Note to self: don't try new resolutions in May (the craziest month for moms-- how did I forget?). I absolutely have not done one single thing on my organization and bugdet this whole week.
Highlights of the last two days: walk with the kids to school, time alone with baby on the way home (dad home with girls), listening to birds, the hum of bugs, and the wind rustling the grass. He was so cute-- just drank it in.
Books with the little ones in the car during kindergarten testing. Baby kept leaning on the steering wheel and a loud blare would issue from the horn. Three year old fell backward off the console, all I could see were the bottoms of her upturned purple tennies and a muffled "I'm okay!" The rain was pattering on our roof as we read Harold and the Purple Crayon. I love the sound of rain when I'm inside....ahh....but then we had to venture outside. I must have been saying "OOOhhh! Ooooohh!" because the baby started copying me--OOO OOOO-- with his lips in the cutest little chubby circle shape. We were soaked but they didn't seem to mind.
Had a nap snuggled up with baby while older girls watched a string of Little Bear and more, rain tapping on our roof. We needed the rest! Baby still getting over ear infection and mom tired from a super busy week, still adjusting to getting up early and exercising.
Friday, May 18, 2012
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Busy Times
We have had a busy week!
Some highlights: rocking my sleeping baby, his head on my chest, as he relaxed for the first time in a while. Listening to my six year old sing in her sweet off key voice, as I turned on a kids CD in the car instead of my usual mom-stuff. Lots of assorted loving cards and gifts from my cuties for mother's day-- my 10 year old son made me a bracelet out of paper clips and rubber bands. I love it. So thankful for the little moments.
Some highlights: rocking my sleeping baby, his head on my chest, as he relaxed for the first time in a while. Listening to my six year old sing in her sweet off key voice, as I turned on a kids CD in the car instead of my usual mom-stuff. Lots of assorted loving cards and gifts from my cuties for mother's day-- my 10 year old son made me a bracelet out of paper clips and rubber bands. I love it. So thankful for the little moments.
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
To Beg, Borrow, and Steal (Time)
I've learned in the last two weeks that certain days are my melt-down days. These are usually the days I have the most scheduled (of course I've also noticed melt down days are when I wait too long to make dinner, stay up too late the night before, or put my kiddos to bed too late). So I brainstormed a few ideas for quality time on days that I'm more harried. Of course, I have to be careful; there is always more do clean in my house than I can ever clean in one day, more to organize, more to do than I can ever get done. I can't wait until things are "done" to spend time with the kids because things are never done. These are just ideas for days with unforeseen events or other meltdown igniters.
Ways to squeeze in quality time on a busy day:
1. Have children help make dinner.
Yesterday I decided to turn our pile of over-ripe oranges into orange juice. My six year old (Maia) asked if she could help. I had a moment's hesitation-- my procrastinating self again! Ideally I want to let my children help but I don't want to clean up the mess. I let her help, and you know what, she was thrilled, and she only took a quick turn at juicing and she'd had enough. We all enjoyed the fruits of our labors. :)
2. Listen to a children's audio book in the car or while folding clothes. Here are some I like: http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/433399-corinne
3. Make the most of a moment I have in the normal course of a day, like a walk to school, to learn about my child's interests, fears, or concerns or to look around at things we don't normally pay attention to. Had one of these yesterday-- I noticed how gorgeous and fluffy white the clouds were! We spent five minutes watching the clouds swirl and puffing and tried to find shapes in the clouds. As simple as this seems, I'd never done this with my littlest ones, and I can't remember the last time I really looked at the clouds.
4. Eat meals together. In our family the books are more of a temptation than the TV...have to get everyone to shut their books so we can talk!
5. Take my child with me, if possible. I play the organ at church and used to take one child with me each Sunday a little early in order to practice but it was fun bonding time being together, even though we couldn't interact the whole time. (and my kids loved it; always fought over who came)
6. Let them help me shop, and instead of focusing on the destination, find something fun to help us enjoy the moment. (teach them about prices, let them help find something, race down the aisles when no one is watching)
7. Make the most of wait times-- in the car, grocery store check out lines, at the soccer game-- to connect with my child.
Last night at dinner, someone started the "what do you want to be when you grow up?" game. Everyone chose something fairly predictable, until it got to my three year-old, who said "I want to be a horse!" We laughed and laughed.
Ways to squeeze in quality time on a busy day:
1. Have children help make dinner.
Yesterday I decided to turn our pile of over-ripe oranges into orange juice. My six year old (Maia) asked if she could help. I had a moment's hesitation-- my procrastinating self again! Ideally I want to let my children help but I don't want to clean up the mess. I let her help, and you know what, she was thrilled, and she only took a quick turn at juicing and she'd had enough. We all enjoyed the fruits of our labors. :)
2. Listen to a children's audio book in the car or while folding clothes. Here are some I like: http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/433399-corinne
3. Make the most of a moment I have in the normal course of a day, like a walk to school, to learn about my child's interests, fears, or concerns or to look around at things we don't normally pay attention to. Had one of these yesterday-- I noticed how gorgeous and fluffy white the clouds were! We spent five minutes watching the clouds swirl and puffing and tried to find shapes in the clouds. As simple as this seems, I'd never done this with my littlest ones, and I can't remember the last time I really looked at the clouds.
