How nice it is to be me again!

(Nor Cal Mommy)

Since Baby Bear was born, Daddy and I haven’t spent much time together alone. I’ve heard over and over from other moms that it’s crucial to being happy. I, like many other moms I’m sure, felt that it was too difficult…getting a babysitter, planning the time away (whether it is dinner out or a weekend away), having the money…the list of excuses goes on and on! We finally did it though! Daddy’s birthday was the perfect “reason” to take this time for ourselves. His mom came to our house for the weekend- yes, I said WEEKEND- and we went on a quick overnight trip to San Francisco!

Leaving was the hard part, but about a half hour into the drive, we were talking and laughing like old times! We arrived around 1 in the afternoon, left our car at the hotel and went out for seafood and a drink. It was so different being out with just the two of us. No highchair, no food fight, no screaming, no clearing the table on one side, and we actually got to eat! We had a wonderful afternoon doing things we used to enjoy…walking all over San Francisco stopping and going whenever we wanted…we began to remember why we started this journey in the first place.

When we got home, Baby Bear hardly seemed to notice we’d left! It was so great to be home and so rejuvenating to have been gone. I was ready to take on Baby Bear, the messy house, the piles of laundry, and the work week ahead! Although it is so hard to get it together sometimes, it is more than worth it to take some time out for you, wouldn’t you agree?!

Teaching My Pre-Schooler that Money Doesn’t Grow on Trees!

(Montana Mommy)

Once Big Sister turned 4 and started getting curious about money, we started to talk to her about it and what happens when we want to spend (or not spend) money.

Back when she was the only child, things were a little bit different. When we ran to Target or some other similar store, she usually got a little surprise (chance to pick something from the dollar section or a very small toy from the toy section). Times have changed! With the arrival of two more siblings, I now stay at home, (I worked part-time when Big Sister turned 1) and purchasing one small toy is a whole different story than purchasing three (not to mention that we don’t have a ton of space for all these toys in the kids’ bedrooms)! That being said, our challenge with Big Sister was how to make her understand that money doesn’t grow on trees- so she can’t always get a toy like she used to, and like she wants to.

The first step I took in breaking this bad habit was to start telling her a few days ahead of time that we would be going to the store soon and that we wouldn’t be buying any toys or clothes for her on that trip-we would be getting just what was on the list. She was distracted enough with her snack that it didn’t really bother her that trip. The next couple of times I did the same thing: Warn her a few days ahead and then again in the car on the way. So far, so good- no fits! Since this started, a year or so ago, it has gone pretty well. When she is really tired, she whines for a toy, but everything can usually be made all better with the chance to pick out her favorite flavor of popsicles for the family!

What has worked for your kids when trying to teach them about money?

No More Sucker!

Upon the advice of my trusted cousin, I decided before Baby Bear was even born, that there would be no more pacifier (better known in our house as “sucker”) after the age of one. After doing some of my own research I found that extended sucker usage can inhibit baby’s language and orthodontic development (just to name a few), but what I was really afraid of was trying to battle an unruly toddler that will remember for days that her mean mommy took away her sucker security. I definitely didn’t want to go through what some of the parents on Supernanny had to go through! This is the process I used and so far (officially two weeks sucker-free!) so good:
Around 10 months, we began only offering Baby Bear the sucker at nap and bed time, although every once in a while she’d find one and start sucking on it during the day
o No issues there as she didn’t seem to even think about it
• As her first birthday approached, I put all the suckers (but one) in a ziplock and put them away. The one I left out, I put on top of a bookcase by her bed so she would only have it at bedtime.
o That made naptime difficult. We were back to crying it out. Thankfully it usually only lasted about five to ten minutes. Then after about a week of that, she began going down for her nap with no fuss. She wasn’t necessarily going right to sleep, but she was quiet!
• About two weeks ago, I was dreading what I knew I had to do…make her sucker-free for good. I chickened out the first two nights, then bit the bullet and put her down with no sucker. I think it hurt me more than her!
o I was feeling so good- I put her down without a sucker and no fuss! I quietly exited the room and waited outside the door expecting to hear her screaming…hmmm…nothing. Wow! This was way easier than I thought. NOT! About five minutes later, she was screaming. Now what? I waited for a few minutes, then re-entered her room, held her for a minute or two, put her back down and quietly exited.
• Here we are exactly two weeks after her first birthday and Baby Bear goes down without a sucker and without a fuss!