Out of the mouths of babes...

A friend of a friend came yesterday to give us some advice on decorating our house.


Our girls have their own rooms - one is pink, the other is purple. Before we moved in last summer my husband (with a little help from the girls!) painted one wall in each room in those colors to make the girls feel at home in their new room. We are now ready to finish decorating them and thought the girls would be excited.


My youngest is two and a half years old - need I say more?




We were standing in her room with my friend discussing ideas to make it really special when she announced in a slightly distressed voice "I don't want my room painted, I want it purple!" We reassured her it was going to stay purple but she continued to be upset saying "my Daddy painted that!"


My friend was trying to calm her down and asked "did you help him?" "Yes" she said "Daddy shouted at me!"


I was mortified! I don't know her very well at all and wasn't sure what her reaction would be. Luckily she replied "Well it was your first time painting, I bet he'll let you help again".


My husband rarely raises his voice and it must just have been something like "you're in the way" or "put that down" and it was 8 months ago but whatever happened it has certainly stuck in my daughter's mind!


My oldest also knows how to embarrass me - both times in the same Post Office. The first time we were waiting in line when she turned to the man behind us and said in a big loud voice "That man's wearing earrings. Men don't wear earrings" I'm not sure what his reaction was as I daren't look at him!


The next time, we were being served at the Post Office and there is a gentleman there who always gives my girls a stamp on their hand. On this occasion it was a different man serving us but my oldest daughter shouted "I want a stamp on my hand now!" It did sound very cheeky but I only had myself to blame....she was using the exact tone I must use to them when I say "come here, I said come here now!"


I did try to explain to the guy but he looked young and probably doesn't have children yet as he looked a bit puzzled.


So just a word of warning really, be careful what you say and do around your little ones as it'll come back to embarrass you one day!

Hello UK!

I recently joined Mom Bloggers Club in the US and discovered they have just started a sister site in the UK. I joined this site too because I lived in Scotland for my first 25 years then England for several more years so would like to keep in touch with Mummy life in Britain as well as Mommy life in America.

I try as much as possible to teach my girls about my cultural heritage as that will always be where my heart is. Although they were both born in America (but have dual nationality!) they love to say "I was born in Scotland Mommy same as you" which warms my heart... but then sometimes they will also say "I'm from Mexico same as Dora "(the Explorer)...so perhaps they are a little confused ...or just watching too much TV!

They are already a bit mixed up as my English husband keeps telling them they are half Scottish, half English and half American. What will their teachers say when my girls insist there are 3 halves instead of just 2!

Funnily enough our American friends think our girls sound British and our British friends think they sound American! Sorry girls, you really are destined to be mixed up!

I was listening to my Swedish neighbor talking to her 1 year old son in Swedish the other day and marvelling that he was already bilingual. Then I thought to myself "my children are bilingual too!" However, I'm not sure telling them that in Britain a cookie is called a biscuit, a diaper is called a nappy and pants are called trousers really counts as bilingual does it?

But then I thought "wait! they really are! I've heard them count to 10 in Spanish, they know Hola is Spanish for hello and grande is Spanish for big". Although, I must confess this is all down to Dora the Explorer again....hmmm perhaps they are also half Mexican after all.......?

Snow! snow! snow!

After a winter full of unusually warm days often reaching the 70F we finally had a big spring snow storm come through yesterday!

Here's my problem: I'm trying to teach my children about the days of the week, months of the year and the seasons...... So I tell them it's hot in the summer, windy in the fall, snowy & cold in winter and sunny & warm in the spring.

Now they're looking at me as if to say "Didn't you tell us spring has started? You said spring was sunny & warm!"

Come on Mother Nature! Give us other Moms a hand and stick to the rules please!

Have a great weekend - we'll be sledging!!!

How can they be so naughty?

My children are gorgeous and adorable - so how could they be so naughty??

They've never done anything really naughty before but yesterday it started with my oldest girl cutting her hair with her play scissors. To be honest I've been waiting for that one - don't all kids have to do this?

