thought it was pretty cool.
So we were on.
I asked Bebs to practice her line.
The stinker.
She made the sign of the cross, and said in Greek, “Holy God, Holy Mightly, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us!”
I told her I didn’t ask for the prayer, I asked for her line.
She laughed and she said it again.
That’s Bebs.
The next day, I called Bebs’ school.
“Hello. Bebs isn’t coming to school today.”
The director asked if she was sick.
“Um, Angeliki’s been hijacked to perform in Boo’s Christmas program,” I said
The director laughed and replied, “I’ll bet Bebs took over the program.”
Ahhh, they know her too well.
“Watch that kid,” she told me. “She will go far!”
So Bebs was in the show.
She said her line softly, and not into the mic.
I heard her, but not sure anyone else did.
The teacher asked her to say it again in the microphone.
The response was so Bebs: “I already did.”
Sometimes she sang and sometimes she didn’t.
She was so little compared to the other kids – heck we’re all little.
She looked so cute, and really, if I must say, she stole the show.
Yup, Bebs, the show stealer.
There were lots of oohs and ahhs, and “look at the little one!” coming from the audience.
Of course everyone knows who she is.
She has a way of making her presence known.
Bebs officially starts at the school next week.
Surely, she will keep it interesting.
Even Kids Know it’s Not Just about the Toys…
Posted by: mariak1 on: December 28, 2011
- In: 4 year-old | children | growing up | kids | lessons | Mommyhood | Moms | parenthood | parenting | religion | traditions | Uncategorized | Women
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This Christmas has come and gone.
So many preparations 
And it goes by way too fast.
We get caught up in the shopping and the presents,
The cooking and the cleaning.
Do we stop to think about what Christmas is truly about?
Boo, our almost-5-year-old, continued to remind us of the true meaning of Christmas.
During the Advent season, one day she came home to announce that Christmas is Jesus’ birthday.
Boo: Mom, did you know that Christmas is Jesus’ birthday?
Mom: Yes.
Boo: What a great celebration! What do we get Him for his birthday?
Mom: The greatest gift we can give Him is to be good people and to love each other.
Boo: I can do that!
As we set out the decorations, she took each Nativity scene out of its box, took the Baby Jesus and spoke to it.
Boo: Your birthday is coming Baby Jesus! We will get You a good gift!
Then every day as she walked passed one, she’d say, “Happy Birthday Christouli (Jesus)!”
The day before Christmas Eve, she was sitting, eating breakfast.
We were about to go upstairs to get ready for school, when she shouted out.
Boo: Mom! Skywriters!
(Have you ever seen the lines in the sky created by airplane exhaust? When I was a kid, we called them skywriters, and always looked to see if there was a message. I told my daughter this.)
Mom: Is there a message?
Boo: Come quick! It’s a stavro (Greek for cross)!
I went to the window, and sure enough, there was a huge white cross in the sky.
Mom: It’s a message!
Boo: It’s a message from Jesus, to remind us what Christmas is all about! Happy Birthday Jesus!
I got chills when it happened, and I’m getting chills as I type this.
A message from God.
Always pretty amazing when that happens.
Fast forward to Christmas Eve night.
Boo never ceases to amaze me – what a thoughtful, sensitive, sweet and caring little girl.
I always tell her that her heart is ten times too big.
We were getting into our car to go home, and she looked up and noticed a lot of stars in the sky.
In the city, we don’t see many stars.
She was fascinated.
One was really bright.
Dad: Could that be Santa?
Boo: No. I think it’s Christouli.
She stopped, looked up, and clasped her hands together to pray. 
Boo: Dear Christouli. Happy Birthday! I hope we all have a wonderful Christmas! Let’s have a great day! I love you!
I thought I’d cry. It was so beautiful.
Then she told us that the Three Wise Men followed the star to find the Baby Jesus.
That star followed us all the way home.
You might say it was an airplane.
Some may say it’s a little girl’s imagination.
Even four year-old’s know the true meaning of Christmas.
Do we?
