Since I started my new job, bedtimes have become a little ridiculous around here. Mind you, we've never been very good about it. It was the worst when Brian was working nights. Since he was used to staying up all night, I would stay up with him for as long as I could on his days off. Which meant I slept in late. Like, 11:00 or 12:00 late. Which meant the kids slept in late. Which meant we had a late nap, like at 5:00 or 6:00 in evening. Which resulted in a late dinner. We're talking dinner at 9:00, even 10:00. So the kids went to bed at midnight or later...yeah, it was bad, guys. Let's just say, I was not in a very good place in my life at the time, and the working graveyard shift thing just perpetuated it.
Anyway, we overcame that trial, Brian now works days, and we have had a fairly normal routine for the past year. And for a while, we were getting the kids in bed and asleep by 9:30 or 10:00 at the latest. Still not great, but it was pretty consistent and much better than before.
But since I've started at Ridley's, things are getting out of whack again. Brian and I share a vehicle, and the last two times I've closed, he has dropped me off then picked me up with the kids in tow. Well, I didn't get out of there until 9 or 9:30 which meant the kids were still up and running about when they should've been in bed. I guess I didn't think it would be a big deal since it only happened a couple of times.
WRONG!
Last night was the worst of it. I put Trey and Ally to bed at about 10:00, and those little munchkins were the most awake they had been all day, I think. They absolutely refused to calm down and try to go to sleep. They thwarted all of my tactics, like trying to separate them, and laughed at my threats. Even Grayson was bouncing off the walls (and by "bouncing off the walls", I mean "crawling around the house, laughing at Trey and Ally, being absolutely adorable, but also refusing to go to sleep")! So I did the next best thing which is to ignore them. If I stop giving them the attention they're trying to get from me, then they'll usually stop harrassing me, stop playing "the game", calm down, and finally fall asleep.
Yeeaah. No. It was so not happening last night.
They were in their room banging stuff around, tearing apart their dresser, throwing Apple Jacks all over their clean clothes, when Brian had finally had it.
Now, I hate it when the kids wake Brian up. He works long hours behind the wheel of a very large, very heavy semi-truck, and needs his rest so that he can be alert and aware of his surroundings in order to come home to us safely every night. But sometimes, after I've done everything I can think of, the only other thing that will get their attention enough to where they take us seriously is for Brian to go in there and give them a good butt-chewing. They know that when they have waken up Daddy and made him get out of bed, they have crossed the line.
Did that work last night?
No. No it did not.
So there we are, at 1:00 in the morning, Brian is completely awake by now, and we're sitting on the couch with our heads in our hands asking, What the heck are we supposed to do??
You wanna know what we did?
We watched an episode of Season 5 of The Walking Dead.
And then we went to bed.
Trey finally fell asleep in his room sometime while we were watching the show, and since Ally had lost her partner-in-crime, she came out and laid on the couch with Brian. It didn't take her five minutes before she fell asleep.
What a bunch of ridiculouness.
So tonight, before he went to bed, Brian said, "I don't care what you have to do, but make sure they fall asleep tonight. 'Nap Time' them if you have to."
And sure enough, he called it. Tonight had the beginnings of being just as bad as last night. Trey was watching a movie in my bedroom with Brian, but he kept coming out to see what we were up to and to scrounge for food. Each time he came out, Ally would wake from her getting-sleepy stupor and think it was time to play. And after her bedtime story, song, and prayer, she snuck out of her bedroom and went into my bedroom where my sleeping husband was and started chatting with Trey! That's when I said, "Oh no! We are NOT doing this again tonight!"
So I busted out a new secret weapon--a lullaby disc by Jewel. Ally's choices were to either lay on the couch and listen to the music or go lay down on her bed (we don't have a cd player other than the computer, but Trey had that and he didn't want to listen to the music with us, so I had to use the DVD player instead. That's why she was on the couch, in case you were wondering). We listened to about 3/4s of the cd, and she fought it, and came up with excuses to get up, and asked to watch her show, but then she finally assumed "The Position"--she laid down on her side. Five minutes later, she was finally out. And Trey has been in the room watching his show the whole time I've been writing this, so I think it's safe to assume that he has finally given it up, too.
(Sigh of relief.)
Thank you, Jewel! You saved the day! And I really like your cd, too, by the way. 😊
Sunday, October 4, 2015
Saturday, October 3, 2015
Why Trey is Four Years Old and NOT in Preschool
I've been asked quite a few times over the last couple of years if Trey will be starting preschool soon. It's a valid question. Most parents nowadays do choose to put their kids in preschool at three or four years old, even when there's a stay-at-home parent in the household. But I feel that a big reason why they do this is because our society tells them to. All the propaganda we as parents are surrounded by day in and day out tell us that our kids have to do more, learn earlier, be smarter, and if we don't provide them with those opportunities, then we are doing our kids an injustice. We are failing as parents. And none of us want to feel like we're failing at the most important job we were put on this earth to do
But you know what? Propaganda aside? I think preschool is completely unnecessary.
