Life with a toddler is full of changes. Changes happen daily. Some are big and some are small. Some pack a whopper of an impact while others just glide by without much notice.
This move to Miss C's new room at the day care is one of those whoppers for me. I know she will be fine. The child has few fears and adapts easily to pretty much anything and anyone. I, on the other hand, have 30+ years of insecurities, fears, anxiety and such that surfaces on days like today.
Today, I took Miss C to her new room for the first time. Her official transition doesn't start until Monday but they recommend the parents go with them to the new room so they see you are comfortable there. I did my best to appear comfortable. I wasn't really. But she was. I guess that is all that matters.
Friday, July 31, 2009
Monday, July 27, 2009
Lovies
We had almost gotten to the point where Miss C was done with the paci. She'd only use it when she slept and then hand it to me when she got up for me to put it away. Then she got round 2 of hand, foot, mouth and wanted it all the time. Now she's reverted a bit to wanting it A LOT.
I've taken to hiding them in drawers so she can't see them because she'll break her neck trying to get to them to pop one in her mouth. At day care she doesn't use one at all so I know it could be the same here. So, I am working on it...one day at a time.
In addition to the paci she has become attached to two specific blankets we have. One she used when she was just a few months old but then her attachment went away. The other was a baby shower gift and is a giraffe blanket. Both have soft silky sides that she loves to rub up against her face. It's interesting to see her identify something that comforts her and then request it or go get it.
On Friday night, we had a pretty rough night. She felt horrible and cried from the moment I picked her up at day care until she went to bed. When we got home she would not let me put her down and when I asked if she wanted to put her PJs on she said yes. Once we got her PJs on she walked over to her crib, stuck her arm between the slats and grabbed her silky pink blanket. She looked like Linus walking around the house dragging her blanket behind her.
I've taken to hiding them in drawers so she can't see them because she'll break her neck trying to get to them to pop one in her mouth. At day care she doesn't use one at all so I know it could be the same here. So, I am working on it...one day at a time.
In addition to the paci she has become attached to two specific blankets we have. One she used when she was just a few months old but then her attachment went away. The other was a baby shower gift and is a giraffe blanket. Both have soft silky sides that she loves to rub up against her face. It's interesting to see her identify something that comforts her and then request it or go get it.
On Friday night, we had a pretty rough night. She felt horrible and cried from the moment I picked her up at day care until she went to bed. When we got home she would not let me put her down and when I asked if she wanted to put her PJs on she said yes. Once we got her PJs on she walked over to her crib, stuck her arm between the slats and grabbed her silky pink blanket. She looked like Linus walking around the house dragging her blanket behind her.
Friday, July 24, 2009
To feed or not to feed, that is the question
Yesterday for the first time EVER, Miss C refused to eat her dinner. The turkey and stuffing went untouched in favor of the applesauce. She then proceeded to throw a crying fit because we would not give her the non-dinner foods she pointed at. We tried to hide the turkey in the applesauce but she just pulled the turkey out of her mouth and threw it on the floor.
I even tried this new tactic from a book I am reading by giving her options...which basically was eat your dinner and get vanilla wafers for dessert or don't eat your dinner and get nothing else including vanilla wafers. That didn't work either.
This puts us, as parents, in an awkward position. We are faced with the decision to a) make her something she will eat or b) put her to bed without a decent meal.
There are a few things I am pretty adament about and one of them is I will not get in the habit of making my child a separate meal. No one ever made me a separate meal and believe me there were plenty of times I didn't like what we were having and tried to come up with creative ways to not have to eat it. Still, I learned the lesson through many a painful night of sitting at the dinner table long after everyone else had gotten up, you eat the dinner that was made for you.
This is a lot more difficult to teach when it's your child and you are afraid they will be hungry. Logic tells me that Miss C is well fed and missing this meal did not mean she would starve nor did it mean we were bad parents for sticking to our guns.
The not so logical side tells me I am neglecting my child and depriving her of one of her basic needs and will scar her for like. It says I am a horrible mother and we are horrible parents.
In the end, we did not give her anything else to eat. No separate meal. No vanilla wafers. No nothing. Miss C did not eat her stuffed animals due to hungry. She didn't stay up all night crying because she was starving. No one called the police and reported us for bad parenting.
I hope tonight goes differently because I am quite sure that is not something I want to have to do again any time soon.
I even tried this new tactic from a book I am reading by giving her options...which basically was eat your dinner and get vanilla wafers for dessert or don't eat your dinner and get nothing else including vanilla wafers. That didn't work either.
This puts us, as parents, in an awkward position. We are faced with the decision to a) make her something she will eat or b) put her to bed without a decent meal.
There are a few things I am pretty adament about and one of them is I will not get in the habit of making my child a separate meal. No one ever made me a separate meal and believe me there were plenty of times I didn't like what we were having and tried to come up with creative ways to not have to eat it. Still, I learned the lesson through many a painful night of sitting at the dinner table long after everyone else had gotten up, you eat the dinner that was made for you.
