Daily moments
There's a point in my day where, every time it happens, I'm startled that yet another day has sped by.
Each night I tuck my babies in bed, and when it's Calvin's turn we read three books, always the same ones, and the first is always Goodnight Moon. I open that book and look at him snuggled in his big boy bed, and I'm every night amazed that another day has passed so quickly.
We read through his books; I don't look at the words because the books are such an ingrained part of life by now. Each time we get to, "goodnight comb, and goodnight brush," Calvin starts to chuckle. Then I flip the page and he belly laughs, "Goodnight NOBODY!!" then we recite together, "goodnight mush."
Such simple moments, but they are part of the beauty of this life that we've created here.
Labels: Kids, parenting
Choices
It was time to go--lots of errands to do. I told them to get on their shoes, and we started the loooong slow process of getting out the door. When I heard the CD player erupt with the rockin Stevie Wonder, I was seriously annoyed.
I charged into the room, and all three of them looked up from their dancing, with guilty looks on their faces. Without saying a word, I picked up the baby and started dancing. I whirled Chloe around and boogied with Hazel. We clapped to the beat and after 15 minutes, collapsed into a laughing pile.
Choices. I'm so glad this time, I made the right one.
Labels: parenting
Do they come with a mute button?
Can we talk for just a minute about toddler boys? Because somehow I'm just not understanding mine very much right now. Are they
supposed to be so. very. different. from their sisters? The endless running from one end of the house to the other, the hopping, the jumping off anything that is elevated?
And then there's the stubbornness. And the sheer physicalness of himself. He
needs to wrestle, hard, every day. And if he doesn't get it, he'll walk up to me or his sisters and just start hitting over and over until we engage him. We saw my BIL tonight and Calvin was overjoyed to see a male--couldn't start the wrestling fast enough.
Did I mention the stubbornness? It's 10:00 and the kid just
barely fell asleep, and not from lack of trying on my part! Worst part is, he was up LAST night until 10:30, was a raving beast of a baby all day, refused to nap, and then was on crazy whirlwind mode until just now. I AM READY TO TEAR OUT MY HAIR!!!!! And he
laughs at my punishments, either that or they turn into 20 minute death battles of will. I am tired.
It is such a merciful thing that God made the two year olds cute. If this kid didn't have big brown eyes and a headful of curls, I'm not sure what might happen!
Labels: Calvin, parenting
A perfect storm
Chloe can throw a tantrum with the best of them. When she throws them, she does it thoroughly. So when she was in the middle of a full-blown doozy at the store, I couldn't help but laugh at her verbalization.
"I AM
SULKING!!!!!!!!!"
Oh yes, she was.
She screamed and shrieked and carried on (and honestly I can't remember the trigger--just tiredness). Finally once we were in the car, after more drama drama drama, I reached back and held her hand. INSTANTLY she was quiet. Just like that, the roaring stopped and she was peaceful.
In a chipper little voice she informed me that the reason she was crying was because she needed to hold my hand.
Why oh why can't I learn that a few gentle touches will quiet these storms much quicker than yelling and frustration? It happens every time, that her little sensitive self just needs some grown up intervention with love to help her control herself. I keep telling myself that next time I'll remember to react with love and patience first, rather than ultimatums and consequences. Dang it!! This motherhood thing will whip me into shape, one way or another.
Labels: parenting