Now I know what you're thinking: Big whoop. Good for you. So you have an opinion about something. Who are you to write a blog post about it? What makes you a credible source when it comes my childrens' education?
So let me make this perfectly clear--I am no expert. I am not an educator. But I did study secondary education in college and I did learn a thing or two about childhood development. So I kinda know what I'm talking about, a little bit. More than others, anyway.
One thing I learned, probably the most important thing and definitely the thing that had the biggest impact on me, is the simple fact that kids need to be kids. They need to run and play, dig in the dirt, use their imaginations. They will learn far more from that at this age than they will from sitting and being drilled with information all day.
Case in point--This time last year, I bought Trey a preschool workbook because he loved to color and he showed an interest in numbers and letters. So I thought it would be fun for us to sit and work on it together throughout the year.
Well, he absolutely loved it! He begged me to work on it with him every day, and we would do it for literally hours at a time. I would get tired and ask him if we could take a break, and he would insist on doing it some more. I couldn't believe it! A big, fatty book from Costco that I thought would take us months to complete I think lasted a week, maybe two. So I bought him more and we did several books over the next couple of months.
But even after all that work, Trey still didn't know his alphabet. He still couldn't count to ten. He didn't learn those things until he needed to know them. He learned to count to five after he got a board game for his fourth birthday and needed to count the spaces. He also learned to recognize those written numbers from that game. This past summer, he rediscovered his foam letter puzzle that we gave him for Christmas one year, and I think holding a 3D version of the letters is what finally helped him realize that those letters can be put together to form words. He loves having me spell things out with them, and he can recognize most of them now and almost knows the whole alphabet song.
Another case in point--While I was trying to teach Trey from those workbooks, my then two-year-old Ally picked up on a few things as well. She could count to ten better than Trey could, minus 5. She always skipped 5, but she could count all the other numbers in order every time I asked her to. But when I asked her to actually count physical objects, she couldn't do it. She's still working on it actually. So even though it seemed like she was learning, what she was really doing was memorizing a little jingle.
Now, don't get me wrong. I'm not saying that doing those activities with Trey was a bad thing or a waste of time or anything negative like that. He enjoyed them and definitely learned something from them and we had a fun time working on them together. But what I am saying is that to put them in a classroom where they are expected to learn those things by a certain time because that's what their peers can do, or worse, because that's what some politician said they should, that's what I think is unnecesarry. I think, at this age, they should learn what they want when they are ready to. And I'm not the only one who feels this way. The Finnish don't even start teaching their kids to read until they're six years old and are interested in it, and according to one of my college professors, the Finnish are the best readers in the world. So I think us Americans could take a leaf out of their book and not put so much pressure on our little ones, or ourselves, for that matter.
Now, I have a confession to make: even though I feel very strongly about this and am very firm in my beliefs, I too, have doubted. I've felt like a rebel, going against the grain just because my own pride is at stake. I've had to ask myself, am I keeping Trey out of preschool because that's what's best for him, or just because I don't want to go back on my word and do something I've said I wouldn't do?
I do feel like he's lacking socially. That's my only concern about his development. But I also know that the biggest obstacle kindergarten teachers face in teaching their students is dealing with those who are behind with their social skills. I don't want Trey to miss out on learning just because he hasn't learned how to sit still, follow directions, and keep his hands and feet to himself (although, after reading this article, I wonder if that isn't more the teacher's problem than the student's?).
So after talking with my hubby, I took him in to our public preschool and had him screened. It's government-funded which means no cost to me, but they only take students who need extra help with their development. And I am pleased and proud to say that he passed with flying colors. He was borderline with the Self Help section which included social skills, but he did great with everything else.
Which means, even without daycare or preschool or me drilling him every day with flashcards, he is right where he needs to be. And with a little more exposure to new social situations, he will be ready for kindergarten next year.
I'm not saying that nobody should put their kids in preschool. I'm not saying that this path is right for everyone. But I am saying that if you don't feel quite right about it, are having a hard time affording it, are feeling pressured into it, or just think it's plain unnecessary, you're not the only one. And if you choose to not put them in preschool, chances are, they'll still develop just fine. Heck, it might even be better for them. So don't feel guilty about it. You know what's best for your kids. Trust your instincts, and do what you feel is right. Even if you're going against the grain, it's all going to be all right.
But you know what? Propaganda aside? I think preschool is completely unnecessary.
