Consistency and Bedtime

That word is both beautiful and frustrating.  Being consistent in anything will take work and is not always easy.  However it is a must when parenting. 

I, like most people, am on Facebook.  Daily I see posts (sometimes multiple from the same person) complaining about their child ---- (fill in the blank).  They don't listen, they have tantrums at stores, they won't go to bed, etc.

Facebook is an interesting thing.  When you post something, you are opening it for comments, ie. peoples two cents.  So when one friend talked about bedtime battles I offered help - what I did that worked.  She tried it but when it got hard, quit.  So the child is still staying up all night and in the bed with the parents.  Though both parents say they want their bed back to themselves they are not doing what needs to be done to get it.

As I have written about before I started bedtime rituals from the time I first spotted the kids getting a routine on their own.  It was just a matter of tweaking naps so they would be tired at "bedtime".  I then got used to getting up at their time in the morning.  Eventually we met in the middle and had no issues.  Before you start with well that was when they were babies, it's harder when they are older, etc I was the one that started a bedtime for Ryan, my stepson.  Justin (hubby) had never had a time for him.  I remember getting off work and talking to Justin on the phone and around 11:30 his son was still up.  It was easier to let him do what he wanted than do what was best for him and everyone else in the home.  It's hard to sleep when kids are still running around, playing, and want attention still.  Plus, Justin would take Ryan to day care around 6:30 every morning and it was a struggle. 

When Justin and Ryan moved into my apartment with me I told Justin he needed a set bedtime.  Ryan was almost 3 and it was a nightly fight.  Since he had always been allowed to stay up until he decided to sleep we couldnt start at our desired bedtime.  So we started with 11.  (Still a fight)  Blankets were thrown and crying tantrums came but we sat by his bed to make him realize he needed to stay put.  It took a week or so.  Then we would up it by 15 minutes when he became used to it and would naturally want to sleep at that time.  Eventually we got to the 8:30 bedtime and he would be ready to wake when he had to get up for Daycare and eventually school.  It wasn't easy but it was possible.  The friends child is the same age, but she used a new excuse that her child was too young and wouldn't understand. 

I write this here to hopefully help someone else with ideas and to show it CAN be done.  You just have to be consistent and not give in at the first sign of a fight or tantrum.  By doing so you may be setting them up to believe that to get their way, throw a tantrum because they will remember it worked before. 

Aprils Habit

Almost forgot to post this month.  Well for those of you still working with FlyLady, April is Making the Bed.  Yep all month you need to make your bed. 

First off, face it.  The bed is the main focal point in the BEDroom.  So making your bed instantly "lifts up" the room.  After doing so you may be motivated to work on decluttering and straightening the rest of the room.  It can also help you see where things may be amiss in the room. 

Since I am 2 weeks behind in posting this you really get a break.  : ) 

If you haven't already make your bed now.  Let the kids make theirs and fight the urge to "fix" it for them. 

Something I found today.....

Watch and it makes you think.  Wonder.  What's with the secrecy?  Why is no one talking about this during this election season?  They speak of phone tapping and intercepting emails.  Why not this?  It seems the same.  Also consider that Facebook has now signed a document that pretty well eliminates privacy. 



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RsDhkPym01k&feature=player_embedded
 Call me a conspiracy theorist if you'd like but I'd like to see the answers.  It's not like the government hasn't kept information from us before.

March Update

Yes, I know. It has been almost a month since I blogged anything.  Oops.

Well, on March 17th we had my daughters 6th birthday party.  It was at Kids Kingdom, which is a place full of bouncy houses.  It did get pricey (lucky she is a tax time baby) but we have no room here, no yard and they clean up.  Guess that is about fair. 

That night I got to see Chonda Pierce and Natalie Grant in concert.  Who knew someone would come to our podunk area to perform.  After the stress of the day I needed the time out with some friends.  We all had an amazing time.  Definitely a moms gone wild night.

