It's been interesting (maybe just to me) the things we don't use, the further along we get in our family.
1.) change table --> We went with a diaper-change-height regular dresser and changed on there for the very beginning and now we just do it on the floor.
2.) high chair --> I like the strap-on booster seat better. It can be taken to a friend's house when necessary and takes up much less space than the high chair
3.) crib --> We opted for a mattress on the floor this time around. It makes it so much easier to go in and lay down with Lachlan when he's up at night and then sneak away to my own bed.
4.) bumbo seat --> Overpriced and not worth it. If we hadn't gotten one as a gift I sure wouldn't buy one. And for all our kids, it made them spit up because it scrunched them so much.
5.) mittens --> Any baby mitten we've tried doesn't stay on. Socks, on the other hand, go up to their elbows under the jacket and work great!
6.) baby bath tub --> We just showered with our babies. They liked it way better, probably because it's much warmer with the steam.
7.) nursing cover --> Too warm for me and just another thing to fiddle with when breastfeeding. A little practice and I've become quite comfortable nursing uncovered any old place.
Also, these two are very useful, but for a relatively short period of time. They are great to borrow, if possible.
8.) play mat --> We used it from 3 months to 6 months. Once they were sitting, they weren't really interested in lying down and would knock it over if seated.
9.) exersaucer --> We used it from 4 months to 9 months. Once they were crawling they wanted out. Plus it's big and hides out in the basement.
Friday, 31 January 2014
Kid Devos
I'm suddenly motivated to start having Niko do devotions. I saw the idea for a Bible basket in Thriving Family and it seems like a good place to start. So I'm compiling all of the Bible story books we have so they have options. Maybe we'll start next week by doing 5 minutes of Bible "reading" solo and then read and talk about it together.
Over the next few months, I think it'd be cool if he could choose one or two options from a bunch of devotion-time activities:
- reading Bible stories
- listening to worship music
- drawing thank-you-Jesus prayers
- scripture memory (with clipart or audio recording)
- acting out Bible stories with paper figures
- praying for a friend/relative/contact in need
In a few years, we could add things like:
- prayer journalling
- devotion books
- coming up with questions for the family out of your reading
- rewriting a story from one character's perspective
- audio devos online
- Bible verse art
- roll-the-dice journal questions
Things Niko are going to need to know:
- this is time spent with God
- this is time not talking to anybody else
- this is time that helps us get our hearts calmed and focussed
- that God might say something back to him in his heart
- that he can tell God anything he wants
Still wondering:
- Should I call it devotions or something else?
- Is he ready to do this on his own?
- What time of day is best?
This could be really cool! Thank you for the inspiration, Lord. Please grow the seeds we are sowing.
Over the next few months, I think it'd be cool if he could choose one or two options from a bunch of devotion-time activities:
- reading Bible stories
- listening to worship music
- drawing thank-you-Jesus prayers
- scripture memory (with clipart or audio recording)
- acting out Bible stories with paper figures
- praying for a friend/relative/contact in need
In a few years, we could add things like:
- prayer journalling
- devotion books
- coming up with questions for the family out of your reading
- rewriting a story from one character's perspective
- audio devos online
- Bible verse art
- roll-the-dice journal questions
Things Niko are going to need to know:
- this is time spent with God
- this is time not talking to anybody else
- this is time that helps us get our hearts calmed and focussed
- that God might say something back to him in his heart
- that he can tell God anything he wants
Still wondering:
- Should I call it devotions or something else?
- Is he ready to do this on his own?
- What time of day is best?
This could be really cool! Thank you for the inspiration, Lord. Please grow the seeds we are sowing.
Thursday, 30 January 2014
Zooming Out on Success
Success today means general happiness. Boys getting along decently. Me not hollering and not needing to holler. A workout. Devotions. Supper started before 4:30. Some downtime on the computer. A good talk with Bernie. Substantially more positive interactions with the kids than negative ones.
Success this week means some memorable highlights. A great phone conversation with Laura or Alison. A playdate with Tania or Kris. A fun family time. Laundry. An effective tutoring session. A block of time for me - maybe a drum circle, a massage, or worship team. Clean floors, bathrooms, and kitchen. Lots of touches and some laughs.
Success this month means progress. Improved kid-behavior. Larger kid-vocabularies. More regular workouts. More regular devotions. A new recipe. Gained independence. A date. An outing like swimming, the children's museum, the library, or Kid City. Reaching out. Growth in self-awareness and humility.
Success this year means exposure. Trying new foods and new activities. Letting the kids experience canoeing, camping, tobogganing, and skating. Gaining confidence in my body and my gifts. Owning my nerdy hobbies. Making sure I am more than "just" a mom. Reclaiming things I love. Knowing success does not depend on me.
Success this week means some memorable highlights. A great phone conversation with Laura or Alison. A playdate with Tania or Kris. A fun family time. Laundry. An effective tutoring session. A block of time for me - maybe a drum circle, a massage, or worship team. Clean floors, bathrooms, and kitchen. Lots of touches and some laughs.