Now I know what you're thinking: Big whoop. Good for you. So you have an opinion about something. Who are you to write a blog post about it? What makes you a credible source when it comes my childrens' education?
So let me make this perfectly clear--I am no expert. I am not an educator. But I did study secondary education in college and I did learn a thing or two about childhood development. So I kinda know what I'm talking about, a little bit. More than others, anyway.
One thing I learned, probably the most important thing and definitely the thing that had the biggest impact on me, is the simple fact that kids need to be kids. They need to run and play, dig in the dirt, use their imaginations. They will learn far more from that at this age than they will from sitting and being drilled with information all day.
Case in point--This time last year, I bought Trey a preschool workbook because he loved to color and he showed an interest in numbers and letters. So I thought it would be fun for us to sit and work on it together throughout the year.
Well, he absolutely loved it! He begged me to work on it with him every day, and we would do it for literally hours at a time. I would get tired and ask him if we could take a break, and he would insist on doing it some more. I couldn't believe it! A big, fatty book from Costco that I thought would take us months to complete I think lasted a week, maybe two. So I bought him more and we did several books over the next couple of months.
But even after all that work, Trey still didn't know his alphabet. He still couldn't count to ten. He didn't learn those things until he needed to know them. He learned to count to five after he got a board game for his fourth birthday and needed to count the spaces. He also learned to recognize those written numbers from that game. This past summer, he rediscovered his foam letter puzzle that we gave him for Christmas one year, and I think holding a 3D version of the letters is what finally helped him realize that those letters can be put together to form words. He loves having me spell things out with them, and he can recognize most of them now and almost knows the whole alphabet song.
Another case in point--While I was trying to teach Trey from those workbooks, my then two-year-old Ally picked up on a few things as well. She could count to ten better than Trey could, minus 5. She always skipped 5, but she could count all the other numbers in order every time I asked her to. But when I asked her to actually count physical objects, she couldn't do it. She's still working on it actually. So even though it seemed like she was learning, what she was really doing was memorizing a little jingle.
Now, don't get me wrong. I'm not saying that doing those activities with Trey was a bad thing or a waste of time or anything negative like that. He enjoyed them and definitely learned something from them and we had a fun time working on them together. But what I am saying is that to put them in a classroom where they are expected to learn those things by a certain time because that's what their peers can do, or worse, because that's what some politician said they should, that's what I think is unnecesarry. I think, at this age, they should learn what they want when they are ready to. And I'm not the only one who feels this way. The Finnish don't even start teaching their kids to read until they're six years old and are interested in it, and according to one of my college professors, the Finnish are the best readers in the world. So I think us Americans could take a leaf out of their book and not put so much pressure on our little ones, or ourselves, for that matter.
Now, I have a confession to make: even though I feel very strongly about this and am very firm in my beliefs, I too, have doubted. I've felt like a rebel, going against the grain just because my own pride is at stake. I've had to ask myself, am I keeping Trey out of preschool because that's what's best for him, or just because I don't want to go back on my word and do something I've said I wouldn't do?
I do feel like he's lacking socially. That's my only concern about his development. But I also know that the biggest obstacle kindergarten teachers face in teaching their students is dealing with those who are behind with their social skills. I don't want Trey to miss out on learning just because he hasn't learned how to sit still, follow directions, and keep his hands and feet to himself (although, after reading this article, I wonder if that isn't more the teacher's problem than the student's?).
So after talking with my hubby, I took him in to our public preschool and had him screened. It's government-funded which means no cost to me, but they only take students who need extra help with their development. And I am pleased and proud to say that he passed with flying colors. He was borderline with the Self Help section which included social skills, but he did great with everything else.
Which means, even without daycare or preschool or me drilling him every day with flashcards, he is right where he needs to be. And with a little more exposure to new social situations, he will be ready for kindergarten next year.
I'm not saying that nobody should put their kids in preschool. I'm not saying that this path is right for everyone. But I am saying that if you don't feel quite right about it, are having a hard time affording it, are feeling pressured into it, or just think it's plain unnecessary, you're not the only one. And if you choose to not put them in preschool, chances are, they'll still develop just fine. Heck, it might even be better for them. So don't feel guilty about it. You know what's best for your kids. Trust your instincts, and do what you feel is right. Even if you're going against the grain, it's all going to be all right.
Friday, October 2, 2015
Yo-Ho, Yo-Ho, It's Back to Work I Go
I've been off the work scene for quite a while now. Five years, actually. I mean, I was a Mary Kay consultant for three of those five years, and that was a ton of work, don't get me wrong. But it's not quite the same as a good old-fashioned J-O-B where you show up, clock in, do the work, collect a paycheck, and go home. The last time I had one of those was when I was pregnant with Trey. Then began my real job and what I really wanted to do with my life--be a mom.