Even when she got caught up in her presents, a few moments later, she would speak about Jesus.
A four year-old knows, remembers.
Do we?
Where are All the Princes?
Posted by: mariak1 on: December 14, 2011
- In: 2 year-old | 4 year-old | childrearing | children | growing up | kids | Mommyhood | Moms | parenthood | parenting | parenting humor | Women
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OK, before you start the chorus of Bonnie Tyler’s “Holding out for a Hero…”
I can hear you…
“Where have all the good men gone…”
I’m not talking about those princes…
I’m talking about DISNEY princes.
Princesses are EVERYWHERE.
Where are the princes?
And I mean everywhere.
Princess dolls, accessories, panties, clothes, towels, sheets, blankets, cups, plates – you name it.
I didn’t realize the void in the prince department, until one day Boo happened to bring it to my attention.
I went into her room, and a handful of her dolls were naked.
Yup, no clothes.
Not a stitch.
I told her the “girls” would get cold and she needed to dress them.
“No Mommy. They have no dresses because they are pretending to be boys. We don’t have any boys. They are the princes.”
I started thinking.
I don’t know that I had ever seen a PRINCE doll to that point.
So is the prince considered not necessary?
I thought to myself, I’d keep an eye out for a prince doll, or heck, even a Ken doll.
Man! Even Ken is hard to find too!
When the girls saw “Toy Story” with Ken, they asked again why there were no boy dolls.
I don’t know.
I guess boys aren’t interested in them and so the doll manufacturers figure it’s not a big deal.
Or maybe they figure the whole princess fantasy thing is enough, or perhaps it has something to do with the entire “bride” thing.
You know how from little girls we had this image of our wedding, and we made plans…
The entire thing was planned in your mind, and then it was just “insert groom” when you found him?
Maybe that’s it!
Snow White's Nameless Prince
They think it’s all about the princess fantasy thing, and the prince isn’t so important.
I beg to differ.
The prince is part of the fantasy.
In many of these stories, the princess is rescued.
In some, the PRINCE is rescued.
Needless to say, it’s about a love story, right?
Can’t have a prince and princess love story with a princess and an imaginary prince.
As the girls prepared their Christmas lists, Boo brought up the subject again.
“How do you spell ‘prince?’” she asked.
I told her, and asked which prince.
“Well, Sleeping Beauty has Philip, Belle has the Beast, Rapunzel has Flynn, Ariel has Eric, Jasmine has Aladdin, Tiana has Nuveen…”
Was I to get all of them?
I asked about Snow White and Cinderella.
“Oh, their princes don’t have names.”
So are they not important?
Why are these princes nameless?
Boo said she would give them names and she’d get back to me.
So I began my quest for a prince.
A doll, people!
Target? Nope.
Toys R Us? Nope.
A search of other stores allotted a total of zero princes.
Where are all the princes?!
I didn’t remember seeing prince dolls at Disneyland, but I thought, if the princes would be anywhere, they’d be at the Disney Store.
I went to the website, and sure enough, there were the princes, carefully tucked away, sheltered from the masses.
There were all the ones Boo mentioned: Eric, Beast, Aladdin, Nuveen, Philip.
Even a prince for Mulan!
Cinderella’s prince was there too – called Prince Charming, but basically nameless.
Ditto for Snow White’s prince.
Huh? Snow White would still be in her glass coffin if not for the prince!
Hmmm…. I just had a thought.
Are these princes nameless so we can later make them the princes in our own personal fairytale?
Maybe the original storytellers were on to something?
But I digress.
I found the princes.
I’m off to the Disney Store.
Sorry, but I can’t tell you where the real princes are.
If you find some, let me know.
I have some single friends.
Merry PRINCE and princess fairytales!
Supermom Syndrome
Posted by: mariak1 on: December 5, 2011
- In: childrearing | children | encouragement | lessons | mom guilt | Mommyhood | Moms | parenthood | parenting | parenting humor | Women
- 2 Comments
You know you’ve got it too.
Why do we do this to ourselves?
