That Mom

So yesterday I became that Mom.  Did your mom ever have to call another classmate's parent about something you did?  I think my mother did at least once.  It's pretty mortifying.  Yesterday my son got into the car and showed me a Scooby Doo Jibbitz that a friend had given him.  What is a Jibbitz? They are little 'accessories' for Crocs, everything is a racket these days!  Check them out here.  Anywho, I immediately thought I should contact her mother and ask her if  she knew the friend had given away this little gem.  Gosh, what am I turning into?  So I called her and left a message saying, 'Hi, this is 'O's mom, and he came home with something 'M' gave him, and I wanted to check with you and make sure it was okay.  Call me back when you get a chance! Thanks!!'

I JUST KNOW, that if my son came home without a Jibbitz on his Croc, I would notice.  I probably wouldn't care and be glad that he was being thoughtful to give one to a friend, but it would, no doubt, not go unnoticed.  And no, I wouldn't call every parent in the class to find out where it is.............
All in all, she called me back and explained that her daughter loves my son and talks about him all the time and it was okay with her :)  I was simply practicing 'Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."


It's so strange to be a parent and go through these things that you never thought about.  When I had my kids, I never thought about the fact that I would need to call other parents and ask if they gave permission for their child to give my child something.  I am so screwed for the future.  I was quite the handful at times, and Karma is rearing is ugly head in so many ways :) I can't wait to see what's in store for me in the upcoming years and how I will handle the situations.  Will I react differently than my parents, or will I follow in their footsteps? I think I turned out decent considering some of the havoc I wreaked, so I will have to take into consideration their parenting strategies as time goes on.

 TTFN!

borrowed from savagechickens.com

Liar Liar Pants on Fire

So in my New Year's Resolution I wrote "You know what else is super annoying? I can't find two of the Little People that go in my daughter's Fisher Price airplane.  I know they will turn up when I stop looking for them, this is a lesson I HAVE learned."  Well, I lied.  Every time I have been in the playroom with my kids  I have looked for them.  The little man in the khaki pants has also been missing, Captain Obvious!, and I have been on a tear for him as well.  

This is a problem I have.  When parts of toys are missing, I know about it.  And I stop at nothing to find them.  Well, I use to stop at nothing anyway.  Now, I really have learned that they will turn up when I forget about them for a while.  But when thoughts of them pop in my head, I go on the hunt.  

So, since January 6th, I have tried to put the passengers to the pink Fisher Price Little People Airplane in the back of my mind, but they have lurked, occasionally calling to me to be found :).  So today, my daughter wanted to jump on her trampoline before I left for work.  She used to be a really amazing sleeper, but lately she has been having trouble sleeping through the night and waking up earlier than usual.  But she still goes to be early, so I won't complain.  I appreciate the time with her in the morning, it doesnt happen ofen during the week.  She is just the sweetest thing, with her pacifier (that I KNOW I should be getting rid of any day now) and sniffing her blanket whenever she needs a fix.  Anyway, as I sat down to watch her jump I happened to catch a glance in the bottom shelf of the play kitchen refrigerator.  And lo and behold, there they were!  I was so excited I took a picture.  I also told my son when he got up how happy I was.  I said, "Guess what I found this morning!?, Those Little People I have been looking for!"  He said, "I put them there, I just didn't want to tell you."  Thanks for torturing me for almost three weeks sweetie!  

So, all in all, I am super excited that they are finally able to take their places back in the passenger seats on the airplane and the Zookeeper can get back to his duties.  And, my life lesson about things turning up when least expected is once again reaffirmed :).  

TTFN!!

Acknowledgement

I made a pact with myself 5 years ago when I was pregnant with my son at this time of year.  I was assigned to Kiss 'N' Ride Duty at the school I was working at.  If you don't know what Kiss N Ride duty is it's a drop off line for kids who are transported to school by car.  It's usually a big cluster-you-know-what and it takes a few staff members to help it run smoothly.  I thoroughly enjoyed this duty, yelling at people to keep moving or, god forbid pass another car in line, out of turn.  Look out, I was like a Nazi.  Every day this mom would drive up in her SUV and talk on her cell phone, not even glancing at her child (or children, I can't remember).  I seethed at her every moment.  I wanted to scream at her, 'Hey! why don't you hang up your stupid phone and ask your kid how their day was?!"  And from that time on, I made a pact with myself, to NEVER be that mom.  Why am I taking the time to write this today? Because I was talking to my sister, who I love to death, but she is a talker!, in the line to pick up my son.  As it got closer to my turn (and his preschool does Kiss N Ride) I start to panic.  She keeps talking, I have no idea what she is saying, I start to sweat, I am going to break my pact, and the teachers are going to look at me like an as#*o!e mom who won't even hang up the phone to pick up her kid.  I  basically, frantically told her I had to go because I needed to get my son and hung up. AHH....I did not break my pact.  Of course, now I feel guilty about cutting my sister off, but she will forgive me when she reads this.  He hopped in the car and began telling me about his day.  I also am able to exchange greetings with his teacher, another important interaction.  But of course not to the point where I hold her up. I know way better than that, like the parent today who asked me in front of 7 other parents how her child behaves.  Really? Well, she is immature, stubborn and dependent on adults.....No, that was not the time to ask a teacher such a question.  However I professionally answered, "We will talk more about her progress at the conferences in November.  Or you can call me if you have concerns."
Getting back to the point, it is so important to ask your child how there day was, and really important of they can recall at least one thing about their day.  It connects you.  So, please put the phone down when you are picking up your child, give them a hug, ask them if they went to the paint center ;), it will make them feel oh so important.  TTFN!

