Just a quick post...sorry it's not my usual Raising Teenagers Series...we have been hit on three sides by HFMD (Hand, Foot & Mouth Disease) or commonly known as School Sores.
We need to rename it to Bottom, Hand, Foot & Mouth Disease as this is how it is presenting itself to us! Chook was the first to show signs. His tongue was covered in tiny white ulcers and he was having difficulty eating, poor wee soul. Strawberry has these ulcers/blisters on the palms of her hands and soles of her feet. She is coping really well, considering. Ooffa's bottom and thighs are covered, they're so close together you couldn't even play dot-to-dot. He has suffered the worst with pain.
So, I'm pulling back from blogging this week while my little family recovers.
Kids Co-op will be up as usual on Thursday.
See you all on the flip side! XOX
Kids Co-op #22
Welcome to the Kids Co-op!
Thanks to everyone who linked up last week. There was an amazing amount of bloggers who shared their awesome activities and ideas. I love seeing what everyone's been up to during the week. It is so inspiring. What a wonderful resource you all are for everyone with kids, teaching kids or caring for kids!
Here are this week's wonderful link-up's to this weeks Kids Co-op. Make yourself comfortable have a look around and if you have blogged about some unique family orientated fun or educational activity we'd love to see it! Link up and maybe get featured in next weeks showcase!
Other ways to keep abreast of happenings at the Kids Co-op:
Check out the Kids Co-op Facebook Page!
Into Pinning...Check out the Kids Co-op Pinterest Board.
Weekly Menu Plan
I cater for a family of six. We all eat the same meals, some adjustments are made for the littlies.
I use seasonal fruit and veggies. I am trying to stay away from as much processed food as possible, for the health of my family. I make all of these foods from scratch. I will try to get recipes up soon :)
2012 Family Weekly Menu Plan 4 - July
Here is the post on Snack Boxes and what is contained in them.
Want more! For extra content or to just keep up with the mayhem, like Triple T Mum's Facebook Page!
Subscribe to Triple T Mum by Email
Raising Teenagers: Giving Choices
When my teen first entered teenhood I suddenly had this strong desire to tighten the boundaries. Just as he was getting those wings out to fly, I wanted to clip them! I think it's probably a normal reaction to your children entering high school and adolescence. If you have a teen, did you feel this way when they hit this age?
Love and Logic expresses the view that we (parents) should "Relax our grip". The result will be a fun, reasonable and responsible teen. As our children grow older the boundaries should widen and the choices more consequential. Our role is to advise, ask questions and present options to our teens. It is then up to the teen to decide what course of action they will take.
Control is about boundaries. The tighter your boundaries are the tighter your control is, but this causes many a teen to rebel. The wider your boundaries the looser your control. Too loose and the teen might think you just don't care. So, we let them know we still care and are still here for them by staying involved through giving choices and discussion.
Pick your battles wisely
No parent wants to get into a fight with their teen, but I know of some teens that want to fight with us! If you find yourself arguing with your teen about music they like listening to, friends that they have, their school grades, clothing they wear, hair styles, silent walling you, outlandish remarks or anything else that is an expression of their individuality...DROP IT. Parents can't win these battles head-on. Parents can't monitor these things 24/7. If parents can't enforce something, teens soon lose respect for those parents.There are some teens that WANT you to argue about these things. It's a smoke screen to stop you from spending your energy fighting the more important battles. Parenting Teens With Love and Logic deals with the topic of troubled teens on pages 104 - 107. The book also addresses rebellion on pages 127 - 129.
Three rules for teens
Our boundaries as parents must be:1. Respect from our children.
2. How our homes function. Doing chores.
3. Acceptable grades in school.
Foster Cline & Jim Fay suggest you use these as your three household rules for your teen.
Giving choices
1. Only give choices that you as a parent like.2. Only give choices where the consequence can be enforced.
3. Only allow choices where the consequence doesn't result in danger to your teen.
4. Use effective questioning. Never give them a choice where the answer can be "No!". They must make a decision.
5. Follow through on what you say.
Look out for the third choice that teens love to put forward! Foster Cline and Jim Fay suggest you just repeat, "What were the choices?"
How's your teen responding to you giving choices? I am finding it difficult to find good consequences that help teach the lesson. What are you finding that works for you and your teen?
