Ready for another edition? The stories are endless of what our tyrannical little people will do, for reasons beyond our understanding.
Today my toddler cried because …
… she wanted the food on my plate, which was exactly the same as what was on hers. Continue reading
I’ve been noticing something lately. I’ll walk away from a conversation, or review it in my head hours later, and realize I was only barely paying attention at the time. I missed an opportunity to truly connect with someone, or wasn’t the listening ear someone was seeking.
Sorry, everyone I’ve spoken to in the last few weeks.
Here are my excuses for this rather neglectful and rude habit I seem to have fallen into. Continue reading
Toddlers are strange creatures. One day they love carrots, the next they act like you just offered them smelly garbage for dinner. Sometimes they want to wear clothes, but other times it’s a wrestling match to get anything on their little bodies.
They are fickle. Unpredictable. Silly. Dictatorial. Adventurous. And, maybe beyond anything else, totally unreasonable. Continue reading
It was one of those days.
She was supposed to nap at her usual time, because then she’d be awake and refreshed to play with her aunt while I went to an appointment – alone, for a change.
But of course, because we had plans, she refused to sleep at the time she always naps. And not only would she not close her eyes, she also cried and cried. That’s not normal for her. So I cancelled with her babysitter and braced myself for a cranky toddler in a waiting room not designed with children in mind. Continue reading
I’ve been around kids my whole life. Neighbors, cousins, friends. So I figured I knew quite a bit when it came time for me to have my own.
Jokes on me.
Sure, I had a good foundation of knowledge. But even full days of babysitting multiple children can’t prepare for being a parent of your own offspring. Continue reading
Whew. Holidays with a very busy toddler is kind of exhausting. And we didn’t even have the length of travel and number of gatherings that some parents deal with every year.
Last year was so different in comparison to this one. She was just a few months old then, content to watch all the chaos from the safety of our arms.
But now, not even a little. Continue reading
There are some surefire ways to tell that we have a toddler in the house. Here’s just a few …
1.Throwing away food
I hate to waste food, but I find myself trashing half-finished yogurts that sat on the table all day, or that last bite of cookie she dropped on the floor, or those veggies I cooked for dinner but she decided she no longer likes. Sigh. Continue reading
I know not all of you fellow moms choose to attend a place of worship on a regular basis. But for those of us that do, can we just be real for a minute? Church is hard.
If you’re a mom whose kids are old enough to head off to children’s church classes and you can sit and relax, socialize with friends, and absorb the sermon points … well, let’s just say I’m looking forward to joining your ranks someday. Continue reading
I knew I wasn’t a very patient person, but since becoming a mom my impatience has been on display far too often for my liking. I’m too easily frustrated, too often driven by to-do lists. I like a tidy house and a feeling of productivity – two things that are harder to come by with a toddler who simply wants my undivided attention most of the day.
Obviously, there are times she simply has to entertain herself; it’s an important skill to learn anyway. But too often I find myself placating her, trying to avoid her tears or end her tantrum. So I sigh, sit on the floor, and engage in play. Continue reading
No, I’m not talking about Christmas. I’m talking about this season I’m currently in – raising a young child – and all that includes.
This is the season of teething necklaces instead of pretty pearls, staying home evenings instead of game nights with friends, more of dinner on the floor than in our stomachs. This is the season of sweeping up crumbs from the floor on a daily basis, walks pushing a stroller instead of leisurely jogs, online conversations with moms across the country instead of phone calls with as-of-yet childless friends from high school. Continue reading