At the end of March Katherine lost her first tooth.  Her adult tooth had fully come out behind the baby one so we had been telling her to wiggle wiggle wiggle.  Daddy finally got it out.  Unfortunately we didn't have any ones.  So she got a 5.  Yep she was happy with that.  Guess we can always play it off as something that only happens with the first tooth.  That night I sneaked into her room and swiped the tooth, replaced it with the money, and sprinkled gold glitter (the tooth fairy's magic dust) from the pillow to the window sill. She loved it and wanted to show everyone the fairy dust.  Very glad I remembered that idea from another mommy blog I had read last year. 

My First time hearing Natalie's music.  I bought her cd after the show.  Amazing.

Chonda making us all crack up

Katherine stopping to get a drink during her party

Some of Kat's friends at the party though I am not sure exactly which ones these are

Chicken Tetrazzini

Need a quick dinner?  I thought I would share this recipe.  It takes about an hour start to finish. 

You need:
1 bag of wide egg noodle
1 large can cream of chicken soup
1 cup of milk
2 large cans of chicken
1 large onion - chopped
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

Cook the noodles, chop the onion, and mix all the ingredients together.  Then spread it into a greased casserole dish (I use 9 x13).  Bake for 45 minutes. 

You can also add mushrooms but my family doesn't really like them much.  Also, it is better to chop the onion pretty fine so it doesn't over power. 

Attack on Women

Has anyone else noticed just how badly women are being treated lately?  In the past 5 years it seems as though we have been pushed back, pushed down, down played, and rated as second class citizens.  The fight that our Great Grandmothers undertook has come back.  We need to stand up against this.  Even you men out there can stand up to the ones doing this.  Voice your support, show your support! 

Today I wrote to Lego about their sexism.  My daughters love Ninjago and want clothing with the characters on it.  So I have been online for an hour looking.  EVERYTHING says boys.  Nothing for a girl?  Girls like fight sports too.  In the letter I also warned not to insult us (women) and make just a shirt with Nya (the girl character on the show). 

My husband and I didn't even think of Legos as a boy thing until last year when they released Lego Girls.  Pink and Purple blocks that make a doll house and mall I believe.  Yep thats what all girls want.  Do they not realize the money they are losing due to this mentality.  If nothing else than the fact that women are the driving force behind sales.

Then there is the fun of not covering womens health needs on insurance plans.  This isn't just about the birth control.  When I had Katherine 6 years ago I paid 60 or the 80 dollars for prenatal vitamins.  Why?  Because they are considered as an option. 

Or the people not pissed about birth control.  The people that believe only girls who are easy want it.  What is it costing these people?  Don't we the families pay the insurance to "cover" us? (I think insurance is laughable). Plus what about women like myself that are married?  Am I a slut because I would want to get birth control?  Should I just keep popping out babies so you can complain about that too?  Or what about if birth control is taken away and these women get abortions?  Oh yeah, they will be jumped on for that too.  Where in the world did the Government or even the people of this nation get the idea that they could tell a woman what they can and can not do? 

Then there is the issue with women fighting on the front line.  Don't we need people to sign up?  Isn't that a good and noble thing?  It is when men do it.  How about that when these women are raped that it is somehow their fault?  This disgusting idea needs to be stopped!  Even more shocking are the women out their cosigning these insane ideas.  Where is their outrage?  Why are people not fighting back? 

I fear for my children but I also believe this is why God gave me daughters.  Not to sound arrogant but I am a strong woman that will make sure they know their worth.  I will back them up and teach them to have a back bone.  I will help them find mates that will see their worth and also stand next to them.

Please, help teach your children.  Stand up and fight back against these injustices because after they take away womens rights, who will they attack next?

My baby is growing up

Yep another post about how my girls are growing.  I am sorry guys but thats what happens when you are a parent. 

My Katherine has her first loose tooth.  I remember at her last cleaning feeling the start of tears when they said her teeth were spacing to prepare for this.  I knew it was coming and even that it would be her bottom tooth within the 6 months between visits.  None of that makes it easier. 

It's hard to let go of her baby-ness.  Her baby teeth are the last baby thing she has.  She is incredible tall already, her face is thinning out, and her hands are losing the cute puffy baby shape.  She doesn't need my help so much anymore and the shows she wants to watch have lost the cuteness of what we once watched. 

So please forgive me for another post of weepy mommy-ness.  Though I am sure there will be more to come.  Motherhood is hard for many reasons and this is one of them.