Want more! For extra content or to just keep up with the mayhem, like Triple T Mum's Facebook Page!
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Decluttering Junk Mail
I am not a fan of junk mail. I just don't see the point in it. All those catalgues and flyers that come through your letter box on an almost daily basis. I am just not interested.
There are two issues with junk mail. The environmental impact of it after we throw it out and the environmental impact of making it. Plus so much of it is not even relevant to our household! Of the 200 flyers and catalogues that comes through my letterbox, about 20 are relevant. That's 10%! The rest goes in the recycling bin. I am pleased that there are companies that are publishing their catalogues online.
My sanity tip this week is how I deal with the junk mail. I used to put it on the bench to deal with later but found this created piles that would then start a clutter infestation. Hands up if you're doing this!
I have found the best system to deal with the junk mail is to remove it from the letterbox and stand at the outside recycling blue bin and sort and toss right there. But sometimes circumstances find the junk coming inside and those circumstances usually mean I can't deal with the junk mail at that time.
To curb the pile making I have established a Junk Mail Station! The junk mail that comes in goes in this designated spot and when there's a spare moment it gets sorted. We have a recycling box at the bottom of our pantry which gets pulled out and I sort away! I have recently placed a paper shredder next to the junk mail station to shred any mail that has our name and address or would make great paper pulp.
Kids Co-op #21 & Showcase
Welcome to the Kids Co-op!
Thanks to everyone who linked up last week. There was an amazing amount of bloggers who shared their awesome activities and ideas. I love seeing what everyone's been up to during the week. It is so inspiring. What a wonderful resource you all are for everyone with kids, teaching kids or caring for kids!
Check out my favourites from last week's linky party!
Kara's Classroom shared an idea for setting up a small creative space to invite your children to draw on a daily basis.
Over on Rainbows Within Reach the talented Debbie shares with us some wonderful Humpty Dumpty art work created by students in K + Pre-K (for us Aussie's that's 4 to 6 year olds or Kindy & Pre-Primary).
Stay at Home Educator is giving Triple T Dad reason to celebrate. At last a whole post of ideas on what to do with all those bottle caps I've been saving!
Without further ado here are this week's wonderful link-up's to this weeks Kids Co-op. Make yourself comfortable have a look around and if you have blogged about some unique family orientated fun or educational activity we'd love to see it! Link up and maybe get featured in next weeks showcase!
Other ways to keep abreast of happenings at the Kids Co-op:
Check out the Kids Co-op Facebook Page!
Into Pinning...Check out the Kids Co-op Pinterest Board.
Weekly Menu Plan
I cater for a family of six. We all eat the same meals, some adjustments are made for the littlies.
I use seasonal fruit and veggies. I am trying to stay away from as much processed food as possible, for the health of my family. I make all of these foods from scratch. I will try to get recipes up soon :) 2012 Family Weekly Menu Plan 3 - July
Here is the post on Snack Boxes and what is contained in them.
Want more! For extra content or to just keep up with the mayhem, like Triple T Mum's Facebook Page!
Raising Teenagers: I Love You Too Much To Argue With You!
- Provide guidance to find a solution to their problem.
- Neutralise all arguing.
In last weeks post on Responsibility we looked at sharing control with our teens, giving choices and letting teens experience the consequences of their decisions. So, when a teen faces a consequence from their decisions that doesn't quite work out for them, what can we do?
There are three options. We could swoop in and rescue them from the problem. We could yell at them and ground them. Or we could help them find a solution by giving them a couple of options that they can choose from. Of course, Foster Cline and Jim Fay favour the latter option!
If we are encouraging teens to think for themselves and make their own decisions, then whose problem is it? When you feel tempted to solve a teens problem, pause and care with understanding (which I hope is empathy!). I often say to my teen, "Well, that didn't work out so good." Or "I bet that didn't make you feel very happy".
The guidance comes in the form of questions and options. "Have you thought of this? Or this? Or this?" Always ask yourself, who's doing the thinking here? Who's making the decision? I have found that if my teen 'thought' of it himself, I've got a lot more chance of it actually getting done!