But then while they were meant to be in their rooms for quiet time (sadly even my 2.5yr old doesn't want to nap anymore) I heard water running as if inside the walls of the house. I ran upstairs to find both girls pouring water down the floor vent for the heating and A/C.

Arghhhhh! There really was water running inside the walls of the house!!!

They went straight on a time out and I went straight on the phone to ask my husband what the consequences of this were. Was the water going to run into the furnace and blow it up? (ok a bit dramatic I can see now!)

The difficult thing was I couldn't get them to comprehend how naughty they had been. As I was shouting at them and asking had they ever seen me put anything down there their little eyes were actually shining with glee! They weren't being cheeky though ( I don't think they'd know how, bless them) but they just couldn't see what all the fuss was about!

Help! I'm not eating enough fruit!

I am a qualified dietitian and for years religiously ate my 5 portions of fruit and vegetables each day. Here in America they refer to 'eating a rainbow' which is a nice way to sell fruit and vegetables to children.

Talking of children, I make sure my girls have their fruit and vegetables each day (luckily they love fruit and like several vegetables!)

However, it occurred to me the other day that my intake has dropped. I always have vegetables with my meals but I'm not doing so well when it comes to fruit. For example, when I chop an apple for them I eat the little bit that's left round the core....except that's not a full portion!

So my goal for the day is to think about myself a little more and make sure I get my full quota. We Mommy's need to stay healthy for our children and show them a good example too - happy munching!

End of an era

I've held onto them just in case...... but the time has finally come to sell my baby items...

I can't bear to part with the beautiful bassinet they slept in as newborns so I'm definitely keeping that but it's time to sell the other big items. My husband wants to reclaim the garage from the variety of strollers, infant car seats etc.; the rocking horse and exersaucer have lots of play left in them but look sad in the corner of the playroom now the girls have moved onto 'big girl toys' and the high chair has long been replaced by booster seats.

It's not easy though.... these items hold so many memories:

• the many hours my husband and I spent in Babies R Us trying to decide just what would be the right style, brand, color & features for each item
• gazing at our baby sleeping peacefully in the lovely wooden crib when all too soon they outgrew the bassinet
• their first spoonful of baby rice in the high chair
  
• the excitement of buying a double stroller when we found out another little one was on the way!

Then there are a few items I insisted we needed according to the parenting magazines but could actually have lived very well without! The plastic indoor/outdoor play yard is a great example! I won't be sorry to see that go! ("Honestly darling the girls played in it lots!")

So I was pleased to hear from a lovely lady who is delighted to have just become a grandma. She is coming to look at what we have to sell and I hope the baby things we so lovingly bought will bring happiness to another family.

The saga continues

The saga of the playhouse continues... I keep missing out on these playhouses from Craigslist!!
I replied to one advert 20 minutes after it was posted and I was still the second person - not the first - can you believe this?

I phoned about another one and was told they'd phone me if the first person didn't want it. They did phone and left a message saying the person hadn't turned up. Terrific, I thought so I called them back within 40 minutes of them leaving the message - she'd only gone and phoned the next person on the list after me and they were on their way to get it!!

Was she so desperate for the money she couldn't even wait for me to reply?

My husband is now realising how hot the competition is for these - he previously said things like "you're not checking Craigslist again are you?" Now he's saying - "shouldn't you be checking Craigslist again?"!!

The results are in

What happened when I said yes instead of no? We had a truly lovely day!

• my oldest girl got to take a toy to preschool
• they got to watch TV during lunch
• they wore the dress up shoes outside

The result:

• my daughter was happy to have a 'friend' at school and the toy didn't get lost or damaged and didn't distract her or any of the other things I usually tell her will happen if she takes a toy to school!
• they didn't want to stop reading books just because they were allowed to watch TV while eating plus they ate all their food
• they didn't fall in the dress up shoes nor did the shoes get dirty

So there go all my arguments and excuses!

Me? I had a lovely relaxing day with 2 very happy girls. I don't think it has made them expect to get their own way all the time but it did make me realise how much I had begun to automatically say no. With a little more effort on my part we had a lovely, relaxing day!

