Parenting Archives - Page 24 of 43

Our Weekend in Vtown

November 12, 2012 by Jules Leave a Comment

Matt’s teaching at a Disciple-Now this weekend, in a town about 2.5 hours away from our house. Ugg. We don’t get to see him as it is with this new job. SOOOoooo, we decided to go with him. Sort of. My adventurous in-laws beat us to the punch and have already bought a home in Vilonia. They’ve been so sweet to set it up with necessities and let us stay when we would like. Guess where we are this weekend? YEP! V-town. An hour closer to where Matt’s speaking means we get to see him in between speaking segments where as if we were at home we wouldn’t see him all weekend. I’m not sure I thought this all the way through though.

Matt rushed home from getting out of work late {40 minute drive} just in time to change out of his uniform and snatch up last minute items as we reloaded both cars and headed out. I drove Jamin in the car during his nap time so he could sleep and I could have some quiet/semi-alone time. Matt drove the bustling girls and their movie in the van the hour and a half up to Vilonia. I was about 10 minutes behind Matt because when leaving at 3pm it is a necessity to swing through the Sonic happy hour for a ½ priced Dr. Pepper after a fun-packed day of packing along with the normal items on a SAHM’s list duties. He went straight to the house and I swung through the McDonald’s to grab the fam a hearty dinner. When I got to the house Matt was finishing unloading the stuff and the girls where ecstatic to be playing with the toys Nanna had already moved in the house. I chunked cheese burgers and sippy cups on the table just in time to see Matt appear from the bedroom dressed and ready to run out the door with his burger.

Yeah, this is what I may not have completely timed out…

He headed out and the kids played happily like all children do with someone else’s toys, for about an hour. That puts us at about 6pm. Bed Time??? Not for another hour and a half. There’s very little here but they found it! I mean for real, hanging off the side of counters? Climbing on coffee tables? Opening and Shutting, Opening and Shutting, did I mention Opening and SHUTTING doors??? My pet-peeves! “LEAVE THE DOORS ALOOOOOONE!” Surprisingly they didn’t get out EVERY toy in the playroom…just all the ones they could reach without a ladder.

Now this list of activities makes my kids sound like terrors. They are NOT! They are sweet, well-behaved, good-mannered kids. Just apparently not in a new fun setting…

Around 7pm they ASK to go to bed. WHAT!?!?! “YES! You may go to bed!!!” Weird, but I wasn’t asking any questions. We made our way through sorting, reorganizing, and putting away toys. Then we slowly moved to putting on PJs. Finding diapers, music, paci, pillows, and sleeping buddies. The J-mister who began rubbing his eyes had no protest to early bed time since his afternoon nap was cut short by and hour. He said his, “nye nye”s and went down without a hitch. The girls rushed to the room with the trundle bed so excited to sleep in “Nanna’s New House”! I helped them choose which bed they were going to sleep in, turned on music, and tucked my sweethearts in. “Haaaaaaalleluiah!”

Yeah right. Moments later I hear the saddest little whimpering turned blubbering saying the words, “Mommy, I want to go HOME!”

The sun went down and my child turned into a monster. This happens quite often in our home. Boooo I sweetly walked her back to her room, tucked her and her sister back into bed and sat with them for a while. We talked about why she was sad. “I want to go back home. I want my own bed!” THEN we talked more about why she wanted to go home, sleep in her own bed, and all the in between. I explained to here that it was okay to be sad and want your own bed. Change and new things can be hard sometimes. It’s much easier to sit and do the same things all the time. But that’s not the way God made us. We’re going to change. She is going to grow up. We are going to move {someday}. We will sell our house and move to a new home. THIS is the town God’s going to move us. We need to learn more about it and the people in it to better love on them. It’s hard, but God’s ask us to make the change. Her panting sniffs and eye-wiping slowed. Izzie made goofy remarks having no idea that Maggie was truly upset and occasionally chiming in with a “I wanna go home, too.” We moved on to talking about how to get used to change. I showed them the different lights in the room and what was making them. I told them what certain sounds were. I even reassured them that these beds where they same ones they slept in a Nanna’s. They were settled. I left.