One of the most powerful things I ever read was Stephen Covey breaking the word 'Responsible' up and forming 'Response-able'. The ability to choose your response. It is so easy to get caught up in the moment, to be reactive and often afterwards we think "If only I hadn't said that" or "If only I hadn't acted that way"! Also note that it is the ability to choose YOUR response. Not someone elses response. Yours.
My teen doesn't like it when I say, "I love you too much to argue with you". But I think it's a great statement! It says "I love you" in the heat of an arguement and there's no come back! They could say "No you don't!" or "You love so and so more than me" but you just keep on happily saying that. They got nothin'!
Teens get mad when we hold then responsible for their actions. Angry people are not reasonable people! It is best not to start asking them questions that require them to think for themselves at this point. Let your teen know that you will be talking with them about the issue later.
How do you encourage your teen to be responsible? What are you finding works for you? I'd love to hear your stories on raising your teenager.
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Travelling With 3 Under 2
In May 2011 I made a 9 hour road trip (each way) with 4 month old twins, 21 month old and my 13 year old. We travelled from Esperance, Western Australia across to Harvey, Western Australia. There are huge distances between towns and much of the landscape is either farming or bush. Obviously we all survived! And today I am going to tell you how I did it!
Lots of planning went into getting organised for the trip. Lots and lots of list making! It helped to think about what I do at home for the babies and how I am going to do the same on the road. Obviously there's a lot of things that I can't take (a high chair, for example) but if you stick to the necessities of warmth, food, shelter and safety you'll get through.
The first thing to get your head around is that the trip will be at a different pace. (Note: Without children this trip can be done in seven hours). There will be lots of stops along the way to stretch legs, have a run around and take a breather. I took a look at the route we would be taking, made note of the towns and estimated times of reaching them. I then did a little research on what park facilities were available. Wagin and Ravensthorpe have the best parks along our route, unfortunately neither are a lunch stop.
One of the very first things I bought was a mesh sock you put over the windows to reduce the glare of the sun coming through. The window can still be lowered and BONUS the mesh stops any toys being flung out of the window.
I brought along the big hummer pram. It is big. It is bulky. It is a pain to pack but it goes anywhere. And it carts all three littlies. (I don't take it out for pit stops).
Anti-bacterial gel for clean hands.
Pillow on the passenger seat for baby to lie on.
Breastfeeding pillow.
Pillow for mummy support.
Muslin square for covering feeding baby from public view.
Chook
Cars and helicopters.
4 board books.
Crayons and notepad.
Blankie.
Two soft toys.
Strawberry and Ooffa
2 pull toys on links.
Teether.
I was very mindful that the 21 month old was sitting next to Ooffa and I had to ensure that Chook had nothing that would cause a choking hazard to a baby.
At the last moment I gave in and bought a Portable DVD player, which hung off the back of my seat in a closed case. I used it as my 'last resort'/'treat'. Up to this point he had never expressed interest in watching TV anyway but I thought if he's strapped into a seat and losing it in the middle of nowhere it could come in handy...it did! I'm all about the easy life!
Kids music CDs that you don't mind singing along to. Yes, they can drive you crazy on the 50th rendition of "Bananas in Pyjamas" but you can knock off a few kms by singing and clapping along.
Our fully stocked Everyday Bag kept behind the passenger seat. This was backed up by another larger bag also fully stocked with spare clothing and nappies in the rear of the car.
Toddler in overalls. These are wondrous at staying relatively clean. Pop studs in the nappy area and you're good to go!
Water bottles in the front for the driver.
In a cool bag in the rear of the car I had made up sandwiches for lunch, yogurt and jelly fruits. Cutlery and bowls were also added.
I also packed a thermos of hot water and tea bags in the rear for a driver reviver. But found having hot water on board was useful in many other ways.
Wipes are awesome! I keep a packet in the front centre organiser tray.
More ideas and resources for Travelling With Kids
The Iowa Farmer's Wife: 50 Travel Trips & Accessories
Childhood 101: Travel With Kids: Activities for the Journey
We Can Do All Things: Travelling With Children Who Have Special Needs
The Good Long Road: Trains, Planes & Automobiles
Inspiration Laboratories: Toddler Travel Tips
Lots of planning went into getting organised for the trip. Lots and lots of list making! It helped to think about what I do at home for the babies and how I am going to do the same on the road. Obviously there's a lot of things that I can't take (a high chair, for example) but if you stick to the necessities of warmth, food, shelter and safety you'll get through.
