Today's freebies:
1) Free Chocolate Bars ! ! ! (who doesn't love chocolate?)
Visit this link here and get yours today !!
2) For the Kids:
>> Kids song " I can do it myself " by Miss Amy
>> Lowe's Build and Grow clinics
Happy Friday !!
Friday, June 26, 2009
Freebie Fridays !!!
Every friday, I will be posting freebie items on my blog, so check back next friday for more freebies !
Mumblings of a toddler . . .
a look at yesterday's events through my toddlers eyes . . .
In the morning, I was washing some dishes and I picked up a used knife to wash and he kept telling me “NOOO Mama, don’t wash THAT knife”. I asked him why not and he said “That’s Papa’s knife”. Then, he started to tell me “don’t touch knife. It’s sharp. Danger!” I guess he has been listening to me when I’ve been telling him that he shouldn't touch knives.
Before his afternoon nap, I was reading a book to him and while reading (there was a reference to a mother and son in the story) I told him that he is my son. He told me (very loudly) “NOOOOO, I’m Ashwyn”. I repeated, “Ashwyn, you are my son”. He replied “No sun, Mama. Cloud” while looking out his window to the sky (funny little toddlers :)
Later in the evening, I was cutting up some onions for dinner and he started telling me loudly “Papa cut onions. No Mama, Noooo.” He’d seen my husband cook dinner the past 2 nights, so he assumed my husband is the only one that is allowed to be in the kitchen (that's a brilliant idea too, I thought :). In the past, when he had seen me in the kitchen many days in a row, he would push me into the kitchen and say “Mama, go kitchen”.
Even if we are not explaining things to toddlers, they are doing their own observations and that calls for us (adults) to be even more diligent about our words and actions when we are around them. Little eyes are watching and hearing your every move – that’s a scary little thought! :)
In the morning, I was washing some dishes and I picked up a used knife to wash and he kept telling me “NOOO Mama, don’t wash THAT knife”. I asked him why not and he said “That’s Papa’s knife”. Then, he started to tell me “don’t touch knife. It’s sharp. Danger!” I guess he has been listening to me when I’ve been telling him that he shouldn't touch knives.
Before his afternoon nap, I was reading a book to him and while reading (there was a reference to a mother and son in the story) I told him that he is my son. He told me (very loudly) “NOOOOO, I’m Ashwyn”. I repeated, “Ashwyn, you are my son”. He replied “No sun, Mama. Cloud” while looking out his window to the sky (funny little toddlers :)
Later in the evening, I was cutting up some onions for dinner and he started telling me loudly “Papa cut onions. No Mama, Noooo.” He’d seen my husband cook dinner the past 2 nights, so he assumed my husband is the only one that is allowed to be in the kitchen (that's a brilliant idea too, I thought :). In the past, when he had seen me in the kitchen many days in a row, he would push me into the kitchen and say “Mama, go kitchen”.
Even if we are not explaining things to toddlers, they are doing their own observations and that calls for us (adults) to be even more diligent about our words and actions when we are around them. Little eyes are watching and hearing your every move – that’s a scary little thought! :)
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Little smiles . . . Big Impact
How is it possible that a small person's smile can have such a big impact on us? When I see my kids smile at me, I’m so intoxicated by it. I could be having the worst day of the week and just seeing the smiles makes me feel all better. How can just a smile cheer up your whole day? It’s like a drug to cure any problem.
What is it about a child’s smile that’s so endearing to us? Is it their innocence or the purity of their heart? When a child smiles at you, you never have to second guess their intentions; you know that they are smiling at you for the right reasons. And the babies that can talk, it is so amazing that they are able to feel you and say the right things. If I’m not having a good day, my toddler can sense that and he would do funny dances and acts to make me smile. And If I pretend to be sad, he gives me company to be sad (he usually says “Ashwyn sad too”).