I wish that was the end. I handled it right! Shouldn’t I be rewarded for not smacking her and telling her how blessed we are to have a place to stay? How cool it is that we get to see Daddy some this weekend instead of not at all? NOPE. Not tonight. When the whimpering started again I told her she had everything she needed. The crying was done and she needed to go to sleep so we could play more tomorrow. Settled? NOPE. She began singing this little ditty {insert loud crying/singing}:

I am very sad. I just want to go home. But I caaaaan’t. It’s not really fair. I just want to go home but I can’t for a couple more days. I can’t have my own way or my own bed. It’s making me feel like I want to go out of this room and go see my mommy. I just want to go home” {continuing with some variation of the above}

I’m not sure if I should laugh, cry, record this, or pack up and go home.

This continued for a while longer with less singing more crying. I marched back into the room and offered a new suggestion. “Do you girls want to sleep in the same bed?” Mags- “Noooooo, I want Yoooou!!!” Iz- “YEAH!” I re-explained to Maggie that there were no other options. Sleep alone or with Iz. But Sleep was go’n down! She finally complied and agreed that sleeping with her sissy would help her “feel better”. I piled their pillows next to one another and tucked them and their sleeping buddies under the covers. Knowing this was going to lead to either fighting/kicking or lots of giggling and chatters I awaited their verdict in the living room.

Its 8:20 now and it’s finally quiet in there. Nope, just kidding. The giggles have begun. Surprisingly, I’m just happy not annoyed by this. At least it’s just sweet chatting between sister and no longer violent utterings of a sorrowful preschooler. I love hearing them get along, too bad it’s usually when they’re not supposed to be awake or their making bad choices…but at least they’re getting along and using team work! {ahem}

They’ll pass out eventually…right?

See ya tomorrow for the Jesus Juke ;o)

Filed Under: Being a Help-Meet, Parenting, The ones about the Rothacher Home

DIY Bathroom Tips for Little People

October 30, 2012 by Jules 2 Comments

I have 2 recently potty trained girls {4 and 2.5} and a 21-month-old running right behind them! Life is hectic and I feel like I can easily drop balls all over the place if I'm not creative.

One of the most recent biggest struggles with my girls being potty trained {and them taking themselves- HAA-lleluiah} is getting them to complete all the steps of using the restroom. Elmo's Potty Time anyone?

I am constantly reminding them to wash their hands. I can often be heard hollering through the house, "Did you flush? Wash your hands!" If and when they do complete these last two steps, THIS is what I find:

Yep! That's a yellow colored counter top and sink. I know....

I'm over at Sidetracked Sarah's today sharing some tips that will hopefully help your littles with their independent hand-washing while keeping them from making more messes for you busy mommies to clean up in your spare time!

NOTE: not built for all sinks ;o)

Filed Under: Cleaning, Homemaker, Organizing, Parenting, The ones about the Rothacher Home

Am I Asking the WRONG Question?

October 24, 2012 by Jules 3 Comments

With Matt leaving before the kids and I are awake these days I've had sto switch things up a bit. When I hear the first child ~~screaming and kicking the wall from his crib~~ stirring with little coos I ~~fall back to sleep~~ get up and run down stairs to heat up some frozen waffles and grab mild cups. When I climb back to my room I flip on the TV and the fancy dancy bunny ears for a little PBS action {score!} then go grab the munchin. When he's in place with the always-preached-against-TV-babysitter I start the shower. My girls trickle in and have become accustom to mom's new routine and actually kinda like it because it involves cartoons. Some days when I'm done grooming myself I fight at least one child to finish their waffle.

This is how this morning went. Except today, before my hair was even dry, Izzie came to me in the bathroom and ask if I had any more waffles. "Awe, no I don't have any more up here. Did you already eat all of yours?" She said yes, and after I completed a quick search of the prisms including the inside of my hub's guitar, I went down stairs and made her another waffle. While I was waiting for that lil toaster op I decided today I should eat some breakfast myself. Filling a cup with off-brand apples jacks with the toasted waffle in hand, I returned to my bedroom. When I gave Izzie her waffle Jamin immediately began begging/whining for one. "I'm starving my children." I thought to myself and then handed him some of my apple jacks.

