One of the preschoolers has hit a phase where he wants to negotiate everything. He wants more, he wants better, when given two choices he wants the unnamed third that exists only in his mind. Completely age appropriate, but of course we’re working on it, especially trying to get him to do his negotiation more… Read More My preschooler’s negotiation skills need work
I realized today just how long it has been since I have spent any time in my backyard – two months. Yep. That’s WAY TOO LONG. But what’s a mother to do? My priorities are just different at the moment. But I still miss it. I miss the smell of the grass. I miss the… Read More I miss my backyard
I used to read all those blog posts about “things you learn when you have boys“, and laugh. I enjoyed them, but surely children who do and say those things are the exception rather than the rule, right? HA! No. Here is my list of things I have actually heard come out of my mouth.… Read More Things I have actually had to say
Sometimes I just don’t know what to do. When a child’s behavior is unacceptable… do I allow natural consequences to happen? Do I assign a punishment for the behavior? Do I write it down to address with the counselor because the behavior is based in past trauma? Do I let it pass without comment because… Read More Foster parenting is complicated
A month ago, I was grieving the loss of one of my foster children. Our foster home was empty. But foster homes rarely stay empty for long! We have two new boys, brothers, both preschoolers. We’ve had them for a couple weeks now, and I have delayed posting about them. Nicknames haven’t come easily for… Read More Internet privacy vs internet support
The first month DC was with us, he couldn’t fall asleep. New place, new crib, new faces, it was all so unfamiliar to him that as soon as he relaxed enough that sleep was possible, all the strangeness rushed in and he’d wake up again, crying. I’d go to him, pat his back if that’s… Read More The end was like the beginning
I think that most of us have had the experience of doing or saying something and almost immediately having a realization of “I shouldn’t have done that”. For me, it’s almost always accompanied by a heavy sinking feeling in my stomach as I realize that whatever I just did or said was most definitely the wrong thing,… Read More When God says “Don’t do it”
I have heard this question, in all its forms, so many times. A child whose family can barely put food on the table wonders why she received a hat and scarf from Santa when her schoolmate received a most-coveted Rainbow Loom and dozens of packets of circlets. Another family wonders why Santa skips his house, not understanding… Read More Why does Santa treat different families differently?
I know that children, eventually, grow out of a need to know exactly where their mother is at all times of the day and night. Eventually. But mine aren’t there yet. It’s 3:13 in the morning, and I am just now able to leave their room without one of them shrieking. We don’t do “cry… Read More You have a child – you will never sleep again!
I have a large bag of fun-size 3 Musketeers bars. A very large bag. I got it Thursday and ate one or two. But since FRIDAY, well, let’s just say that was only two days ago and the bag is now almost empty. There is a reason. Most of you have been in an airport. You know… Read More The cure for too much noise is chocolate
Ranting About Rectangles 