Parents of Preschoolers

Or, parents of any children that come into contact with markers, paint, glue, dirt and the like.  It makes my heart sad when children tell me, "My mom said I can't get my clothes dirty", or today I heard, "My mom said I can't walk in the grass because I have new shoes.' Now before I go into my spiel I will have you know that I am ANAL to the max.  I mean dog hair, paw prints, dust bunnies, stains on the carpet, crumbs on the counter = send me into a tizzy of unfathomable imagination.  BUT, when it comes to my kids clothes, I have learned a lot in the 4.5 years since I first gave birth.
Please, don't tell your child not to get dirty at school (and certainly don't blame the teacher), because they will.  Don't get mad when they come home with something on their shirt (i.e. ketchup or paint) or dirty shoes.  They are children and they are going to get into things.  Accidents happen.  If you don't want clothes to get ruined, send them in clothes you don't care as much about.  Don't crush their spirit or their self-esteem, build it up. Here's a tip, when your child comes home from school with paint somewhere on them, ask, "Did you go to the paint center today?"  That will make them feel a heck of a lot better than, 'Ugh, you got paint on your shirt!?"  I like for my kids to look as put together as the next mom, but school is not a fashion show and we shouldn't put emphasis on how they look to go there.  Got me? or to quote my son, "Are you with me?"  TTFN!
    

Skip Hop Update

My new FREE bag is fabulous and versatile!  How versatile you ask?   Here I am with my son showing him how to pet the cow and then milking a cow............with the bag :)................ TTFN!

I love the new color!

I really never thought I would see this day!

The Memory of an Elephant (again we are back to the Apple Tree)

I don't know if I have ever mentioned this but I have a fantastic memory.  I remember the most ridiculous things from my childhood, adolescent, and early teen years.  Late teens and on are a bit hazy for reasons I am not permitted to say.  Anyway, I must have passed this gene on to my son, who remembers everything!  Tonight's anecdote just needed to be shared.  As I am bathing him I used my daughter soap to wash his shoulders and face.  Now, mind you while I was pregnant with him, this article surfaced and he has never been touched with a lavender or tea tree product.   Anyway, last year when my friend had a son, she asked me if I wanted all of her leftover Johnson's Bedtime Bath that she hadn't  used with her daughter.  I asked her, "Why, don't you want B@$*% to have boobs?"  She laughed, and yes she had heard the same thing.  Anyway, now a year later, while I am bathing my own son and used the J&J Bath by accident, I exclaimed, 'Oh! I used your sister's babywash on you!'  He replied, "Mom! Now I am going to have boobies!"   I think there are 2 reasons for this, 1. He overheard my friend and I talking about it last year, and 2. His father probably tells him he can't wash him with it b/c he will grow breasts.  So that's my little anecdote, I hope you enjoyed it!  I haven't done any recent research about the boy boob theory, but feel free to do so and follow up with a comment!  TTFN!!

Child Motivation Tip: Lip Smacker Part Deux

Borrowed from KARE Givers

Educators (and parents) are commonly urged to focus on positive behaviors that are occurring in the classroom (and home).  For example, if the class is a little rowdy, you find the one child who is behaving appropriately and praise them, "Oh! I love the way Johnny is sitting criss cross applesauce!" Guess what happens?  Most of the other kids in the class will scurry to sit criss cross applesauce to get Mrs. Barr's praise just like little Johnny.  Sometimes, however, a verbal statement is just not enough, especially at this point in the school year, when all you want is to be finished!  It's very easy to forget to focus on the positive and call out behaviors that are not appropriate, "Excuse me! Why did you just do that!? You go apologize right now." or "Do I need to call Mrs. A.P.? Well, then follow directions!" Not that I have ever said, anything like that.......

So I will reach into my bag of tricks and share with you something that works like a charm.  Please keep in mind I work with 3-5 year olds, so this may not apply to your 6th grade social studies clan.  It's incredible and I have gotten a lot of feedback lately on the sheer brilliance of it.  I  feel that I can call this practice brilliant because I borrowed it from a brilliant educator, Dr. Jean, not because I am an arrogant narcissist. She is fabulous and you can read more on her website to find out more about her if you care.  I had the opportunity to attend one of her conferences about 3 and 1/2 years ago and this was one of the best things I took away from the experience.

     Smellies: the simple practice of dabbing chapstick of any kind (obviously I prefer Lip Smacker) to the back of the hand of the children who are behaving well. 

It might go a little something like this:

The class comes in from recess and are still a bit hyped up.  

The teacher instructs students "Go to your color on the circle" some students follow the direction, most, like in my class, do not.  

The teacher says "Wow, I really like the way Sally is standing on her red spot.  Here Sally, you get a smelly!" and the teacher gently swipes the pink chocolate flavored stick across the back of Sally's hand.  

Sally smells her hand and grins from ear to ear!  

The teacher then finds a few more students, who have picked up on the reinforcement and gotten with the program, to praise with the smelly.  

Students without smellies pout.

The teacher reminds them that they must follow directions the first time to get a smelly.  

Now you might think it's really mean to not to give it to everyone, but for those who don't get the smelly, they will work that much harder the next time.  I absolutely swear by this motivational tidbit.  My mom just sent some Vitamin Water Lip balms down with my dad yesterday, and the fruit punch one is already packed and ready to go reinforce America's future tomorrow! I look forward to sharing more from my bag of tricks with you in the future.  TTFN!

**As always and as promised, this is a tip that can be used in the home or school setting**