And I've enjoyed being a Stay-at-Home/Work-from-Home mom. It's definitely been challenging and I've really struggled with it at times, but I've enjoyed being here with my kids and being their main nuturer.
But some things happened this year that put us off-track of our financial goals, and the only way I could see us getting back on-track was for me to get a part-time job. It was a hard decision for us to make especially since I feel like I've got enough to do here, but I felt like if I could find a job that fit my specific criteria, then we could make it work, and we could reach our financial goals that much quicker.
My new job had to provide these things:
And I've enjoyed being a Stay-at-Home/Work-from-Home mom. It's definitely been challenging and I've really struggled with it at times, but I've enjoyed being here with my kids and being their main nuturer.
But some things happened this year that put us off-track of our financial goals, and the only way I could see us getting back on-track was for me to get a part-time job. It was a hard decision for us to make especially since I feel like I've got enough to do here, but I felt like if I could find a job that fit my specific criteria, then we could make it work, and we could reach our financial goals that much quicker.
My new job had to provide these things:
- Be part-time
- Work with my hubby's work schedule so that we could avoid daycare or a babysitter, so I either had to work at night 5 days a week or work on Brian's rotating days off twice a week
- Had to earn a certain amount/receive a certain amount of hours to make it worth it
- Bonus: it would be in Kimberly or at least this side of Twin to save on gas
To be honest, I didn't think I would find a place that would be willing or able to meet this criteria. My biggest concern was the hours--Brian works four days on, two days off, so his days off rotate week-to-week. For example, let's say he has Friday and Saturday off this week, then next week he'll have Thursday and Friday off, the week after that, Wednesday and Thursday, and so on and so forth. Who in their right minds would hire me based on that crazy work schedule? I didn't hold out much hope for that.
So the next best thing would be to work at night from about 8:00 to midnight a few times a week. The problem with that is that I could think of only a handful of places that are open that late. Walmart was one of them. Brian and I both worked for Walmart during our first year of marriage, and we absolutely hated it. It was almost like working for a cult, the bunch of crazies. I really, really, really didn't want to work for them again. But a mother's gotta do what a mother's gotta do.
So I applied to them along with a few other places. And wouldn't ya know it but Walmart was the first to call me in for an interview. Bleh. I thought I was doomed to put up with a bunch of analistic stupid once more.
But I didn't hear back from them. Anyone else I would've been calling them, but I wasn't quite that desperate yet since I had had a couple of other interviews as well. Plus I really didn't want to talk to that rude receptionist there (Seriously, have you called the Twin Falls Walmart? You should just to hear how this woman treats you. I don't know what's so difficult about transferring your call, but she must hate doing it because she always makes such a big deal out of it). So I held out and prayed that something else would come up first.
And then it did, but in a bit of an unexpected way.
I had applied to Ridley's here in Kimberly for a cashier position. It had been a couple of weeks and I hadn't heard back from them, but I thought, What the heck? Might as well give them a call. I've got nothing to lose, anyway.
So I called and talked to the manager and, sure enough, the cashier position had been filled. But since I had him on the line, I asked if there was anything else open. A bagger's position. Great, I'd be willing to interview for that. Can you come in on Thursday? You bet!
Bagger is definitely a step down from cashier, but again, a mother's gotta do...well, you know. So I went in for my interview and long story short, he felt that he couldn't work with my schedule for that position. Surprise, surprise.
But the next morning, he called back and said he had a position in the deli that might work for me. What? In the deli? Sweet! I'd much rather do that anyway since I won't have to deal with as many irrate customers (not that I told him that, but I was definitely thinking it.)
So, now I work two days a week frying up chicken and making sandwiches at the deli in Ridley's. They just needed someone part-time so that the two full-time day workers can have a couple of days off a week. It couldn't have been a more perfect situation for all of us. And it's a good job and keeps me busy, which is good. Nothing makes the hours tick by more slowly then having nothing to do. So I like it so far, and it seems to be working for our family as well. Brian gets more time with the kids and I can still nurse Grayson since I'm away from him for only a few hours at a time. And Brian doesn't have to try to put him to bed so he can get enough sleep himself like he would've if I had found a job working nights. So it seems to be good all around.
It was scary, the prospect of going back to work, but I think the Lord really blessed us with this, and I think it's going to work out just fine. I don't know how long I'm going to want to work especially with Trey starting kindergarten next year, but maybe it'll continue to fit into our schedule and lifestyle and I'll be able to keep on with it. We'll see. But I'm very thankful to be able to help provide for our family and still be there with my kids everyday. We really are blessed.
Wednesday, September 30, 2015
I Hate Carpet!
We have a guy coming over to clean our carpets tomorrow. They are long overdue for a good, professional, steam-cleaning, let me tell you. Yuck. He can't get here quickly enough.
