Check Myself

Look at these two!! They are adorable! (Mommy bias) Why is it then I choose to act in mean mommy ways towards them? They are kids and yes they will do stuff they shouldn't then they will do "kid stuff". I define that as the stuff they shouldn't, but it doesn't harm anyone and it is not out of defiance, but just thinking it is silly or fun.

Today I have realized I have to check myself at these times. We were in the grocery store waiting at the deli counter and they started singing "The Itsy Bitsy Spider" albeit a tad bit louder than I would have liked, but just singing. Then I started to get the glares from an older women, one glare, two glares, three glares and I took it out on my children stating if they didn't stop they were headed straight to room time when we got home. Although I did want to say the to women "I am sure your kids were perfect angels every time you went to the grocery store", but I didn't.

Basically I realized that I got after my kids for doing something that was a "kid thing". I let my fear of what others thought of me, my parenting skills, and a mother take control and therefore I took it out on my kids. From now on at the first glance I am going to check myself and then react. Because basically the lady was the one with the problem. No one else in line seemed to mind or even notice.

an other's parenting in a store. But after having 2 kids, (girl & boy-and let me tell you boys are completely different to parent than girls) I am also going to check myself when I feel like giving a look. After all, I never know the situation (is it past nap time, are they hungry, have they been to 5 stores before this one, does the mom have to shop or they won't have milk, etc.).

Maybe our environments would be better if we'd all check ourselves every once in a while.

POOP

So, we talk about poop a lot in this family. I know for many of you this is gross, but for those of you with kids, you might understand.
Lauren is potty trained. . well almost. She has been going to the bathroom for over a year now, but for some reason refuses to poop on the potty. She always comes to us once a day asking for a diaper. Many of you might think that the solution is a simple one, just don't give her a diaper. Been there, done that, and have a conversation from the doctor to remember it by. If I don't give her one she becomes extremely constipated and then this leads to even bigger problems and more fear about poop. (I will spare you the details.)
So, what have we done you ask? Basically if the girl goes poop on the potty I have promised her a trampoline. I know such a wonderful mother bribing her daughter, but this has not even worked yet.
Today we talked about poop on the way home from the splash park. As I once again was trying to convince her that everyone learns to poop on the potty. I mentioned the policeman in the car next to us poops on the potty and after the teenage girl int eh drive thru took my card to swipe it, I mentioned to Lauren that I bet even she goes poop on the potty. And without missing a beat, my daughter says "Mommy, I think you should ask her!" I proceed to giggle and explain why we can't ask people's toileting habits as it is not polite. Later in our conversation, I tell her that she can ask her Nana as I am sure she poops on the potty and Lauren replies "Mommy it is not polite to ask people if they poop on the potty."
Well there you have it. Lessons from Lauren. But I have not lost hope. We continue to pray nightly that God would help her to poop on the potty. I am just praying He helps before she goes to college! :)

Older

So I just realized something about my post. I am getting older. I have discovered among people I know that the older we get, the more we talk about and become obsessed about the weather. What is that about? Let's face it, what older person have you met that does not talk about the weather as the first five major talking points. . .I don't think you'll see a weather post from me in the near future. After all I am not that old!

Monsoon Season is here!!

Monsoon season is here and I love it! Monsoon season was the thing I missed the most about living in a desert climate during the time I lived in Michigan.
Monsoon rain is not like any other rain in the country. Granted it can cause horrible flash flooding and forest fires, but it is amazing. The lightning on the horizon with the dark clouds is picture perfect. In a matter of minutes it can be a huge wind/rain/lightening/thunder storm and then it can move out as fast as it came to be. The thing I truly like best about rain in the desert is the smell. There is a certain smell that is accompanied by desert rain, and for those of you who don't live here, you must come smell it as it is like no other. I just can't describe it.
It rained late last night/early morning and it was wonderful to wake up hearing the rain.
Anyway. . I am so glad to have monsoon season!