The truth is, I don’t know if we always realize we are doing this.
We take on so much.
Often more than we can possibly handle.
And we stress ourselves out.
So why do we do this?
I wonder…
Do we do it because we want to be helpful?
Because we don’t realize the time commitment?
Because we can’t say no?
Because we think we can juggle everything?
Because we are afraid we won’t be liked?
Because we think we have superhuman powers?
Well, we all have a bit of the Supermom Syndrome.
You know what I’m talking about.
We take on way too much and then we are always frazzled because nothing is done and nothing is done right.
Why do we do this to ourselves?
I wonder if we just don’t know that we are doing it.
Perhaps it’s a little bit of all those reasons.
What I do know is that I did it to myself again.
How much can one person possibly do?
When we take on too much, we can’t put the effort that we like to put into things.
We aren’t superhuman.
Time to retool, redefine, restructure.
Time to learn to say NO.
You’re shaking your head.
You’re saying “Yeah right.”
Guilty.
Once again.
Time to retool, redefine, restructure.
Time to learn to say NO.
Ok, this is my new mantra.
I’m going to repeat it over and over again.
I’m going to be lean and mean.
Well, you know what I’m trying to say.
I have to set boundaries and keep them.
Priorities are priorities.
The rest is secondary.
Here’s a New Year’s resolution for you.
I know you’re right there with me.
We’ll all retire our capes together.
Before it retires us.
We can’t save the world.
We can save our sanity and the peace in our homes.
OK. One more time.
Repeat after me.
It’s time to retool, redefine, restructure.
I WILL say no to all that stuff that I shouldn’t be doing, and what gets in the way of my priorities.
I don’t need to be a super hero.
With this weight off my shoulders, I can excel at what I really feel is important.
Great!
Repeat! Repeat! Repeat!
I know I can, I know I can, I know I can!
We’ll have to check in on each other from time to time and make sure we aren’t overwhelming ourselves again.
It’s such a bad habit.
And so bad for our overall health and well being.
Yes. It will kill you before your time.
Not to mention the sanity in our families.
OK!
Take that cape and RIP it to shreds.
It’ll help you get out some frustration, too.
Go on.
Throw that cape in the fire.
It’s over.
We are only human.
Adventures in Potty Training
Posted by: mariak1 on: November 18, 2011
- In: 2 year-old | behavioral issues | childrearing | children | going potty | growing up | kids | Little sister | Mommyhood | Moms | parenthood | parenting | parenting humor | potty training | preschool | Toddler | Women
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As you know, we are working with Bebs on potty training.
And as always, this little one is giving me a run for the money.
She knows what to do and when, but she still has accidents.
And many times they are on purpose.
At school, they are working with her on the potty training as well.
A couple of days ago, I picked her up at school and I asked her if she went potty.
She laughed and said yes.
The teacher said she only went once.
Apparently when told it was time to go potty, she put her hands on her hips and asked,
“Do you have M&Ms? I get M&Ms at home.”
Her teacher told her that she doesn’t work that way.
And Bebs told her that she doesn’t either.
OK smart aleck 2 year-old!
Enough!
I told her I am not buying any more Pull-ups, that the time has come.
She’s a big girl.
At home she does OK, some accidents of course.
There have been times recently where she tells me she can’t go because she’s going to fall in the potty.
Even if I hold her.
Sometimes the only way I can get her to go is with M&Ms.
Not the best way, but I want her to keep using the potty.
Wednesday came along and we were getting ready for school.
“I think you need to bring the Dora seat to school.”
I wouldn’t bring the seat because what if we go somewhere and there’s no Dora seat?
She has to learn to do without the Dora seat.
I told her when I dropped her off, that she must use the potty.
She asked again for the Dora seat and I told her we only use the Dora seat at home.
They have little potties there and she won’t fall in.
The teacher even told her she would hold onto her while she sat on the potty.
No such luck.
Utter and absolute refusal to use the potty at school.
The teacher thanked me for not bringing the Dora seat, and expressed her frustration.