Success this month means progress. Improved kid-behavior. Larger kid-vocabularies. More regular workouts. More regular devotions. A new recipe. Gained independence. A date. An outing like swimming, the children's museum, the library, or Kid City. Reaching out. Growth in self-awareness and humility.
Success this year means exposure. Trying new foods and new activities. Letting the kids experience canoeing, camping, tobogganing, and skating. Gaining confidence in my body and my gifts. Owning my nerdy hobbies. Making sure I am more than "just" a mom. Reclaiming things I love. Knowing success does not depend on me.
More Than a Playgroup
Thank you, Jesus, for my circle of moms. Thank you that they listen to my joys and to my sorrows. Thank you that they rejoice with me and commiserate with me. Thank you that they support and love me. Thank you that they provide me with fresh perspective and innovative ideas. Thank you that they see value in my children. Thank you that they are accessible and willing to share their lives. Thank you that I don't have to do this alone.
Thank you for Melani.
Thank you for RuthAnn.
Thank you for Sylvia.
Thank you for Moni.
I'm very much looking forward to our evening out together without kids.
Thank you for Melani.
Thank you for RuthAnn.
Thank you for Sylvia.
Thank you for Moni.
I'm very much looking forward to our evening out together without kids.
Tuesday, 28 January 2014
Mind the Gap
The thing with having multiple children in a family is that they are different. No really, eh? But that has a substantial impact on how I deal with them. Sometimes a good impact, sometimes a bad impact. Mostly I just feel like I need to be aware of the differences between them and how that affects my attitude toward them and my relationship with them.
I noticed this over the last few days with Bethany and Hunter. Both awesome kids, both created in the image of God, both loved and valued for who they are. And very different from each other. As the "parent", it was really obvious that a major difference is in their response to being asked to do things.
When I asked Bethany if she wanted to do some of her homework, she took my asking as a suggestion and pleasantly agreed that she would do a journal entry as soon as she finished making a bracelet. Ten minutes later, with no further prompting, she was sitting at the table working away.
When I asked Hunter if he could please get dressed, he appeared not to hear me. He didn't make eye contact or respond in any way. When I asked him to slow down and look at me, he still didn't respond to my question. When I sent him downstairs to choose a shirt and pants, he took off running only to get caught up in play in the basement. He wasn't really deliberately rude, just completely preoccupied with his own agenda and conveniently oblivious to mine. He never did get dressed until I threw his clothes into the bathroom, took his hand and guided him in there, and closed the door.
So I imagine that parenting two kids whose responses and response time are so vastly different can be hard. They are not just different, clearly one behavior is more desirable as the parent. It would be difficult, but important, to not let the fact that you've got one really low-maintenance kid affect how you deal with the higher maintenance one. A bit idealistic, but necessary, I think. Expectations should be present, but living up to his sister in that area should not be the goal. And he's also got to know that there are things he's awesome at; that he's not a disappointment in any way.
Looking at my own kids, their listening skills are about at the same level. But it's very obvious that Emerson is naturally funnier than Niko. He is just silly and goofy in so many ways. He hilarious without even trying. Adults get such a kick out of him - the entertainer.
Yet when Niko does some of the exact same things, he's seen as obnoxious or annoying and sometimes we even scold him. Because he's older. Because he's louder. Because he's bigger. Because he's wilder. But the becauses don't really matter. We need to be aware of the area in which one is strong and one is weaker and have reasonable, attainable expectations. And he's also got to know that there are things he's awesome at; that he's not a disappointment in any way.
Niko needs to know that I love him for exactly who he is, enjoy watching him use his strengths, am proud of
him for working to learn and grow, and will always be willing to help him with his weaknesses.
Emerson needs to know that I love him for exactly who he is, enjoy watching him use his strengths, am proud of him for working to learn and grow, and will always be willing to help him with his weaknesses.
Lachlan needs to know that I love him for exactly who he is, enjoy watching him use his strengths, am proud of him for working to learn and grow, and will always be willing to help him with his weaknesses.
I noticed this over the last few days with Bethany and Hunter. Both awesome kids, both created in the image of God, both loved and valued for who they are. And very different from each other. As the "parent", it was really obvious that a major difference is in their response to being asked to do things.
When I asked Bethany if she wanted to do some of her homework, she took my asking as a suggestion and pleasantly agreed that she would do a journal entry as soon as she finished making a bracelet. Ten minutes later, with no further prompting, she was sitting at the table working away.
When I asked Hunter if he could please get dressed, he appeared not to hear me. He didn't make eye contact or respond in any way. When I asked him to slow down and look at me, he still didn't respond to my question. When I sent him downstairs to choose a shirt and pants, he took off running only to get caught up in play in the basement. He wasn't really deliberately rude, just completely preoccupied with his own agenda and conveniently oblivious to mine. He never did get dressed until I threw his clothes into the bathroom, took his hand and guided him in there, and closed the door.