The first thing to get your head around is that the trip will be at a different pace. (Note: Without children this trip can be done in seven hours). There will be lots of stops along the way to stretch legs, have a run around and take a breather. I took a look at the route we would be taking, made note of the towns and estimated times of reaching them. I then did a little research on what park facilities were available. Wagin and Ravensthorpe have the best parks along our route, unfortunately neither are a lunch stop.
One of the very first things I bought was a mesh sock you put over the windows to reduce the glare of the sun coming through. The window can still be lowered and BONUS the mesh stops any toys being flung out of the window.
I brought along the big hummer pram. It is big. It is bulky. It is a pain to pack but it goes anywhere. And it carts all three littlies. (I don't take it out for pit stops).
Have breasts. Will travel!
Breast feeding is great. Everything is ready when baby needs it and it is at the right temperature. The following items made breast feeding life easier on the road:Anti-bacterial gel for clean hands.
Pillow on the passenger seat for baby to lie on.
Breastfeeding pillow.
Pillow for mummy support.
Muslin square for covering feeding baby from public view.
In car entertainment
1 Car Toy Bag - containing a couple of favourites and a couple of new toys.Chook
Cars and helicopters.
4 board books.
Crayons and notepad.
Blankie.
Two soft toys.
Strawberry and Ooffa
2 pull toys on links.
Teether.
I was very mindful that the 21 month old was sitting next to Ooffa and I had to ensure that Chook had nothing that would cause a choking hazard to a baby.
At the last moment I gave in and bought a Portable DVD player, which hung off the back of my seat in a closed case. I used it as my 'last resort'/'treat'. Up to this point he had never expressed interest in watching TV anyway but I thought if he's strapped into a seat and losing it in the middle of nowhere it could come in handy...it did! I'm all about the easy life!
Kids music CDs that you don't mind singing along to. Yes, they can drive you crazy on the 50th rendition of "Bananas in Pyjamas" but you can knock off a few kms by singing and clapping along.
Our fully stocked Everyday Bag kept behind the passenger seat. This was backed up by another larger bag also fully stocked with spare clothing and nappies in the rear of the car.
No fashion parade in the outback!
Babies wore one-piece. Easy change. Easy on, easy off.Toddler in overalls. These are wondrous at staying relatively clean. Pop studs in the nappy area and you're good to go!
Long way before the next town.
I made up a big container of cut up fruit for the journey. Chook also had cut up cheese sticks and rice crackers. Water in a water bottle. No juice!Water bottles in the front for the driver.
In a cool bag in the rear of the car I had made up sandwiches for lunch, yogurt and jelly fruits. Cutlery and bowls were also added.
I also packed a thermos of hot water and tea bags in the rear for a driver reviver. But found having hot water on board was useful in many other ways.
Wipes are awesome! I keep a packet in the front centre organiser tray.
Road trip nappy change station
The way that I packed the hummer created a perfect changing station for side of the road nappy changes. I placed a pillow under a change mat and it was at the perfect height for changing nappies with ease.Gamer
Apart from what he packed for himself, I also asked him to pack a football for our rest stops. Chook and Gamer (excuse the pun) had a 'ball' kicking it around at several of the rest stops.More ideas and resources for Travelling With Kids
The Iowa Farmer's Wife: 50 Travel Trips & Accessories
Childhood 101: Travel With Kids: Activities for the Journey
We Can Do All Things: Travelling With Children Who Have Special Needs
The Good Long Road: Trains, Planes & Automobiles
Inspiration Laboratories: Toddler Travel Tips
Kids Co-op #20 & Showcase
Welcome to the Kids Co-op!
Thanks to everyone who linked up last week. There was an amazing amount of bloggers who shared their awesome activities and ideas. I love seeing what everyone's been up to during the week. It is so inspiring. What a wonderful resource you all are for everyone with kids, teaching kids or caring for kids!
Check out my favourites from last week's linky party!
Craft Interrupted gives fantastic instructions on making a PVC Bow and Arrow that really works and is safe with adult supervision.
Craft Interrupted gives fantastic instructions on making a PVC Bow and Arrow that really works and is safe with adult supervision.