This is a lot more difficult to teach when it's your child and you are afraid they will be hungry. Logic tells me that Miss C is well fed and missing this meal did not mean she would starve nor did it mean we were bad parents for sticking to our guns.
The not so logical side tells me I am neglecting my child and depriving her of one of her basic needs and will scar her for like. It says I am a horrible mother and we are horrible parents.
In the end, we did not give her anything else to eat. No separate meal. No vanilla wafers. No nothing. Miss C did not eat her stuffed animals due to hungry. She didn't stay up all night crying because she was starving. No one called the police and reported us for bad parenting.
I hope tonight goes differently because I am quite sure that is not something I want to have to do again any time soon.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Penguins
Hi. It's Miss C's Monja here. Yes, that is right, I am her Monja. Not Mom or Mommy though sometimes Ma. Mostly just Monja. I just roll with it because it's sort cute.
Today I had a moment. You know "moments" right? It's like an out of body experience where you are willing yourself to do one thing but you are gripped with emotion and want to do another? Or maybe it's like an in body experience just someone else is in my body stirring up feelings of loss and sadness and excitement and anxiety. In or out, or a little of both, whatever you want to call it I had it, today, when I went to see Miss C's new toddler room.
In less than a month she will go from being the oldest in her room to being the youngest in the toddler room. She'll have a cot instead of a crib and is currently transitioning to the cot in the infant room. There will also be a cubby with her name and all of her stuff instead of a bin under her crib. Instead of a daily sheet that lists out her activities for the day she will have her own notebook where the teachers will write all about her day. Things are also more structured in the toddler room and everyone is on the same schedule for naps, playtime, music time, lunch time, etc.
Today I had a moment. You know "moments" right? It's like an out of body experience where you are willing yourself to do one thing but you are gripped with emotion and want to do another? Or maybe it's like an in body experience just someone else is in my body stirring up feelings of loss and sadness and excitement and anxiety. In or out, or a little of both, whatever you want to call it I had it, today, when I went to see Miss C's new toddler room.
In less than a month she will go from being the oldest in her room to being the youngest in the toddler room. She'll have a cot instead of a crib and is currently transitioning to the cot in the infant room. There will also be a cubby with her name and all of her stuff instead of a bin under her crib. Instead of a daily sheet that lists out her activities for the day she will have her own notebook where the teachers will write all about her day. Things are also more structured in the toddler room and everyone is on the same schedule for naps, playtime, music time, lunch time, etc.
Age range in the toddler room is 18 months to 3 years and I know that she will transition pretty easily with only a few bumps in the road. She's a pretty easy going child and loves meeting new people and doing new things. I, on the other hand, will likely require a pretty detailed transition plan and some cookies and hugs. Lots of cookies and hugs.
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Busy Weekend - Zoo
The final activity in our very busy weekend that include the concert series, swim lessons and staining the deck (all SP) was a trip to the zoo. We decided to get a membership so we can go more often.
Miss C loved the goats and called all of them "Cocker" which is what she calls most animals. Makes sense to her I guess because our dog is Copper and that is what she calls her.
No she is not milking the goat but it sure looks like it.
She liked the parrot until it nipped her finger looking for food.
The were pretty aggressive birds. This one was fascinated with my bracelet and kept trying to eat it.
Miss C loved the goats and called all of them "Cocker" which is what she calls most animals. Makes sense to her I guess because our dog is Copper and that is what she calls her.
No she is not milking the goat but it sure looks like it.
She liked the parrot until it nipped her finger looking for food.
The were pretty aggressive birds. This one was fascinated with my bracelet and kept trying to eat it.
Busy Weekend - Blue Ash Concert
This weekend was jam packed with activities and it all started on Friday after work. We took Miss C to the Blue Ash C*ncert Series in...Blue Ash. We had never been to this concert series before. Turns out they do it every Friday during the Summer and it's pretty family friendly event. People pack their lawn chairs and coolers and just sit outside listening to the band play.
We typically stick to a tight schedule around here because it makes Miss C happier and her parents happier too. It works for us most of the time and she is seldom up past 7:30. But it was the weekend and well, sometimes we have to do semi-grown up things. I think the key is to not make staying up past her typical bedtime the norm, to know when it's time to leave and to know that the next day there will be some adjustments that have to be made.
All worth it. She had a ball and we did too. Next time we'll pack a cooler and prepare a little better. Here are some pictures of the evening. Miss C even had a wardrobe change.
We typically stick to a tight schedule around here because it makes Miss C happier and her parents happier too. It works for us most of the time and she is seldom up past 7:30. But it was the weekend and well, sometimes we have to do semi-grown up things. I think the key is to not make staying up past her typical bedtime the norm, to know when it's time to leave and to know that the next day there will be some adjustments that have to be made.
All worth it. She had a ball and we did too. Next time we'll pack a cooler and prepare a little better. Here are some pictures of the evening. Miss C even had a wardrobe change.
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