You know, I grew up in a house with carpet in almost all of the rooms. The only ones that didn't have carpet were the bathrooms, the kitchen, and my mom's hair salon. Oh, and the storage room and utility closets, if you want to get really specific. But, you know, all the rooms that shouldn't have carpet, didn't. And I loved having carpet throughout most of the house. It's so warm and cozy on your feet (and I'm almost always barefoot while at home) and soft to play or take a nap on. When hardwood floor began to become popular again or even tile (bleh!), I thought people were crazy! Why would you want something so hard and cold underfoot all day long? It sounded dreadful to me.
But now--now that I have small children of my own--I so totally understand!
I hate carpet! I absolutely, positively hate it with every fiber of my being! It is so gross and nearly impossible to keep clean with a nasty dog and young, potty-training children running about. I don't even want to think about what has landed on this carpet in the last year-and-a-half since we last had it cleaned, so I won't, but I'm sure many of you can relate and imagine for yourselves.
And if it wasn't bad enough having carpet in our living room where our children spend 95% of their time, but someone had the bright idea to put indoor/outdoor carpet in our.......wait for it........yes, I'm totally thinking what you're thinking.........all you mothers out there are cringing in your seats!.......okay, I'm going to say it!........(gulp) kitchen!!! (Shudder!)
Why?? Who in their right mind would do such a thing? Why does the universe hate me so? Don't people understand how much stuff gets spilled daily on a kitchen floor especially when toddlers and preschoolers are involved? Bleh! It's so nasty, I just wanna cry thinking about it.
So I'm pretty dang excited for the carpet cleaners to come tomorrow. Not that it'll last long (who wants to bet that my kids will break raw eggs on it before the week is out?), but at least it'll be better than it is.
The moral of this story is, if you're planning to buy and/or renovate a house and you have an indoor dog or children under the age of, say, 20, put in laminate flooring. Sure it's not warm and cozy like carpet and it's not as nice as hardwood, but it's strong and durable and will wipe up oh-so-nicely. After your kids have grown and moved out and there's little-to-no chance of them moving back in with you with your grandchildren in tow (so, you know, when they're in their 40s or 50s), then you can finally enjoy the warm comforts of carpet or the luxury of hardwood floors. Until then, just go with laminate and save yourself the stress and heartache of dealing with carpet, give your nostrils a break, spare your feet from being constantly sticky, and treat yourself to a trip to Hawaii for your 20th anniversary with all the money you'll save on carpet cleaning products and services. And send me a postcard while you're there because at this rate, that's the closest I'll ever get.
Is the carpet cleaner here yet?
Side note: Seriously, don't even bother investing any amount of money into anything nice while you are raising your children. Because if it's nice and expensive and it brings you happiness and joy, your children will destroy it. (There's a little bonus lesson for you today. You're welcome.)
You know, I grew up in a house with carpet in almost all of the rooms. The only ones that didn't have carpet were the bathrooms, the kitchen, and my mom's hair salon. Oh, and the storage room and utility closets, if you want to get really specific. But, you know, all the rooms that shouldn't have carpet, didn't. And I loved having carpet throughout most of the house. It's so warm and cozy on your feet (and I'm almost always barefoot while at home) and soft to play or take a nap on. When hardwood floor began to become popular again or even tile (bleh!), I thought people were crazy! Why would you want something so hard and cold underfoot all day long? It sounded dreadful to me.
But now--now that I have small children of my own--I so totally understand!
I hate carpet! I absolutely, positively hate it with every fiber of my being! It is so gross and nearly impossible to keep clean with a nasty dog and young, potty-training children running about. I don't even want to think about what has landed on this carpet in the last year-and-a-half since we last had it cleaned, so I won't, but I'm sure many of you can relate and imagine for yourselves.
And if it wasn't bad enough having carpet in our living room where our children spend 95% of their time, but someone had the bright idea to put indoor/outdoor carpet in our.......wait for it........yes, I'm totally thinking what you're thinking.........all you mothers out there are cringing in your seats!.......okay, I'm going to say it!........(gulp) kitchen!!! (Shudder!)
Why?? Who in their right mind would do such a thing? Why does the universe hate me so? Don't people understand how much stuff gets spilled daily on a kitchen floor especially when toddlers and preschoolers are involved? Bleh! It's so nasty, I just wanna cry thinking about it.
So I'm pretty dang excited for the carpet cleaners to come tomorrow. Not that it'll last long (who wants to bet that my kids will break raw eggs on it before the week is out?), but at least it'll be better than it is.