As we grow up, these smiles get less noticeable. When I’m out with the kids, strangers are always smiling and talking to them. But, if I’m out by myself, I notice less of these smiles and sometimes even when I give someone a smile, I don’t always get one in return. Could this be because adults smile at each other with different intentions or they don’t really intend to smile but do anyways just to be polite? The innocence years…how blissful are those! :)
What is it about a child’s smile that’s so endearing to us? Is it their innocence or the purity of their heart? When a child smiles at you, you never have to second guess their intentions; you know that they are smiling at you for the right reasons. And the babies that can talk, it is so amazing that they are able to feel you and say the right things. If I’m not having a good day, my toddler can sense that and he would do funny dances and acts to make me smile. And If I pretend to be sad, he gives me company to be sad (he usually says “Ashwyn sad too”).
As we grow up, these smiles get less noticeable. When I’m out with the kids, strangers are always smiling and talking to them. But, if I’m out by myself, I notice less of these smiles and sometimes even when I give someone a smile, I don’t always get one in return. Could this be because adults smile at each other with different intentions or they don’t really intend to smile but do anyways just to be polite? The innocence years…how blissful are those! :)
Thursday, June 18, 2009
To Montessori or Not to Montessori . . .?
That is the question that has been plaguing my mind the past few weeks. Last year I faced a similar dilemma when I decided that I was going to enroll my son in a “school” setting for the first time. Although we love the ‘traditional’ preschool that he attended last year, I thought I would explore the Montessori system once more.
I thought that I had read enough about the Montessori philosophy and understood how it worked, but after visiting a nearby Montessori, I realized that there’s more to ‘Montessori’ than the name suggests. First, there are all kinds of organizations under which a Montessori school can be accredited. Second, the teachers need to have the Montessori training as well. However, I’ve discovered that just because a preschool has the word “Montessori” in its name does not mean that it IS an authentic Montessori school even if they do “try” to practice some of Dr. Maria Montessori’s philosophy. The problem is that “Montessori” is not trademarked or copyrighted, so anyone is free to use the word as they wish.
Sadly, the Montessori that I visited was not accredited or was affiliated with any of the Montessori associations. Also, I found out that the school I had visited had teachers whose background checks were not performed and teachers that didn’t even have the proper Montessori training. Good thing I did my research before I pulled my son out of a place that we liked.
There are Montessori ‘schools’ being run out of people’s homes – so that made me think, why not out of my home? Okay, so I don’t have the Montessori training but the whole thing with Montessori is that, we are teaching our kids through a certain philosophy, right? Having reviewed the Montessori methods, I realized that I have been doing a lot of it at home anyways.
Are limitations on creativity necessary at this age? I saw a video of a 2 year old transferring objects from one container to another every SO properly and seeing that made me think if we are setting ourselves up for OCD kids? I saw that boy transfer the item several times but at some point he forgot to use the spoon to transfer the item and he put the item back, picked up his spoon and started transferring again. If everything has to be exactly right, then what happens later in life when things are not right? And is the spoon the only way to transfer that item? I'm not sure how creativity or problem solving skills are encouraged if you HAVE to do things in one certain way. If Montessori method is such a great way of learning, why is it not in every public school? Surely, there are enough Montessori trained teachers out there looking for jobs.
Maybe I need to learn more about the Montessori phenomenon but does a toddler need to go to school the whole day to learn Montessori? That brings me to my other concerns about sending my son to full day of Montessori; he would be taking a nap on a little cot, and since he’s a picky eater, I would have no assurance that he actually ate his lunch (no one other than a mother can sit for hours begging her child to eat). So, for right now, we have decided that our little toddler would sleep in his full size bed and have the occasional lunch battles with M.O.M (Master of Multitasking) :)
For those who are interested in learning more about "The Montessori Method", the book written by Maria Montessori can be downloaded for free here
I thought that I had read enough about the Montessori philosophy and understood how it worked, but after visiting a nearby Montessori, I realized that there’s more to ‘Montessori’ than the name suggests. First, there are all kinds of organizations under which a Montessori school can be accredited. Second, the teachers need to have the Montessori training as well. However, I’ve discovered that just because a preschool has the word “Montessori” in its name does not mean that it IS an authentic Montessori school even if they do “try” to practice some of Dr. Maria Montessori’s philosophy. The problem is that “Montessori” is not trademarked or copyrighted, so anyone is free to use the word as they wish.