4. Eat meals together. In our family the books are more of a temptation than the TV...have to get everyone to shut their books so we can talk!
5. Take my child with me, if possible. I play the organ at church and used to take one child with me each Sunday a little early in order to practice but it was fun bonding time being together, even though we couldn't interact the whole time. (and my kids loved it; always fought over who came)
6. Let them help me shop, and instead of focusing on the destination, find something fun to help us enjoy the moment. (teach them about prices, let them help find something, race down the aisles when no one is watching)
7. Make the most of wait times-- in the car, grocery store check out lines, at the soccer game-- to connect with my child.
Last night at dinner, someone started the "what do you want to be when you grow up?" game. Everyone chose something fairly predictable, until it got to my three year-old, who said "I want to be a horse!" We laughed and laughed.
Monday, May 7, 2012
QT Thanks to a QT
Quality time yesterday thanks to husband: flying kites and peach shakes. I think they were his best peach shakes yet.
Sunday, May 6, 2012
Little Blessings
Up late (little girl watches We Bought a Zoo with us....she had a late nap), not much room in the bed last night :), but when I woke up they looked like angels.
Saturday, May 5, 2012
Oreos For Breakfast
This week started out stressful but got better; I'm seeing positive changes in the kids and in myself since I started my project two weeks ago.
Thought I'd report on the collateral items I've been working on that affect my parenting; the first one I'm calling the Facebook antidote (symbolic of overuse of technology to connect with others):
1. Get outside (been taking short walks, i.e. the bus stop... this has been good for the kids too)
2. Interact with more people face to face (saw 5 neighbors on short walk with Tinkerbell; more quality time with kids & husband is increasing all of our bonded-ness)
3. Spend quality alone time (sitting at my kitchen table one day, discovered the great view)
Trying to improve my energy levels by getting up early and exercising; mostly successful this week, even fit into some cute pants, though the button kept popping open every time I bent over (which I discovered is a lot).
Also working on relationship with spouse by getting out more often (something we're really bad at): went out last night with friends for a quick dinner and walk. Super yummy berry salad, great conversation, walking as a flashlight-beam moon rose over mountains. Kids were excited to see us when we got home and I was glad to see them! It was just what we needed. Missed our normal Friday night movie night with the kids, which made me sad-- maybe we can go out on a different day (even a week day) next time.
Kids to bed earlier-- another goal -- this one was mixed. Some nights are hard with homework, stories, or activities that push too close to bedtime. But even the nights we did get them to bed early helped (probably about half the nights).
What do you modify in your life to give you more energy for what is most important to you?
A good character is the best tombstone. Those who loved you and were helped by you will remember you when the forget-me-nots have withered. Carve your name on hearts, not on marble.
Thought I'd report on the collateral items I've been working on that affect my parenting; the first one I'm calling the Facebook antidote (symbolic of overuse of technology to connect with others):
1. Get outside (been taking short walks, i.e. the bus stop... this has been good for the kids too)
2. Interact with more people face to face (saw 5 neighbors on short walk with Tinkerbell; more quality time with kids & husband is increasing all of our bonded-ness)
3. Spend quality alone time (sitting at my kitchen table one day, discovered the great view)
Trying to improve my energy levels by getting up early and exercising; mostly successful this week, even fit into some cute pants, though the button kept popping open every time I bent over (which I discovered is a lot).
Also working on relationship with spouse by getting out more often (something we're really bad at): went out last night with friends for a quick dinner and walk. Super yummy berry salad, great conversation, walking as a flashlight-beam moon rose over mountains. Kids were excited to see us when we got home and I was glad to see them! It was just what we needed. Missed our normal Friday night movie night with the kids, which made me sad-- maybe we can go out on a different day (even a week day) next time.
Kids to bed earlier-- another goal -- this one was mixed. Some nights are hard with homework, stories, or activities that push too close to bedtime. But even the nights we did get them to bed early helped (probably about half the nights).
What do you modify in your life to give you more energy for what is most important to you?
A good character is the best tombstone. Those who loved you and were helped by you will remember you when the forget-me-nots have withered. Carve your name on hearts, not on marble.
-- Charles H. Spurgeon
Friday, May 4, 2012
Tinkerbell the Good Fairy
I had a friend in need of some help so we canvassed a neighborhood for her. This was our quality time today. We walked by some horses I used to take this little girl to see when she was only six months old. I can't believe how quickly she's changed! I'm glad I'm trying to make the most of our time together.
She loved putting the fliers on people's doors; her princess cape would float behind her (it also got caught in the stroller wheel a few times; reminded me of the demise of super heroes with capes in The Incredibles). It was a gorgeous crisp golden sunshine spring morning...couldn't help but love my new resolution to be outside (so glad we walked instead of drove! We would have missed out on so much!)-- got a little sentimental watching my little princess; tried to memorize the moment.
I hope we can do things like this for quality time periodically to help her develop empathy and get in the habit of helping others!
Oh but what is was to be a child, to be a child! To have
the roads and the days all stretching out forward and upward and away,
not one of them yet missed or wasted or repented.
Everything in the world a newness and a novelty,
as it once was to the first beings of all creation.”
--Gary Jennings
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