Have you ever tried to put a two year old to bed? Now I have 5 kids and each one has had their turn of trying to get out of bed and stay up late. Some still do even as they have gotten older. Then I have the few that actually fall asleep as soon as their head hits the pillow and they don't get up til morning.
NOT my two year old. I think it's part of the two year old phase. I love babies. They are so cute, fun to hold, dress. I love watching them learn all new things, smiling, rolling, walking. But I also love the two year old stage when they are so little and talk so much, learning new words and copying everyone. Like little people.
But I do not like putting a two year old to bed. I always hated transitioning from a play pin/crib to a toddler bed. When they are in a play pin or crib they are stuck. They can cry but eventually they realize I might as well go to bed. Once they hit that toddler bed, they are free!
Just when I think I have a routine down, my two year old decides to change it on me. Especially if you change your schedule, stay out late or no nap. So many factors can make a big difference in a two year olds life.
It amazes me how much you can love your little child but also how utterly frustrating such a task as bed time can be! I will get so upset and see her melting from exhaustion and finally pick her up and let her lay in my lap and she is out in two seconds.
As I stare at her face my frustration melts turns my love boils to the surface. It's amazing how peaceful they look when they are asleep. I see how big she has gotten, how fast she is growing and realize she is the baby getting so big and one day I will not be able to hold her like this. I kiss her on her face, watch her crinkle her nose and enjoy her for a moment. One day the "terrible two's" will be gone and new "frustrations" will take the place of bed time. But the one thing that will always stay the same is that it is all worth it!
Monday, February 21, 2011
One of Those Days!
True Story...
The other day my 2 year old daughter came up to me to tell me that she went "poo poo". She is in the transition stage of potty training but I have not yet taken the task on to graduate her from diapers to big girl underwear. I asked her to get me a diaper and took her to the bathroom. I knew that we were out of wipes so my thought was to wet down some toilet paper. Great idea!
As I pulled down her pants I discovered that at some point she had taken off her diaper, put on one of her 4 year old sisters underwear and got her pants back on without me ever seeing her do it! So, of course no diaper means it was all in her underwear.
As I attempt to "wipe off" her bottom with wet toilet paper, I realize this task is getting a little out of control. I decide plan on a plan "B". I sat her up so that I can pick her up and she steps in her underwear. So now we have a dirty bottom and a dirty foot! I hurry to get her to the sink to wash her off and knock her head on the door frame. Now, I have a crying 2 year old sitting with a dirty bottom and foot in the sink in the bathroom, trying to wash her clean!
Have you just had one of those moments or maybe one of those days. It almost feels like your in a comedy show, rather than really living this moment out. I couldn't help but laugh as I cleaned her up, helped her stop crying and dried her tears. When we were all done I had a great story to tell her when she got older and one less pair of underwear. (I was not about to take that task on, I choose my battles and that was not one!)
Sometimes we have to remember to take a deep breath in and blow it out and take the time to laugh!
The other day my 2 year old daughter came up to me to tell me that she went "poo poo". She is in the transition stage of potty training but I have not yet taken the task on to graduate her from diapers to big girl underwear. I asked her to get me a diaper and took her to the bathroom. I knew that we were out of wipes so my thought was to wet down some toilet paper. Great idea!
As I pulled down her pants I discovered that at some point she had taken off her diaper, put on one of her 4 year old sisters underwear and got her pants back on without me ever seeing her do it! So, of course no diaper means it was all in her underwear.
As I attempt to "wipe off" her bottom with wet toilet paper, I realize this task is getting a little out of control. I decide plan on a plan "B". I sat her up so that I can pick her up and she steps in her underwear. So now we have a dirty bottom and a dirty foot! I hurry to get her to the sink to wash her off and knock her head on the door frame. Now, I have a crying 2 year old sitting with a dirty bottom and foot in the sink in the bathroom, trying to wash her clean!