Sadly, the Montessori that I visited was not accredited or was affiliated with any of the Montessori associations. Also, I found out that the school I had visited had teachers whose background checks were not performed and teachers that didn’t even have the proper Montessori training. Good thing I did my research before I pulled my son out of a place that we liked.
There are Montessori ‘schools’ being run out of people’s homes – so that made me think, why not out of my home? Okay, so I don’t have the Montessori training but the whole thing with Montessori is that, we are teaching our kids through a certain philosophy, right? Having reviewed the Montessori methods, I realized that I have been doing a lot of it at home anyways.
Are limitations on creativity necessary at this age? I saw a video of a 2 year old transferring objects from one container to another every SO properly and seeing that made me think if we are setting ourselves up for OCD kids? I saw that boy transfer the item several times but at some point he forgot to use the spoon to transfer the item and he put the item back, picked up his spoon and started transferring again. If everything has to be exactly right, then what happens later in life when things are not right? And is the spoon the only way to transfer that item? I'm not sure how creativity or problem solving skills are encouraged if you HAVE to do things in one certain way. If Montessori method is such a great way of learning, why is it not in every public school? Surely, there are enough Montessori trained teachers out there looking for jobs.
Maybe I need to learn more about the Montessori phenomenon but does a toddler need to go to school the whole day to learn Montessori? That brings me to my other concerns about sending my son to full day of Montessori; he would be taking a nap on a little cot, and since he’s a picky eater, I would have no assurance that he actually ate his lunch (no one other than a mother can sit for hours begging her child to eat). So, for right now, we have decided that our little toddler would sleep in his full size bed and have the occasional lunch battles with M.O.M (Master of Multitasking) :)
For those who are interested in learning more about "The Montessori Method", the book written by Maria Montessori can be downloaded for free here
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Kids = Sign away privacy
This is kind of embarrassing for me to write about...but... it's my life !!
I would have never imagined 5 years ago that I would be sitting in the bathroom with barely enough room for my feet. As if my bathroom wasn't small enough, I needed to furnish it with a bathroom scale, a toddler's potty, a baby's bathtub, a chair (because step stools are not high enough to reach the sink and it's the only place available to sit when my toddler accompanies me), and a baby bouncer !
Don't I deserve some potty privacy and space too like my -- ahem! not naming any names, but you know who you are...I can hear you snoring :)
Sometimes I wonder what I've gotten myself into being a stay-at-home mom. Really?
Am I a stay-at-home mom ........or......... a stay-at-home cook? ........or......... a stay-at-home maid? ........or......... a stay-at-home teacher? ........or......... a stay-at-home keeper-of-all-things? (applies to my dear husband as well) ........or......... (I could go on forever).
I guess i'm all of that, but I don't remember signing on any dotted line that said "you are now signing away every bit of your privacy" (I could have used that annoying "are you sure you want to sign this ?" pop up).
When did going to the bathroom become a tossup game? And when did a meal meant whatever you can get your hands on (and I mean, WHATEVER ! Time for a confession: I have lied to my son about his mac 'n cheese that magically disappeared)
How could taking a shower be the highlight of your day? When you are a stay-at-home mom, you look forward to that 5 mins of serenity. Eating meals on time is not always a possibility but when you do get it...AND you can eat it in peace, even the broccoli's taste so delicious !
But, funny as it sounds, I don't want to trade my life for anything else... weird, right? I know ! When I see the smiles on my cuties or see their accomplishments (yes, peeing INSIDE the potty is a GREAT accomplishment !), I feel so privileged that I can experience all of their 'firsts' and all of the other priceless moments.