And she works will hundreds of kids. And she’s frustrated!
Oh boy.
Yesterday we wore panties all day.
She did great for most of the day.
We sat down on the couch to read and we were all cuddle up – she was sort of laying on me.
Then I felt something warm.
You guessed it!
I lost it.
It’s not fun to be peed on!
She apologized, we cleaned up, changed clothes.
She was good for a few more hours.
We got ready to go pick up Boo from school.
She went potty here, no problem.
I told her we would go to the potty as soon as we arrived at Boo’s school.
She said OK and there was no issue.
…Till we got there.
I took her to the bathroom and she let out a roar like I haven’t heard in a while.
I lifted her up to put her on the potty and she straightened and stiffened her body while yelling bloody murder.
The entire school heard her!
“I’m gonna fall in!” she kept yelling.
I kept telling her I wouldn’t let her fall in.
Then I asked how was she going to go to school there?
She can attend there as soon as she’s potty-trained.
When we are there, she never wants to leave and asks all the time when she will go to school there.
I always tell her, as soon as we get rid of the Pull-ups.
Finally she went a bit, but we had to go a few rounds before she did.
Back at home, she had another accident. # 1 and #2.
Yup.
So I told her… “We only pee and poop when we are sitting on the potty.”
I told her to repeat it and she kept pretending like she had no idea what was going on.
We cleaned up, changed clothes.
10 minutes later…
YUP.
AGAIN.
She had that look and I just knew this was now a game.
I started to lose it.
Finally, I didn’t say a word, just took her to the bathroom, cleaned her up and changed clothes.
This time, I put a Pull-up on her.
I kept silent, and she kept asking me questions, kept repeating herself.
It was driving her crazy that I wasn’t responding.
“Why do I have a Pull-up? I’m a big girl! Do I get M&Ms?”
Can you just imagine the smoke coming out of my ears as this little thing had the nerve to ask for M&Ms even after she went in her pants?!
A little while later she came to me.
Bebs: Mommy, are you happy?
(She tends to pose this question when she knows I’m upset with her)
Mommy: No.
Bebs: I want you to be happy. I love you.
(She’s working it)
Mommy: I want to be happy too. But I’m very upset with you.
Bebs: How can I make you happy?
(I’m telling you, she’s a politician in training)
Mommy: You can pee and poop only when you sit on the potty, and not have any more accidents. OK?
Bebs: (Looking down and in a pitiful voice) OK.
She walked away and came back with her new party dress. She wanted to wear it.
I promptly snatched the dress away.
I told her she could not have it until we were done with the potty training.
She said, “but that’s my party dress! What will I wear to the Christmas parties?”
Oh boy.
I think she just told me this is going to go on for awhile.
God help me.
Gotta Love Those 2 Year-olds!
Posted by: mariak1 on: October 4, 2011
- In: 2 year-old | children | growing up | kids | parenthood | parenting | parenting humor | Toddler | Women
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Yep, you gotta love ‘em.
Sometimes in between the tantrums, we actually get a welcome respite.
Humor!
Who knew they were already nurturing their sense of humor.
Our resident 2-1/2 year old, Bebs, is exhibiting signs of a rather sarcastic sense of humor.
The other day we were driving in the car, when I mentioned something about Halloween costumes.
Bebs has insisted that she will reprise last year’s ensemble.
She wants to be Snow White once again.
This little one has refused any discussion of changing things up, even though Boo and I have opted to dress as difference princesses this year.
So we were in the car and I asked her something about what kind of shoes she wanted for her Snow White costume.
Now mind you, we have already acquired a larger Snow White costume (courtesy of a friend), a new and FANCY Snow White headband and wand that she recently picked out and we ordered.
I was so not prepared for her response.
Bebs: What? No way, Mommy. I am not going to be Snow White this year!
Mommy: What? We already bought everything for you to be Snow White.
Bebs: Well, I’ve changed my mind. I can do that you know.
Mommy: What?