I'm looking forward to a nice weekend while keeping up my new habit. What a relief, I really have been sweating the small stuff haven't I!

Today I'm going to say yes

Today I'm going to say yes to my children - ALL day. I sometimes find myself saying no to their requests just out of habit.

• "Can we paint?" "No"


• "Can I have a cookie?" "No"


• "Can I wear the dress up shoes outside?" "No"

But today when they ask me something, I'm going to stop what I'm doing, think about their request and if it's not dangerous(!) then I'm going to say yes.

They'll be happy and I'm sure I'll reduce my stress level. Because once you've automatically said no it's hard to back down isn't it? You think if you say "oh alright then" when they start pleading they'll realise this tactic works and keep using it.

Often I say no just because I'm busy or don't want to deal with the consequences such as the mess of painting. But all I'm doing is making the girls sad and myself stressed, as now I have to keep saying no in lots of different ways to try and get them to accept it and think of a reason to explain why I said no!

But how frustrating for them! How difficult I make it for myself to have to deal with their pleading! All because I've got in a habit - a bad habit and I vow to change it - starting today.

So yes girls - you can paint, eat cookies and wear the dress up shoes outside! Quick - go have fun!!

Mommy, Mommy!, Mommy?

Ok, so today I'm changing my name and no longer answering to "Mommy". Why? Because this name is being over used!!!!

I don't mind if I hear "Mommy..." followed by some other words.

What I object to is when I hear "Mommy..." followed by silence, I say "yes?" then I hear "Mommy..." followed by silence again - this makes me crazy!!

So then I growl "YES? what IS it?" and my children always make me feel so guilty when they respond to my growl with "I love you".

Guess I like being called Mommy after all.....

I want to do it all by myself!

Does this sound familiar? I hear this several times a day from both my girls.

I should be pleased really.

You spend the first few years of their life doing everything for your little ones and sometimes (when you're really exhausted) you wish they would take over and do it for themselves just to give you a break.

Then that day arrives and you find yourself unable to give up control:

• 
  "But you'll squeeze out too much toothpaste!"



• "But that top doesn't match those pants!"



• "But you'll spill it!"

I know, I know this is my issue not theirs and I truly am learning to gradually hand over control.... and deal with the mess later..... !

Every parent wants a child who is independent and my job is to teach them how to do things well so they can one day go off confidently into the world, I just didn't think that independence would come so soon...

I'm learning that my role as a Mommy is constantly changing and I need to keep up to date! I guess it's like any job when the boss (in this case my children) tells you at your annual review that you will now be handling a slightly different workload and you need to find the skills to allow you to do this. The goals from my review would include:

• develop even more patience


• manage your time better to allow for small children who take a long time doing something you could do in one minute


• be flexible - able to change plans at a moments notice if those plans don't suit a 2 year old


• learn to smile instead of sigh

Now, if only I could get them to do the things I want them to, like hang up their coats instead of the things they want to do like pouring their own milk into a big girl cup I'd be happy!

I WANT THAT HOUSE!

No it's not my children shouting this - it's me!!

I decided to look on Craigslist for a little tikes style outdoor playhouse for my girls. I contacted a couple of sellers whose adverts had been on for a few days but they had already been sold. Hmmmm, competition's hot for these I thought. So when I spotted an advert for one right here in my town that had been on the list for only two hours I was sure it was mine! I emailed and telephoned...and then I waited....and waited....and waited....nothing! Not even a "sorry it's sold" - just nothing! I couldn't believe someone had beaten me to it in only 2 hours! So now I'm like a fiend - I check Craigslist every time I walk past the computer and as I have a computer in my kitchen this is pretty often! I'm determined not to miss out on another one!

Talking of houses, is anyone else upset they didn't win the HGTV Dreamhome give away yesterday?? I was just one of over 39 million entries but I am known for my optimism and (as with that playhouse!) I was sure it was mine! It is a truly stunning house with 2 islands in the kitchen, his & hers refrigerators and it's own baby Zinfandel vines, I could just picture my family there bottling our own wine......