My rugrats are WAY too cute and adorable...BUT.... { yes, there is always that at the end of my sentences...} :)
I would have never imagined 5 years ago that I would be sitting in the bathroom with barely enough room for my feet. As if my bathroom wasn't small enough, I needed to furnish it with a bathroom scale, a toddler's potty, a baby's bathtub, a chair (because step stools are not high enough to reach the sink and it's the only place available to sit when my toddler accompanies me), and a baby bouncer !
Don't I deserve some potty privacy and space too like my -- ahem! not naming any names, but you know who you are...I can hear you snoring :)
Sometimes I wonder what I've gotten myself into being a stay-at-home mom. Really?
Am I a stay-at-home mom ........or......... a stay-at-home cook? ........or......... a stay-at-home maid? ........or......... a stay-at-home teacher? ........or......... a stay-at-home keeper-of-all-things? (applies to my dear husband as well) ........or......... (I could go on forever).
I guess i'm all of that, but I don't remember signing on any dotted line that said "you are now signing away every bit of your privacy" (I could have used that annoying "are you sure you want to sign this ?" pop up).
When did going to the bathroom become a tossup game? And when did a meal meant whatever you can get your hands on (and I mean, WHATEVER ! Time for a confession: I have lied to my son about his mac 'n cheese that magically disappeared)
How could taking a shower be the highlight of your day? When you are a stay-at-home mom, you look forward to that 5 mins of serenity. Eating meals on time is not always a possibility but when you do get it...AND you can eat it in peace, even the broccoli's taste so delicious !
But, funny as it sounds, I don't want to trade my life for anything else... weird, right? I know ! When I see the smiles on my cuties or see their accomplishments (yes, peeing INSIDE the potty is a GREAT accomplishment !), I feel so privileged that I can experience all of their 'firsts' and all of the other priceless moments.
My rugrats are WAY too cute and adorable...BUT.... { yes, there is always that at the end of my sentences...} :)
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
I want BIG money ... please !
Is it too early to discuss money with small children (say, a three year old)?
Although my toddler doesn't quite grasp the idea of money or how much he REALLY has in his piggy bank, he sure knows that he wants lots of it. When we gave him a dime instead of his usual penny to put in his piggy bank, he thought we were giving him less money because the dime was smaller in size than the penny. And he insisted that we give him "big money".
When I was growing up, I knew the concept of saving money but I didn't really understand what was really done with the money on a day to day basis or how to manage it, for that matter. I want to change that and go further with my kids and teach them about money. I want to teach them that spending is just as vital as savings. What is the point of saving all your money if you never spend it? When I was little, I wanted to save and save ... and save even more. Perhaps that 'saving' mindset has made me turn into the coupon clipper that I am today.
I want my kids to be smart with their money and spend it wisely. Mismanaged money has caused a lot of people to be homeless or lose almost everything. The one course I would have used in life was not taught in my engineering program–money management. I’m hoping that I can be a good teacher to my kids and I will be delighted when they protest for their penny allowances :)
Although my toddler doesn't quite grasp the idea of money or how much he REALLY has in his piggy bank, he sure knows that he wants lots of it. When we gave him a dime instead of his usual penny to put in his piggy bank, he thought we were giving him less money because the dime was smaller in size than the penny. And he insisted that we give him "big money".
When I was growing up, I knew the concept of saving money but I didn't really understand what was really done with the money on a day to day basis or how to manage it, for that matter. I want to change that and go further with my kids and teach them about money. I want to teach them that spending is just as vital as savings. What is the point of saving all your money if you never spend it? When I was little, I wanted to save and save ... and save even more. Perhaps that 'saving' mindset has made me turn into the coupon clipper that I am today.
I want my kids to be smart with their money and spend it wisely. Mismanaged money has caused a lot of people to be homeless or lose almost everything. The one course I would have used in life was not taught in my engineering program–money management. I’m hoping that I can be a good teacher to my kids and I will be delighted when they protest for their penny allowances :)
Sunday, June 7, 2009
That's NOT our kid !!!
