Month: June 2012

children, family, happiness, humor, kids, motherhood, potty training, self-discovery

Summer Hiatus

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I love these guys!

It is time for a break.  Most of my energy, ok, ALL of my energy is going towards keeping up with my boys.  I will return to my twice-weekly posts in a couple of weeks.  I’m going to use this blog-break to regroup and focus more on fun.  I am learning some great lessons this summer.  When it comes to teaching my kids anything, outsourcing is key.  My boys have become fish in a matter of days.  All it took was Mom staying way, far out of the pool (almost in another county), and a fantastic swim instructor.  I wish all my parenting dilemmas could be so easily outsourced.  I’ve also realized spending time with your kids can alter your perspective on life.  Full Speed’s heartfelt declaration that an IHOP breakfast is the best breakfast he’s ever had makes me appreciate my Harvest Nut pancakes on a whole different level.

I may make it through to the start of school after all.

children, family, kids, motherhood, parenting, potty training

From One Mom to Another

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If you are out their struggling to make sense of your child’s behavior, you are not alone.  If you were to tell me how hard it has been for you to get your child to be potty-trained, eat vegetables, ride a bike, etc., I would empathize.  I wouldn’t be the type to tell you how easy it was for me to teach those skills to my kids and tell you the miraculous way in which I did so in under five minutes.

I’m not that Mom.

I’m the Mom that would listen.  I’m the Mom that wouldn’t judge you because I’ve been there.  In fact, I’m still there.  All you would need to see is me in the pool ‘teaching’ and ‘encouraging’ Full Speed to expand his swimming skills.  It would take you under a minute to see his stubborn face emerge, frustration creep over my face and understand the only thing learned in the pool that day is that I’m a terrible swim instructor.

I get it.

I get that you’ve tried every angle, every bribe you possibly can to get your child to comply with the life skill you are attempting to teach.  I get that you stress about it late at night and wonder what other Moms must think of you.  I know I especially experienced a lot of angst over potty training my boys.  All the ‘helpful’ suggestions from friends who had easily potty-trained their kids failed miserably for me.  Eventually I learned it is less about the methods and more about the DNA of your kid.  Even if you are equipped with top-notch advice and researched hours of the best solutions to your issue, if your kid is hard-core stubborn, most things are not going to work.

I am also the Mom that has faith in you.  All I can offer you is a spin on the current parenting challenge you are facing.  Focus less on what they are not doing and think about it more in terms of why they aren’t doing it.  It is all a matter of power and control.  So, maybe your kid isn’t the first one to ride a bike without training wheels, in the long run, when they learn won’t matter.  What you will come to appreciate (hopefully!) is that fire inside them that fights tooth and nail against your wishes will be one of their greatest assets as they move forward in the world.  I’d put money on them that they will be huge successes in anything they choose to be or do in this world.

I’m here to tell you that your kid, in all their feisty glory, is well on their way to being a strong, independent, amazing person.   A chip off the old block indeed, Mom.

children, family, humor, motherhood, parenting

(Toe)tal Commitment

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I have come to accept that I live in a different universe than that of my boys.  Even though our galaxies cross paths sometimes, mostly I am a lone planet wondering how I gave birth to two such incredibly competitive creatures.  We’ve always known that Full Speed was born a competitor.  T.Puzzle’s competitive streak has been a slow fire burning that lately has erupted into volcanic displays of passion and heart especially on the soccer field (his tantrums after a loss are a sight to behold). 

As with anything done to an excess, there can be a downside.  After fifteen pounding hours of soccer camp last week, regularly playing soccer in the cul-de-sac and three games of 3v3 soccer on Monday night, little T.Puzzle has developed an infected, ingrown toenail.  Now, I’ve never had one so I can’t say for sure how painful it is.  According to Mad Dog, ingrown toenails can cause shooting pains that will make you see stars.  And yet, T.Puzzle played on.  Even after our trip to the podiatrist and screams of fear and pain from him as the aggravating piece of toenail was cut away, he asked me if he could play soccer when we got home.

I do not understand.  Wouldn’t a normal kid at least want a day or two to rest his foot?  Or maybe play a sport that doesn’t involve kicking? 

At least he enjoys his daily foot soaking.  Maybe I’ll have someone to go to the spa with me after all.  That’s something I completely understand.

family, humor, kids, motherhood, parenting

The Real Secret (of Parenting)

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I have finally stumbled upon a sure-fire way to get my boys to be pleasantly complacent.  The secret is to have them run soccer drills for three solid hours at camp every morning.  The key is that the temperature must stay in the mid-90 range and 100% humidity is a great bonus. 

My boys were so wiped after their soccer camp that they were absolute angels when I dragged them along to my allergy shot.  I’ve never seen anything like it.  They sat still (and quietly!) in the waiting area.  They were so subdued that I even let them remain seated while I went back for my shot.  As I checked my account balance behind the waiting room doors, the calm was so pervasive, I worried that the boys might have slipped into an unconscious state.  When I walked out to get them they were still sitting nicely.  Just sitting there.  Imagine!

Next week, swim lessons.  I hope their instructors train them like Olympians!

motherhood

Crazy Legs

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Full Speed’s flag football season wrapped up this morning.  It took him a while to hit his stride.  Once he gained some momentum in the season, he became one of the team’s most electrifying players.  Parents would comment on the sideline how he was all heart.  He gave no less than 100% for each and every play whether it was in a game or at practice.  His little fifty pound body was flying, diving, rolling and leaping all over that field.  There were touchdowns, sacks, two-point conversions and Tasmanian devil-like runs down the field.

The season was not without its bumps. Like Mad Dog says, every superhero has an Achillies heel.  Crazy Legs was not immune.

Rain.

He doesn’t like rain.  He doesn’t like his clothes to be wet.  The more rain-soaked his football jersey, the worse his attitude became.

Crazy Legs may return to flag football to try to reclaim some of his early season glory.

Let’s hope next season is full-out sunshine or Crazy Legs may have to change his nickname to Lazy Legs.