Vultures!

All three kids ran to me with a vengeance. With a big sigh I handed Jamin a few more and Maggie a hand full but ask Izzie to eat the waffle she ask for first. Mags knowing this was my only breakfast yet still dissatisfied with her few cereal pieces ask, "Mamma, can I have a cup of cereal of my own when we go downstairs?" Heart= melted.

A few minutes later I handed her the cup and told her to share with her siblings. I heard Maggie explain to Izzie, "You have to finish that waffle first. Then I have some for you." That is our mantra. You ask for something, you need to eat it, not waist it. Eventually I ask her to finish at least 1/2 the waffle so she too could have the amazing orange and green goodness her siblings ere feasting on. She finished the entire thing and Mags had saved her a giant pile all her own. {they really do love each other- swoon}

This got me thinking. My poor Iz the biz wasn't getting to feast on what she really wanted but it was basically because she ask the wrong question. She didn't know what options there were for her to choose from. She didn't know there was a better option. Not saying waffles are chop liver {I sure wouldn't have turn one down when I was kid} but she and I both know she likes cereal better. She thought another waffle was the option for her still longing tummy.

If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!

Matthew 7:11

I'm a slacker , evil according to Matthew 7:11, and didn't even think to offer her apple jacks and I say I love her?!? This whole, "Be careful what you ask for." I believe is a TERRIBLE thought process when it comes to Christ. Humans like me, maybe. I'm just dull enough to grab my kid a waffle when I knew she would be blessed even more by a cup of apple jacks. I know her! Awe, but how much more does our Father in heaven love us and give good gifts!?! How often do I think I know what will fill my growling tummy? How many times do I ask for specific things of God yet he doesn't give me what I've ask for because is smarter than me {duh} and God doesn't give me what I know to be good but gives me what He is BEST!?!

Asking God for what we think is the right solution to a problem is just scratching the surface of what He has in mind for how he wants and is able to bless me with. We ask for the basics. The bland. The mediocre. The selfish. By asking "Please fix everything." we're basically saying, "Can you make my days easy so I don't have to depend on you all the time? Yeah, thanks for that..." I'm thinking that asking for His will to be done in a situation ~~might be~~ is the wiser prayer.

In Luke 22:42, JESUS says, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.”

Jesus knew we were doobers and that's why he talked about the older brother in Prodigal Son story in Luke 15:32. He's pouting outside not only because he was a bit self-righteous and thought his lil bro should have received a punishment but also because he was never thrown a party. His dad {a beautiful picture of Christ} responds, " All I have is yours." Dude had just never ask the right question.

I think I need to reevaluate if I'm asking the wrong questions! How 'bout you?

Filed Under: Parenting, The ones about the Rothacher Home, The Ones about...Stuff

2 Tips for fast & safe Outside Play {aka Fresh Air}

October 23, 2012 by Jules 2 Comments

Yesterday I talked about the importance of walking it off or getting some fresh air when you and yours are stressed. Today I wanna share a 2 big tips I've discovered to ease this option for sanity as well as keep everyone safe:

Prep ahead & keep necessities easily accessible
- shoes, socks, & set of clothing for each child {blush from the mom of the PJ-wearing kids here}
- outside-specific toys in a place kept outside that easy for kids to retrieve as well as clean up themselves
- stroller ready for ride
- bug spray & sun screen ready depending on the season
- sunglasses & hats
Set boundaries
- "don't go past the tree" or "stay on the driveway"
- teach children to walk on the right side of the road
- hook a rope to a stroller to train walkers near you on a walk
- place something in the way as a giant physical reminder of boundary as well as to keep other drivers a good distance from your little blessings

What fun tips do you have for gaining everyone's sanity once again or for outside play?

linked to Housewife How-Tos

Filed Under: Homemaker, Organizing, Parenting, The ones about the Rothacher Home

STRESSED? Walk it off…

October 22, 2012 by Jules 3 Comments

I was a brand spank'n new mother. Right at the rip 'ole age of 24. Magdalene, my sweet 1st born was a great sleeper since the moment she was born. Don't get me wrong, she had some great awake time with many friends telling me with awe, "Man! She sure is an alert baby." but when she was tired, she slept! We formed a good pattern like a week after she arrived: sleep, play {aka look around}, nurse, and then more sleep. She is quite the OCD type right out the gate; everything in order ;O)