Bebs: Yeah, Mom. I thought it would be really fun if I dressed up as Jasmine instead. So let’s go get some Jasmine stuff.
Mommy: You have got to be kidding me!
Bebs: Gotcha! You know Snow White is my favorite. No way I am changing. Ha ha ha!
Well, I sure didn’t expect that.
This morning, we took Boo to school and were walking back to our car. Here’s how it went.
Bebs: Mom, I showed YiaYia (grandma) Bessie my Hello Kitty lipstick.
Mommy: Do you mean Kyria (Mrs.) Bessie at school? YiaYia Bessie went to Heaven, Sweetie. We won’t get to see her anymore.
My great aunt, who the girls know fairly well, passed away recently.
Bebs: I know Mommy. I called Heaven and I took care of it.
Mommy: You called Heaven, really? Did you get to talk to anyone?
Bebs: I said, I called and took care of it. I can’t tell you about that.
Mommy: Why not?
Bebs: These are secret things between princesses and angels.
Mommy: Was it a good talk?
Bebs: Yes.
Mommy: What did you talk about?
Bebs: Mommy!
Mommy: Come on, I want to know what they said. Did you call YiaYia Bessie or YiaYia Mary (her grandmother) or Christouli (Jesus)?
She giggled, and I knew something was coming.
Bebs: Well, Heaven says I am the best Snow White and nothing else. You will be Sleeping Beauty and Boo will be Belle.
Mommy: I don’t think Heaven told you that!
Bebs: Gotcha Mommy! You wanted me to tell you something, and when I talk to Heaven, I can’t tell, so don’t ask me anymore.
She’s 2-1/2!
Well, I guess there are worse places she could be calling.
I’m glad she’s conferring with the Man Upstairs and the Heavenly Hosts.
Hope that will continue.
Good thing those calls are free!
Can’t wait to see what she comes up with next!
Bebs Takes on Preschool
Posted by: mariak1 on: September 6, 2011
- In: adjustment | change in routine | childrearing | children | growing up | kids | Mommyhood | Moms | mother's love | parenthood | parenting | parenting humor | preschool | Toddler | Women
- 2 Comments
It was time.
We probably should have sent her before.
Our precocious 2-1/2 year-old was more than ready for preschool.
When we went to tour the school, she was sad when we left.
“I thought I was going to school,” she said. “Why are we leaving?”
I had to tell her a few more times that we were only visiting.
When we went back to register, she thought for sure that she was staying.
This time she didn’t cry.
She got angry.
“You said I was going to school. Why are we going home?”
I tried to explain that she would start in a few days.
Finally she accepted it and went on with her day.
Yesterday we went shopping for a first day of school outfit.
I let her select it, as well as two new pairs of shoes.
She was very excited.
Getting ready to leave for school
This morning, she was rarin’ to go.
Boo and I took her to school.
Immediately, something caught her eye and she was off to play.
We kissed her goodbye and wished her a great day.
No tears.
Bebs did really well too.
As we left, I had this strange feeling in my stomach.
“I just LEFT her somewhere, and she will stay ALL DAY.”
Weird.
We came home and it was strangely quiet.
Strange to not have Bebs at home.
I called the school mid-morning.
She was doing great!
When we picked her up, she was upset.
Not upset at being at school.
Upset that we came to pick her up!
She wanted to stay even longer!
Daddy was worried how she’d do after 6 hours at school.
I guess we have an answer!
A woman at the school said that she talked a lot – much more than the other kids.
“Is she really only 2-1/2?” she asked.
In the car, I asked her if she had fun.
“I missed you, Mom,” she said. “But I was having fun. Can’t I stay longer? I’ve got things to do.”
She told me!
Bebs at school...she already looked different
Miss Independence is ready to leave the nest for a few hours a day.
Mother Bird is doing well.
Perhaps Father Bird is having a tough time?
We better get it together.
This one is going to reach a lot of milestones fast.
Bebs rocked the school!
Let’s put on our seatbelts and hold on tight.
Surely she has taken over.
That school will never be the same.
In a good way, of course.
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