Make Paper Bag Wings using paper grocery bags (or in Oz, cardboard). Check out the instructions at Pi'ikea Street.
How cool does Paper Blow Rockets sound? Picklebums has a printable template for you and full instructions to make.
Were you featured this week? Please take a 'Featured at Triple T Mum' badge.
Without further ado here are this week's wonderful link-up's to this weeks Kids Co-op. Make yourself comfortable have a look around and if you have blogged about some unique family orientated fun or educational activity we'd love to see it! Link up and maybe get featured in next weeks showcase!
Other ways to keep abreast of happenings at the Kids Co-op:
Check out the Kids Co-op Facebook Page!
Into Pinning...Check out the Kids Co-op Pinterest Board.
Weekly Menu Plan
I cater for a family of six. We all eat the same meals, some adjustments are made for the littlies.
I use seasonal fruit and veggies. I am trying to stay away from as much processed food as possible, for the health of my family. I make all of these foods from scratch. I will try to get recipes up soon :)
2012 Family Weekly Menu Plan 2 - July
Here is the post on Snack Boxes and what is contained in them.
Want more! For extra content or to just keep up with the mayhem, like Triple T Mum's Facebook Page!
Subscribe to Triple T Mum by Email
I'm linking this post to I'm An Organising Junkie
Raising Teenagers: Responsibility
Imagine if our teens first real decisions involved cars, drugs or sex. If we haven't encouraged our teens to think for themselves, the consequences to some of these decisions could be fatal or at the very least life changing!
We need to give our teens opportunities to be responsible, to make decisions and deal with the consequences of those decisions.
We've all heard of the helicopter parent. It's not a good practice for our kids. I know we want to protect them but there's a point when we over-protect from things that our kids could have learnt lessons from. Start early with this Principle of Responsibility. We are building a healthy self-concept here, too.
Let our teens act independent and let them live with what they have decided. Responsibility is created within the teen when parents share control.
We share the control with our teen by giving choices. The choices are ones WE are happy with and we can enforce. Look out for the third choice that teens love to put forward! Foster Cline and Jim Fay suggest you just repeat, "What were the choices?"
I have found it is so much easier using choices while things are going well in the teen relationship. Foster Cline and Jim Fay write that this enables us to say, "Hold on. It's my turn. I'll make the choice on this one" when things aren't going so well.
My teen didn't meet a curfew (again) after a sleep-over. I have talked about the discussion that I had with my teen on this one and what I would do if he broke the curfew responsibility. It just so happened that we were all going out and would be stopping by MacDonalds on the way home. So we had our natural consequence (YAY)! So, he didn't meet the curfew, his missed out on the family outing and he missed out on the treat! Will he forget this lesson? No. Will he do it again? Maybe. But I hold the cards, because next time he goes for a sleep-over I can say, "Gee, I don't know if I can let you go for that sleep-over, it really stresses me out when you don't come home on time and it doesn't work out well for you."
Recent choices I have given my teen:
~ Poor maths result on the report: Would you rather extra maths study books or a maths tutor?
~ X-Box usage: Would you rather a large block of X-Box time tonight and no more until the weekend or spread your time over several days?
~ Cleaning room: Feel free to pick the clothes up of your floor or clean the bathroom so I'll have time to clean your room.
~ No rough-housing with younger siblings: Would you rather sit with Calum and watch the movie or play outside?
~ No teasing younger siblings: Would you rather eat your breakfast outside or change this babies nappy?
Want more! For extra content or to just keep up with the mayhem, like Triple T Mum's Facebook Page!
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10 Laundry Tips
This weeks Sanity Tip is about organising the laundry. This is an area of my home which is barely under control at the moment! I desperately need some laundry tips.
I use cloth nappies most of the time and with 3-under-3 all using them I have to put a load of laundry on every day. I don't own a dryer but I am fortunate that Triple T Dad has rigged up some line on pulleys under our patio.
I have asked some of my blogging mummy friends for some laundry tips. So, if the laundry monster is threatening to take over your home, read on!
Laundry Organisation Tips
1. MaryAnne from Mama Smiles suggests using a mesh bag to keep all those little socks in. She suggests lots of other great laundry tips here.