Even at night Maggie would sleep great 6 hour stretches {after our pediatrician told us paranoid parents to stop waking her to nurse every 3 hours}. We all, Matt, Mags and I were sleep'n GOOD! Tons of people at church, mainly our students would say, "Wow, you guys don't look like most new parents...all tired and crabby." NOPE. We didn't! Thanks to the unnatural sleep of newbie parents. Then it happened. You knew it was coming. Our glorious Magnadoodle began a period of colic. That evil thing parents dread. Baby crying for seemingly no reason. Yeah, That!

My baby girl Magdalene was maybe 7 weeks old and she suddenly turned into this sob fest on a nightly basis. We couldn't nurse her enough. We checked diapers, kept lights low, sang, rocked, patted, played classical music, walked, nursed some more. Nothing was working. I'm embarrassed to admit that this only last maybe a week and we couldn't handle it anymore. I passed out, unused to this not sleeping stuff and Matt dealt with the girl. It was the night before we were supposed to take our youth on a trip out of town for Go Cart Racing. We Had To Sleep. Some tie during the night, Matt decided he was being of no use and laid Mags in her crib, rather than her cradle she's always slept in next to our bed, and planned to set an alarm for 5 minutes to check on her.

You guessed it, we woke up to the sun, me flailing about wondering where they baby was and Matt jumping to his feet sprinting to the other room. He returned faster than I'd even seen before baring our sleeping baby girl and said, "Oh my gosh. I'm terrible. Feed Her. Feed Her." I nursed as he frantically began getting ready for our youth trip. We'd made earlier plans for our pastor's wife, Sally to watch her for the day. Once we were both dressed, baby packed, and still 1/2 asleep we rushed to Sally's around the corner. We explained what had gone on that week as an apology for our uncharacteristically crabby baby. She reassured us she was a veteran and sent us off without a second thought.

We went, drained, on the trip and enjoyed ourselves as much as a mother worrying about the endurance of a friendship after leaving someone with a colicky baby. He made it back to the church and I immediately jumped into our vehicle and waited impatiently for Matt to make sure all the kids made it home alright. When we finally rolled into the driveway at our pastor's house there they were. Pacing the driveway.

"CRAP!" I thought, "She's never gonna talk to me again." As I got out of the jeep, Sally, holding our content Maggie quickly said, "We're fine. We just came outside a minute ago. We needed some fresh air. I don't want you to think anything's wrong. We weren't pacing waiting on you!" I didn't believe her. I just knew my kid had screamed her lungs out at my friend and we just happened to catch her as she'd snuck outside eagerly awaiting our return.

Well, four years later and I know Ms Sally was Not lying to me. I've learned how wise those words were, "We needed some fresh air." I wasn't very teachable as a fresh mamma {still not most days}. Sally continued that day with, "I did this with all my kids. It helped calm them down; I don't know why it works, but it does." There are some days that we are all at our wits end! And no, I'm not talking about the Wit's In from Adventures in Odyssey. Ya know the day. I've share mine many times here. There are many days when we are all at each other over nothing. I'm referring more than a hockey official and my selfish desires just make me want to yell at everyone because I can't seem to accomplish anything. Many days, we just need some fresh air! Stay-at-home-mammas, I KNOW it's tons of work to get people out the door much less finding the perfect time between naps, meals, and schooling to go out but it's worth it!

Our yard sucks. I'm just gonna put that out there. The entire neighborhood floods into our backyard during heavy rain and between the mosquitoes and poison ivy combo-ed with my fair-skinned allergy filled kids, we can't use it. We have found ourselves in our driveway many a day. I don't like the clean up after letting them "plant gardens" and pretend to make ovens out of giant holes they've dug in the front yard but it's worth it. We live on a cul-de-sac but our driveway is steep so it has taken some trial and error. Tomorrow I'm going to share 2 big tips I've discovered to ease this option for sanity as well as keep everyone safe!