I see people turning their heads and giving me "the look". I look at my husband and he looks at me and we both are thinking to ourselves that this kid is NOT ours.
I have a toddler who has his own mind and he is not a 'quiet' one. Our toddler has figured out that Mama is not going to be giving him a time-out when we are at the grocery store. My toddler behaves in a certain way at home and another way when we are out. But then again, aren't we all like that? We all have our 'best' behavior and other behaviors. The fact that he is a toddler doesn't exclude him to express himself whether it is loud or angry. I admit, though, it does get to me at times as well, but isn't that what we want our children to excel at - expressions?
At school, our teachers want us to express ourselves through music, art, stories, and other things. So, why am I trying to block out my toddlers expressions instead of paying attention to it? I am trying to teach him how to behave in different places because our society has set the "acceptable" behaviors. It will take time for him to learn the differences and behave appropriately. In the mean time, I'd like to enjoy his innocence and sense of humor that only he has. My toddler is so funny and he says the darndest things that make me say "did he just say THAT?" or "how did he know to DO that?" His innocence is so inspiring and sometimes at a level beyond his age.
To these lookers, I say 'do you expect me to handcuff and tie down my child?' when i'm out of the house? I'm not running an army boot camp...or am I? :)
This is for you my #1 wild thing . . .
Wild thing
You make my
Heart sing
You make
Everything
Groo-vy
Wild thing
Wild thing ... I think I Love you !!!
I have a toddler who has his own mind and he is not a 'quiet' one. Our toddler has figured out that Mama is not going to be giving him a time-out when we are at the grocery store. My toddler behaves in a certain way at home and another way when we are out. But then again, aren't we all like that? We all have our 'best' behavior and other behaviors. The fact that he is a toddler doesn't exclude him to express himself whether it is loud or angry. I admit, though, it does get to me at times as well, but isn't that what we want our children to excel at - expressions?
At school, our teachers want us to express ourselves through music, art, stories, and other things. So, why am I trying to block out my toddlers expressions instead of paying attention to it? I am trying to teach him how to behave in different places because our society has set the "acceptable" behaviors. It will take time for him to learn the differences and behave appropriately. In the mean time, I'd like to enjoy his innocence and sense of humor that only he has. My toddler is so funny and he says the darndest things that make me say "did he just say THAT?" or "how did he know to DO that?" His innocence is so inspiring and sometimes at a level beyond his age.
To these lookers, I say 'do you expect me to handcuff and tie down my child?' when i'm out of the house? I'm not running an army boot camp...or am I? :)
This is for you my #1 wild thing . . .
Wild thing
You make my
Heart sing
You make
Everything
Groo-vy
Wild thing
Wild thing ... I think I Love you !!!
Friday, June 5, 2009
2 Extra Cranky Kids...TO GO, Please !!
Why haven't there been any advances in technology to decipher a baby’s cry? It’s all a guessing game even when it’s baby #2. Up until yesterday, I used to tell people that my baby is not fussy at all as long as he is fed and changed but that all changed overnight (literally !). He had been cranky since yesterday afternoon and I thought surely he would sleep through the night because he didn’t sleep much during the day. How could I have been ever SO wrong ?!? Wouldn’t it be just nice for babies to lay around and just let us know ever so gently that they are hungry or their diaper needs changing? But of course NOT ! That would just make this mom a little sane, wouldn’t it? And that can’t be !
It was raining in the night and my toddler got scared and he walked into my room carrying ALL of his stuffed animals at 3 AM. I don’t know how he opened the doors carrying all these toys. So, there I am lying in bed and trying not to fall out of bed with a toddler, infant and 4 stuffed animals (An octopus, a frog, a penguin and a car) – and I don’t have a king size bed either (I really wished I had one though).