Cloth Nappies
2. "For cloth diapers, tea tree oil in the wash to keep them from stinking". MaryAnne from Mama Smiles.
3. Tea tree or lavender oil in the dry pail bin too. Cold rinse, then a wash, dry in the sunshine to remove any stains. Katherine from Creative Playhouse. Rainy Day Mum adds to this, "Tea tree oil on a panty liner stuck to the top of the bin keeps them smelling fresh".
4. "I used baking soda with a vinegar rinse and then another rinse to get out the vinegar. But the most important part of cloth diapers was hanging them in the sunshine to dry." Carrie.
5. "I used waterproof pillow cases instead of pricey wet bags to line my pail and carry the diapers up and down to the laundry." Krissy from B.Inspired Mama.
6. Jode over at Mummy Musings and Mayhem has six great tips on washing cloth nappies.
Homemade Detergent
7. Make your own liquid detergent to use in top loader or front loader machines. Save yourself hundreds of dollars! Jackie from Happy Hooligans.
8. Jode from Mummy Musings and Mayhem shares a homemade laundry detergent recipe that she makes for her family.
Little Helpers
9. "My little Priscilla loves to help me by handing me item after item from the bottom of the hamper for me to fold." Krissy from B.Inspired Mama.
10. Christie from Childhood 101 has several ideas on encouraging early mathematics whilst your child is involved in doing the laundry. Check out her post Learning Through Playing and Doing: Laundry Mathematics.
Do you have any laundry tips that save your sanity? Please share!
Kids Co-op #19 & Showcase
Welcome to the Kids Co-op!
Thanks to everyone who linked up last week. There was an amazing amount of bloggers who shared their awesome activities and ideas. I love seeing what everyone's been up to during the week. It is so inspiring. What a wonderful resource you all are for everyone with kids, teaching kids or caring for kids!
Check out my favourites from last week's linky party!
Sugarsnips is planning an Under the Sea themed 4th birthday party for her daughter. Using paint sample cards she has created a Rainbow Fish for kids to 'pin the tail' to. Click on over to check it out!
This week B.Inspired, Mama's series From the Mouth of Moms is about Toddler Aggression. Each mama shares their tip that has worked with their little one, which means you've got a nice big list of different things you could try!
Pop over to this sweet little site and check out their lovely felt board area! Then read on for two songs and pictures of the gorgeous felt shapes Karissa made to go along along with the songs.
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Were you featured this week? Please take a 'Featured at Triple T Mum' badge.
Without further ado here are this week's wonderful link-up's to this weeks Kids Co-op. Make yourself comfortable have a look around and if you have blogged about some unique family orientated fun or educational activity we'd love to see it! Link up and maybe get featured in next weeks showcase!
Other ways to keep abreast of happenings at the Kids Co-op:
Check out the Kids Co-op Facebook Page!
Into Pinning...Check out the Kids Co-op Pinterest Board.
Weekly Menu Plan
I recently started Cyndi O'Meara's 21 Day Weight Loss Program. She is a nutritionist that is making a lot of sense to me. The program is not about denying yourself food but about eating good food five times a day. The program takes you step by step, day by day through breaking some intrenched habits that are stopping you from losing weight and feeling healthy. Here's a video of Cyndi on an Australian talk show. The first 3 minutes discuss breakfast and why protein is important for kids at breakfast.
The 21 Day Program is making me rethink our weekly menu. This week I start with a new breakfast menu, including protein as a key part of the children's breakfasts. I hope to add more variety over the coming weeks, but I'll run them past the taste testers first, before I post them!
Eggs is the easiest food to start with. Apologies to those with egg allergies.
Here is the post on Snack Boxes and what is contained in them.
Find the recipe for Italian Sausage Pasta here! ("Coming Soon")
2012 Family Weekly Menu Plan 1 - July
I'm linking this post to I'm An Organising Junkie
How far we have come...July
Three under two!
July 2011 - Strawberry and Ooffa 5 months. Chook 22 months.
A surprise visit from Gran and Grandpa for three awesome weeks began July. It was such a relief to have another pair of hands in the house. It took away the feeling of Groundhog Day. You know the movie where he wakes up and it is the same day, over and over again. My life was starting to feel that way!