The moral of this story is, if you're planning to buy and/or renovate a house and you have an indoor dog or children under the age of, say, 20, put in laminate flooring. Sure it's not warm and cozy like carpet and it's not as nice as hardwood, but it's strong and durable and will wipe up oh-so-nicely. After your kids have grown and moved out and there's little-to-no chance of them moving back in with you with your grandchildren in tow (so, you know, when they're in their 40s or 50s), then you can finally enjoy the warm comforts of carpet or the luxury of hardwood floors. Until then, just go with laminate and save yourself the stress and heartache of dealing with carpet, give your nostrils a break, spare your feet from being constantly sticky, and treat yourself to a trip to Hawaii for your 20th anniversary with all the money you'll save on carpet cleaning products and services. And send me a postcard while you're there because at this rate, that's the closest I'll ever get.
Is the carpet cleaner here yet?
Side note: Seriously, don't even bother investing any amount of money into anything nice while you are raising your children. Because if it's nice and expensive and it brings you happiness and joy, your children will destroy it. (There's a little bonus lesson for you today. You're welcome.)
Tuesday, September 29, 2015
Even American Ninja Warriors Get Scared Sometimes
Have you seen that show? American Ninja Warrior? I've seen snippets of it in the past, but this summer, my family and I really got into it. Especially Trey.
For those of you who don't know, it is the most difficult obstacle course you'll ever see. Hundreds of people train for years in order to beat it, and only a few dozen make it past the qualifying rounds to advance to the main course in Vegas. In Las Vegas, there are 4 stages. Before this year, after 7 seasons of the show, no one had ever passed Stage 3. This year, two did. Both moved on to Stage 4 called Mt. Midoriyama. It's a 70-foot rope climb that has to be completed in under 30 seconds. Both competitors were able to conquer it, but only the faster of the two was able to claim the prize of 1 million dollars and the official title as the American Ninja Warrior.
What I'm saying is, this competition is brutal and intense.
And Trey wants to do it. He wants to win the title of the next American Ninja Warrior.
He's four years old.
But he's off to an early start. Already he's climbing everything and jumping parkour-style from the couch to the chair. He's working on his dismount from the kitchen bench to the carpet in the living room. He's climbing up the wall in the hallway with a foot on each side or with both feet on one side and his back on the other. He's even setting up his own obstacle course across the living room floor, running across it and slapping the buzzer on the other side (and by "buzzer" I mean "thermostat").
He has a goal, and he is determined. And if he still wants this in 15 years and the show is still on the aire, I believe he will be an American Ninja Warrior.
But as of right now...well, I think he's getting a little ahead of himself.
Yesterday we went to the park. Trey's favorite thing to do at the park is climb up the playground and zoom down the slides. Ally's favorite thing is to swing. And swing. And swing some more. So most of our park visits look like me pushimg Ally in the swing, Grayson relaxing in the baby swing, and Trey playing by himself on the slides. But this particular day there were quite a few other people at the park, too, which is always great because the kids have other little people to run around with, and I don't have to feel so bad that one of them is feeling left out.
So yesterday, Trey was playing on the slides with the other kids, and I was just putting Grayson into the baby swing so that I could give Ally a good and proper pushin' when out of nowhere, I heard that noise--that dreaded, horrific sound that no parent wants to hear while on their outing to the park.
I heard a bloodcurdling, fear-induced, out-of-control scream.
I looked up at the playground to see whose kid was screaming bloody murder, and of course, it was my kid. It was Trey, and he was on top of the slide--on top of the outside of the tube slide, mind you--and he looked absolutely terrified. And for good reason, because it's a pretty dang high slide. It's one of those playgrounds that has stairs up to the first level and then a ladder up to the second level where the slides are. So he had to be, I dunno, 20 feet off of the ground. Pretty high. Poor kid.
So it's great when there are other kids at the park to play with, but it's not so great when those kids are a little bit older than your preschooler and they show said preschooler how to do naughty things like climb up the outside of the slide. Yeah.
So I ran over to Trey, and he was freaking out. He had tears running down his face, and he yelled down to me, "I'm so scared!" My first thought was just to get him to calm down because he was not going to be able to climb down sobbing like that. So I told him that he was okay, we were going to get him down, and to take a big, deep breath. All the while, I'm thinking How the heck am I going to climb up there and get him down??
Thankfully, the same kid who led him up there in the first place and then left him up there climbed back up and helped him down. There was also a dad who was helpful in calming him down and reassured him that we would get him down. I'm very thankful for those two because I so did not want to have to climb up there myself! I would've, if I had to. But I'm glad I didn't.
So all's well that ends well. But my little American Ninja Warrior learned a valuable lesson about heights that day and will hopefully save his skills for scaling Mt. Midoriyama for the show and not for the improper use of playground equipment.