Anyway, I must go I haven't checked Craigslist for 10 minutes now - there may a new playhouse listing!

Friday, Friday best day of the week!

I love Friday's - always have, even when I was out at work it was my favorite day. The end of a working week with the promise of a lovely weekend ahead.

Today I am especially relaxed after my pampering party with the girls last night. Oooooh my feet are so soft today! I'm going to slip them into ice skates and take my daughters ice skating as our local outdoor ice rink closes this weekend. End of winter sports season? Must mean spring is really on it's way!

Must say a big thank you to my husband for putting the girls to bed last night and well done to my girls for staying quietly upstairs while the Mommys relaxed. Well, almost....the little one crept down only once and stood giggling with her hands over her mouth in a cute "I'm being a little sneaky!" kinda way. But a quick cuddle and kiss and she was off to sleep.

Have a great weekend!

Mom's Night Out- Hooray!

Well actually for me it's a Mom's Night In. I'm hosting a Body Shop at Home party http://www.thebodyshopathome.com/ and me and some Mommy friends will be pampering our feet ready for sandal season! The Body Shop is a UK company so I'm very familiar with their products and I love them!

This means Daddy is in charge of bedtime tonight...

He usually only does it if I'm actually out for the evening so I hope the girls don't play up for him because I'm just downstairs! They are very excited though as when Daddy puts them to bed the girls get to do things I don't let them do. For example, he lets them sit up on the counter to brush their teeth (gulp!). It's probably better we don't know what happens When Daddy's in Charge...

I'm off now to tidy the house, chill the wine, prepare the yummy snacks .....(oh and then lay out the pajamas, the toothpaste, the toothbrushes etc so all evening I don't hear "pssst, where's the...." ) Looking forward to a reeelaaaxing evening.

Spring forward into fitness

Anyone else suffering from losing an hour this weekend?? My family are all a little sleepy this week! It does mean we are now 6 hours behind the UK instead of 7 hours as they don't 'spring forward' until another few weeks. This does make phoning home a little easier than usual!

Wednesday is gym day, perhaps that will wake me up. The girls go to the babysitting at the rec. center but they love to say they are 'going to work out'! I have to thank my girls actually for keeping me motivated to go every week. We all know how much they like to copy us and I hope if they see me being active then they will continue to be active throughout their life.

My husband bought a Wii and the girls are great at the bowling! We took them to a local bowling alley recently and they had a blast! Like a lot of people I don't like video games but Wii has introduced my very little children to sports they aren't quite ready to play in 'real life' and it gets us all playing together and having fun when it's too cold to play outside. It's also good at bringing all generations together - my neighbor said she was having a laugh watching her husband and his 87 year old Mom play Wii bowling!! It's fun for Moms and children of all ages!!

2am visit feels like a bad Country Song!

My youngest crawled into bed with us at 2am last night.... My girls often sleep through the night but when they do come through they do one of 2 things - either they crawl in so quietly that you get a fright when you see them in the morning and have no idea how long they've been there or they crawl in and proceed to toss and turn for ages!

Last night was the latter and made me think of a Country song where the singer has lost everything " I've lost my pillow, I've lost my sleep, I've lost my space in the bed and the blanket's in a heap!"

I had to wake myself fully, scoop her up and take her back to her own bed. Thankfully, my husband relented and bought them both full beds recently so I can actually lie with them (or fall asleep till morning!) in comfort. As previously I could only kneel on the floor and lay my head on the edge of the toddler bed - not conducive to sleep!

My first blog!

So, I finally set up a blog! I've been reading through other Mom's blogs and thinking about setting up my own for a while now - here goes...

I'm a stay at home Mom of 2 girls and  I'm loving every minute...yes, even those frustrating times when they won't nap or you can't concentrate on your grocery list for them talking at you or when they push away the meal you spent hours preparing!

Because really, there's nowhere else I'd rather be than right here with my 2 girls, watching as they explore the world, learn new things and teach me more than I could ever have imagined....like how to be more patient!!

Hope you'll join me as I take a lighthearted look at the ups and downs of motherhood.