Monday, May 13, 2013
Bugs
We went on a bug hunt today. You guys loved it. Got a few worms and beetles. Then you kindly let them go to go back to their Mammas. We need to do this more often.
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
Empowered & Brave
So, Cole, you were so brave this morning. SO BRAVE. For a six year old who should not have to deal with this kind of thing, you did great. I'm so proud of you doing such a hard thing. So proud, that I cried as you left on the bus. It's all part of growing up - doing hard things is going to make you a much stronger person down the line. You will learn this through experiences like this.
You got off of the bus yesterday very upset. It's probably the 4th or 5th time this has happened this year. Your feelings were hurt and you were so upset by the 2 boys (your seat mates) who were giving you a hard time. They were calling you a "seat hopper" and telling secrets and laughing. On prior days, they have excluded you and have ruined some of your art projects that you are carrying home. They make you feel small and sad. Words hurt buddy - I know that.
As sad as it makes you, it makes me 100 times that sad. And 100 times more angry. My hairs are up and I'm in protective Mommy mode. I have NO tolerance for bullies. Nobody deserves to be treated anything less than kindly. Nobody.
When this has happened before, we have talked about moving your seat on the bus but you weren't ready to do that. You said it would be ok and you wanted to stay. Then you would have a course of good days and it would be alright. But eventually, it happened again. A few times. This time, we're done. No more. You don't need to take that kind of treatment.
We talked about how to fix it. What can we do to make it ok for you? Moving your seat is the first thing. We discussed how to talk to your bus driver and what to say. You asked me to do it for you. But YOU need to do it. And guess what? This morning, you confidently got on the bus and asked the bus driver for a seat change (which he agreed to).
The second thing we discussed was how to approach your seat mates and let them know why you moved. You said "they will say "hooray, he moved" - which is going to be hard for you to hear. It's never any fun knowing that someone doesn't want you there with them. But guess what buddy? If they are going to act like that, you don't want to be sitting with them anyway. You don't need people in your life who aren't nice. You are bigger and better than that.
Once you talked to the bus driver, you walked back and stopped at your now "old" seat. You said something to the boy sitting there. I could see you through the window. I presume (and hope) that you said you were changing seats because he was being mean to you. And that you won't be friends with him anymore if he's mean. And then you sat down in a new seat.
I'm dying to see you this afternoon. I want to give you the biggest hug and tell you how proud I am. And I also want to know what you said to him. It's my hope that this is going to stop now that you have taken a stand for yourself.
Kids can be cruel and mean. And this isn't the last time we will have to deal with something like this. But wow, you're off to a great start with being brave and confronting people who aren't good to you. You have such goodness inside - don't ever let anyone take that away!
Love you brave boy!
-Mommy
You got off of the bus yesterday very upset. It's probably the 4th or 5th time this has happened this year. Your feelings were hurt and you were so upset by the 2 boys (your seat mates) who were giving you a hard time. They were calling you a "seat hopper" and telling secrets and laughing. On prior days, they have excluded you and have ruined some of your art projects that you are carrying home. They make you feel small and sad. Words hurt buddy - I know that.
As sad as it makes you, it makes me 100 times that sad. And 100 times more angry. My hairs are up and I'm in protective Mommy mode. I have NO tolerance for bullies. Nobody deserves to be treated anything less than kindly. Nobody.
When this has happened before, we have talked about moving your seat on the bus but you weren't ready to do that. You said it would be ok and you wanted to stay. Then you would have a course of good days and it would be alright. But eventually, it happened again. A few times. This time, we're done. No more. You don't need to take that kind of treatment.
We talked about how to fix it. What can we do to make it ok for you? Moving your seat is the first thing. We discussed how to talk to your bus driver and what to say. You asked me to do it for you. But YOU need to do it. And guess what? This morning, you confidently got on the bus and asked the bus driver for a seat change (which he agreed to).
The second thing we discussed was how to approach your seat mates and let them know why you moved. You said "they will say "hooray, he moved" - which is going to be hard for you to hear. It's never any fun knowing that someone doesn't want you there with them. But guess what buddy? If they are going to act like that, you don't want to be sitting with them anyway. You don't need people in your life who aren't nice. You are bigger and better than that.
Once you talked to the bus driver, you walked back and stopped at your now "old" seat. You said something to the boy sitting there. I could see you through the window. I presume (and hope) that you said you were changing seats because he was being mean to you. And that you won't be friends with him anymore if he's mean. And then you sat down in a new seat.
I'm dying to see you this afternoon. I want to give you the biggest hug and tell you how proud I am. And I also want to know what you said to him. It's my hope that this is going to stop now that you have taken a stand for yourself.
Kids can be cruel and mean. And this isn't the last time we will have to deal with something like this. But wow, you're off to a great start with being brave and confronting people who aren't good to you. You have such goodness inside - don't ever let anyone take that away!