I continued to successfully breastfeed the twins but Ooffa was needing more. At the end of June he began solids. We initially tried Strawberry but she wasn't ready. I hoped solids would encourage Ooffa to sleep through the whole night, however, he continued to wake for a feed in the night.
Sleeping arrangements continued with Ooffa and Strawberry in with Steve and I. Chook had his own room and Gamer had his own room.
Exercise had become non-existant. I was managing to attend Playgroup and the fortnightly Mother's Group, just!
Chook is a high spirited, enthusiastic, energetic bundle of mischief!
He attends Daycare once a week and is visiting the 'big' room where he'll go when he's three. I will continue to send him for one day a week until he is school-age. Mummy's need to have a break!
He loves books and throughly enjoys Circle Time. His favourite things are Thomas the Tank Engine, Toy Story, Buzz Lightyear, helicopters, making tunnels and bridges, glueing and he loves Mr Maker, which really surprises me! If he's interested in something he'll spend the time doing it. He loves to sing the morning song to Strawberry and Ooffa.
Gamer has been encouraging Chook to count to 10 and it is just lovely to watch. Gamer has also been reading him a story at night, Tashi. I was worried that it would be too old for him, but Gamer gives the characters voices and brings the story alive for Chook.
Chook wakes in the night several times a week and tries to get into bed with me. Three in the bed is really uncomfortable for me so I try to put him back into his bed. After a while he'll be back in my bed. We do this several times during the night until he either stays in his bed or I end up on the couch.
We are having more good days than bad days now. The challenges of the two and half year old are subsiding and a more patient, loving, gentler nearly three year old is emerging.
July 2011 - Strawberry and Ooffa 5 months. Chook 22 months.
I continued to successfully breastfeed the twins but Ooffa was needing more. At the end of June he began solids. We initially tried Strawberry but she wasn't ready. I hoped solids would encourage Ooffa to sleep through the whole night, however, he continued to wake for a feed in the night.
Sleeping arrangements continued with Ooffa and Strawberry in with Steve and I. Chook had his own room and Gamer had his own room.
Exercise had become non-existant. I was managing to attend Playgroup and the fortnightly Mother's Group, just!
Chook attend Daycare once a week.
When Gran and Granpa left I fell apart. Everything was suddenly back on me and it was just so overwhelming. The thing is I thought I was dealing with it. I thought that if I was SUPER organised and routined to the eyeballs I would be able to handle three under two, a teenager in the first year of highschool, the house, the washing, my husbands needs, my own needs, putting food on the table, putting food into children's mouths, toddler behaviour management, the finances, a social life for me and for the kids. Heck, if other mother's out there could do it, well so should I!
It was at the Health Clinic for the twins 6 month check-up that I discovered how much I was NOT coping.
Over the next month I will build the courage to share with you this deep, sad, personal story. It is still raw and very tender. It can only be written from my heart and many tears will be shed whilst I write it. As I write this I can tell you that I am at the tail end of one of the hardest years of my life. I hope that by writing my story I can close the book on that chapter and start a new year with joy and happiness in my heart!
Over the next month I will build the courage to share with you this deep, sad, personal story. It is still raw and very tender. It can only be written from my heart and many tears will be shed whilst I write it. As I write this I can tell you that I am at the tail end of one of the hardest years of my life. I hope that by writing my story I can close the book on that chapter and start a new year with joy and happiness in my heart!
Sanity Tip for 3 under 2: There is no right or wrong way to parent. It's about working out what is right for you. It's about working out what works for you and your situation. We are our own worst critics. Just keep telling yourself "You are doing the best you can with what you've got and know, here and now".
Three under three!
July 2012 - Strawberry and Ooffa 17 months. Chook 34 months.
Chook is a high spirited, enthusiastic, energetic bundle of mischief!
He attends Daycare once a week and is visiting the 'big' room where he'll go when he's three. I will continue to send him for one day a week until he is school-age. Mummy's need to have a break!
He loves books and throughly enjoys Circle Time. His favourite things are Thomas the Tank Engine, Toy Story, Buzz Lightyear, helicopters, making tunnels and bridges, glueing and he loves Mr Maker, which really surprises me! If he's interested in something he'll spend the time doing it. He loves to sing the morning song to Strawberry and Ooffa.