For those of you who don't know, it is the most difficult obstacle course you'll ever see. Hundreds of people train for years in order to beat it, and only a few dozen make it past the qualifying rounds to advance to the main course in Vegas. In Las Vegas, there are 4 stages. Before this year, after 7 seasons of the show, no one had ever passed Stage 3. This year, two did. Both moved on to Stage 4 called Mt. Midoriyama. It's a 70-foot rope climb that has to be completed in under 30 seconds. Both competitors were able to conquer it, but only the faster of the two was able to claim the prize of 1 million dollars and the official title as the American Ninja Warrior.
What I'm saying is, this competition is brutal and intense.
And Trey wants to do it. He wants to win the title of the next American Ninja Warrior.
He's four years old.
But he's off to an early start. Already he's climbing everything and jumping parkour-style from the couch to the chair. He's working on his dismount from the kitchen bench to the carpet in the living room. He's climbing up the wall in the hallway with a foot on each side or with both feet on one side and his back on the other. He's even setting up his own obstacle course across the living room floor, running across it and slapping the buzzer on the other side (and by "buzzer" I mean "thermostat").
He has a goal, and he is determined. And if he still wants this in 15 years and the show is still on the aire, I believe he will be an American Ninja Warrior.
But as of right now...well, I think he's getting a little ahead of himself.
Yesterday we went to the park. Trey's favorite thing to do at the park is climb up the playground and zoom down the slides. Ally's favorite thing is to swing. And swing. And swing some more. So most of our park visits look like me pushimg Ally in the swing, Grayson relaxing in the baby swing, and Trey playing by himself on the slides. But this particular day there were quite a few other people at the park, too, which is always great because the kids have other little people to run around with, and I don't have to feel so bad that one of them is feeling left out.
So yesterday, Trey was playing on the slides with the other kids, and I was just putting Grayson into the baby swing so that I could give Ally a good and proper pushin' when out of nowhere, I heard that noise--that dreaded, horrific sound that no parent wants to hear while on their outing to the park.
I heard a bloodcurdling, fear-induced, out-of-control scream.
I looked up at the playground to see whose kid was screaming bloody murder, and of course, it was my kid. It was Trey, and he was on top of the slide--on top of the outside of the tube slide, mind you--and he looked absolutely terrified. And for good reason, because it's a pretty dang high slide. It's one of those playgrounds that has stairs up to the first level and then a ladder up to the second level where the slides are. So he had to be, I dunno, 20 feet off of the ground. Pretty high. Poor kid.
So it's great when there are other kids at the park to play with, but it's not so great when those kids are a little bit older than your preschooler and they show said preschooler how to do naughty things like climb up the outside of the slide. Yeah.
So I ran over to Trey, and he was freaking out. He had tears running down his face, and he yelled down to me, "I'm so scared!" My first thought was just to get him to calm down because he was not going to be able to climb down sobbing like that. So I told him that he was okay, we were going to get him down, and to take a big, deep breath. All the while, I'm thinking How the heck am I going to climb up there and get him down??
Thankfully, the same kid who led him up there in the first place and then left him up there climbed back up and helped him down. There was also a dad who was helpful in calming him down and reassured him that we would get him down. I'm very thankful for those two because I so did not want to have to climb up there myself! I would've, if I had to. But I'm glad I didn't.
So all's well that ends well. But my little American Ninja Warrior learned a valuable lesson about heights that day and will hopefully save his skills for scaling Mt. Midoriyama for the show and not for the improper use of playground equipment.
Monday, September 28, 2015
Grayson at 8 months
Grayson's new discoveries this past month include crawling--actual hand-over-hand, knee-after-knee crawling--and pulling himself into a stand. He just adores standing all by himself while holding onto the couch or some other at least semi-stable object. While at the park today, that object happened to be me. I was lying on my stomach on a blanket next to him and he grabbed ahold of my back and pulled himself right up. He then spent the next 20 or so minutes moving from my butt to my shoulder, back and forth, back and forth, ever so pleased with himself.
He just loves to stand on his own. He yearns for it, he craves it, I daresay he's nearly addicted to it. It's getting so bad that he now fights me every time I stuff him in that once-beloved-but-now-infuriatingly-confining bouncer of his. He doesn't want to be supported or safe from the ever-present dangers associated with being exposed on the floor with two kids and a stinky mastiff roaming the house. No, he wants to be wild and free, to go where no Gronenthal baby has dared gone before...
And so, a new level of Mommy Vigilance must be reached by me once more. How draining it is...
On another note, still no teethies for this little one which is pretty surprising for me. I saw them peeking through his gums when he was only two months old, and I thought for sure he would get them sooner than the others. Trey's first tooth made its appearance at five months and it seems likes Ally's was shortly after that. But here we are at eight months and not a tooth in sight. I looked it up, and it's normal to not get them until 12 months, so I'm not going to worry about it until after that point. I'm just going to enjoy the fact that he doesn't have them yet because even with just his gums, this kid can bite hard!