So, I’m “trying” to sleep and WHAM ! I just got kicked in my tummy by my infant and I see that he is lying perpendicular to the bed. So, I slide him back in position and close my eyes again. Not too long after I hear the little one crying and what do I see? My toddler is now perpendicular to the bed and is comfortably using my infant as an ottoman !! AGAIN, I try to sleep after repositioning the kids. But of course that didn’t last long. I hear a whiny ‘mama’ call from my toddler for some water – at first I thought I was dreaming, but then I realized that in order to dream, you actually have to sleep :-\
It was raining in the night and my toddler got scared and he walked into my room carrying ALL of his stuffed animals at 3 AM. I don’t know how he opened the doors carrying all these toys. So, there I am lying in bed and trying not to fall out of bed with a toddler, infant and 4 stuffed animals (An octopus, a frog, a penguin and a car) – and I don’t have a king size bed either (I really wished I had one though).
So, I’m “trying” to sleep and WHAM ! I just got kicked in my tummy by my infant and I see that he is lying perpendicular to the bed. So, I slide him back in position and close my eyes again. Not too long after I hear the little one crying and what do I see? My toddler is now perpendicular to the bed and is comfortably using my infant as an ottoman !! AGAIN, I try to sleep after repositioning the kids. But of course that didn’t last long. I hear a whiny ‘mama’ call from my toddler for some water – at first I thought I was dreaming, but then I realized that in order to dream, you actually have to sleep :-\
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Hiss....hiss....my snake encounter!
Though it was a bit hot, what a beautiful today was. The kids and I were at the library for a children’s program and when we got back……THERE IT WAS……. slither……slither….hiss…hiss…. I couldn't breathe, I couldn't think, I couldn't believe my eyes! There were two black snakes charging toward my car door at the same time as I opened it to get out. My OH My!!! I freaked out! I froze for one whole millisecond. I knew that I had to do something quick because my two precious little ones were in the back seat. I closed the door as fast as I could and locked it (as if the snake would climb up my car door and open it) but I felt safe knowing that the door was locked. I sat in the car on our driveway and watched the two snakes. I was, to say the least, petrified. Then, one of the snakes moved and I jumped in my car but tried not to scream so that my toddler won’t get scared. I covered my mouth and let out a big whisper scream. I, then, called my dear husband – oh wait! He is 700 miles away – but still I called him (he IS a talented guy BUT could he scare away the snake over the phone? That’s the million dollar question!). As I talked to him, I got the courage to start the car (ya I know, I’m a wussy). Do these snakes think that they scare me and I’m too afraid to walk that LONG walk to the front door? YEP and I slowly backed out of my driveway.
So, now I’m parked on the street and have kept my eyes on the one snake who has decided to take a nap on MY driveway. I wanted to cry and scream and say WHY ME??? Why does a person who is scared of spiders have to face two very long black snakes inches away? Am I a walking Murphy’s Law? And how do I break that… do I keep walking and if so, for how long? I was only half thinking and that’s not a good thing when you are driving. Thank goodness I live in a ‘quiet and safe’ neighborhood. I was scrambling to figure out what to do and I thought this is an emergency (at least for me, it was) and called 9-1-1. The dispatcher ‘tried’ to calm me and told me that the snake must have been out since it’s a hot day and that it will just go on its way.
How long must I wait for his highness to wake up from his nap? Then, I see it slithering away towards my backyard (I think!). I took my eyes off the snake for a second to attend to my baby and then it was GONE! Though I was ecstatic to see it gone, now my worry was, could it be somewhere in my front yard. So, I decided to call one of my neighbors and have him come out and do an inspection before I walked that ever so long walk to the front door. It seems like I spend an eternity in the car but it was only for 10 or 15 minutes.
Will I ever feel 'safe' again in this neighborhood? Will I let my son out to play in the yard? Will I rush and put the house up for sale before my husband gets back in town? Ha ha ! Okay, so I won’t do any of that but I have put myself under house arrest for today and will be a little cautious when we are outside. What an adventure today was for this supermom !
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