Gamer has been encouraging Chook to count to 10 and it is just lovely to watch. Gamer has also been reading him a story at night, Tashi. I was worried that it would be too old for him, but Gamer gives the characters voices and brings the story alive for Chook.
Chook wakes in the night several times a week and tries to get into bed with me. Three in the bed is really uncomfortable for me so I try to put him back into his bed. After a while he'll be back in my bed. We do this several times during the night until he either stays in his bed or I end up on the couch.
We are having more good days than bad days now. The challenges of the two and half year old are subsiding and a more patient, loving, gentler nearly three year old is emerging.
Strawberry and Ooffa are at a beautiful age!
When I look into Strawberry's eyes I see a little girl full of fun. She just loves life! Since she started walking (less than two months ago) she has become more confident and outgoing. She knows what she wants and will let us know if she's not getting it or not getting it long enough. She doesn't fight her brothers back when they take something from her (but we'll all hear about it!) and she doesn't hurt them even after all the grabs and knocks she's had.
She loves nothing more than a good sleep, her thumb, her blankie and cuddles. I love Circle Time when she lies in my lap and listens to the story!
Ooffa is into trying anything that Chook does. Yesterday he learnt to jump on the little trampoline we have. Today he is following Chook up the climbing frames but he can't get over the top! He then learnt to slide down the slide on his tummy and spent ages doing it over and over again.
Chook was this age when Strawberry and Ooffa were born. I have recently been comparing the two at this age and the differences are HUGE! Ooffa has a totally different temperment. I also have to tell myself that as a mum I am different to how I was back then and how Ooffa is in a different situation to Chook. I do wonder sometimes...but I can't change the past.
I can't believe how far we have come! Here they are today running and climbing. Thinking and doing. Little personalities shining brightly through. No longer babies, but little toddling people!
Sanity Tip 3 under 3: This 'job' that you are doing, motherhood, it IS hard. You are 'on' 24/7. So, listen carefully my beautiful Mummy friends (I have learnt this the hardest way possible)...Looking after yourself IS looking after your family. You are NOT a bad mummy for wanting that space, that quiet, those precious moments of kid-freedom. In fact you are a better mummy for getting it! Trust me. I know. Make sure you find some time just for you in your busy week.
Raising Teenagers: Self Concept
Develop a healthy self-concept in your teen
This is a huge priority for me as a parent to develop in my teen. But I have to remind myself too that as parents we can only do so much and then it is up to them.
Foster Cline and Jim Fay (authors of Love and Logic) state, "When a child is encouraged through consequences to make wise choices and productive decisions a positive self-image will follow."
Positive Parenting Tips to encourage self-concept
~ Consider what we are saying to our teens. Does the message imply that we love them regardless of the way they are acting or what they are doing ("I don't approve of it but I love you").
~ Be respectful. Give respect and respect will be returned. And if not, well they can just try again later, because respect is what is expected!
~ Support and encourage your teen to think for themselves. Encouragement helps kids feel great about their achievement. Ask:How do you think you did?
Why is that?
How did you figure that out?
Your a smart kid, you figure it out.
~ Be empathetic. They might fail, but that is where the learning is. Let them know you love them, whether they succeed or not.
~ Say, think and do positive things. Your teen is watching you!
~ Involve your teen in coming up with the responsible choices and consequences. This shows you value their feelings and opinions.
~ Allow your teen to make mistakes. Let them struggle to complete tasks. Of course, common sense prevails. Tasks must be age appropriate.
~ Your teen can list every single one of their weakness. Encourage them to identify their strengths and only work on one weakness at a time.
~ Encourage your teen to be involved in extracurricular activities that provide a challenge and working with others for a common goal. Gamer has recently joined Army Cadets which will be a wonderful environment to develop some resillency skills. He has also recently qualified to referee 13 and under games in football, a great confidence builder!
~ Create affirmations. I found this idea over on Livestrong and the mummy in me really wants to do it! How I am going to get my teenage boy to write positive notes about himself...not sure...but I'm going to give it a go.
Look through the list and see if there is something that resounds with you. Make it a priority that this week you use that tool with your teen. I am going to choose say, think and do positive things. That way I can also incorporate encouraging my teens strengths and the affirmations idea!
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