And in other news, our little Gray-Gray is starting to be more vocal. His favorite "word" is "da-da" (I put that in quotes because he doesn't associate it with Brian yet. It's just a fun sound to say), and he's beginning to say, "Nah-nah-nah," when he's hungry. That's interesting because that was also Trey's word for num-nums or food or, you know, me. Do other babies make that noise when it's time to nurse or is it just my boys? I can't remember if Ally did that or not.
And I am so pleased to report (more like brag) that he has not had a single bald spot since before birth! As you all know, he was born with a full head of at least 1-inch long brown hair, and as his birth hair falls out, new light-blond hair seamlessly fills in underneath. And he has had 2 1/2 hair cuts so far. Love his hair! (Be jealous, each and every one of you. I give you permission.)
All-in-all, Grayson is a happy, healthy, smiley, beautiful, easy-going, and handsome little guy, and he gets compliments all the time while we are out and about. He wins them over when he flashes them his adorable grin, and he loves everybody. Not only will he go to anybody to be held, but he wants to. He reaches for anyone standing close enough to grab onto. I love that about him, and I hope he continues to see the good in people throughout his life. He's such a sweetie, and he lights up my life! We are so blessed to have him!
Sunday, September 27, 2015
A Writing Challenge!
Okay, people, it's time to get serious now. Time to challenge myself!
As you can see, I have not been taking this blog very seriously since I started it a year-and-a-half ago. In that time, I've posted a grand total of three posts. Pathetic.
I didn't intend to be so nonchalant about this. That wasn't my goal. I wanted to write a blog in order to get back into the writing game with something other than my journal. I wanted to have an audience, to receive feedback, to practice, and to improve. I wanted to write one post a week and work on my novel as well. And although I have several posts half-done, I haven't worked on them for the past few months, and I can't remember the last time I pulled out my novel.
Enough is enough! It's time to stop procrastinating and start writing! Time to stop making excuses and to start filling pages!
So, I'm going to issue myself a challenge:
I challenge myself to write and publish a post every single day for a month beginning right now.
I don't know what I'll write about. Anything and everything. Whatever's on my mind. Funny things my kids say or do, an article I read online, my thoughts about The Best Time Ever or General Conference or my new part-time job...whatever. Anything and everything is fair game.
I'm not going to worry about them being worded just perfectly. I'm not going to post pictures with cute little captions. I'm not going to pretend that I'm working on a professional blog for which I'm getting paid. Because let's face it--I'm not.
The goal here is simply to write. To post something each day, even if it's just to say, "I'm tired, so I'm going to bed now. Good night." Something.
So check back in and see what random crap I can come up with. Some might be interesting, full of wisdom and insight that will change your life forever! And some might just help you fall asleep that night. Either way, no skin off your nose, right?
Oh, and any encouragement would be appreciated. I'm calling this a challenge for a reason--it will be difficult for me. I will struggle with it. But I believe I can do it. With you holding me accountable, it will be that much easier.
Wish me luck!
As you can see, I have not been taking this blog very seriously since I started it a year-and-a-half ago. In that time, I've posted a grand total of three posts. Pathetic.
I didn't intend to be so nonchalant about this. That wasn't my goal. I wanted to write a blog in order to get back into the writing game with something other than my journal. I wanted to have an audience, to receive feedback, to practice, and to improve. I wanted to write one post a week and work on my novel as well. And although I have several posts half-done, I haven't worked on them for the past few months, and I can't remember the last time I pulled out my novel.
Enough is enough! It's time to stop procrastinating and start writing! Time to stop making excuses and to start filling pages!
So, I'm going to issue myself a challenge:
I challenge myself to write and publish a post every single day for a month beginning right now.
I don't know what I'll write about. Anything and everything. Whatever's on my mind. Funny things my kids say or do, an article I read online, my thoughts about The Best Time Ever or General Conference or my new part-time job...whatever. Anything and everything is fair game.
I'm not going to worry about them being worded just perfectly. I'm not going to post pictures with cute little captions. I'm not going to pretend that I'm working on a professional blog for which I'm getting paid. Because let's face it--I'm not.
The goal here is simply to write. To post something each day, even if it's just to say, "I'm tired, so I'm going to bed now. Good night." Something.
So check back in and see what random crap I can come up with. Some might be interesting, full of wisdom and insight that will change your life forever! And some might just help you fall asleep that night. Either way, no skin off your nose, right?
Oh, and any encouragement would be appreciated. I'm calling this a challenge for a reason--it will be difficult for me. I will struggle with it. But I believe I can do it. With you holding me accountable, it will be that much easier.
Wish me luck!
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