Love you brave boy!
-Mommy
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
First lost tooth!
JD, you lost your first tooth last night! At 6 1/2, you were less than excited. In fact, you cried. Its been loose for a few weeks and a few hours before you went to bed I felt it and it seemed secure. After you went to bed, you must have pulled it yourself. You came running down screaming and crying, holding it.
Daddy and I were so excited for you but you wanted no part of it. We put your tiny tooth in a ziplock and left it for the tooth fairy.
To your surprise, there was a dollar bill under your pillow this morning. You were still underwhelmed.
You are just like your Daddy....
Daddy and I were so excited for you but you wanted no part of it. We put your tiny tooth in a ziplock and left it for the tooth fairy.
To your surprise, there was a dollar bill under your pillow this morning. You were still underwhelmed.
You are just like your Daddy....
Thursday, March 14, 2013
"I Think I Can"
Cole, you came home with a picture from school yesterday that reduced me to immediate tears. Silly I know, but The Little Engine that Could was the book I read to you every.single.day. when you were in the NICU. "I think I can, I think I can, I think I can". I even blogged about it way back then - http://ajourneyofthree.blogspot.com/2006/09/i-think-i-can-i-think-i-can.html
Your teacher must be talking about "I think I can" in school right now - because that's the picture you brought home. And you wrote it on the bottom.
You will never, ever know how much I prayed that the mantra "I think I can" could pull you through. I grasped for anything at that time. Anything that was positive and might resonate with your little brain.
This is an extra special one to me buddy. I love you so so much.
-Mommy
Your teacher must be talking about "I think I can" in school right now - because that's the picture you brought home. And you wrote it on the bottom.
You will never, ever know how much I prayed that the mantra "I think I can" could pull you through. I grasped for anything at that time. Anything that was positive and might resonate with your little brain.
This is an extra special one to me buddy. I love you so so much.
-Mommy
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
How to drive kids nuts on Valentines Day
As luck would have it, we were given tickets at the last minute to Disney on Ice for our family on Valentines Day! Knowing that the kids would love it, especially since we will be out late on a school night (i may be cursing myself later), we decided to go for it. Its tomorrow and we are making it a surprise.
I gave you your first hint - an ice cube. Its driving you crazy (especially you, Cole) that we wont tell you what we are doing.
The rest of the hints will come slowly, one at a time between now and tomorrow afternoon. We shall see if you guess it or if it gets down to the wire.
Here are the hints we have in store....
I gave you your first hint - an ice cube. Its driving you crazy (especially you, Cole) that we wont tell you what we are doing.
The rest of the hints will come slowly, one at a time between now and tomorrow afternoon. We shall see if you guess it or if it gets down to the wire.
Here are the hints we have in store....
Friday, February 08, 2013
Trouble....
So, I went out for a bit the other night with a girl friend. I left you home with Daddy right after dinner, it was almost bedtime. When I returned home, I found these notes and dollars on the kitchen counter. Here's the story, through Daddy's eyes.
After playing a few rounds of chess with Dad, he told you to go upstairs and brush your teeth. He would follow shortly to tuck you in. Before he got upstairs, he heard lots of laughter and giggling. As he came into the bathroom, he saw that you had squirted the entire tube of toothpaste into both sinks, decorating the entire sink bowl. How kind of you!
You both thought this was hilarious, while he was speechless. Mommy knows better than to turn you loose in the bathroom, without some supervision, even if it's just within ear shot. How quickly he learned.
He made you clean it up. Which you begrudgingly did. But more than that, he attemped to teach you a lesson about "waste" and how much things cost. After it was cleaned up (using at least a full roll of paper towels and a larger mess to get it cleaned up), he asked you to write me a note explaining what happened. Hence the first note below.
"Mom, Cole and JD made a mess in the bathroom with toothpaste"
This note was followed by a second note by JD - because he wasn't ready to stop writing. Blame shifting is the best isn't it? Not only that, he thought he would throw in a derogatory comment for safe measure. Is Cole really UGLE?
He then made you go into your wallets and ante up $2.00 each, to cover the cost of the toothpaste. I now have $4.00, ready for our next grocery run, so you can purchase the new tubes of toothpaste that you used for your "art" project.
I love these little escapades. Especially when it's Daddy that gets to deal with them! Too bad he didn't get a photo of your project - that would have completed the story....
After playing a few rounds of chess with Dad, he told you to go upstairs and brush your teeth. He would follow shortly to tuck you in. Before he got upstairs, he heard lots of laughter and giggling. As he came into the bathroom, he saw that you had squirted the entire tube of toothpaste into both sinks, decorating the entire sink bowl. How kind of you!
You both thought this was hilarious, while he was speechless. Mommy knows better than to turn you loose in the bathroom, without some supervision, even if it's just within ear shot. How quickly he learned.
