HI! I have been willfully neglecting this blog for about five months now. Not that I was out to set any record. I feel like I owe some updates/pictures for anyone who still bothers to check. Of course, I am going to shamelessly promote this new post on Facebook, so...if you're reading this because my FB status told you to, well done. (I'm virtually patting you on the head right now)
Summer was awesome. We had a really nice routine of the YMCA in the mornings, lunch, then a movie for Wade while I did stuff, then dinner prep, dinner, and then whatever our evening plans entailed.
Lucy is just growing and growing. She's eating "people" food a lot now. She is also babbling like a dickens and is doing "sooooo big." I am wrapped around her little finger, she is just so charming.
Wade has turned into the best little guy. (of course I think this...I'm his mother) He is potty trained now (pretty much in one day, thankyouverymuch...whatever, it was totally him, not us!), and you can see how proud he is of his underpants in the picture. He also asks how Kevin's day at work was, checks in with me every so often to see how I'm doing, and generally tries to make sure Lucy is laughing at him. This effort can quickly turn into him knocking her down or bopping her a little too hard over the head. Violent Acts Toward Lucy (VATL...right...I tried to think of a cool acronym, but I'm too tired for that crap) are the main source of Wade's time-out sentences. And speaking of time-out...
So far the whole "no spanking" thing is working out great. I have to say that as 3 rolled around and Wade gained the ability to express his thoughts and opinions (read: Mommy and Daddy can no longer bang the proverbial gavel and have their way because nobody has the capacity to show opposition) I was having my doubts. Wade has his own sense of logic and justice, as do most three-year-olds, I would assume. Most frustrating might be when he desperately wants something, and we are trying to give it to him (ex: I want my flip flops, not my shoes), but he is in total melt-down because he is SURE that we are really trying to thwart his efforts to attain his want. Here is the conversation:
"I wanna wear flip flops out side."
"Okay, let's just get th..."
"NOOOOO..AAAHHHHHGGGGG (general sobbing) I want FLIFLOOAAAAAHHH"
"Alright (trying to be gentle and encouraging), here they are, lets put them on."
Mindless screaming about flipflops.
Effort to clarify that we are indeed able and willing to provide flip flops on feet.
More mindless body thrashing for flip flops.
Time Out.
I have to say that Kevin has really gotten good at the time out. I am now getting better, and I have to say that Wade is doing well with it now that we have ourselves in a predictable routine. In my support of the "time out" I was really amused at another mother at the Y a few weeks back. As we were leaving, a little girl from Wade's class and her mother were also headed out the door. Before we parted ways to our respective cars, the little girl (who, I should add, is not that little for her age...kind of a ginormous three-year-old) gave Wade a good shove. Noone was hurt, and truthfully, I didn't even see it happen. I just felt Wade trip into me a little bit. I turned to see what Wade wanted/tripped over, not realizing that he had been pushed, only to see the mother of this child slap her hand sharply and say "We do not hit." I almost started laughing (luckily, I was able to control myself). She must have meant: "You do not hit. I, on the other hand, may hit you when I deem it necessary as punishment for you hitting. But don't hit."
Okay, so I have drifted to a hot-button issue. I will not apologize. Ha. Do, however, feel free to comment or get your own blog so that you can post your hot little opinions. Lovely.
And for my spanking mommy and daddy friends, I am just getting my ya-yas out, and I think you are excellent parents and I believe that every parent has to do what works best for them and their children.
Let's diffuse any bad feelings here with some more recent pictures of my (unspanked) kids. These are from May, June and July. I will try to make some slideshows...but no promises. *grin*