So I imagine that parenting two kids whose responses and response time are so vastly different can be hard. They are not just different, clearly one behavior is more desirable as the parent. It would be difficult, but important, to not let the fact that you've got one really low-maintenance kid affect how you deal with the higher maintenance one. A bit idealistic, but necessary, I think. Expectations should be present, but living up to his sister in that area should not be the goal. And he's also got to know that there are things he's awesome at; that he's not a disappointment in any way.
Looking at my own kids, their listening skills are about at the same level. But it's very obvious that Emerson is naturally funnier than Niko. He is just silly and goofy in so many ways. He hilarious without even trying. Adults get such a kick out of him - the entertainer.
Yet when Niko does some of the exact same things, he's seen as obnoxious or annoying and sometimes we even scold him. Because he's older. Because he's louder. Because he's bigger. Because he's wilder. But the becauses don't really matter. We need to be aware of the area in which one is strong and one is weaker and have reasonable, attainable expectations. And he's also got to know that there are things he's awesome at; that he's not a disappointment in any way.
Niko needs to know that I love him for exactly who he is, enjoy watching him use his strengths, am proud of
him for working to learn and grow, and will always be willing to help him with his weaknesses.
Emerson needs to know that I love him for exactly who he is, enjoy watching him use his strengths, am proud of him for working to learn and grow, and will always be willing to help him with his weaknesses.
Lachlan needs to know that I love him for exactly who he is, enjoy watching him use his strengths, am proud of him for working to learn and grow, and will always be willing to help him with his weaknesses.
Monday, 27 January 2014
Six is a Lot
We've had Bethany, Hunter, and Anderson for two nights and parts of three days. And it turns out, not at all surprisingly, that six kids is a lot. But also, six kids is not that bad. It has been fun. The multi-tasker in me has enjoyed being on top of
who still needs to change
which 2-year-old last peed when
whose boots are where
who is due for a bath
where those socks were left
how long Bethany has read
whose hands are still sticky
who picked the movie yesterday
who likes their food all separate
which homework still needs to be done
etc
Bernie has been a really good sport and support. Barring any major disasters in the next few hours, I think we'd do this again if they asked. And as far as not-my-kids are concerned, B, H & A are really great. :) I'm glad we could do this for Andrew and Alison. I love that we can be generous in this way.
who still needs to change
which 2-year-old last peed when
whose boots are where
who is due for a bath
where those socks were left
how long Bethany has read
whose hands are still sticky
who picked the movie yesterday
who likes their food all separate
which homework still needs to be done
etc
Bernie has been a really good sport and support. Barring any major disasters in the next few hours, I think we'd do this again if they asked. And as far as not-my-kids are concerned, B, H & A are really great. :) I'm glad we could do this for Andrew and Alison. I love that we can be generous in this way.
Friday, 24 January 2014
Niko's Sensitive Soul
"Mommy, I love you too much," he says as he tries to let go of me and head to preschool. Every separation is so hard for him. Sometimes I roll my eyes, but I also find it his sensitive soul precious to no end.
On the outside, you would never notice N's sensitivity. He's rough-and-tumble, rowdy, reckless, and rambunctious. He loves to wrestle with H, play chase with E, roughhouse with Daddy, learn any sport, play until he's sweaty, and tumble in the grass. But hiding underneath that all-boy exterior, he's a softy.
When we leave him with a babysitter, N hugs both Bernie and I at least three times each.
While he is playing with E, he will often lean over to give "Emmy" a headlock-style hug and kiss.
If he's the first one to hear L wake up he will go in and lay down beside "Lachie-bear" and hold his hands.
He will randomly look at me across the table and say "I love you."
He seeks our approval and is so proud to show us his accomplishments.
He breaks down in tears of sadness far more often than those of anger.
He cannot handle an antagonist in a book or movie and gets very concerned when they are deliberately mean.
He built the Lego set we got him for his birthday, but wouldn't take the robbers that went with the motorcycle out of the package.
Thank you, Jesus, for entrusting me with this gentle spirit. May I show him that this part of him is from you and that he need never be ashamed of it.
Let your gentleness be evident to all. - Philippians 4:5
On the outside, you would never notice N's sensitivity. He's rough-and-tumble, rowdy, reckless, and rambunctious. He loves to wrestle with H, play chase with E, roughhouse with Daddy, learn any sport, play until he's sweaty, and tumble in the grass. But hiding underneath that all-boy exterior, he's a softy.
When we leave him with a babysitter, N hugs both Bernie and I at least three times each.
While he is playing with E, he will often lean over to give "Emmy" a headlock-style hug and kiss.
If he's the first one to hear L wake up he will go in and lay down beside "Lachie-bear" and hold his hands.
He will randomly look at me across the table and say "I love you."
He seeks our approval and is so proud to show us his accomplishments.
He breaks down in tears of sadness far more often than those of anger.
He cannot handle an antagonist in a book or movie and gets very concerned when they are deliberately mean.
He built the Lego set we got him for his birthday, but wouldn't take the robbers that went with the motorcycle out of the package.
Thank you, Jesus, for entrusting me with this gentle spirit. May I show him that this part of him is from you and that he need never be ashamed of it.
Let your gentleness be evident to all. - Philippians 4:5
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