He made you clean it up. Which you begrudgingly did. But more than that, he attemped to teach you a lesson about "waste" and how much things cost. After it was cleaned up (using at least a full roll of paper towels and a larger mess to get it cleaned up), he asked you to write me a note explaining what happened. Hence the first note below.
"Mom, Cole and JD made a mess in the bathroom with toothpaste"
This note was followed by a second note by JD - because he wasn't ready to stop writing. Blame shifting is the best isn't it? Not only that, he thought he would throw in a derogatory comment for safe measure. Is Cole really UGLE?
He then made you go into your wallets and ante up $2.00 each, to cover the cost of the toothpaste. I now have $4.00, ready for our next grocery run, so you can purchase the new tubes of toothpaste that you used for your "art" project.
I love these little escapades. Especially when it's Daddy that gets to deal with them! Too bad he didn't get a photo of your project - that would have completed the story....
Wednesday, February 06, 2013
Words for my Boys
Some words I copied from someone wise. You are a little young for these now but as you grow up, I will remind you about ALL of these things, as best as I can!
I love you.
1. Play a sport. It will teach you how to win honorably, lose gracefully, respect authority, work with others, manage your time... and stay out of trouble. And maybe even throw or catch.
2. You will set the tone for the sexual relationship, so don't take something away from her that you can't give back.
3. Use careful aim when you pee. Somebody's got to clean that up, you know.
4. Save money when you're young because you're going to need it someday.
5. Allow me to introduce you to the dishwasher, oven, washing machine, iron, vacuum, mop and broom. Now please go use them.
6. Pray and be a spiritual leader.
7. Don't ever be a bully and don't ever start a fight, but if some idiot clocks you, please defend yourself.
8. Your knowledge and education is something that nobody can take away from you.
9. Treat women kindly. Forever is a long time to live alone and it's even longer to live with somebody
who hates your guts.
10. Take pride in your appearance.
11. Be strong and tender at the same time.
12. A woman can do everything that you can do. This includes her having a successful career
and you changing diapers at 3 A.M. Mutual respect is the key to a good relationship.
13. "Yes ma'am" and "yes sir" still go a long way.
14. The reason that they're called "private parts" is because they're "private". Please do not scratch them in public.
15. Peer pressure is a scary thing. Be a good leader and others will follow.
16. Bringing her flowers for no reason is always a good idea.
17. It is better to be kind than to be right.
18. A sense of humor goes a long way in the healing process.
19. Please choose your spouse wisely. My daughter-in-law will be the gatekeeper for me
spending time with you and my grandchildren.
20. Remember to call your mother because I might be missing you.
I love you.
1. Play a sport. It will teach you how to win honorably, lose gracefully, respect authority, work with others, manage your time... and stay out of trouble. And maybe even throw or catch.
2. You will set the tone for the sexual relationship, so don't take something away from her that you can't give back.
3. Use careful aim when you pee. Somebody's got to clean that up, you know.
4. Save money when you're young because you're going to need it someday.
5. Allow me to introduce you to the dishwasher, oven, washing machine, iron, vacuum, mop and broom. Now please go use them.
6. Pray and be a spiritual leader.
7. Don't ever be a bully and don't ever start a fight, but if some idiot clocks you, please defend yourself.
8. Your knowledge and education is something that nobody can take away from you.
9. Treat women kindly. Forever is a long time to live alone and it's even longer to live with somebody
who hates your guts.
10. Take pride in your appearance.
11. Be strong and tender at the same time.
12. A woman can do everything that you can do. This includes her having a successful career
and you changing diapers at 3 A.M. Mutual respect is the key to a good relationship.
13. "Yes ma'am" and "yes sir" still go a long way.
14. The reason that they're called "private parts" is because they're "private". Please do not scratch them in public.
15. Peer pressure is a scary thing. Be a good leader and others will follow.
16. Bringing her flowers for no reason is always a good idea.
17. It is better to be kind than to be right.
18. A sense of humor goes a long way in the healing process.
19. Please choose your spouse wisely. My daughter-in-law will be the gatekeeper for me
spending time with you and my grandchildren.
20. Remember to call your mother because I might be missing you.
Tuesday, February 05, 2013
Champs Behavior
JD, you came home and made this for your teacher. Apparently she asked you to make this for your classroom. The rules for "champ behavior" are:
No talking in fire drill
Walk single file line and be quiet
Lock down, Quiet, lock door, sit criss cross applesauce
No running
Your spelling is my favorite part!
No talking in fire drill
Walk single file line and be quiet
Lock down, Quiet, lock door, sit criss cross applesauce
No running
Your spelling is my favorite part!
Tuesday, January 08, 2013
Mustaches....
This is how I put you on the bus this morning. What a character you are. I just love you to pieces. Your bus driver was totally cracked up too.
Love,
Mommy
Love,
Mommy
Sunday, December 09, 2012
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