Have you just had one of those moments or maybe one of those days. It almost feels like your in a comedy show, rather than really living this moment out. I couldn't help but laugh as I cleaned her up, helped her stop crying and dried her tears. When we were all done I had a great story to tell her when she got older and one less pair of underwear. (I was not about to take that task on, I choose my battles and that was not one!)
Sometimes we have to remember to take a deep breath in and blow it out and take the time to laugh!
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
No motivation
I don't know about you but as I sit here I look around me and my house is a disaster. There are quite a few projects I "could" start, or finish even. Then there are the daily "chores". When I start to pick up, I begin to ask myself; "When did that happen? I didn't do that, I didn't eat that, I didn't use that! So, why am I supposed to clean it?" I begin to feel like my children and think to myself; "But I don't wanna"!
For instance; It took me weeks to start transitioning my daughters closet. One of those projects that I know takes time. Both girls are out growing their clothes, so I need to pull out the new and box up the old. I finally started and at this point it's in the "looks worse than when I started stage". Now that I've started it I have to finish because I have company coming in just a few days. I have motivation pushing me to get there for this particular project but that isn't always the case.
On other days I can't seem to find that motivation. There are dishes that pile up, laundry that sits in the hall to be washed and dusting that I never seem to get to. The daily grind of house keeping that I just want to give up on. With seven people living in the house, it can get tiring picking up after all of them!
I look around me and can't help but sometimes compare myself with other moms. There are the mom's that are stylish and put together, I drop my kids off at school in my jammies. Then the creative mom, always working on projects or creating things. There is the mom that has a house always in order, while I am frantic if I hear someone is dropping by. There are also the mom's with the most well behaved kids, I have had many times trying to shop with a screaming kid in the store or my children running crazy in the church (where we of course are supposed to "look" together!). I begin to wonder what type of mom others see in me. I feel many times I'm none of the ones I listed above.
I many times finish a day feeling like I accomplished nothing, I failed in some way or could have done better some how. I would hope that I am not alone in these feelings, as a mom.
But then we have to ask ourselves "By what and who's standards are we comparing ourselves to? Who are we supposed to be living for?" God gave me these children, He entrusted their lives to me. I was chosen to be their mother for a reason. I need to mirror Him for them. And when I fall short run back to His feet to be renewed. Get up and begin again.
I still have my days where I feel so accomplished, others days where I come up short but most of all I have learned to give myself a break. Still I wonder, What gets or keeps you motivated?
For instance; It took me weeks to start transitioning my daughters closet. One of those projects that I know takes time. Both girls are out growing their clothes, so I need to pull out the new and box up the old. I finally started and at this point it's in the "looks worse than when I started stage". Now that I've started it I have to finish because I have company coming in just a few days. I have motivation pushing me to get there for this particular project but that isn't always the case.
On other days I can't seem to find that motivation. There are dishes that pile up, laundry that sits in the hall to be washed and dusting that I never seem to get to. The daily grind of house keeping that I just want to give up on. With seven people living in the house, it can get tiring picking up after all of them!
I look around me and can't help but sometimes compare myself with other moms. There are the mom's that are stylish and put together, I drop my kids off at school in my jammies. Then the creative mom, always working on projects or creating things. There is the mom that has a house always in order, while I am frantic if I hear someone is dropping by. There are also the mom's with the most well behaved kids, I have had many times trying to shop with a screaming kid in the store or my children running crazy in the church (where we of course are supposed to "look" together!). I begin to wonder what type of mom others see in me. I feel many times I'm none of the ones I listed above.
I many times finish a day feeling like I accomplished nothing, I failed in some way or could have done better some how. I would hope that I am not alone in these feelings, as a mom.
But then we have to ask ourselves "By what and who's standards are we comparing ourselves to? Who are we supposed to be living for?" God gave me these children, He entrusted their lives to me. I was chosen to be their mother for a reason. I need to mirror Him for them. And when I fall short run back to His feet to be renewed. Get up and begin again.
I still have my days where I feel so accomplished, others days where I come up short but most of all I have learned to give myself a break. Still I wonder, What gets or keeps you motivated?
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