Evolution of a Disciplinarian
Posted by Danielle Bean in Family on Thursday, May 28, 2009
Dan and I used to be the only disciplinarians in our family. With older kids in the house now, though, often there are a number of us shepherding the littlest ones.
Much of the time, I find this useful. I’ll take all the help I can get. After all, it has recently come to my attention that I have become an old softy.
After baths the other evening, I was scrambling to get the wood floors swept. It... READ MORE
Simple Joys
Posted by Rachel Balducci in Family on Wednesday, May 06, 2009
Last night, Henry sat on my lap during family prayers. He can now fold his hands while we pray and as I peered down to see his chubby fingers pressed perfectly against each other, his thumbs neatly crossed, I had the same thought over and over.
“Is there anything as delicious,” I marvelled, “as a toddler’s hands?”
What a sweet moment. This moment balanced out nicely the ways things went the other day.... READ MORE
Treasuring Today
Posted by Arwen Mosher in Family on Thursday, March 26, 2009
I love being a mother, but there are some aspects of it which I did not anticipate before Camilla was born.
For instance, I did not realize just how much a baby would NEED me.
Camilla nursed every hour and a half. She would only sleep at night on my arm. She had such severe separation anxiety that I couldn’t leave her with Bryan and go to the bathroom without having to listen to her wail.
It was... READ MORE
You Called Me… What?
Posted by Arwen Mosher in Family on Thursday, February 26, 2009
A few mornings ago Camilla woke me with her face in mine.
“Mom,” she said, “I’m going to go find Daddy.” Then she toddled off to find her father, that generous man having gotten up with the baby so I could get an extra hour of sleep.
My sleep-addled brain knew there was something unusual about this, but it took a few minutes before it dawned on me: she called me “Mom.”
Wait a minute! What is my... READ MORE
Fun with Toddlers
Posted by Rachel Balducci in Family on Thursday, February 26, 2009
Henry is 19-months-old! His next oldest brother is about to be seven. It’s been a while since I’ve had a toddler so I was thinking we could discuss fun activities for this age. It’s a tricky age because a 19-month-old is now too big for a lot of activities but still too small for many others.
So! What works for you? This morning we tried water colors, which was fun (turned into gigantic mess, but that’s cool) and there is also block sorting and hmmm, climbing on the dining room table and also getting into my make-up.
Any other ideas for good activities that can occupy a toddler while mommy leaves the room for a second or two?
A Strange Strategy
Posted by Arwen Mosher in Family on Thursday, February 19, 2009
I’m an optimist, and I generally expect good things out of life.
However, recently I have learned a useful lesson, and this is it:
Sometimes having lowered expectations can make otherwise insignificant events into happy surprises. Since in tough times it’s the small triumphs that keep you going, this is a good thing.
Over the weekend Blaise’s reflux ramped up and he quit sleeping more than one hour... READ MORE
Big Babies
Posted by Danielle Bean in Family on Tuesday, February 10, 2009
He was whiny again. The days during which a two and a half year old experiments with giving up his naps are nearly always whiny ones.
I have built up a high tolerance for whining over the years. Sometimes it’s best to ignore it, I have discovered, but sometimes it’s best to nip it in the bud with punishment or distraction. Other times, though, I think it’s important to address the very real needs... READ MORE
Oh, the Shame!
Posted by Danielle Bean in Family on Friday, January 30, 2009
When you have oatmeal for breakfast, and then you paint with water colors, and then you try out your older brother’s big boy cup without a lid ...
Your mother won’t be able to keep up with your laundry production.
And by 10:00 am, this will be your only clothing option while you wait for the dryer to run.
Old Friends
Posted by Danielle Bean in Family on Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Does your child have a favorite lovey?
When our oldest daughter was a toddler, she had a stuffed bunny that went everywhere she did. I’ll never forget the looooong night Bunny once spent at the library where she had forgotten him.
You had better believe we were waiting on the front steps the following morning when the librarian arrived to open the place.
Since then, we’ve seen many favorite stuffed... READ MORE
Trouble
Posted by Danielle Bean in Family on Wednesday, January 07, 2009
I know what you’re thinking.
How could the boy behind these eyes be any kind of trouble at all?
Well, I’ll tell you how. By refusing to sleep, that’s how.
Maybe it was the crazy lack of anything resembling a daily routine we observed during the Christmas season.
Maybe it was the fact that even though he has been capable of getting out of his bed for many months now, the other day he finally had the... READ MORE
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